ECF: P1 | (2) Boston Celtics vs (4) Cleveland Cavaliers | BOS 2-0

[Mr Loggins]

cavs get the brooms out.

[Tigersrule]

I really hope the Celtics dont double LeBron...dont let him find his teammates and give them confidence.

I think Stevens has always realized he'll get his and tries to stop the supporting cast. Most likely Brown and Morris will get single coverage.

Honestly I think the only person who has the best and only chance of covering Bron on the Celtics is Marcus Smart. I know hes small but the dude plays way bigger than he is; just need him to flop a little when ever hes being posted up by Bron to get him in foul trouble lol

[FlatearthZorro]

I really hope the Celtics dont double LeBron...dont let him find his teammates and give them confidence.

I think Stevens has always realized he'll get his and tries to stop the supporting cast. Most likely Brown and Morris will get single coverage.

Honestly I think the only person who has the best and only chance of covering Bron on the Celtics is Marcus Smart. I know hes small but the dude plays way bigger than he is; just need him to flop a little when ever hes being posted up by Bron to get him in foul trouble lol

LeBron flops more than SMart. Fact.

[Atmanne]

One thing's for sure, Celtics will guard all that Korver/Love stuff a hundred times better than the Raptors did. Lebron will almost certainly average 33+, the key's not to get buried under an avalanche of 3s at the same time.

Cavs in 6. I think it'll be a good series.

[Tigersrule]

Why is there this myth that Indiana focused on shutting down the supporting cast while Toronto focused on stopping LeBron? Toronto let LeBron operate 1-on-1 all series while faceguarding Love, Korver, etc.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

People underestimate how much of it comes down to simply making shots versus not making shots. Indiana actually allowed more open and wide open shots combined than Toronto did but the Cavs shot far worse on them against the Pacers. Not to mention in the regular season Toronto finished with the 5th ranked defense while Indiana finished with the 13th ranked defense. And Indiana gave up the 16th most threes per game in the NBA while Toronto gave up the least in the entire league.

Where are you getting this data? Per NBA.com statistics a "wide open" shot is defined as no defender within 6 ft. Indy allowed 13.2 of these per game. Toronto allowed 14.5. Furthermore, any shot with a defender 4 plus feet away is defined as open/wide open. Cavs shot 36.2% against Indy on these. They shot 34.8% against Toronto. So the Cavs actually shot better on open + wide open shots against Indy than they did against Toronto.

Pacers played more physical, and I mean WAY MORE physical than the Raptors did. Thats what it comes down to. Period

[PierceFan4ever]

Saltics? Are you a raptors or Sixers fan funny how both are watching the Celtics at home. Like I said that no talent team beat you guys down in not 6 or 7 games but 5 lmao. Jayson Tatum embarrassed you guys and your 2nd year rookie.

You can pray for Lebron because imo that’s the only way for the Sixers to be on the level of the Celtics and you know it because you guys lack the talent of the Celtics. At least Celtics fans don’t have to pray next season because we have Kyrie and Hayward coming back and that’s a guarantee. So pray you get Lebron or you might experience similar or worse beatings in the near future and it goes to show you that you don’t have much faith in your current group when you desperately bring up Lebron’s name all the time. Good luck

You know very well, specifically five minutes into your regular season, that nothing is guaranteed in the NBA...

As far as the Sixers, being fans of an awesome young team that's only going to get better and better and has full cap space to sign anyone they want in July, what's not to love

Yeah nothing is guaranteed just like it wasn’t guarantee the Sixers were going to beat the Celtics eh? Celtics are clearly more talented and better overall than the Sixers and it really isn’t that close. You guys need a superstar to make things interesting because Embiid and Simmons alone won’t cut it. You guys are in a good situation no question but eh they aren’t on the Celtics level

[Warchant]

Why is there this myth that Indiana focused on shutting down the supporting cast while Toronto focused on stopping LeBron? Toronto let LeBron operate 1-on-1 all series while faceguarding Love, Korver, etc.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

People underestimate how much of it comes down to simply making shots versus not making shots. Indiana actually allowed more open and wide open shots combined than Toronto did but the Cavs shot far worse on them against the Pacers. Not to mention in the regular season Toronto finished with the 5th ranked defense while Indiana finished with the 13th ranked defense. And Indiana gave up the 16th most threes per game in the NBA while Toronto gave up the least in the entire league.

Where are you getting this data? Per NBA.com statistics a "wide open" shot is defined as no defender within 6 ft. Indy allowed 13.2 of these per game. Toronto allowed 14.5. Furthermore, any shot with a defender 4 plus feet away is defined as open/wide open. Cavs shot 36.2% against Indy on these. They shot 34.8% against Toronto. So the Cavs actually shot better on open + wide open shots against Indy than they did against Toronto.

