Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: game preview and how to watch
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to point out that final Friday’s additional time win towards the Boston Celtics wasn’t a fluke.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (5-1) vs. Boston Celtics (4-2)
The place: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – Cleveland, OH
When: 7:30 pm EST
TV: ESPN, Bally Sports activities Ohio, Bally Sports activities+
Opposing weblog: Celtics Weblog
Anticipated Cleveland beginning lineup: Darius Garland / Donovan Mitchell / Caris LeVert / Evan Mobley / Jarrett Allen
Cavs damage report: Darius Garland (QUESTIONABLE – eye), Dylan Windler (QUESTIONABLE – ankle), Raul Neto (DOUBTFUL – ankle), Ricky Rubio (OUT – ACL), Isaiah Mobley (OUT – G League task)
Anticipated Celtics beginning lineup: Marcus Sensible / Derrick White / Jaylen Brown / Jayson Tatum / Al Horford
Celtics damage report: Robert Williams (OUT – knee), Danilo Gallinari (OUT – knee), JD Davison (OUT – G League task), Mfiondu Kabengele (OUT – G League task)
What to observe for
Assertion sport. The Cavs picked up one among their most memorable wins of final season by getting back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Celtics. Boston obtained their revenge two nights later with a 98-92 win whereas holding the Cavs to simply 38.6% capturing from the ground.
That win final season felt like an announcement that the Cavs weren’t going to be the perennial doormats that they had been in earlier seasons. Their loss just a few nights later was a actuality verify that they nonetheless had a methods to go earlier than they might be professional Japanese Convention contenders.
Equally, the additional time win on Friday felt like an announcement that the Cavs need to be seen as contenders this season. We’ll see if the Cavs can comply with up on that win in a approach they weren’t capable of do final season in entrance of a nationwide viewers.
Attacking the paint. The Cavs did an excellent job of ending on the rim towards the Celtics in final week’s win. They transformed a outstanding 85.7% of their makes an attempt within the restricted space on Friday night time which led to 48 factors within the paint. That mentioned, the Cavs struggled to get to the rim as solely 23.8% of their discipline objective makes an attempt got here throughout the restricted space which is within the ninth percentile amongst NBA video games this season.
The Celtics’ inside protection isn’t pretty much as good because it was final season with Robert Williams sidelined. That mentioned, they nonetheless do a very good job of taking away three-point alternatives (third fewest three-point makes an attempt towards) and appears on the rim (fifth fewest opponent field-goal makes an attempt on the rim). The Cavs didn’t do an excellent job on Friday of producing seems at both place in comparison with their season averages, however they did convert the alternatives that they had whereas attending to the road for 34 free-throw makes an attempt.
The Cavs will should be as opportunistic tonight in the event that they need to repeat Friday’s end result.
Defending the three-point line. The Cavs’ protection is predicated on working opponents off the three-point line and funneling them to their bigs. This has resulted within the Cavs permitting the 4th lowest share of three-point makes an attempt this season.
Cleveland didn’t do a very good job of working Boston’s shooters off the road on Friday night time as they had been capable of put up 33 three-pointers which accounted for 37.5% of their shot makes an attempt. This was the one time this season a Cavalier opponent tried greater than 32% of their photographs from past the arc.
Boston is the third greatest three-point capturing crew this season (39.9%). The Cavs might want to do a greater job of limiting their alternatives from deep in the event that they need to include Boston’s offense.
Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell has placed on a present each sport he’s performed this season. His 41-point efficiency in TD Backyard was no exception. There’s no higher option to ingratiate your self to this fanbase than by doing that to their long-time rival.
Mitchell was ready to do that by ending all seven of his seems across the rim and pulling down 5 of his 9 three-point makes an attempt.
Mitchell made essentially the most of his alternatives in excessive effectivity spots, however the Celtics protection did power him into 9 midrange photographs which resulted in simply six factors.
The Celtics will strive their greatest to maintain Mitchell from getting seems behind the arc and on the rim. We’ll see if Mitchell is ready to get to his spots and whether or not he’s capable of execute as soon as getting there.
Darius Garland’s attainable return. Garland might be making his lengthy awaited return to the lineup tonight as he’s formally listed as questionable. The all-star level guard was arguably the Cavs’ greatest participant final season and was poised for a breakout season after exhibiting good chemistry with Mitchell in the course of the preseason. Sadly, we by no means actually obtained an concept of how the duo would play collectively within the common season as they had been solely capable of share the ground for six minutes towards the Toronto Raptors earlier than Garland’s exit.
The Cavs have gotten off to a quick begin with out him. Getting him again into the lineup might be an adjustment and the Celtics’ protection isn’t the simplest crew to be thrown again into the water towards.
That mentioned, it’ll be enjoyable to have Garland again on the market if he’s capable of go tonight. We’ll see what sort of impression he could make.