MIAMI (Reuters) – Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers demanded improvements across the floor from his team after they fell to a 93-79 defeat to the Miami Heat in the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday.

Apart from a second quarter where they scored 35 points to go in level at halftime, the Celtics struggled to contain Miami, particularly the key pair of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

“When we took our time in the second quarter we got everything we wanted and then we went back to the way we started the game in the third quarter,” said Rivers.

“On the road you just can’t have two quarters of lulls. You just can’t afford it and I thought we did that.”

The Boston coach said it was no surprise that Wade (22 points) and James (32 points) dominated but was annoyed with the way his team handled them.

“You’re not going to take everything away from them. They have two sensational players but in my opinion we let Wade, we let LeBron play in extreme comfort and we gave the other guys everything they wanted as well.

“So we’ll go back and see what we can do better and we’ll fix it.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Led by LeBron James’ 32 points, the Miami Heat enjoyed a convincing 93-79 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday to grab a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference championship series.

Apart from a second quarter where Boston came alive with 35 points and Miami lost their intensity, the Heat and James had too much for the 17-times NBA champions.

It says much about James’ current form that it did not feel like an outstanding display yet he produced 32 points on 13 for 22 shooting from the field for his sixth 30-point game in this season’s playoffs.

It was by no means a classic, with the game lacking the intensity of the conference semi-finals both teams had to battle through, but Miami will take confidence from winning by 14 points while never really hitting their stride.

“We feel like we didn’t play our best basketball,” said James who also ended with 13 rebounds. “We had some great looks offensively but we had a lot of breakdowns defensively, so we didn’t play our best.

“It’s a good sign, a good thing for us but we will prepare and we will be better on Wednesday.”

Boston, who did not secure their place in the conference final until Saturday’s win over Philadelphia, lacked sharpness on offense and struggled at times with Miami’s pace.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) – When German Juergen Klinsmann took charge of the United States national team 10 months ago he promised to bring a change of style as well as results and if Saturday’s 5-1 win over Scotland is any measure his influence is bearing fruit.

It was only a friendly against a modest team but coming after the impressively ground-out away win over Italy in February, the team’s fifth successive victory was another positive sign.

What pleased Klinsmann the most was the style with which Scotland were taken apart as Landon Donovan helped himself to a hat-trick.

“We saw many elements of what we have been talking about. A fast paced game, nice tempo, one-two touch combinations through midfield, finding our forwards, having pace in the build up from the back, no long balls,” said Klinsmann.

“I think we saw all those elements. Obviously it is more difficult to play that way against Brazil or against Italy but I think the players understand more and more what we are trying to achieve.”

Klinsmann’s predecessor Bob Bradley, who took the U.S. to the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before falling to Ghana, built a team that was strong on determination and organization but sometimes lacked the movement and flexible shape the modern game demands.

On Saturday the former German national team coach played a midfield diamond with Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley dominant in the centre with Maurice Edu sitting deep.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) – When German Juergen Klinsmann took charge of the United States national team 10 months ago he promised to bring a change of style as well as results and if Saturday’s 5-1 win over Scotland is any measure his influence is bearing fruit.

It was only a friendly against a modest team but coming after the impressively ground-out away win over Italy in February, the team’s fifth successive victory was another positive sign.

What pleased Klinsmann the most was the style with which Scotland were taken apart as Landon Donovan helped himself to a hat-trick.

“We saw many elements of what we have been talking about. A fast paced game, nice tempo, one-two touch combinations through midfield, finding our forwards, having pace in the build up from the back, no long balls,” said Klinsmann.

“I think we saw all those elements. Obviously it is more difficult to play that way against Brazil or against Italy but I think the players understand more and more what we are trying to achieve.”

Klinsmann’s predecessor Bob Bradley, who took the U.S. to the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before falling to Ghana, built a team that was strong on determination and organisation but sometimes lacked the movement and flexible shape the modern game demands.

On Saturday the former German national team coach played a midfield diamond with Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley dominant in the centre with Maurice Edu sitting deep.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) – When German Juergen Klinsmann took charge of the United States national team 10 months ago he promised to bring a change of style as well as results and if Saturday’s 5-1 win over Scotland is any measure his influence is bearing fruit.

It was only a friendly against a modest team but coming after the impressively ground-out away win over Italy in February, the team’s fifth successive victory was another positive sign.

What pleased Klinsmann the most was the style with which Scotland were taken apart as Landon Donovan helped himself to a hat-trick.

“We saw many elements of what we have been talking about. A fast paced game, nice tempo, one-two touch combinations through midfield, finding our forwards, having pace in the build up from the back, no long balls,” said Klinsmann.

“I think we saw all those elements. Obviously it is more difficult to play that way against Brazil or against Italy but I think the players understand more and more what we are trying to achieve.”

Klinsmann’s predecessor Bob Bradley, who took the U.S. to the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before falling to Ghana, built a team that was strong on determination and organisation but sometimes lacked the movement and flexible shape the modern game demands.

