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March opens with a road game against the Boston Celtics, who find themselves in second place behind Milwaukee after losing to the Knicks at MSG Monday night. The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown for personal reasons. Brown will play tonight.
The Celtics are 44-18 overall and 24-7 at home. They have the league’s best point differential at +5.7. cleaningtheglass.com ranks them 3rd in offense and 5th in defense. The Athletic has the Celtics 2nd in their current power poll; the Cavs are 9th.
The Celtics and Cavs played twice in a five-day span four months ago with the Cavs winning both games in overtime. In Boston the Cavs won 132-123 as Mitchell and LeVert each scored 41 points with Garland out. LeVert scored 11 of the Cavs’ 18 points in overtime in easily his best game of the season.
Playing in Cleveland five days later the Cavs won 114-113 as the Celtics again could not find the net on 3’s, going 11-for-41. In those two OT losses the Celtics were 24-for-74 on 3’s for 32.4%. They shoot 38% for the season.
The Cavs bench has struggled. In the first game the Cavs’ bench players’ on/off ranged from -9 to -12. In the second game the bench was 5-for-22 with 0 assists. If the Cavs want to win tonight the bench has to produce more. LeVert has 56 points in two games against the Celtics so he has been effective.
The Cavs’ guards have been outstanding against Boston this year. Mitchell is averaging 33 points and 50% from the field. Garland had 29 points and 12 assists in his game. LeVert is averaging 28 points and hit 60% of his 3’s.
On the front line, Mobley averaged 17 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 70% from the field while Allen is at 13 points and 12.5 rebounds. However, Celtics starting center Robert Williams III, who averages 8 points and 9 rebounds in 24 minutes, missed both games. He’s a defensive and shot blocking presence.
The Cavs could reallly use more scoring from Cedi, Wade, and Okoro. In 111 minutes against the Celtics that trio has scored just 16 points on 5-for-22 overall and 1-for-10 on 3’s.
The Cavs fouled the Celtics a lot; the Celtics made 52 free throws in the two games. Brown and Tatum combined to go 30-for-35 from the line and scored 60 of the 118 points the Celtics average against the Cavs (which includes two overtimes). On the season the Celts average 118 points. They scored 113 and 114 in regulation time against the Cavs.
My sense is the Celtics are steamed about losing twice to the Cavs in overtime and will be looking to get some payback. They are also coming off a 15-point loss in New York on Monday and find themselves in second place for the first time in quite a while. I expect they will come out determined to make a statement. They have added Robert Williams III and Mike Muscala since these teams last played while the Cavs added Rubio and Danny Green. Advantage Boston. That being said, Muscala is questionable with knee soreness.
The Cavs had one of their best games of the season against Toronto on Sunday as they led by 30 points in the 4th quarter. They’ve had two days to rest up and prepare for this game and they understand the Celtics will be motivated and the crowd will be hostile. This will be a great opportunity to get experience playing on the road in a playoff atmosphere against an elite team that is fired up for the the game.
The Celtics are 3rd in points per game and 2nd in offensive efficiency. They are a 3-point shooting team, ranking just 24th in points in the paint. They are 2nd in percentage of points on 3’s, 29th in percentage of points from 2’s, and 23rd in points on free throws so they are almost a one-trick pony offensively. But it’s a very good trick.
The main reason the Cavs are 2-0 is they held Boston to 32.4% on 3’s. A great example is Monday when the Celtics went 9-for-42 from deep against the Knicks and only scored 94 points. If you can stop their 3-point shooting they don’t have much else. Even when they’re not hitting they keep throwing them up.
The Celtics move the ball, ranking 5th in assist percentage. They whip the ball around until somebody has an open 3. They don’t get a lot of offensive rebounds (24th) so if you force a missed shot you have a great chance at getting the stop.
Defensively the Celtics are 6th in efficiency. They are well above average in all categories except steals, where they rank 27th. They don’t gamble for steals but play solid position defense and they lead the NBA in defensive rebound percentage. Obviously they block out very well. You have to make the first shot.
The Celtics are 3rd in 3-point frequency, 27th in mid-range frequency, and 26th at the rim, so they kind of live or die by 3-point shooting. Malcolm Brogdon is hitting an amazing 46.4% of his 3’s this season; he averages 15 points per game off the bench and is a 6th Man of the Year candidate. Ancient Al Horford (age 36) is shooting 43% from deep and Sam Hauser and Grant Williams shoot 41% and 40% on 3’s. Center Mike Muscala, who they just traded for, is shooting 40% on 3’s. Blake Griffith and Derrick White are at 39% and 38%. They have five guys coming off the bench who are shooting over 38% from deep, assuming Muscala can play.
For the Cavs to steal this one they need to continue to hold the Celtics to around 32% on 3’s and 114 points for the game. On offense the Cavs’ guards must continue to light up the Celtics while Allen and Mobley win their matchups in the front court. We need another strong game from LeVert and more production from Wade, Cedi, and Okoro as they were invisible in the first two games.
I’d like to see the Cavs put Mobley on Jason Tatum, who averages 30.4 points per game. If he can maintain that level for the rest of the season he will become the first Celtics player to average 30 points for a full season. I assume Okoro will be assigned to stop Jaylen Brown.
These teams face off again in Cleveland in five days. The Cavs are six games behind the Celtics with 18 to play so I don’t expect the tiebreaker to come into play, but a win in Boston to follow up the beatdown of the Raptors would be huge for the Cavs’ confidence down the stretch and into the playoffs. This game against a healthy Celtics team on the road will be a great test and a valuable opportunity to experience a playoff atmosphere in a hostile environment against an elite team.
