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.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Told you Scott. Boston in 7.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NBA Season as the Boston Celtics went up 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We will be back at 11am (AEST) with Game 5 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, then I'll be back in the chair from 10:30am on Saturday for Game 6 of this series. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game this morning Roarers? Can the Cavs bounce back on Saturday morning?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Hood hits a three, but there really isn't much point worrying about the remainder of this one. Time running down and neither team all that keen on playing it out until the buzzer with the attention turning to Game 6 back in Cleveland in a couple of days. This has been quite something from Boston tonight. Their defence is just too good. The best of the best in the playoffs, but they were able to make their offence work on the back of it. They had good structure all game long and took high-quality shots. By the end of the first quarter, they were up by 12 and the lead barely dropped back to single figures again. With Jaylen Borwn, Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris leading the way on the back of some superb effort from the big men Aaron Baynes and Al Horford in the paint, it was a complete team effort. Hard to pick one standout actually. The Cavs, on the other hand, now face elimination as they head back home for Game 6. LeBron had a poor game by his standards and while he still put up 26 points, he had six turnovers and never looked all that good on the floor. While Kevin Love was their best, the Cavs had little from the supporting cast and it shows on the final scoreboard. Celtics - 96 Cavaliers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Another bucket for the Cavs, then misses at both ends. Celtics - 96 Cavaliers - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Hood on the floor now. He hits one from the high post, then it's the Celtics working it around and it's Yabusele with a bucket at the end of the shot clock as the chant of 'Cavs in 6' starts up at the Garden. Celtics - 96 Cavaliers - 77
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Rozier with a good one here. He goes into the paint, draws the contact and drops the shot. Now Horford and Smart heading to the bench, so we are well and truly into garbage time now. Rozier adds the extra. Celtics - 94 Cavaliers - 75
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Hill makes both. Celtics - 91 Cavaliers - 75
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Celtics on the ball now. It's Hill driving into the lane and he misses, but draws the foul. LeBron has checked out of the game. He is done for the night by the looks of it with the Cavs all but conceding defeat now. Celtics - 91 Cavaliers - 73
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Tatum makes one. Celtics - 91 Cavaliers - 73
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Oh wow. That offensive set pretty much sums up the evening for the Cavs. Shocking, and the only shot they get is at the end of the shot clock, with LeBron missing from closer to halfcourt. Tatum now draws a foul. Celtics - 90 Cavaliers - 73
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Love misses after posting up his man here before Rozier slows it down. Boston are going to start running the clock now, but it won't matter if they shoot like that! Al Horford bangs one home from three-point land. Celtics - 90 Cavaliers - 73
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' You feel if the Cavs are going to make this interesting in the final minute or two, LeBron is going to need to go crazy right about now. He drops one in here, but then the defence breaks down and Rozier makes a jumper from the high post. Celtics - 87 Cavaliers - 73
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The Cavs have gone off the boil here. Another miss, then it's Brown with a missed three. Celtics - 85 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' LeBron now turns it over and Rozier runs the floor, throwing his transition shot over the backboard. Celtics - 85 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Timeout called here. Celtics - 85 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The Celtics needed that. Transition play here with Rozier lobbing it up for Horford to throw down the monster alley-oop slam and take the lead back to 14, getting the lid off the basket. Celtics - 85 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Clarkson with another miss for the Cavs, then Horford is pinged for a travel. Celtics are absolutely handing out an invitation for the Cavs to get back into this right now, but they aren't accepting, with James missing another through the lane. Celtics - 83 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' LeBron quickly up the floor in transition following the miss here and he kicks to Clarkson, but the three is no good. Boston with a shot clock violation now. Celtics - 83 Cavaliers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Boston need to get their head back in the game here. Poor offensive set ends with a three at the end of the shot clock way off from Rozier. Now Korver is blocked and Tatum will slow it up before driving and kicking to Brown who misses. Celtics - 83 Cavaliers - 71