Cleveland got to the second round of the playoffs by doing the things that made the Cavaliers the second-best team in the league this season.
They played as a team. They moved the ball well, got the high-percentage shots, played defense and showed poise when it counted.The New Jersey Nets didn't vary things either in making a short stay of their first playoff appearance since 1986. They exited bickering among themselves, just like they had all season.
The Cavaliers got past the first round for the first time since 1976 Thursday night by riding a smothering defense and 10 fourth-quarter points by John Williams to a 98-89 victory over the Nets and a 3-1 win in their best-of-5 series.
Cleveland now will meet Boston in a best-of-7 second-round series, starting Saturday at Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. The Celtics, who ran their winning streak to 11 by sweeping Indiana in the opening round, were 3-1 against the Cavs in the regular season.
"Boston's a real good team," said forward Larry Nance after contributing 16 points and 13 rebounds in helping Cleveland win its second playoff series in nine tries. "They are very smart, mature and have a good inside game. But if we concentrate on doing the things we do well and execute, we'll be OK."
That's exactly what the Cavs did in Game 4 against the Nets. After seeing the Nets hit 13 of their first 21 shots and falling behind 30-16, Cleveland got back into it by holding New Jersey to 29 percent shooting over the final three quarters, including three of 20 from the field in the fourth quarter.
"After the kind of season we had, it would have been tough to lose in the first round again," said Cavs center Brad Daugherty.