How do we beat the Cavs in the ECF?

[TA9]

I'm looking forward to seeing the starting lineup that Brad will use against the Cavs.

The Cavs will likely lineup like this:

PG: George Hill
SG: JR Smith
SF: Korver
PF: LeBron
C: Love

Who's going to chase Korver around the screens? Because we certainly can't have Tatum or Brown spending energy on that task - maybe Smart will start while Jaylen comes off the bench? And who's going to guard LeBron? Is Ojeleye going to get the nod again just like the Milwaukee series?

Personally, I am also a bit worried in terms of our offense. Our best offensive weapon (at least based on the Philly series) is Tatum and he is probably going to be guarded by LeBron meaning he won't have an easy time scoring points like he did against the kinds of Saric/Covington etc. in the Philly series. Rozier and Brown (and Al as well) will all have to step up. We can't expect Tatum to carry us on the offensive end.

[BitterJim]

The Cavs are the worse defense we've faced so far in the playoffs and The Celtics are the best The Cavs have faced!

That’s actually a good point.

Last year we were a terrible defensive team going up against a great offense (with Kyrie).

This year is a very, very different story.

I expect a competitive series. This is Brad’s third series against LeBron and Danny has given him much better defenders this time. Not having to worry about Kyrie iso is important. Having Kyrie in the locker room for tips may also be.

We were 12th is defensive rating last season. We weren't a great defense, but we weren't terrible either. We were pretty firmly average, and had a single terrible defender that teams could key into (and he missed most of the CLE series)

This year should be a much better showing, though

[BitterJim]

I'm looking forward to seeing the starting lineup that Brad will use against the Cavs.

The Cavs will likely lineup like this:

PG: George Hill
SG: JR Smith
SF: Korver
PF: LeBron
C: Love

Who's going to chase Korver around the screens? Because we certainly can't have Tatum or Brown spending energy on that task - maybe Smart will start while Jaylen comes off the bench? And who's going to guard LeBron? Is Ojeleye going to get the nod again just like the Milwaukee series?

If Brown's hamstring is fine, he should be chasing Korver. He's the best on the team at doing that

[TA9]

I'm looking forward to seeing the starting lineup that Brad will use against the Cavs.

The Cavs will likely lineup like this:

PG: George Hill
SG: JR Smith
SF: Korver
PF: LeBron
C: Love

Who's going to chase Korver around the screens? Because we certainly can't have Tatum or Brown spending energy on that task - maybe Smart will start while Jaylen comes off the bench? And who's going to guard LeBron? Is Ojeleye going to get the nod again just like the Milwaukee series?

If Brown's hamstring is fine, he should be chasing Korver. He's the best on the team at doing that

I agree. He's certainly the best at chasing guys on the defensive end. My concern is that he's going to use too much energy chasing guys which ultimately will affect his performance on the offensive end, which would be a disaster seeing that him and Tatum most likely are going to be the guys that will have to carry us on the offensive end.

[dreamgreen]

Well start with not letting Lebron run right down the middle and dunk on us non stop unlike last year!

Can Horford finally play even with Love?

Can Baynes play even with Thompson?

Can we slow Lebron down at all?

[celts55]

I'm looking forward to seeing the starting lineup that Brad will use against the Cavs.

The Cavs will likely lineup like this:

PG: George Hill
SG: JR Smith
SF: Korver
PF: LeBron
C: Love

Who's going to chase Korver around the screens? Because we certainly can't have Tatum or Brown spending energy on that task - maybe Smart will start while Jaylen comes off the bench? And who's going to guard LeBron? Is Ojeleye going to get the nod again just like the Milwaukee series?

If Brown's hamstring is fine, he should be chasing Korver. He's the best on the team at doing that

I agree. He's certainly the best at chasing guys on the defensive end. My concern is that he's going to use too much energy chasing guys which ultimately will affect his performance on the offensive end, which would be a disaster seeing that him and Tatum most likely are going to be the guys that will have to carry us on the offensive end.

Well who was chasing JJ Reddick around. That's who should be chasing Korver.

[Fireworks_Boom!]

Lebron is going to get his mis-matches at times during games. I like a combination of Morris/Ojeleye with Smart tormenting him at times. I wonder if they try something with Al bugging him at the pick and roll with Baynes supporting Al’s weakside near the basket?

It just feels different this year. This team has the it factor.

[timpiker]

Play them similar to the Bucks.  Hope LeBUM doesn't hit his outside shots.

[Tr1boy]

Make Lebron score or pass. And not give him a chance to do both

Abuse their defense. Like Tatum on Korver or Brown on JR

Home court adv

[Chris22]

It will be impossible for us to defeat Lebron, because the refs allow him to travel and commit offensive fouls at will.

[slamtheking]

It will be impossible for us to defeat Lebron, because the refs allow him to travel and commit offensive fouls at will.

He can be beat. 
1. He doesn't have Kyrie this year so he's had to take on more of the burden of scoring and defending.
2. C's are bigger and tougher this year.  That will be important in keeping Love and Thompson off the offensive glass this series.
3. C's have better defenders this year including many more wing defenders to put on Lebron --> Brown, Tatum, Morris, Semi, Smart and even Yabu if needed for a few minutes to hit Lebron hard on those drives.  Key is to make every foul count.  no ticky-tack crap.  hit him hard enough every time so that he knows he really got fouled.  don't be shy about sending him to the floor intentionally (not just his usual flopping).  With the number of minutes he needs to play for them, it'll take a toll on even Lebron. 
4. Stick with Lebron on D.  Make the other Cavs beat us.  Lebron will probably still get 30 every game but keep the rest of the team below their averages.
5. Go at their defensive weak links.  Put Smart in the post again like we did against Philly's guards.  Put Al and/or Tatum in the post against Love.  Drive against the Cavs guards and wings --> C's players are quicker and should be able to get by them.

Losing to the Cavs should not be a foregone conclusion.  C's can take this series even with the injuries.  Of course, they need 3 of Tatum, Brown, Rozier and Morris to show up on offense every game.  Can't afford to have 2 or god forbid 3 of them with an off night.
 

[jambr380]

I don't necessarily think we have the advantage because of Lebron and because of our injuries, but there are many factors that benefit us over last year:

- our defense is much better and theirs is the worst we will see in these playoffs
- no Kyrie to deal with - just Lebron with role players
- they just went 7 against Indy - they are beatable
- Brown, Tatum, and Rozier are much better than anybody could have hoped for
- our guys are fearless in crunch time
- Stevens has even more experience against this team

How we come out in game 1 should set the tone for the series. Indy was not scared at all, while Toronto...well, they are Lebronto for a reason. Let's hope the Patriots-style 01-02 season of underdogs can continue all the way through the finals!

[wdleehi]

Try and stay in front of James. 


Shut down Love. 

Attack the weak defense.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Play them similar to the Bucks.  Hope LeBUM doesn't hit his outside shots.

so what if he hits some outside shots? he will miss a bunch also if you make him take a huge volume. YOu cannot let him get to rim. guard other guys best we can. make lebron score 80 points from outside. he wont do that.

[Big333223]

Smart and Brown are going to have to be glued to Korver. They can't give that guy an inch of daylight. Horford is a nice match up with Love. If we see Tristan Thompson, I assume Stevens will break Monroe out of his glass case since he can bang around with him on the boards and should able to make things happen against him offensively.

No one can stop Lebron but the C's have bodies to throw at him and switch every which way.

I want to temper my expectations after what Cleveland did to Toronto but I do like the ways the Celtics match up. It would be nuts if they make the Finals with this team.