What needs to change for the Celtics to win Game 2?

Avery Bradley shoots the ball against Kyle Korver of the Cavaliers in the first half during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

By Chad Finn

May 19, 2017

2 minutes to read

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LeBron and the Cavs looked [bad word] unstoppable in Game 1. Tell me how the Celtics prevent it from happening again in Game 2, because that wasn’t just depressing. They made it look easy. – Dollar Bill

They sure did. That was a dismantling — the final score, 117-104, felt more like 177-104 — and they did it without getting much from Kyrie Irving (11 points on 4-of-11 shooting). He’ll have his moments before this series is over.

It would help if LeBron isn’t as determined to send such a ruthless message in the second game of the series as he was in the first. Good luck with that. But even with the acknowledgement that Cleveland is on a collision course for a rematch with the Warriors and the Celtics probably aren’t much more than a speed bump along the way, there are realistic things the green can do to at least be competitive in Game 2 and perhaps even steal the thing. And they don’t even involve Cleveland resting any starters or showing up at the wrong venue or anything like that.

The most important thing is probably the simplest: Make shots that they usually make. Whether the Celtics were tired or too amped up or just simply off in unison, they shot terribly when it mattered in Game 1, hitting just 16 of 45 shots in the first half (the Cavs were 22 of 39) and hitting just 1 of their first 15 from behind the 3-point line. The Celtics’ final stats were a little more encouraging, albeit padded in garbage time — they were 11 of 24 from 3 in the second half. They make shots, and it prevents LeBron from turning into a locomotive in the other direction, too.

There are other details that must be repaired. Tristan Thompson can’t go for 20 points and 9 rebounds again. Kevin Love (32 points, 18 in the third quarter) can’t be allowed endless open looks from the corner. Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas can’t shoot a combined 11 for 30 again.

I actually think there’s a decent chance the Celtics win tonight. One of those 15-point first-quarters from Avery Bradley would go a long way toward erasing the memory of Game 1. But what do you guys think? What needs to change/happen for the Celtics to even this series? I’ll see you in the comments.