Predictions: Celtics vs Cavaliers (Poll Added)

[GreenEnvy]

This really may be the series we finally see the chink in LeBron’s armor.

We have bodies to continually throw at him from Brown and Tatum to Morris and Semi to even Horford. I think without a go-to scorer like Kyrie, we are going to make LeBron WORK.

We are not going to let “the others” beat us. LeBron is going to have to put up 45 every night if he wants to win. And he certainly can do that, but every game? He’s played the most games in his career at this point in the season (93 games heading into the ECF) and it’s got to start wearing on him, no?

I think he got a little breather against the Raptors and with nearly a week off between games, he should come out guns blazing. But I believe Brad has a new gameplan for them.

We made Giannis work for his and he tired. We let Embiid play one-on-one and he exhausted himself. We need to make him work defensively at all times and not get his “walking rest” during the game.

I think this is going to be a fun series.

[mef730]

Cavs in four. Maybe five.

Sorry,
Mike

Ditto. Refs will mollycoddle Lebron.

Based on what we saw the first two series, that's my biggest fear (after that LeBron guy). I think in all my posts on CB, this is only the second or third time I've complained about the officiating. But some of what we saw, particularly in Game 4 at Philly, was just outlandish.

Mike

[nickagneta]

Celtics take game 7 in a massive upset and beat Golden State to win the 2018 NBA Championship!!!   Yeah, baby!!!!!!!

Oh, ........against Cleveland........we took them in 5!

[Phantom255x]

My heart says Celtics in 6, but my mind says Cavaliers in 6...

But it's okay, I'm absolutely proud of this group nonetheless. After winning the 2nd game of the Bucks series, I always felt everything after that was gravy (a bonus). But boy this team defied my expectations like they have all series (winning the Bucks series, then dispatching The Process in 5 games).

My thinking is, this Cavaliers team is vulnerable (especially w/o Kyrie, since no one on that team is really close to him - not Hood, Clarkson, etc). Our depth is also better and coaching too.

THAT SAID, Lebron is just a whole new breed, a beast. Unlike Giannis and Simmons, Lebron can score from anywhere he wants to. He can also dominate a game on his own. ALSO, Cavaliers have a lot more playoff experience overall than PHI and MIL did.

And regardless how you feel about Stephen A. Smith, he does bring up a good point that the C's may have a ton of trouble defending a 260 pound, muscular and bigger Lebron James. Sure, we can give him trouble and make it harder for him, but he'll still probably get his numbers. Ojeyele may help in spurts, but boy Jaylen and Morris will have their hands full.

I do think we will put up a much better fight than Toronto though and push this to at least 6 games. The thing is, in the TOR-CLE series, even though 2 of the games were real close, those two games were still super predictable. Toronto's defenders were SCARED each time Lebron walked up the court in those clutch moments. I don't see our guys backing down even in crunch time. Even if LBJ hits the shot or makes the plays, our guys will be more physical with him and make him work for everything.

Ultimately, Morris and Tatum will be the X-Factors. We CAN'T have Morris shoot poorly this series like he did the last series (and last night, where he went 1-10). Tatum needs to stay aggressive, even when Lebron is guarding him. If not by scoring, then Tatum has to make the right decisions at least and limit the turnovers. It's asking a lot for a 20 year old who is two days younger than me (lol), but he's been exceptional so far these playoffs. Lets hope it continues!

[Erik]

I have Celtics in 7 or Cavs in 6. Not sure how people have Celtics in 6. Closing the Cavs out on their home court would be difficult, to say the least.

[Phantom255x]

I have Celtics in 7 or Cavs in 6. Not sure how people have Celtics in 6. Closing the Cavs out on their home court would be difficult, to say the least.

See, I'd say the same, however, even with Game 7 at TD Garden (and our fantastic overall record of Game 7's at TD Garden), I just think Game 7 Lebron would tear us apart lol. Maybe it's just me.

Also, this poll seems real biased LOL. No way we're all this confident and sure we take this series in 6... 

Hope we do win in 6-7 games, but realistically think it's CLE in 6.

[jambr380]

I have Celtics in 7 or Cavs in 6. Not sure how people have Celtics in 6. Closing the Cavs out on their home court would be difficult, to say the least.

