Celtics Ready To See Where They Stand Against Cavaliers
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics are in their best stretch of the season, playing their best basketball since ending last season with eight wins in nine games to clinch a playoff spot.
But playing great didn't mean much last postseason when the Celtics ran into the Cleveland Cavaliers, and four quick games later that run was over by way of a sweep. Their current hot stretch, winners of 10 of their last 13, probably won't mean much Friday night either, when the Celtics make their first trip to Cleveland since last season's playoffs.
Though one of the hottest teams in the NBA to close the season, the Celtics weren't ready to compete with the Cavaliers at that point. You can say the same about the two teams' first meeting this season, as the Celtics fell to the Cavs 89-77 at TD Garden in Boston. It was their worst offensive night of the season, with the 77 points and their 32.2 percent shooting their worst of the season. LeBron James and Kevin Love also made it look easy against Boston's defense, combining for nearly half of Cleveland's points (44) in effortless fashion that evening.
But Boston is hoping to prove Friday night they're ready to run with the Eastern Conference's top team, and with the NBA's trade deadline less than two weeks away, they'll also get a good feel of who they are against some premier competition.
The Celtics have been up for nearly every challenge that has presented itself this season, fighting until the last second in all but a handful of their games (December 15 is one of the few exceptions). With the dud they had against the Cavs on their home floor in the back of their minds, the Celtics are eager to continue their current hot stretch in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers may be the heavyweights of the East, but the Celtics are ready for the fight.
"We've got to go in there and handle business. We know it's gonna be probably a hostile environment. They're a great team, but we're not going to back down from anybody," said All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas.
Much has changed for both teams since Cleveland handed Boston one of their worst losses of the season. Thirteen players saw the floor against the Cavs back in December (granted, rookies Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter saw their minutes come in garbage time), but that won't happen Friday night. Brad Stevens has found his eight-man rotation (with Tyler Zeller making some occasional appearances), and it appears the Celtics have solved their offensive woes. In their last 13 games, Boston has averaged 110.5 points per contest, with five players averaging double-digits (Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk) over the stretch. After being held to a season-worst 31 second half points in their first meeting with Cleveland, expect a much better offensive showing from the Celtics this time around.
The Cavs are a bit different too, as All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving will be quarterbacking the floor. He's back after missing the start of the season while recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the postseason, averaging 17.2 points in 22 games, with four straight 20+ point efforts. Cleveland is 17-5 since his return.
We'll finally get to see what Marcus Smart can do against Irving, which will be one of the many exciting matchups to watch Friday night.
The Celtics are currently tied for third in the East, but could just as easily find themselves in the bottom half of the conference if they hit a rough patch. Friday night will be a great measuring stick game, as only two of Boston's last 10 wins have come over playoff teams. While it's necessary to beat up on teams like the Wizards, 76ers and Nuggets, now they'll see if they are indeed ready to go toe-to-toe against the conference's elite.
"They're going to come out ready and we're going to have to come out ready as well," said Evan Turner. "Just because we've won seven out of our last eight doesn't mean it's going to be guaranteed that we play well; we have to come out with the right focus, right intensity and be ready to compete."
Confidence has been key for this Celtics team all season, and they'll try to gain some more of that Friday night. Win or lose, they'll have a good feel of who they are and what they need to improve with the trade deadline just around the corner.