CLEVELAND, Ohio – The next two games in Cleveland are one of several key Moments of Playoff Truth for the Cavs and Celtics.
I know, this best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1. It’s early, which is usually my approach to the playoffs.
But the next two games – Saturday and Monday – will tell us a lot about both teams.
Those who follow the Celtics will tell you how their team has nights like Thursday’s 118-94 loss to the Cavs in Boston.
Stories by Terry Pluto
Sometimes, the shots clang off the rim. Sometimes, the Celtics just think they’ll win a game by stepping on their home court, where they were 37-4 in the regular season.
Sometimes, it’s just a bad night for the green. Means nothing in a best-of-seven series.
Those Celtic lovers will point to the first-round series with Miami. Boston beat the Heat by 20 points in the opener. Miami ambushed Boston, 111-101 in Game 2.
The series moved to Miami, where Boston won by 20 and 14 points. In Game 5 in Boston, the Celtics rolled 118-84.
In the last three games (all Miami losses), the Heat couldn’t score more than 88 points.
FEELING THE HEAT?
Boston is 5-2 in this postseason, four of those victories by 20 or more points.
That loss to the Cavs? These things happen, don’t sweat it.
At least, that’s their view.
“Nobody in [the locker room was] defeated or deflated,” Boston star Jayson Tatum said in the postgame press conference. “You never want to lose, especially in the playoffs. A lot of things we can learn from.
“We get it, right? The world thinks we’re never supposed to lose. We’re supposed to win every game by 25. And it’s just not going to be like that all the time.”
MOVING TO CLEVELAND
Boston has lost four times in the Eastern Conference Finals in the last seven years. They also lost in the 2022 NBA Finals. The expectations are high. The recent history of playoff failures for this talented group hangs over the Celtics.
That’s why these two games in Cleveland are very meaningful.
Keep in mind, I said two games. Even if the Cavs are bulldozed Saturday night, it doesn’t signal an end to the series.
The Cavs need to win one game here and put some pressure on Boston. The Celtics had a 64-18 record, best in the NBA. They are supposed to be the best version of the Celtics since the 2008 team, the last Boston champions.
In one of the next two games, the Cavs need to produce a victory and deliver the message that this is not a repeat of the Miami series. Expectations are high. The recent history of playoff failures for this talented group hangs over the Celtics.
For the Celtics, knocking off Miami in the first round was a basketball exorcism. Miami knocked them out of the 2020 and 2023 playoffs.
My guess is that could be part of the reason the Celtics didn’t take the Cavs seriously in Game 2 – especially after Boston clubbed the Cavs 120-95 in the opener.
WHAT ABOUT THE CAVS?
I realize I wrote a lot about Boston and their view of the series. Knowing your opponents and their state of mind is one of the roads to victory.
Game 2 was HUGE for the Cavs, much like the Game 7 victory over Orlando in the first round. It was a basketball statement that these playoffs would not be business as usual for Cleveland.
The last time the Cavs won a playoff road game was May 27, 2018. That was in Boston, an 87-79 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
In that 2018 series, the Cavs were led by LeBron James. Kyrie Irving had forced a trade to Boston and was injured did not play vs. the Cavs. Boston had the home court. The Cavs lost both games in Boston to open the series.
Then the Cavs won four of the next five to return to the NBA Finals.
Since then, the Cavs had lost two road playoff games in New York (2023) and three in Orlando (2024) followed by the opener in Boston.
That was a six-game road losing playoff streak in the last two seasons.
Now, it’s over.
Watch Game 3 for free on DirecTv Stream
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Several times this season, the Cavs looked to be in major trouble. They had major injuries to Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.
“We’ve been left for dead a bunch of times this season,” said coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
The Cavs opened the Orlando series with two home wins, then lost the next two games by a combined 61 points on the road. When they returned home for Game 5, they learned Jarrett Allen was out with what the team has called “bruised ribs.” My guess is it’s some sort of major rib injury, but that’s just my opinion.
Allen had been the Cavs’ most productive player in the first four games.
But they found a way to win games 5 and 7 at home to survive the first round – without Allen.
Don’t forget about that Game 7 in Cleveland. The Cavs were down by 18 points to the Magic. The home crowd understandably began to boo. Then the Cavs rallied to a 106-94 victory.
They split in Boston – without Allen.
That is a major accomplishment — their 3-2 record minus their star center.
Meanwhile, I keep thinking about Tatum’s comment: “The world thinks we’re never supposed to lose. We’re supposed to win every game by 25. And it’s just not going to be like that all the time.”
Feeling a bit of heat perhaps, like the kind generated by Miami in those 2020 and 2023 playoff losses? Tatum was around for both.
As for the Cavs, they have their home crowd. They found attacking the rim with Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell is a soft spot in the Boston defense.
Yes, this could be a fun series.
“When it seems like our backs against the wall and things are difficult, our guys figure out a way together to get through it,” Bickerstaff said. “It speaks to their character, and they’re wanting to do the right thing for one another.”
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