When the Cavaliers take the court Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden, ghosts will lurk.
LeBron James signifying the end of his first stint in Cleveland by ripping off his jersey in the tunnel in Boston after the Cavs were eliminated by the Celtics in Game 6 of the conference semifinals on May 13, 2010.
James’ epic battle with Paul Pierce in Game 7 of the East semifinals in 2008, when James scored 45 and Pierce 41 as the Celtics prevailed 97-92. That game provided fuel for current Celtics’ star Isaiah Thomas, who watched the video before Monday night’s Game 7 as the Celts advanced to face the Cavs with a 115-105 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk dislocating the Cavs’ Kevin Love’s shoulder in Game 4 of the first-round series in Boston in 2015, ending Love’s first career playoff appearance. When it happened, Love called the play “bush league.”
J.R. Smith punching Jae Crowder in the same game, a Cavs’ closeout victory, with Crowder going down following Smith’s vicious backhand and spraining his ACL. The incident cost Smith a two-game suspension.
The Celtics are the No. 1 seed, but the Cavs are favored to win the series. No matter the outcome, memorable clashes might be in store, especially with Thomas experiencing a storybook run after the death of his 22-year-old sister Chyna in a single-vehicle crash on April 15.
“It’s time,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, a former Celtics assistant, said when asked for a read on his team. “We’ve gotten here faster than Boston did. But they scratched and clawed their way and it just shows the team they had all season. They play hard, scrap and compete. That’s just who they are and wouldn’t take it any other way. Knowing some of their coaches on their coaching staff, they like the way they did it. Now we’re both here. It’s time. They’re pretty excited and I know we’re excited as well.”
Backcourt
Nine days in between games should most benefit Kyrie Irving, who has shot .399 from the field during the playoffs, .281 from 3-point range. In the postseason, Irving is averaging 23.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists, but for the Cavs to repeat as champions, he’ll have to reach another level. Kyle Korver became a factor in the final two games of the conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 32 points and making 11-of-15 from the field and 8-of-12 from 3-point range. Defense might continue to be the top priority for J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, who averaged 6.0 and 5.8 points, respectively, against the Raptors and carry 6.4 and 4.4 averages in the playoffs. Lue said Shumpert, at 26 nearly five years younger than Smith, will start off on point guard Thomas, who is averaging 25.4 points (.441 from the field, .343 from 3-point range) in the playoffs. In Monday’s Game 7 against the Washington Wizards, Thomas keyed an 18-2 run that began in the third quarter and finished with 29 points (on 9-of-21 shooting). In a 114-91 victory over the Celtics in TD Garden on April 5, the Cavs “held” Thomas to 26 points, 1-of-8 beyond the arc. Avery Bradley (15.8 points per game in the playoffs) is a protégé of Lue. Marcus Smart (8.0 points, 5.1 rebounds) came up big in Game 7 vs. the Wizards with 13 points. Terry Rozier (5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds), the Celtics’ 2015 first-round pick from Youngstown and Shaker Heights High School, is also starting to make his presence felt off the bench.
Edge: Cavs.
Frontcourt
LeBron James continues to play perhaps the best all-around basketball of his career in the postseason, averaging 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists. He’s shooting .557 from the field, .468 from 3-point range and .728 from the free-throw line. Kevin Love said after the Raptors series the Cavs can reach another level and he might have been referring to himself, although he’s averaging 13.8 points in the postseason. Lue has vowed to get Love more touches, but will still ride the wave with James. Tristan Thompson has continued to excel in the playoffs, averaging 7.8 points and 10.6 rebounds (he’s never been below a nine-rebound average in three postseasons). Celtics’ stretch forward/center Kelly Olynyk played the game of his life Monday, scoring a career playoff-high 26 points, making 10-of-14 shots with five rebounds and four assists. He topped his previous playoff-best in the fourth quarter, when he contributed 14 points. His newfound confidence should make for some physical battles with Love, who surely hasn’t forgotten his shoulder injury at Olynyk’s hands. Al Horford is averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the playoffs. Jae Crowder (13.2 points, 6.0 rebounds) might be inspired to face Smith because of their 2015 incident.
Edge: Cavs.
Coaching
Lue continues to show his skill at game-planning with lots of time to prepare. He said strategy for the Raptors, Celtics and Wizards was virtually set by the end of the regular season. He carries a 78-45 record in the regular season and a 24-5 record in the playoffs. The Celtics’ Brad Stevens, the former Butler University coach, continues to be the league’s rising star, but he’s the same age as Lue (40). Stevens is 166-162 in four seasons and 10-13 in the playoffs. This might be just the tip of the iceberg in their playoff battles, but the 2016 title gives Lue the edge for now.
Edge: Cavs.
Prediction: Cavs in six games.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs.