What the Cavs are saying about the Celtics ahead of Game 1
The Celtics and Cavaliers meet on Sunday for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. In that series, LeBron James averaged 29.6 points per game as Cleveland bounced Boston from the playoffs with four blowout victories in five games. Both sides have endured turbulent seasons since they last met in May, but the new-look Cavaliers aren’t looking past the injury-plagued Celtics to the NBA Finals.
James gave an interesting answer when asked about the Celtics ability to reach this stage without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. He noted that, although he’s well aware of Irving’s ability (the injured point guard averaged 25.8 points against Boston in the 2017 conference finals), people shouldn’t be shocked by the success Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ young core have had without the two All-Stars.
For their part, the Celtics know what they’re up against as they try to prevent James from reaching his eighth-straight Finals.
“Physically, he is more superior than any guy that is on the floor,” Jaylen Brown said. “He’s 260-plus pounds. Can run like a gazelle. Athletic. He’s physical. He’s just unstoppable. We gotta be mentally locked in and have a mindset to try and do the best we can. LeBron is top 3, top 5 of all-time. He’s going to do what he does. We just gotta take away the other guys and have a great mindset of mentally being locked in every possession.”
Here’s what the Cavaliers are saying about the Celtics ahead of Game 1 at TD Garden:
LeBron James
I think they’re one of the most well-coached teams in our league. Obviously, you know what I’ve said about Brad Stevens before and his ability to get the most out of his guys, how great they are out of timeouts, late-clock situations as well no matter who is on the floor or no matter who has played for them, he can put guys in position to succeed and get the most out of whoever has been in their lineup over the past few years, it’s not just this year.
I think it has been a little bit overblown this year because of the names that has been out. But [Stevens] has gotten the most out of everybody he has ever put in his position since he’s gotten to Boston pretty much a few years ago.
A lot of people are saying, ‘How can they succeed like this without Gordon Hayward?’ I’ve heard that. He’s been out since the first quarter of Game 1, so it’s like do we even know who they would have … he’s not even like been on the team. So we can talk from like potential, but he’s been out since the first quarter of Game 1 in Cleveland. I get it with the Kyrie thing. He was obviously a teammate of mine for three years and I know what he’s capable of doing, but they got guys that’s damn good, no matter if they are young or not, they know how to play basketball and their coach has put them in position to succeed.
Just the history, you look up in the rafters, and you see all the greats that’s either played there or the previous arena they played in. It’s a sports town, you look at the Patriots, you look at the Bruins, you look at the Red Sox. You add them, look at all that history. It’s just a sports town. If you’re not green, they don’t really, they don’t mess with you.
Kevin Love
There’s been a lot that’s happened throughout the season with us and for them. Both teams have raised their level of play and been through it, but are here now and have to lay it all on the line.
‘Scary’ Terry [Rozier] has played great for them.
Tyronn Lue
They’re well-coached. Despite all the circumstances of guys getting hurt with Kyrie out, with Gordon being out for the whole year, they just keep plugging guys in and keep playing. Danny Ainge has done a good job of getting guys in that fit that mold of Celtics basketball and they’ve been playing well.
[Jayson Tatum] is not scared, he’s not afraid and he’s always been that type of kid. He wants these type of moments and he’s taking advantage of it. With Kyrie and Gordon going down and him having a chance to play the minutes he’s been playing, starting and playing in the playoffs the way he has, he’s taken full advantage of it. But he’s never been scared, he’s never been afraid of the big moment. You can see that.
It’s tough to see [Kyrie Irving] over there when we did play against him, because he’s a big part of what we did. Winning the championship together, those days will never be lost … It’s still the same love, and the same respect, because you’ve been through so much to win that championship. He’s a big part of what we did here, and it is kind of weird seeing him on the other side.”
Indiana was really good defensively, first of all. But Boston led the league in defensive deficiency, so, they’re a good defensive team. They have guards that can pressure the basketball. They can lock and trail and chase on pindowns. They have a mobile 5 in Al Horford who can switch out and guard pick-and-rolls, guard multiple positions. So they are very flexible defensive-wise and they do a good job defensively.
Kyle Korver
I think Boston is better than Indiana. With as much respect as we have for Indiana, obviously, they took us to seven, I think defensively Boston is elite. They’re really good. They’re always in the right spot. They have a great game plan. They’ve got guys that have a high IQ on the defensive end and guys that just mix it up. They just play really hard.
I don’t really see they’re lacking at any position. They roll out, they’ll have five guys out there at all times who all can play. They’re athletic, they can switch a lot of things. They’re versatile. So even though they lost two really good players, they’re not lacking for talent.
