Celtics-Cavs: Five things to watch in Eastern Conference finals
BOSTON – Here are five things to watch in the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics:
Playoff LeBron
It’s a question that has perplexed many NBA coaches. How do you limit LeBron James? Based on the way he’s playing right now, there is no answer. He’s averaging 34.4 points, nine rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 55.7% from the field and 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 Cavs 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 Ty Lue said. “He’s been playing great. Hopefully, we can continue that.”
Isaiah Thomas playing through 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 22-year-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 attempt to get the basketball out of his hands. Cleveland will blitz, trap and double-team him as necessary, and guard him with multiple defenders, including Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and James.
Thomas needs to find the open teammate quickly against the Cavs.
Latest NBA coverage:
Celtics' Isaiah Thomas pushes through the pain
NBA mock draft 1.0: Is Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball the No. 1 pick?
Underdog Boston Celtics out to prove they belong vs. Cleveland Cavs
The importance of making three-pointers
The three-ball will play an important role in this series. Cleveland is shooting a league-best 43.4% from that range and making a league-high 14.4 threes per game this postseason, 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," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "It’s something else. It’s tough to prepare for.”
But Boston can make those shots, too. They’ve made 13.1 threes per game and shot 37.3% from long distance.
Taking care of the glass
Rebounding, specifically giving up offensive rebounds, has been an issue for the Celtics all season. It’s 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 Cleveland in transition
Cleveland 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 the Cavs have played just eight games.
They score quickly off turnovers, missed shots and made shots. They love their dunks, three-point 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).
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
