The Boston Celtics are a veteran team. Three of the four principle stars on the team (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce) are on the wrong side of 30 years old. However, don’t dismiss them as an old team. Instead, remember that they won a title just two years ago, and have the heart of a champion.
What should the Cavaliers do to win this series? Here’s our take on how to accomplish the feat and advance to the conference finals.
On defense, the wine and gold need to keep Rajon Rondo from going to the basket and creating havoc. That’s easier said than done, especially for Mo Williams, whose defensive skills have slipped from a year ago. Rondo simply isn’t as effective from the perimeter as his outside shooting is not the strength of his game.
When Mike Brown plays Delonte West and Williams together, it makes more sense to put West on Rondo, where his quickness and length can bother the Celtics’ point guard. Williams can play Allen, who can go to the basket, but seems more content to spot up on the perimeter. Also, the height difference isn’t much of a difference between the two.
The Cavs should use their depth to pressure the Celtics, and make them work hard on every possession. Cleveland can run multiple looks on defense using Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to make a short shot clock for Boston. Mike Brown doesn’t use a lot of pressure defenses, but he may want to reconsider it in this series.
Offensively, the wine and gold should run as much as possible. The defense is part of this, because if they can force the Celtics into misses, the Cavs can get up the floor in a hurry for fast break opportunities. This strategy once again put pressure on Boston, which can pay dividends as the series goes on.
They also must move the basketball. The Cavaliers cannot run the offense where LeBron James dribbles endlessly on the perimeter. If they can move the ball back and forth, using both sides of the court, they can blow up the Celtics defensive game plan. Boston’s defenders are simply not a quick as they were two years ago.
Lastly, this is the playoffs, so every possession is precious. Cleveland has to take care of the basketball. And they can’t afford to fall in love with the three point shot. They have to challenge the Celtic defense by attacking the basket. Kendrick Perkins is solid defensively, but Garnett is not what he once was at that end. Although, he is still pretty good.
Much is being made of the three days off between games two and three, but that is because this is the first second round series to get started. Either both teams would get extra rest before the series started, or it would happen during the series. And television dictated they wanted this series to start tonight in prime time.
In the 60’s and 70’s, basketball fans talked about the famed Celtic fast break and their running game. Ironic, isn’t it, that the Cavs need to run the Celtics to win this series.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 