Boston Celtics Keys to Victory Against Cavs

A tradition unlike any other.

No, I’m not talking about The Masters. It’s NBA playoff time and that means only one thing: the Boston Celtics versus LeBron James.

The Celtics have played a LeBron led team 25 times in his 12-year career, winning twelve of them. The Celtics have won two series. LeBron has won two series. Though these aren’t necessarily the dominant Celtics of years past, this year’s edition of the Boston Celtics are just pesky enough to be a thorn in LeBron’s career. In fact, LeBron had one of the strangest games of his career in Game 6 of round 2 in the 2010 playoffs. In this game, LeBron had a triple-double, yet had nine turnovers and seemingly gave up in the final minutes of the game. It would be his final game in his first go around with the Cavs.

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Like I said, this year’s Celtics are quite different than that of five years ago. This year’s team finished 40-42 and has players with very little playoff experience. The Celtics, if anything, have proven to be resourceful and unrelenting in making their run this year. Six wins in a row and seven straight road wins only add to the momentum the Celtics carry into the playoffs. Yet it’s going to take a lot more than peskiness and Boston mystique to lead the Celtics to taking down LeBron and the Cavs this time around.

DEFENSE

LeBron is going to get his points. On his career, LeBron is averaging 28.8 points per game in the playoffs versus the Celtics. The key for the Celtics is in stopping the supporting cast around him. Boston is not known for protecting the rim and will need to stop LeBron and Kyrie Irving (two of the best rim attackers in the game) from driving.

This will fall partly into the more than capable hands of Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart, the Celtics top two perimeter defenders. Though Bradley is dealing with a quad contusion, he has proven not only this season but in previous year’s playoffs that he is a stingy defender.

Once Boston settled on a regular rotation, team defense improved immensely. They are one of the best teams in limiting fast break points and even had a season-high 20 steals against the Cavs just last week. This kind of defensive presence, and limiting the scoring of supporting players like J.R. Smith and Kevin Love, will go a long way in helping the Celtics pull off the upset.

OFFENSE

One key for the Celtics, as in any game, is to limit turnovers. The Celtics have been at there best when keeping their turnovers under 12 and knocking down shots out of the fast break or early in the shot clock. This will be important in dealing with the Cavs length and size on the defensive end. Getting good looks early in the shot clock will only help the Celtics cause.

As will knocking down at least ten 3’s. They averaged at eight made 3’s a game on nearly 25 attempts. This is playoff time, though, and to be successful they will need to knock down close to 40% of their 3’s to win the series.

BENCH PLAY

Isaiah Thomas. A strong candidate for sixth-man of the year, Thomas has averaged 19 points a game since being acquired from the Phoenix Suns. He is the main catalyst off the bench and an all-around spark plug that drives the Celtics machine. Thomas is also normally on the floor for the all important fourth quarter and will be heavily relied upon in the playoffs. For the Celtics to have any chance, Thomas needs to be on top of his game.

Not that Thomas is the only cog off the bench. Kelly Olynyk, Jae Crowder, and Jonas Jerebko will all play important minutes off the bench. All can shoot the ball and also rebound well. These shooters will need to provide crucial minutes on the floor, especially when going against the Cavs bench.

Jared Sullinger is also a huge key in pulling off an upset. He has slowly been working his way back from a foot injury and provides another big body that can shoot. His offense has struggled since his return, but his rebounding has been solid. If he can get back to the player that averaged 13.3 points per game, the Celtics will have one more weapon in their arsenal.

COACHING

Celtics coach Brad Stevens has done a magnificent job this year in getting this team to compete. Twenty-two different players have suited up for the Celtics this year and many thought this team would be in line for a high draft pick this summer. Stevens found the right players to buy into his system and style of coaching and they have been rewarded with a playoff spot.

The Celtics have gone 20-12 since the All-Star break. Stevens consistently draws up out-of-bounds plays and he has brought forth maximum effort from this group. Stevens will need to utilize all his players available and keep that underdog spirit alive in this group if they are to advance.

Is it impossible? No. It’s the NBA playoffs. We all know anything can happen. While the cards seem stacked against the Celtics, if they accomplish these keys to victory, we may very well see the Celtics advancing to the second round.

Who knows? Maybe Boston mystique will be enough. They are playing against LeBron, after all. And one doesn’t get 17 banners in the rafters without a little mystique. And little luck.

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