ECF: P2 | (2) Boston Celtics vs (4) Cleveland Cavaliers | Tied 2-2

[SF_Warriors]

cavs blow out Celtics game 3 than the east is weak again lol.

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Yeah idk about all that but I expect the Cavs to easily win game 3. I almost want to put a lot of money on it.

What is "almost" crap? Don't you have the courage of your convictions? Go take out a mortgage on your house and put the money on the Cavs. What are you waiting for? Don't you want to be fully invested in watching the game?

Gambling is a bad habit haha. Have a friend or two in 5 figure debt because of betting on sports. With that said, he should compromise and bet like $100 for a nice meal and some drinks.

[TommyPoints]

I’m not particularly comfortable with all of the positivity being directed towards the Celtics now.

[Roland2000]

Yes. All this positive talk about the Celtics doesn't give me a great feeling. Hopefully the players are not buying into the recent hype. That's the last thing in the world that we need.

Just get out there and play freely but with passion and abandon.

Go Celtics!!!!!

[Froob]

I think Celtics win tonight. Yeah just one road win and it was in OT but, we only got blown out once and nearly won games 4 & 6 in Milwaukee and should have won game 4 in Philly. If JR Smith can’t get going again, doubt Cavs win.

[loveandbeer]

I think Celtics win tonight. Yeah just one road win and it was in OT but, we only got blown out once and nearly won games 4 & 6 in Milwaukee and should have won game 4 in Philly. If JR Smith can’t get going again, doubt Cavs win.

Yup, predicting a BOS win unless Lebron says **** it and goes for at least 50.

I think they take at least one at home before falling in five games.

[og15]

Cleveland isn't going to let themselves go down 3-0, and Celtics will likely just take their foot off the gas just a smidge and it will be enough for Cleveland to take advantage and win. One win starts the change things though, now Cleveland says "we know what we need to do to beat them", and game 4 becomes a very interesting game.

[Gant]

Cleveland isn't going to let themselves go down 3-0, and Celtics will likely just take their foot off the gas just a smidge and it will be enough for Cleveland to take advantage and win. One win starts the change things though, now Cleveland says "we know what we need to do to beat them", and game 4 becomes a very interesting game.

You'd think not. But they did let themselves go down 2-0.

The Celtics have improved on the road as the playoffs have gone on.

No one has to tell either team how big tonight is.

[GreenBloodedC]

I think Celtics win tonight. Yeah just one road win and it was in OT but, we only got blown out once and nearly won games 4 & 6 in Milwaukee and should have won game 4 in Philly. If JR Smith can’t get going again, doubt Cavs win.

The road stuff has been way over blown.

[og15]

Cleveland isn't going to let themselves go down 3-0, and Celtics will likely just take their foot off the gas just a smidge and it will be enough for Cleveland to take advantage and win. One win starts the change things though, now Cleveland says "we know what we need to do to beat them", and game 4 becomes a very interesting game.

You'd think not. But they did let themselves go down 2-0.

The Celtics have improved on the road as the playoffs have gone on.

No one has to tell either team how big tonight is.

There tends to be the natural let off when a team goes up 2-0, even if they fight it, coupled with the increased desperation from the other team also. Of course that can be overcome by being more prepared, more talented and just straight up playing better, but it's a strong factor.

[Darth Celtic]

When you are up 2-0 in a 7 game series and traveling to the other teams home, expect all that physical playoff defense that every team does to be called fouls for the first half on the road team. No conspiracy, no "refs suck", no, this is EXPECTED. If the Celtics can play through the first half within 10 and not let the officiating get to them, they have a good chance to win this game.

[L3GEND4RY]

When you are up 2-0 in a 7 game series and traveling to the other teams home, expect all that physical playoff defense that every team does to be called fouls for the first half on the road team. No conspiracy, no "refs suck", no, this is EXPECTED. If the Celtics can play through the first half within 10 and not let the officiating get to them, they have a good chance to win this game.

Agreed. I think we’ll end up splitting the next two.

Now’s a good of time as any to start winning on the road - we don’t have HC next round.

[Curmudgeon]

When you are up 2-0 in a 7 game series and traveling to the other teams home, expect all that physical playoff defense that every team does to be called fouls for the first half on the road team. No conspiracy, no "refs suck", no, this is EXPECTED. If the Celtics can play through the first half within 10 and not let the officiating get to them, they have a good chance to win this game.

The officials will be Capers, Tiven and Zarba, with Bill Kennedy in Secaucus.

No Brothers and/or Foster.

[sixers4real]

I root for Boston and LeBron James, just like in Games 1 and 2.
The better LeBron players, the earlier Cavs lose series, the better chances LeBron to Philly.

[levon]

Expect a more assist-oriented Lebron today with more role players knocking down unlikely shots.

[SMTBSI]

Cleveland isn't going to let themselves go down 3-0, and Celtics will likely just take their foot off the gas just a smidge and it will be enough for Cleveland to take advantage and win. One win starts the change things though, now Cleveland says "we know what we need to do to beat them", and game 4 becomes a very interesting game.

You'd think not. But they did let themselves go down 2-0.

The Celtics have improved on the road as the playoffs have gone on.

No one has to tell either team how big tonight is.

There tends to be the natural let off when a team goes up 2-0, even if they fight it, coupled with the increased desperation from the other team also. Of course that can be overcome by being more prepared, more talented and just straight up playing better, but it's a strong factor.

I mean, a large part of the reason we're as good as we are is because we're stubborn SOBs who play 100mph all the time.

Cleveland can absolutely win this game tonight, but it won't be because we took our foot off the gas. It'll be because they still have Lebron, and their roleplayers actually do something (anything) at home.

[KingDavid]

cavs blow out Celtics game 3 than the east is weak again lol.

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Yeah idk about all that but I expect the Cavs to easily win game 3. I almost want to put a lot of money on it.

What is "almost" crap? Don't you have the courage of your convictions? Go take out a mortgage on your house and put the money on the Cavs. What are you waiting for? Don't you want to be fully invested in watching the game?

I can have my convictions without potentially throwing away money.

What's holding me back is that I never expected the Cavs to get their asses handed to them like that, even as the away team. That's a serious red flag in a series. I don't gamble with that kind of stuff going on. Too unpredictable.

[Curmudgeon]

As usual, the focus is on the wrong end of the court. For the Cavs to win, their "roleplayers" will have to defend and get stops, and LrBron will have to defend instead of conserving energy for his offense.

The3 Celtics will defend for 48 minutes. The will hustle on every closeout, fight through picks when they can and switch when they can't, box out, contest every pass and dive on the floor for loose balls. They all do this, not just Smart.

Unless the Cavs can match this intensity they may will a game or two, but they won't win the series.

[KingDavid]

I think Celtics win tonight. Yeah just one road win and it was in OT but, we only got blown out once and nearly won games 4 & 6 in Milwaukee and should have won game 4 in Philly. If JR Smith can’t get going again, doubt Cavs win.

Nah I think the combination of Cavs attacking the basket more and refs giving them home cooking is going to cause a loss for you guys tonight.

I'd freak out if you guys win though.

[levon]

Basically the Celtics have to be prepared to survive 2.5 quarters of Cavs piling it on and still be within striking distance, and they'll win.

[Fantaxp7]

I was thinking game 1 and 2 would be closer, say a win/loss within 5 points to either team. Given how those games turned out I'm shifting my expectations on the road to be similar.

Cavs will likely play better due to homecourt...Given how well we've responded to any adjustments made I could see us falling behind but coming back to keep it close until the end.