USA TODAY International Edition
Slowing James, Cavaliers could be monumental task for Celtics
Here are five things to watch for in the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
Slowing LeBron: It’s a question that has perplexed many NBA coaches: How do you limit LeBron James? Based on the way he’s playing, there is no answer. He’s averaging 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocked shots and shooting 55.7% from the field, including 46.8% on three- pointers. When he’s scoring, rebounding, passing, playing defense and making shots inside and out, the Cavs are unstoppable. With James on the court, the Cavaliers score 117.4 points and allow 103.2 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA. com/ stats.
“He’s playing at an all- time high now, and that’s the reason we’ve been riding him out throughout these playoffs,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “He’s been playing great. Hopefully we can continue that.”
Thomas’ pain: It’s been a difficult postseason for Isaiah Thomas physically and emotionally. He needed extensive oral surgery on multiple teeth in the conference semifinals, and his 22year- old sister Chyna died in a car accident at the start of the playoffs.
But he has found a way to keep scoring, to keep making plays and to keep pushing Boston deeper into the playoffs.
This series will be his toughest on- court challenge. The Cavaliers have better and more defenders to send at him in an effort to get the ball out of his hands. Cleveland will blitz, trap and doubleteam him as necessary and guard him with multiple defenders, in- cluding Kyrie Irving, J. R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and James. Thomas must find the open teammate quickly vs. the Cavs.
Three- pointers: The threeball will play an important role in the series. Cleveland is shooting a league- best 43.4% from that range in the playoffs and making a league- high 14.4 threes per game, and it has shooters all over the court. The Cavs have seven rotation players who are shooting at least 40% on three- pointers: James, Smith, Shumpert, Deron Williams, Channing Frye, Kyle Korver and Kevin Love.
“All of those shooters around LeBron, it’s something else. It’s something else,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “It’s tough to prepare for.”
But Boston can shoot, too. It has made 13.1 threes per game and shot 37.4% from the arc.
Glass work: Rebounding, specifically giving up offensive rebounds, has been an issue for the Celtics all season. It has been a similar problem in the postseason. Boston has allowed 12.5 offensive rebounds per game in the playoffs, and against a team like the Cavaliers, the Celtics can’t give them more chances to score.
The Cavs are a strong rebounding team with James, Love and Tristan Thompson, and what worries Stevens are offensive rebounds with the defense scrambling to cover shooters. If Boston can limit offensive rebounds and equal or better Cleveland in that area, it will have a better chance at success. It requires a team effort, but Al Horford, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley need to keep the Cavs off the offensive boards. Slowing the Cavs: Cleve- land is the best transition team in the playoffs with James and Irving pushing the basketball and pressuring defenders.
The Cavs have scored more points in transition than any other playoff team, even though they have played just eight games.
They score quickly off turnovers, missed shots and made shots.
They love their dunks, threepoint shots and long outlet passes from Love before the opponent’s defense is ready. With their speed and shooting, it’s tough to stop, but Boston knows the need to be cognizant of that.
“Limit their transition. Limit our turnovers,” Thomas said. “We’re playing pretty well in the halfcourt. If we can get them to slow the game down and limit those two things, that puts us in the best position of winning ( Wednesday).