Boston Celtics cannot be fazed by runs in Cleveland
The Boston Celtics need to be prepared to withstand as many runs as possible against the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Boston Celtics have shocked the NBA community with their 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they are playing at a level that most thought was impossible. One of the most remarkable parts of these two games has been the consistency by Boston.
They have been streaky and giving up runs on both ends all season long. In these two games, they have played with remarkable consistency, and it has allowed them to have two convincing victories.
The Celtics were able to mitigate the LeBron James flurry in game two, and the biggest advantage the Cavaliers got in any other quarter was four points.
In game one, they went on their surge, and they never got slowed into a lull. The Cavaliers had their minor run in the third, but the game was never within single digits, meaning the Celtics maintained their level of play in a way that has been rare this season.
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The Celtics are learning how to make sure they are not too streaky themselves, and they are making sure the Cavaliers cannot go on any runs that are destroying games.
In Cleveland, it will be even more difficult. The Cavaliers will have the crowd behind them and we have seen their offense overpower teams at times. The Celtics know their defense is the key to stopping runs, but it may be impossible to that entirely.
The Celtics need to make sure that no run, on either end, can define the game. The Celtics cannot let a shooting slump on their end throw off their whole game, and they cannot let a Cavaliers offensive surge distract them from what they need to do in order to be great.
Basketball is always a game of runs, and the Celtics have been living through runs all season long. These two games in the Conference Finals have been the most steady, where they have maintained their high level of play throughout.
The Celtics have to anticipate this Cavaliers team will be all over the place in every aspect. With the Celtics, defense is the difference. No matter how streaky they or the Cavaliers are on offense, defense is how you prevent any individual run from destroying a game.
The Celtics need to keep everything in check, and need to make sure everyone on the court is a positive presence. The Cavaliers know they will have liabilities at all times, and on both ends of the court.
As long as the Celtics continue to get the advantages they know will become available, and if they stay focused on what they know they are capable of, the Celtics will bounce back from any kind of run the Cavaliers might go on.
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The Celtics know it will be harder to win in Cleveland, but they also know that if they play their game, and they play it for four quarters, there is no way the Cavaliers will go on the kind of runs that will destroy the game for Boston.