During the final week of the regular season, Celtics fans were amazed to see the Green not just qualify for the playoffs but lock in the seventh seed with two full games to play. And for most of yesterday’s first half, the Cs looked like they might just be heading for “Cinderella” status.
However, the glow wore off late in the 2nd quarter, as Cleveland proved they have way more talent than Boston. Here’s what we liked and didn’t like as the Cavs took a 1-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
UP
1. It’s just one game
Whether you lose a playoff game by one point or 40, the bottom line is the same: it’s only one loss. Nothing carries over to the next game. Example: When the Lakers destroyed the Celtics by 33 points to take a 2-1 series lead in the 1984 Finals, casual fans thought the series was over. But the Cs came back to win Game 4 in overtime and went on to take the title in seven games. Obviously, this Boston team won’t get anywhere near that. But if they can win the next game, they’ll head home tied 1-1 and we’ll all be ecstatic.
2. Playoff experience
Before yesterday, only five Celtics – Bass, Wallace, Turner, Bradley and Crowder – had any playoff experience. Now everyone, including Brad Stevens, knows a little bit better what to expect from the playoff atmosphere. It can’t hurt. In particular, Marcus Smart looked more than ready to handle postseason pressure. Kelly Olynyk, too, as he ripped off 10 points in his first six minutes off the bench. And we’re all now interested to see how Brad responds with customary playoff adjustments.
3. The 14-0 run
At halftime, John sent this tweet:
The start of this 3rd quarter is SO important. C’s will always fight, but asking them to overcome a 20pt playoff deficit would be too much
— John Karalis (@RedsArmy_John) April 19, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHe was correct all the way. Cleveland’s lead did grow to 20, and it was too much, but the Celts did fight back with 14 straight points. At minimum, it told the Cavs and their fans that Boston isn’t going down easy.
4. IT and the bench
That 14-0 run was led by reserves Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko, who combined for a dozen of those points. Overall, the Celts’ bench outplayed their Cavs counterparts, outscoring them 55-29. IT came through in his playoff debut with 22 points, 10 assists and even 5 rebounds. His game was marred by 5 turnovers, a couple of which led to Cavs fast break points, but overall the little guy came up big once again.
DOWN
1. Kyrie Irving
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Cavs guard was the first player in NBA history to score 30 points and hit five 3-pointers in his playoff debut. While LeBron and Love didn’t hurt the Celts as much as they might have, Irving was unstoppable. He made all four of his 3-point attempts in the 2nd quarter, including the buzzer-beater below. That performance turned the game around and gave Cleveland a lead that lasted until the final buzzer.
2. AB gets an F
Avery Bradley, on the other hand, was a no-show. He scored just 7 on 3-10 shooting (and only 1-6 from deep). AB even airballed two straight 3-point attempts in the final minutes. We don’t expect him to go off like Irving, but he must do more for Boston to have any chance.
3. Cavs’ offensive rebounding
Cleveland missed 45 shots but rebounded 15 of them, leading to 18 points that Boston simply couldn’t afford to give up. The Cavs have more size, but the Celtics must find a way to block them out or this will continue to be a problem.
4. Defending the three
In the regular season, Cleveland averaged 10.1 made threes on 27.5 attempts per game. Yesterday they were 13 of 31, including makes at the buzzer to close both the 2nd and 3rd quarters. If they had been held to their averages, it would have been a different ballgame. (Footnote: One of Irving’s 1st-half treys was reviewed by the officials, and the video showed his foot was on the line. Still, they let the three stand.)
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