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The Cavaliers completely demoralized the Raptors team and fanbase in their first two games in Cleveland. DeMar DeRozan has offered $100 to anybody who can stop LeBron, though honestly I think he was sort of low-balling everyone. You can do better than that, DeMar.
The Raptors, on the court, might not be able to do better than that, but if they’re going to make this a series, not unlike last year, it’ll have to start in Game 3.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics - Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals
When: Friday, 8:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Where to watch: TNT
What to Watch for:
- The Cavaliers destroyed the Celtics in Game 1, and the first quarter will tell us a lot about how the rest of this game and series will go. If the Celtics wilt quickly, then we can probably write off this series. On the other hand, if they jump out to an early lead, we might have ourselves a series.
- Somehow, some way, the Boston Celtics will have to keep Tristan Thompson off of the offensive glass.
Tristan Thompson pulled down 26.1 percent of CLE misses while he was on the floor in Game 1
— Carter Rodríguez (@Carter_Shade) May 19, 2017
That % tops 25 teams' average OREB% this season
- I’m not saying that Boston can completely keep Thompson away from offensive rebounds, but they have to do better than this.
- Kyrie Irving will probably not have another game with 11 points or less again this series. I know, bold. Irving let the Cavaliers offense flow naturally in Game 1, preferring to move the ball and pick his spots. My guess is that Brad Stevens will make some changes that will require the Cavs to get more from Irving and he will oblige.
- LeBron James is a problem without a solution for the Celtics. Brad Stevens mentioned that they might have to go to the unpalatable solution of doubling James, but that’s just what the Cavaliers want. It’s fair to wonder if, after a tough shooting game, the Celts might just ask the Cavaliers shooters to beat them instead of James getting repeated wide open layups with little resistance on the way.
- The Celtics have to shoot better from distance. They started 2-16 from three in the first game with a significant amount of wide open looks that the Cavaliers hard-trapping defense allowed. They have to can those or they’ve got no chance.
Fear the Sword’s Fearless Prediction
The Cavaliers are too good, too smart, too rested and too locked in for a Celtics team that hasn’t had a ton of time to adjust. The Cavaliers win 117-109.