Pacers played more physical, and I mean WAY MORE physical than the Raptors did. Thats what it comes down to. Period

Exactly and Lance isnt afraid of LB one bit....I can bet $1K if that was LB instead of Clarkson going in for that dunk, DD pulls up and lets him do it instead of committing the hard foul like he did

[whitehops]

Yea, Horford is playing Love for the most part. I think the Thompson-Horfie matchup is a bit overplayed at this point. Baynes is taller than Thompson and knows how to box out, etc, and he's done really well on the boards so far. It's all about LeBron and what the rest of the guys that are important on offense can do.

baynes is a good, smart defender and good communicator but he struggled vs the cavs in the playoffs two years ago when he was on detroit. struggled defensively and struggled on the boards and he was primarily guarding either love or thompson, like he will this coming series.

[Darth Celtic]

Saltics? Are you a raptors or Sixers fan funny how both are watching the Celtics at home. Like I said that no talent team beat you guys down in not 6 or 7 games but 5 lmao. Jayson Tatum embarrassed you guys and your 2nd year rookie.

You can pray for Lebron because imo that’s the only way for the Sixers to be on the level of the Celtics and you know it because you guys lack the talent of the Celtics. At least Celtics fans don’t have to pray next season because we have Kyrie and Hayward coming back and that’s a guarantee. So pray you get Lebron or you might experience similar or worse beatings in the near future and it goes to show you that you don’t have much faith in your current group when you desperately bring up Lebron’s name all the time. Good luck

You know very well, specifically five minutes into your regular season, that nothing is guaranteed in the NBA...

As far as the Sixers, being fans of an awesome young team that's only going to get better and better and has full cap space to sign anyone they want in July, what's not to love

well, that anyone you want has to want to go there. Remember last year? 22m for JJ redick?

Sure, it may happen, but nothing is for sure. you might plan to sign Horford and KD, and only get Horford. Never know.

[FlatearthZorro]

Yea, Horford is playing Love for the most part. I think the Thompson-Horfie matchup is a bit overplayed at this point. Baynes is taller than Thompson and knows how to box out, etc, and he's done really well on the boards so far. It's all about LeBron and what the rest of the guys that are important on offense can do.

baynes is a good, smart defender and good communicator but he struggled vs the cavs in the playoffs two years ago when he was on detroit. struggled defensively and struggled on the boards and he was primarily guarding either love or thompson, like he will this coming series.

After watching him against Embiid I'm comfy with him vs Thompson who's 6'8.

Him vs Love wont go well, cause Love is a fairly skilled offensive talent and I doubt Baynes wants to be defending on the 3 pt line. I believe Horfie, Morris will handle Love for the most part.

[jonjames]

Boston in 6. I think they have what it takes to go all the way to the NBA Finals this year. One thing's for certain, the Celtics are going to be a much tougher out for the Cavs than the Raptors were. The Celtics actually have heart and a really good head coach as well.

[SFour]

Lol Celtics are going to get crushed by the Cavs like I got crushed by the Warriors.

4-5 games max.

Just like they were supposed to get crushed by the Sixers...lmao...they'll take at least 2 games

[Stillwater]

Boston in 6. I think they have what it takes to go all the way to the NBA Finals this year. One thing's for certain, the Celtics are going to be a much tougher out for the Cavs than the Raptors were. The Celtics actually have heart and a really good head coach as well.

Raptors had the coach of the year and look what good that did them...I agree Boston will play with more fire, but it won't be enough.

[hickfromfrenchlick]

My name's not Billy it's Karate Diop.

Everyone, please call Billy "Karate Diop" from now on. He's had a rough few years and it's probably best if we indulge this phase.

Whatever floats your boat, how's the weather in Bronston?

As you can see, I live in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, we don't have a professional men's basketball team.

[Dupp]

I honestly can’t not underrate the Celtics. They keep proving me wrong so who knows how this goes. They match up well with us. I think cavs in 6 but I’m probably wrong.

[Dupp]

Boston in 6. I think they have what it takes to go all the way to the NBA Finals this year. One thing's for certain, the Celtics are going to be a much tougher out for the Cavs than the Raptors were. The Celtics actually have heart and a really good head coach as well.

Raptors had the coach of the year and look what good that did them...I agree Boston will play with more fire, but it won't be enough.

Actually brad Stevens is on the Celtics

[heatwillbeback]

I said Cavs in 6. Really close poll. I do see this going 6 or 7.

[life_saver]

Celtics aren't winning game 7 against LeBron lol if they win its gotta be in 6.

there is a first time for everything

[MaxRider]

I think Cavs in 6 but I'm voting Celtics in 7
I really don't want to see GSW and LeBron in the final

[Triple M]

I honestly can’t not underrate the Celtics. They keep proving me wrong so who knows how this goes. They match up well with us. I think cavs in 6 but I’m probably wrong.

a lot of resiliency in this group also i think the Celtics seem to have a lot more chemistry than last years team. I dunno if that is true at all but from the outside looking in the young guys egos seem more manageable than Crowder, IT, etc