Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Celtics
Tipoff: TD Garden, Boston, 7 p.m.
Series: Cavaliers lead, 2-0.
TV: FOX Sports Ohio (coverage starts at 6:30); TNT. Radio: WTAM-AM 1100 flagship; WAKR-AM 1590 Akron.
Projected Starters
Cavaliers: C Timofey Mozgov; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG J.R. Smith; PG Kyrie Irving.
Celtics: Tyler Zeller; PF Brandon Bass; SF Evan Turner; SG Avery Bradley; PG Marcus Smart.
Injury Report
Cavaliers: C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) out.
Celtics: None to report.
Dribbles
1. It will be interesting to see how the Celtics respond now that the pressure is on them. Granted, the Cavs are still expected to win the series, so there is still some pressure. But they didn't exactly play their best at home -- and still won both.
2. Basically, the Celtics placed that "pressure" on themselves by playing hard and smart and looking so tough during the first two games. They got the Cavs' attention. But the Cavs don't need to win tonight. The Celtics do. That's pressure. For the first time all series, I expect the Cavs to play easy and free and not have a care in the world. How will the Celtics respond?
3. Either way, I totally expect the Cavs to win at least one of the next two in Boston. If this doesn't end Sunday, it will Tuesday back in Cleveland. If not, something is wrong with the Cavs, because they clearly have the advantage in talent.
4. Speaking of the Cavs and 2-0 leads, this is the eighth time in team history they've held such an advantage. They've won the series each of the previous seven times, and again, they'll win this one.
5. Cavs fans in my Twitter notifications have been saying they're worried about the Bulls (in the second round). This isn't to rip the Bulls, but have you seen them against the Bucks? Their fans are panicked for no reason, too. Neither the heavily favored Warriors nor Hawks have been tearing it up in their first-round matchups, either. As LeBron has told fans before, relax. Not that most fans have any clue how to do that.
6. I don't hold that against the fans, of course. I'm old. I've been doing this for 20 years. I've seen it all. Most fans are young. They've experienced the NBA for, what? A decade at most? As one NBA GM told me, fans are the only group of people who overrate what they root for and panic about it at the same time.
7. I'd add parents to that list as well.
8. Anyway, back to this series. Check out this nugget from the Cavs' website: "In Game 2 against Boston, LeBron James (30 pts/9 rebs/7 asts) and Kyrie Irving (26 pts/5 rebs/6 asts) became the first duo in franchise history to each tally at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a postseason contest. The two also accounted for all 24 of Cleveland's points in the fourth quarter."
9. The Cavs need not worry about Jae Crowder and his tough talk. Frankly, the guy is only saying the things he should. The NBA playoffs are not for the meek. All Crowder said was the Celtics aren't intimidated and they aren't going to back down. As a fan and a teammate, that's what you want to hear. Too bad if nobody else likes it.
10. Instead, the Cavs have to figure out a way to contain little guard Isaiah Thomas off the bench. The guy is just killing them.
11. Thomas was once the final pick in the NBA draft. Having a high draft pick is way overrated. (But our secret: Don't tell that to the fans.)
