It's time the Celtics take down Goliath

[Phantom255x]

We certainly would be the best defensive team the Cavaliers have faced all these playoffs so far, BUT while Giannis and Simmons are currently limited a bit with their lack of a true jump shot... unfortunately Lebron isn't (not at all)... 

Also, feels like Love and Thompson historically just kill us even if they look mediocre against others. This is where Baynes is going to have to step up again, and hopefully Horford keeps it up.

[KGs Knee]

I want to believe we can beat the Cavs, but LeBron is playing as good as he ever has. And it figures that Kevin Love would decide to finally break out of his funk right in time for a matchup with the C's.

I'm not ruling out the possibility of the C's beating the Cavs, Boston has been defying the odds and playing some inspired ball, but it is going to be a monumentally difficult task.  Beating the Bucks and Sixers is nowhere near the same as facing a top 5 all-time player who is at his peak.

Cavs are nowhere as good as Sixers or Bucks defensively. Pacers laid a blueprint on how to expose them on defense. Brad will surely find ways to exploit matchups. Both Giannis and Simmons are very good preparations against LeCoach.

I'm not worried about our ability to score, I'm worried about LeBron just continuing to do to us what he has for years now. We haven't had any answer for him since the height of the PP/KG era.

[footey]

Lebron is Brad Steven’s kryptonite.

[td450]

While LeBron was posting some of the most dominating performances of his career in the second half of the season, the Cavs were terrible. Their team lives and dies with Love and Thompson. We can beat them even if he cranks out the 40/10/10 games if we can dominate the rest of the roster, and I think we can do that.

We are not playing them with the same team we've had for the past few years. Jae Crowder was a solid defender, but a very average athlete, and we had no plan B. We were very soft up front. That's over.

Unless our offense goes cold or Jaylen goes down, we're going to beat them.

[seancally]

Saw a thread a while ago with this concept, but can't find it now. Here's what bothers me:

Can the Raptors give a LITTLE BIT of trouble for the Cavs??? Like, take a single game? Be a TINY bump in the road? No. Instead they are the Cavs' warm-up round. Lebron said, "OK, let's it together." The Raptors allowed the Cavs to sharpen the knife in Round 2 after taking a bludgeoning in Round 1. Unbelievable.

I still think we have as good a chance as any team in the East to take it at the Cavs (and hopefully we take care of business on Wednesday). But give me a break. Not happy that Toronto basically helped the Cavs here.

[Alleyoopster]

Let's win this series first....

[Donoghus]

Let's win this series first....

Yup.

[celticinorlando]

Take down Philly first. Don't need to get stuck on the mud going back to Philly giving them a ton of confidence.

[BringToughnessBack]

I agree, lets take care of business before worrying about what comes next.

Vegas has us as Home underdogs tomorrow night as well.

[billysan]

Still have to beat LeBron to get past them and he has some vitriol for us because we hammered him quite a bit early in his career.

Whatever he has, vitriol is a great word. TP4U

I still want Semi on him like a fur parka for most of the 3rd quarter, just wear him down.

I really feel good about our chances against Cleveland this year. I just hope Smart and Brown arent too banged up.

[Erik]

I'm not sure if it's vitriol. He has a lot of respect for our franchise. He was recently asked what the toughest Eastern Conference teams were for him throughout his career and he didn't even think.. he just spit out "Boston."

[billysan]

I'm not sure if it's vitriol. He has a lot of respect for our franchise. He was recently asked what the toughest Eastern Conference teams were for him throughout his career and he didn't even think.. he just spit out "Boston."

Yeah he has to say that doesnt he? All the tough games he had against Pierce and KG. Then there was I.T. and that crowd last year. Now the current version is still no joke.

[Phantom255x]

I'm not sure if it's vitriol. He has a lot of respect for our franchise. He was recently asked what the toughest Eastern Conference teams were for him throughout his career and he didn't even think.. he just spit out "Boston."

Yeah he has to say that doesnt he? All the tough games he had against Pierce and KG. Then there was I.T. and that crowd last year. Now the current version is still no joke.

What crowd? Fans or rest of our team? (Sorry idk what you meant)

[billysan]

Crowder, Avery and the boyz. Only Smart, Horford and Brown still here, so a new 'crowd' to put around Lebron. Much different now than with Jerebko trying to check Lebron isnt it?

Oops, forgot Rozier. 

[coco]

One thing is certain.  I rxpect the Cs to try hard taking the ball out of LBJ hands.

Raptors didnt even tried