Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 Preview
Where: Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, OH
When: Sunday, May 21, 2017 – 8:30 AM ET
Line: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the Boston Celtics (0-2)
Point Spread: View all lines here
If Game 1 was a good ‘ol beating, Game 2 was pure massacre. The Celtics simply had no answers on both ends, and that humiliating 130-86 loss was their worst playoff defeat at home in franchise history.
Along with giving up 72 points in the first half, Boston also shot 37.2 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 20 times, all of which are among the worst that the team has tallied/given up all season (regular season and playoffs).
Problems, of course, grew bigger. Instead of just wondering about the defensive adjustments for LeBron James, the Cs are also now in question if they can really operate their offense against the Cavaliers.
Isaiah Thomas, who’s arguably one of the most aggressive slashers and most gifted scorers in the league today, finished 0-for-6 for two points. To make it worse, he sat out the second half after an apparent hip injury, with his status for Game 3 being up in the air.
Considering the way they fell in both games, the Celtics appear to be on life support moving forward. However, whether you lose by one or 44, it’s still 2-0 and not 4-0, and they are still alive. It’s easier said than done, but the key is to relax and hopefully get one game on the road, so they can at least bring the series back to TD Garden, which can create better opportunities for a possible comeback.
Betting on the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-0)
Point Spread: View all lines here
The Cavaliers continued moonwalking through their opponents in the playoffs. Following the Game 2 obliteration, which also featured the largest halftime lead in postseason history (41), they moved up to 10-0 while registering 116.3 points and 14.5 threes during that span.
One interesting stat from Game 2 didn’t even need LeBron James, as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love outscored the Celtics’ whole starting unit, 44-41. Irving scored 23 to bounce back from a quiet opener, while Love provided another big performance and is now posting 26.5 points and 12 boards in the series.
James, though, whether you’re tired of hearing it or not, is showing no signs of stopping in being the freight train that he is. Nine of his last 10 games had him pouring 30 or more points, and he boasts a stat line of 34.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 56.9 percent shooting in the playoffs.
All signs are definitely pointing to a Cavs win in Game 3, and that’s what we should see Sunday night. The Celtics are overmatched in offense, defense, size, and experience.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cavaliers win, 115-105.
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