The Celtics have to come out with confidence and with the actual belief that yes, we can beat Lebron. Start off fast or at least stay really close with them early (within 3-5 points). Slow starts and increasing deficits early on have killed us the last two games. Hopefully the guys can feed off the Garden energy and start fast. When the going gets tough, especially on the road, you can see the Cavaliers players turn on each other (like in the Indiana series, and even this series, Games 1 and 2).
Our biggest downfall on Monday night IMHO was the dumb, stupid plays we made throughout the game each time we got it somewhat close, as well as the missed dunks and open layups early. Convert those, and we should be good tonight. Smart and Morris need to stop jacking up iso-shots and make the wise decisions on the court. Make the extra passes to the open guy, and knock it down! My gut feeling tells me Smart redeems himself tonight and Morris tightens up his defense on Lebron (hopefully staying out of foul trouble as well). We NEED Scary Terry tonight. He's been scary at home, and it needs to continue if we want to win tonight. Getting 20+ from Brown again would be nice, and getting it from Tatum for the 1st time this series would be ideal.
The key to this game will be the Horford/Baynes vs. Love/Thompson front court battle. I'm sure CBS has made some adjustments and as long as we hold that match up to a draw, I like our chances tonight. Let Lebron get his 40+, so long as we contain and hound all their other threats (Korver, JR, Green, etc.). That's how we won Games 1 and 2, but unfortunately we allowed them to get hot at the Q. Just play with confidence, make the right plays, limit the turnovers, play with grit/hustle and beat them in transition. Really nervous, but cautiously optimistic too. Biggest game of the season but love the fact that it's in the friendly confines of TD Garden.
LETS GO C'S!!