Cleveland Cavaliers 117-104 Boston Celtics
Every online betting vet knew that the Cleveland Cavaliers will either slump terribly or come out of the gates running. Betting odds even supported the Celtics by virtue of their game shape.
However, the Cavaliers came to the TD Garden to play hard-nosed basketball, and their extended rest helped them edge out the exhausted Boston Celtics.
The biggest contribution came from Cleveland’s frontcourt. LeBron James has been a standout in the playoffs and will continue to wow the crowd throughout the series. He ended the first game with 38 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals on a 58% shooting clip.
Kevin Love was an unstoppable wrecking ball with his 32 points and 12 rebounds. He was also deadly from long range, only missing three of his nine three-point attempts. Tristan Thompson made all of his shot attempts, ending the night with 20 points and 9 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving had a quiet night on the floor. He made 11 points and 6 assists in 34 minutes of action. His production was understandably mediocre by his standards given the amount of backcourt talent Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has in his arsenal.
Tyronn Lue acknowledged Isaiah Thomas as the biggest threat to the Cavaliers and brilliantly set up a defensive plan to stifle IT’s effectiveness on the floor. The little big man still finished with 17 points and 10 assists, but his offensive prowess was greatly limited by Irving and the rest of the Cavs.
With their star guard taken out of the equation, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder tried to make up with their 42 combined points. However, their offence did little to turn the tide and win the game for them. Even Kelly Olynyk’s physical defence did little to mum the Cavaliers’ frontcourt.
The C’s need some serious defensive adjustments to reach the Promised Land. If they cannot find a way to stop LeBron and Friends from dominating, we may see the Cavs bring out the brooms for the third time these playoffs.
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