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

[jonjames]

Boston needs to win game 1 or this series is over. If they go up 2-0 then they have a great chance to win the series. The first two games of this series will be really revealing and be a good indicator of how this series will play out. Tatum has not played well against Cleveland this year putting up 12/5/2 on 48 TS and 101 O rating. If he continues to struggle like he did in the regular season then Cleveland will win. Honestly I want Boston to win but if I had to put money down on this series then I would pick Cleveland. I don't trust Al Horford. I expect him to put up another stinker against the Cavs because he's a soft mental midget who always under performs when he sees Lebron and Thompson.

[Novocaine]

I don't see anyone defending LeBron effectively from the Celtics besides Jaylen.

Nothing bad but it has made the internet lolz a bit I guess.

Love Mook...one of my favorites in the league and hate the Pistons gave him up. But he needs to stfu before LeBron decides to end this in 4. Stop playing with the GOAT yo.

Stop hanging from LB.....some guys like Lance and Morris arnt afraid of him cause he puts his shorts on the same way as those guys do to get ready for a game....why do u think Tor was such a joke....no doubt Bost bounces this Cavs team w a healthy Kyrie....he would want this series like no other

The one thing both of these players have in common is they've been sent home every time they've faced LeBron in the playoffs.

Lmao. Morris has defended chill mode Lebron in games that have no meaning and still got lit up. Can’t believe they’re hyping this man up.

Mook does have a point, that with his size, strength, mobility...he's one of the better matchups in the league with him. Especially since he doesn't have the burden of carrying a team offensively like Leonard, George, Hayward etc would. But still....shhhh.

I also think LBJ will have extra motivation this series just to stick to Kyrie, regardless of him not suiting up. Plus, this is one of those legacy series....no chance Boston wins this man.

Are there any #s to back up what he said?

Sometimes I wonder how many people actually watch the games. Perhaps they just watch highlights. Or they just watch the games and forget after a few months or a year or something?

I wrote this days ago, still during the second round: viewtopic.php?p=65910265#p65910265

What's the "hate"? Calling him a blackhole?

Morris has always shot a load. He was always more or less like this - with past teams, at Kansas, even when he played high-school at Prep Charter.

He's an ISO volume scorer with mediocre efficiency, but versatile enough that he can take advantage of defenders who are too small or too slow to pump himself up to averagely efficient.

Good defender and spirited player though, I like his attitude. I think if both Boston and Cleveland make the ECF, it's going to be fun to watch him going at LeBron again - things got pretty interesting when Detroit played Cleveland a couple of years ago. It was a sweep, but Irving was the best player on the Cavs, one of the few playoff series where LeBron wasn't the best player on his team.

He bothers LeBron in the same way Lance Stephenson does.

It was one of the most interesting things happening in those playoffs. The series wasn't competitive but that battle was pretty epic in the superstar vs role-player category. Definitely up there with the LBJ vs Stephenson ones, Kobe vs Bell, etc. Weren't you watching the NBA back then? It was just two years ago.

[Drax]

I don't see anyone defending LeBron effectively from the Celtics besides Jaylen.

Don't be suprised if you see Semi Ojeleye starting tonight and have plenty of minutes throughout the series.

[Splashin]

Sorry to be boring but I have a hard time believing anyone really thinks these injured Celtics have a chance against this cavs team.

[FormerNBAScout]

Semi Ojeleye is going to make life hell for LeBald.

But you know there's zero chance the refs will allow Boston to advance.

[LoveMyRaps]

Semi Ojeleye is going to make life hell for LeBald.

But you know there's zero chance the refs will allow Boston to advance.

wow game 1 hasn’t even started and you’re already crying ?

[ajones9219]

Sorry to be boring but I have a hard time believing anyone really thinks these injured Celtics have a chance against this cavs team.

Why? The Cavs aren't good and the Celtics, even injured, are a large step up from Indiana

[jonjames]

Sorry to be boring but I have a hard time believing anyone really thinks these injured Celtics have a chance against this cavs team.

The Cavs are not a great team. They're not a title contender. This is easily the worst Cavs team Lebron has been on since 2009. I think the Celtics have a chance but a lot of that depends on if they're scared of Cleveland or not. Toronto was clearly scared of Cleveland and thus they lost. They should have won that series. Boston was not supposed to beat Philly with their two stars and then they go up 3-0 and win in 5. Go figure. If the Celtics can really limit the Cavs supporting cast/shooters the way Indiana has and exploit Cleveland's weak defense then they have a chance.

[Splashin]

Everyone keeps saying how weak Cleveland is this year yet they keep winning and winning. I'm just saying don't be surprised when these Celtics are swept or lose in 5.

[RB34]

Everyone keeps saying how weak Cleveland is this year yet they keep winning and winning. I'm just saying don't be surprised when these Celtics are swept or lose in 5.

I think it’s hope more than anything else.

[Roddy]

Everyone keeps saying how weak Cleveland is this year yet they keep winning and winning. I'm just saying don't be surprised when these Celtics are swept or lose in 5.

And everyone was saying that an injuried Celtics roster can't beat Bucks and 76ers and they are finally in ECF.

[SaintofKillers]

Kobe breaks down Lebron vs Celtics:

Part 1 - https://streamable.com/5zcst
Part 2 - https://streamable.com/8wx3z
Part 3 - https://streamable.com/7ztq7

[dukes_wild]

Boston plays with a ton of pride and toughness defensively, I don't think they get swept. Cavs likely win in 5 games

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics in 7

[Fencer reregistered]

The raptors choke, and suddenly Lebron unbearable? He’s more lucky than anything. Last two times played Boston best player has been out.


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Actually, he's been quite pleasant in recent seasons.

[har13]

The Marcus Morris thing is hilarious to me, it's so Marcus Morris to say that lmao.

Read on Twitter

He looks like he is thinking what is he going to eat or to do after the game.

[Fencer reregistered]

TT and love vs Horford , I don’t see anyone guarding Lebron in the post on the Cs

And how does Lebron get the ball in post?
-- Bring it there himself slowly? (I.e., back somebody down?) This isn't the previous century.
-- Bring it there himself quickly? That's just a drive -- something he is of course very very very very good at, but not something ADDITIONAL to be discussed.
-- Via an entry pass? Great idea. Who's making the pass, out of what kind of previous action?

[Fencer reregistered]

Mook does have a point, that with his size, strength, mobility...he's one of the better matchups in the league with him. Especially since he doesn't have the burden of carrying a team offensively like Leonard, George, Hayward etc would. But still....shhhh.

I also think LBJ will have extra motivation this series just to stick to Kyrie, regardless of him not suiting up. Plus, this is one of those legacy series....no chance Boston wins this man.

Are there any #s to back up what he said?

Quite to the contrary, at least this season.

[Fencer reregistered]

I don't see anyone defending LeBron effectively from the Celtics besides Jaylen.

Several other Celtics should be OK on occasional switches.

I don't think Lebron gets much more than a contested jump shot against Smart or Horford. If either of those guys covered him all game, he'd find a rhythm to get those shots falling with high percentages, using his size advantage against one and his strength+quickness advantage against the other. But on the occasional switch? The Celtics defense may well hold.

[Hello Brooklyn]

After completely disrespecting the Celtics last round, I'm predicting that this series goes 7.

Still have the Cavs winning with a LeBron takeover though.