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Boston Celtics will Challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers

By Talar Kahwajian

Feb 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; The Boston Celtics celebrate after guard Avery Bradley (0) reacts after hitting a three-point shot to end the game and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Celtics won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; The Boston Celtics celebrate after guard Avery Bradley (0) reacts after hitting a three-point shot to end the game and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Celtics won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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It may seem crazy, but this Boston Celtics team has what it takes to push Cleveland to the absolute limit.

I’m a firm believer that the Boston Celtics (if healthy) are still more of a challenge to the Cleveland Cavaliers than the Toronto Raptors are.  It’s no disrespect to our friends up north, but the Celtics just play with a different level of physicality.

Listen, the Celtics could go out Thursday night in Cleveland and totally lay an egg.  But with a healthy team and a group that’s finally started to find their groove, I think we’ll see a much more tightly contested game.

With JR Smith out, the Cavs two guard spot isn’t nearly as worrisome.  Not many teams can lay out guys like Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, and Jae Crowder  to switch between Irving and James.  Even Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown could see some time, just because of their defense and quickness.  Boston can mix and match anyway they want and give Cleveland all different types of looks to throw them off.

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Al Horford impact on this team cannot  be overlooked.  The C’s finally have a threat in their front court that opposing teams have to worry about.  He’s smart, patient and plays with a tenacity that I don’t think most C’s fans knew about.

The offense has been flowing better with Al, and with Avery Bradley the defense has been thriving.  He’s become a tremendous two-way player, and his All-Star season just keeps rolling.  Isaiah Thomas finally has scoring help.

If you watched the Cavs-Warriors game on Christmas Day, Boston looks nowhere near those teams.  But Brad Stevens is crafty, and I personally believe he’s the most creative coach in the league, especially with ATO’s.  If the C’s can control the pace and stick to their game plan while limiting turnovers, I’ll always believe they have a shot against anyone.

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Remember guys, last season the Celtics beat BOTH the Cavs and the Warriors on their own home courts.  If anyone can challenge the champs, it’s the guys in green.

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