The Celtics do exceptionally well when the Jays deliver. Tonight, they combined to score 83, the most they ever had as a tandem. Yet, the defiance of the Cleveland Cavaliers found a way through their sublime individual performance. Led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 41, the Cavs evened the season series at two games apiece. Now, it’s all down to a hypothetical. Can the scores be settled in the postseason? That’s all the Celtics’ two crown jewels want.
Tatum was the pick of the Celtics players today. He notched up a near 46-point triple-double. Furthermore, the Celtics ran rampant with a 25-3 start. Yet, the Cavaliers managed to slowly dissect the lead. It was a major upset for the reigning champions. But Tatum also acknowledged how good of a team Cleveland is and if it comes down to a playoff game, he assures fireworks.
“I mean two really good teams with well-coached, deep rosters, know how to play compete. I think all four matchups have been really fun and high-level. As a fan, you enjoy watching that. As a competitor, you enjoy being a part of those and you know whatever happens down the line if we see him again certainly to be more of the same high-level basketball,” Jayson Tatum said after the game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the personnel to match the Celtics’ star-studded roster. But the one threat the Celtics haven’t been able to stop is Donovan Mitchell. Aside from his season-high 41 today, Spida has hit 30+ points in all the prior three matchups. There’s one catch though. The Shamrocks have never had their fully established starting lineup when facing the Eastern Conference leaders.
Jaylen Brown feels if they have all their pawns available, the Celtics could manage to limit Mitchell’s success in the postseason.
“We’ll look at it and we’ll be ready if we played them in a series. We’re pretty versatile as a team so we’ll be able to give different looks. You know tonight he tried to find the matchups that he wanted and things like that to get his in a good spot. But if we potentially see them down the line we’ll have some good information,” Brown noted in his press conference.
This is an enthralling playoff series that NBA fans will most certainly want to see. To the defending champions, this could be their defining test to achieve a back-to-back. On the other hand, if the Cavaliers best Boston, it could be their coming-of-the-age moment. But because of how closely contested the teams are, it will come down to one thing.
Health will be at the forefront
The reporter pointed out an important factor the Celtics have been missing when facing the Cavaliers this season. They haven’t been fully healthy. Tonight, they were without Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Holiday is renowned as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. His absence arguably made Mitchell’s job easier. But in all fairness, the Cavaliers’ stellar guard has managed to find a way through the defensively charged Celtics backcourt.
On the other hand, stopping their two towering bigs Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley is difficult without Porzingis in the mix. The former Knicks center has been largely limited due to recurring injury concerns. Now, they even have Jaylen Brown on the list. After sitting out their last game due to a left thigh injury, Brown admitted “I didn’t feel my best to start the day today”.
But he also understands that playing through ailments is a part of the grueling nature of success. “You get ready for later in the season when you don’t always feel your best either. You just got to come out and do what you got to do for your team,” the reigning Finals MVP stated.
Certainly, the Boston Celtics need all of their components during the playoffs.
When running their preferred lineup, the Celtics have a record of 14-6. It’s their best-performing lineup this season and without surprise. It covers every base. Holiday and White’s combination in the backcourt is like hitting into the prison guards themselves. Jayson Tatum and Brown too contribute immensely on defense. The Unicorn, using his long wingspan adds the shot-blocking aspect.
The core advantage though is each of them can hit three-pointers at a high clip. For the Celtics, that’s the be-all and end-all. Don’t get it mistaken though. The Cavaliers’ starting lineup is no different. Aside from Allen, even Mobley has now started to launch shots from beyond the arc. Additionally, the trick to contain Donovan Mitchell is still up in the air.
If they do meet, it’s as good as a championship matchup. Both teams are powerful, well-equipped, and flexible in their depth. It’s tough to pick who wins after four games left them all square. But if you had to choose, whom would you side with?
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