The Celtics are 44-18 overall and 24-7 at home. They have the league’s best point differential at +5.7. cleaningtheglass.com ranks them 3rd in offense and 5th in defense. The Athletic has the Celtics 2nd in their current power poll; the Cavs are 9th.
The Celtics and Cavs played twice in a five-day span four months ago with the Cavs winning both games in overtime. In Boston the Cavs won 132-123 as Mitchell and LeVert each scored 41 points with Garland out. LeVert scored 11 of the Cavs’ 18 points in overtime in easily his best game of the season.
Playing in Cleveland five days later the Cavs won 114-113 as the Celtics again could not find the net on 3’s, going 11-for-41. In those two OT losses the Celtics were 24-for-74 on 3’s for 32.4%. They shoot 38% for the season.
The Cavs bench has struggled. In the first game the Cavs’ bench players’ on/off ranged from -9 to -12. In the second game the bench was 5-for-22 with 0 assists. If the Cavs want to win tonight the bench has to produce more. LeVert has 56 points in two games against the Celtics so he has been effective.
The Cavs’ guards have been outstanding against Boston this year. Mitchell is averaging 33 points and 50% from the field. Garland had 29 points and 12 assists in his game. LeVert is averaging 28 points and hit 60% of his 3’s.
On the front line, Mobley averaged 17 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 70% from the field while Allen is at 13 points and 12.5 rebounds. However, Celtics starting center Robert Williams III, who averages 8 points and 9 rebounds in 24 minutes, missed both games. He’s a defensive and shot blocking presence.
The Cavs could reallly use more scoring from Cedi, Wade, and Okoro. In 111 minutes against the Celtics that trio has scored just 16 points on 5-for-22 overall and 1-for-10 on 3’s.
The Cavs fouled the Celtics a lot; the Celtics made 52 free throws in the two games. Brown and Tatum combined to go 30-for-35 from the line and scored 60 of the 118 points the Celtics average against the Cavs (which includes two overtimes). On the season the Celts average 118 points. They scored 113 and 114 in regulation time against the Cavs.
My sense is the Celtics are steamed about losing twice to the Cavs in overtime and will be looking to get some payback. They are also coming off a 15-point loss in New York on Monday and find themselves in second place for the first time in quite a while. I expect they will come out determined to make a statement. They have added Robert Williams III and Mike Muscala since these teams last played while the Cavs added Rubio and Danny Green. Advantage Boston. That being said, Muscala is questionable with knee soreness.
The Cavs had one of their best games of the season against Toronto on Sunday as they led by 30 points in the 4th quarter. They’ve had two days to rest up and prepare for this game and they understand the Celtics will be motivated and the crowd will be hostile. This will be a great opportunity to get experience playing on the road in a playoff atmosphere against an elite team that is fired up for the the game.
The Celtics are 3rd in points per game and 2nd in offensive efficiency. They are a 3-point shooting team, ranking just 24th in points in the paint. They are 2nd in percentage of points on 3’s, 29th in percentage of points from 2’s, and 23rd in points on free throws so they are almost a one-trick pony offensively. But it’s a very good trick.
The main reason the Cavs are 2-0 is they held Boston to 32.4% on 3’s. A great example is Monday when the Celtics went 9-for-42 from deep against the Knicks and only scored 94 points. If you can stop their 3-point shooting they don’t have much else. Even when they’re not hitting they keep throwing them up.
The Celtics move the ball, ranking 5th in assist percentage. They whip the ball around until somebody has an open 3. They don’t get a lot of offensive rebounds (24th) so if you force a missed shot you have a great chance at getting the stop.
Defensively the Celtics are 6th in efficiency. They are well above average in all categories except steals, where they rank 27th. They don’t gamble for steals but play solid position defense and they lead the NBA in defensive rebound percentage. Obviously they block out very well. You have to make the first shot.
The Celtics are 3rd in 3-point frequency, 27th in mid-range frequency, and 26th at the rim, so they kind of live or die by 3-point shooting. Malcolm Brogdon is hitting an amazing 46.4% of his 3’s this season; he averages 15 points per game off the bench and is a 6th Man of the Year candidate. Ancient Al Horford (age 36) is shooting 43% from deep and Sam Hauser and Grant Williams shoot 41% and 40% on 3’s. Center Mike Muscala, who they just traded for, is shooting 40% on 3’s. Blake Griffith and Derrick White are at 39% and 38%. They have five guys coming off the bench who are shooting over 38% from deep, assuming Muscala can play.
For the Cavs to steal this one they need to continue to hold the Celtics to around 32% on 3’s and 114 points for the game. On offense the Cavs’ guards must continue to light up the Celtics while Allen and Mobley win their matchups in the front court. We need another strong game from LeVert and more production from Wade, Cedi, and Okoro as they were invisible in the first two games.
I’d like to see the Cavs put Mobley on Jason Tatum, who averages 30.4 points per game. If he can maintain that level for the rest of the season he will become the first Celtics player to average 30 points for a full season. I assume Okoro will be assigned to stop Jaylen Brown.
These teams face off again in Cleveland in five days. The Cavs are six games behind the Celtics with 18 to play so I don’t expect the tiebreaker to come into play, but a win in Boston to follow up the beatdown of the Raptors would be huge for the Cavs’ confidence down the stretch and into the playoffs. This game against a healthy Celtics team on the road will be a great test and a valuable opportunity to experience a playoff atmosphere in a hostile environment against an elite team.
