Game Preview: Cavaliers v Celtics

The Cleveland Cavaliers play host to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern
Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday. The Celtics (2-0) looked
evenly matched with the Sixers in the conference semi-finals, but they’ve looked
dominant in this series. In fact, Boston took down their first two games of this
series by a combined 38 points, as Cleveland looked overwhelmed. What’s scary
about the Celtics is just how much energy they play with, as this young group of
players has joined forces to form one of the most dangerous defenses in the NBA.
The youth is frightening for opponents too, as this team has been unbelievably
resilient in the absence of their two best players. Both Kyrie Irving and Gordon
Hayward are out of the picture this season due to differing injuries, but they
should come back next season to make this the best team in the east. A future
that bright is hard to fathom and it’s amazing that the Celtics find themselves
just two wins away from making the Finals in this injury-riddled season. The
88.5 points per game that Boston is allowing in this series shows their true
strength and they’ll be hard to beat if they continue that gritty form. The
Cavaliers (0-2) look like a discouraged club out there, as LeBron James and
Kevin Love are the only players on this roster performing in this series. In
fact, James is averaging 33.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game in
these playoffs while Love is averaging 22.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in
his last five outings. No other player on the roster is even close to double
figures in scoring or rebounding in these playoffs and it’s a wonder if they
have enough to compete with this deep Boston roster. The trade acquisitions have
been especially discouraging, with Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood
and George Hill all playing scarcely in this postseason. To further prove just
how small of a role these four players are playing, consider the fact that James
averages in scoring, rebounding and assists destroy the combined averages of
those four acquisitions. To say they need more from their role players is an
understatement, with players like J.R. Smith and Jeff Green also struggling. If
James and Love don’t get any help from those six guys, this series could be over
in no time and King James may be on his way to greener pastures.