Expert
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Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
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2018 NBA Eastern Conference finals, Game 5, May 24 - Q4 |
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TD Garden, Boston, MA | ||
Boston Celtics | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
96 | SCORE | 83 |
31 | Q1 | 19 |
21 | Q2 | 23 |
23 | Q3 | 18 |
20 | Q4 | 23 |
The Boston Celtics have had a torrid time on the road, but they will look to restore some order against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30am (AEST).
On paper at least, the Cavaliers should have dominated this series on the back of LeBron James and waltzed their way into the finals without raising a sweat.
But that’s not the character of Boston, who have had to be plucky right throughout the playoffs, battling a casualty ward with tens of millions of dollars worth of talent in it – both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward haven’t played a minute of postseason basketball in 2018.
Instead of folding like a house like they were expected to either against Philadelphia or now Cleveland, they have risen to the occasion. Terry Rozier has been simply stunning, while Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have also been superb.
With three genuine weapons on the outside, it’s easy for Boston to play an unselfish brand of basketball, yet it’s their tall timber – Al Horford and Aron Baynes – who have done a serious job through the first half of the series, despite losing in Games 3 and 4.
Unfortunately for Boston, no matter how well they may be defending, they have to contend with the greatest player of all time in James.
He is getting next to no support from his Cleveland teammates, but it simply doesn’t seem to be bothering him. He went to work again during Game 4, registering 44 points in 42 minutes, shooting 17 of 28 from the field and also pulling down five boards, dishing out three dimes and grabbing a few steals throughout the contest.
They are phenomenal numbers, but it’s what we have almost come to expect from Cleveland, which can be their undoing. They weren’t great on the road at the start of the series and if that script is to be flipped, it’s up to the Cavs to get a fast start and then lock down the paint with their defence.
Prediction
Despite the fact Boston are yet to lose a post-season game at home this season, they are ripe for the picking here with the Cavaliers rolling after a couple of all-important wins to get this series back in their grasp.
Cavaliers by 3.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 5 in this series from 10:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.