On Saturday the former German national team coach played a midfield diamond with Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley dominant in the centre with Maurice Edu sitting deep.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) – Landon Donovan struck a superb hat-trick as the United States crushed Scotland 5-1 in a friendly international on Saturday handing the Scots one of their most humiliating defeats.

Juergen Klinsmann team’s fifth successive win was a sparkling performance against a woeful Scotland team who were unable to match the speed and creativity of the Americans.

The U.S. were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes and never looked back as they produced the kind of high-tempo display their German coach has demanded of them.

“We had a wonderful start with two early goals which really set the tone and the team really kept the rhythm throughout the entire game,” said the former Germany striker and coach.

Donovan had said earlier in the week he was finding it hard to get motivated but on Saturday there was no short of hunger from him in an outstanding display from the U.S’s all-time top scorer, who now has 49 goals.

The L.A. Galaxy forward opened the scoring in the third minute and then eight minutes later midfielder Michael Bradley blasted in from 25 yards out after a delightful set-up from Jermaine Jones.

Scotland pulled one back in the 15th minute when U.S. defender Geoff Cameron inadvertently chested in a header from Kenny Miller.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) – Landon Donovan struck a superb hat-trick as the United States crushed Scotland 5-1 in a friendly international on Saturday handing the Scots one of their most humiliating defeats.

Juergen Klinsmann team’s fifth successive win was a sparkling performance against a woeful Scotland team who were unable to match the speed and creativity of the Americans.

Donovan had said earlier in the week he was finding it hard for motivation but on Saturday there was no short of hunger in an outstanding display from the U.S’s all-time top scorer, who now has 49 goals.

Donovan opened the scoring in the third minute and then eight minutes later Michael Bradley blasted in from 25 yards out.

Scotland pulled one back in the 15th minute when U.S. defender Geoff Cameron inadvertently chested in a header from Kenny Miller.

But that was the last real threat from Craig Levein’s team as the Americans ran away with the game after the break.

The outstanding Jermaine Jones picked out Donovan inside the box for the team’s third on the hour and he completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute when his shot went in off the inside of the post.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) – Landon Donovan struck a superb hat-trick as the United States crushed Scotland 5-1 in a friendly international on Saturday handing the Scots one of their most humiliating defeats.

Juergen Klinsmann team’s fifth successive win was a sparkling performance against a woeful Scotland team who were unable to match the speed and creativity of the Americans.

Donovan had said earlier in the week he was finding it hard for motivation but on Saturday there was no short of hunger in an outstanding display from the U.S’s all-time top scorer, who now has 49 goals.

Donovan opened the scoring in the third minute and then eight minutes later Michael Bradley blasted in from 25 yards out.

Scotland pulled one back in the 15th minute when U.S. defender Geoff Cameron inadvertently chested in a header from Kenny Miller.

But that was the last real threat from Craig Levein’s team as the Americans ran away with the game after the break.

The outstanding Jermaine Jones picked out Donovan inside the box for the team’s third on the hour and he completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute when his shot went in off the inside of the post.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) – Landon Donovan struck a superb hat-trick as the United States crushed Scotland 5-1 in a friendly international on Saturday handing the Scots one of their most humiliating defeats.

Juergen Klinsmann team’s fifth successive win was a sparkling performance against a woeful Scotland team who were unable to match the speed and creativity of the Americans.

Donovan had said earlier in the week he was finding it hard for motivation but on Saturday there was no short of hunger in an outstanding display from the U.S’s all-time top scorer, who now has 49 goals.

Donovan opened the scoring in the third minute and then eight minutes later Michael Bradley blasted in from 25 yards out.

Scotland pulled one back in the 15th minute when U.S. defender Geoff Cameron inadvertently chested in a header from Kenny Miller.

But that was the last real threat from Craig Levein’s team as the Americans ran away with the game after the break.

The outstanding Jermaine Jones picked out Donovan inside the box for the team’s third on the hour and he completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute when his shot went in off the inside of the post.

MIAMI (Reuters) – United States head coach Juergen Klinsmann hopes that his forward Clint Dempsey gets a move to a Champions League club after his fine season with English side Fulham.

Dempsey scored 17 goals in 37 league appearances for Fulham this season and has made it clear that he would relish the chance to play with a bigger club in Europe’s top competition.

That is a feeling that is shared by his national team coach, the former German international striker who is preparing his team for Saturday’s friendly against Scotland.

“If you play consistently at the highest level then offers will come in. I think everybody is aware of that. His goal is the right goal, we have often discussed it,” the former Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur striker said on a conference call.

“If he has the opportunity to go to a Champions League team, that’s the crème de la crème of club soccer then you have to do that, with all the respect obviously to Fulham, as he often mentions.

“But you want to play in the biggest club competition in the world and that’s the European Champions League and hopefully something will happen over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“If it doesn’t happen then he has to keep pounding away and knocking at the door.”