Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Celtics punch back against Legendary LeBron in Game 2

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Marcus Morris #13 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Two of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Marcus Morris #13 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Two of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Boston Celtics expected a heavy weight punch from LeBron James, but delivered the knock out block in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

When LeBron James has the kind of game he had in Game 1, he usually does something legendary.  In the first quarter of Game 2, King James was on his way to a dominant performance, but the Boston Celtics fought back to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the 107-94 win, the young Celtics proved that it is going to take a lot more than LeBron’s dominance to take this series away from the Celtics.

Trailing 55-48 at halftime, Boston clamped down on defense and took it to the Cavs in the third quarter.  Led by the tenacious hustle of Marcus Smart and resilient energy of Terry Rozier, the Celtics blew by Cleveland to eventually take a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.

LeBron did get his 40-plus points, but the Celtics found an answer.  Just giving up 39 total points in the second half, Boston turned to veteran big man Al Horford within the last four minutes of the game to seal the deal and send this series back to Cleveland with a 2-0 lead.

The series is far from over, but the Boston Celtics once again proved they won’t roll over to the man considered the best basketball player in the world.

First reactions

How about Jaylen Brown?

With 14 points in the first quarter, the second-year wing went toe-to-toe with LeBron in that first quarter.  Not only did he show no fear, he took it to the Cavaliers and kept the Celtics in the game early when it looked like Mr. James was ready to single handedly run the C’s off the court.

Jayson Tatum only scored 11 points in the game, but 9 of those points came in a key stretch in the second quarter.  His 9 consecutive points again kept the Celtics in the game when it looked like the Cavaliers were separating themselves.

More from Chowder and Champions

Turning point

There was a key point at the end of the second quarter when the Boston Celtics trimmed the lead to 7, but Marcus Morris showed intensity taking the ball to the hole against Tristian Thompson during a key play in the third quarter.

The layup, which resulted in a foul leading to a free throw, drew words between Thompson and Morris.  Not only did it show toughness from Morris, it showed this Boston Celtics team is not going to back down from anyone.

They proved it against the Greek Freak in the first round, they proved it again against Joel Embiid and they are proving it in Eastern Conference Finals against Legendary LeBron James.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points, Terry Rozier bounced back in the second half to add 18 and Al Horford scored 15 with key buckets down the stretch.

Next: Boston Celtics: ‘Scary Terry’ is taking the NBA by storm

Boston has now given the Cavs something to think about when the two teams resume the series on Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Home/Boston Celtics