See, I'd say the same, however, even with Game 7 at TD Garden (and our fantastic overall record of Game 7's at TD Garden), I just think Game 7 Lebron would tear us apart lol. Maybe it's just me.

Also, this poll seems real biased LOL. No way we're all this confident and sure we take this series in 6... 

Hope we do win in 6-7 games, but realistically think it's CLE in 6.

Luckily we don't need to put our money where our mouths are 

It's just bad form to bet against your own team when there is nothing to lose.

[Drucci]

Celtics in 6!

[bdm860]

The CLE/IND series to me, was kind of like that moment in Rocky IV when Rocky cut Drago.

Indiana taking the first game (and then taking the Cavs to 7, with the only blowouts being in Indiana's favor) was like that punch when Rocky cut Drago.  Indiana hit that punch that made LeBron bleed.  They cut him, they hurt him.  Showed he's not a machine, he's a man!  They  just didn't have enough to finish the evil villian off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFYjOZu3nG8


Then LeBron went and killed Toronto/Apollo Creed, and everyone thinks he's the ruthless killing machine again.

LeBron's corner men cleaned and closed up the cut.  C's just got to hit that punch that opens up the cut and makes LeBron bleed again.   If the C's take game 1, I think they can take the series.

This is just Rocky IV, with a couple of the scenes out of order.  That's what my heart's telling me anyway, my mind on the other hand...

[colincb]

Cavs in 6.  Just picking with my head.

Same here. We're running out of healthy bodies and we were wearing down against the Sixers already. I do expect Semi to play more minutes this series and he's a better match against LBJ than against Simmons/Embiid.

If we were completely healthy, we win this series. The Cavs' window is closing.

[liam]

Cavs in four. Maybe five.

Sorry,
Mike

Ditto. Refs will mollycoddle Lebron.

Based on what we saw the first two series, that's my biggest fear (after that LeBron guy). I think in all my posts on CB, this is only the second or third time I've complained about the officiating. But some of what we saw, particularly in Game 4 at Philly, was just outlandish.

Mike

I really hope we've seen the last of Scott Foster and Tony Brothers, the fixer brothers!

[Vermont Green]

The Celtics have been great but I don't think the current team is as good as Toronto and CLE swept the Raptors.  I don't feel that this stacks up well for them.  LeBron is LeBron and clearly the best player on the court (not like some of the young players we have been up against so far).  I also think Love is going to have a good series against us (unless someone pulls his arm out of socket).

George Hill seems to be back and stable so the supporting cast is actually pretty good; Hill, Smith, Green, Thompson, Korver, Hood, Clarkson, Calderon, are all decent.  On any given night, a couple of these can get hot and help out (don't need everyone of them every night win like the Celtics need of their depth).

On the plus side, CLE has been averse to playing defense so maybe we can steal some wins and get some drama going within CLE's locker room.

In the words of a great Celtic, "anything's possible..."

[CelticsElite]

I'm serious and not joking when I say Celtics in 4


The cavs are a terrible team. Lebron cannot take brown+tatum down, while watching rozier horford and Morris


He can't do it all

[Alleyoopster]

Cavs in four. Maybe five.

Sorry,
Mike

Ditto. Refs will mollycoddle Lebron.

Based on what we saw the first two series, that's my biggest fear (after that LeBron guy). I think in all my posts on CB, this is only the second or third time I've complained about the officiating. But some of what we saw, particularly in Game 4 at Philly, was just outlandish.

Mike

Unless it's just my biased opinion, I thought the refs did a good job calling the game yesterday. There didn't seem to be many complaints from the players.

I thought they missed about 5-6 calls, but most of them they got right and they didn't disrupt the momentum of the game for either team.

Tatum still isn't getting any respect from refs on either end of the floor. He had a clean pick on one of his reach-in fouls and when he scores-with-contact on drives to the hoop, they don't call it. (It's the norm now.)

[Neurotic Guy]

The Cs needed game 1 and will also need game 2 to be considered even money in this series.  Going to Cleveland 1-1 isn’t good enough.  The Cavs should hold home court and return to Boston 2-2 if the C’s win on Tuesday.  So the good win yesterday was nothing more than what they had to do.  Cavs won’t shoot as poorly and Lebron won’t give away the ball 7 times again in this series. 

50-50 series if the C’s hold serve at home tomorrow.  80-20 for Cavs if they take game 2.