Robb: Jae Crowder Confident, Unintimidated By Cavaliers Heading Into Game 3
BOSTON – Only 16 teams in NBA history have come back from a 2-0 series deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series. Those slim odds, combined with a formidable opponent in the Cleveland Cavaliers, could have easily resulted in a subdued Celtics attitude as the team prepares for Thursday's Game 3 battle at TD Garden.
Midseason addition Jae Crowder ensured after Wednesday's practice that confidence would not be an issue for this group. In fact, the small forward was openly positive about the team's chances heading into Game 3 and beyond against the Eastern Conference favorites.
"Why wouldn't I [be confident]?" Crowder asked reporters. "We've got a great group of guys and we know what we've got to do to win the game. I'm always confident in myself and in my teammates. That's me.
"I feel like we've got a great chance of winning Game 3. We've been in the game. I think we're due for a win now, especially in front of the home crowd. They're going to give us great energy, so I feel good going into it."
The Cavs will be four-point favorites Thursday night, and have won the first two games in the series by an average of 9.5 points. Those factors aren't hurting Crowder's high belief level however, especially when asked about Cleveland's "intimidating" frontline.
"Nobody on that team is intimidating," Crowder said. "We're all NBA basketball players. We're not intimidated."
With Brad Stevens contemplating changes to the team's starting lineup, Crowder may be line for a bigger role to back up his talk. He's averaged 26.5 minutes per game thus far in the series, and did an admirable job guarding LeBron James before his fourth quarter outburst in Game 2.
Stevens could elect to go with a smaller starting lineup look with Crowder in the fold, or have him replace Evan Turner if Isaiah Thomas is inserted into the starting group as well. Either way, Crowder is expected to see plenty of time on LeBron yet again and knows it will need to be a team effort if Boston wants to slow him down.
"It's going to take five guys," Crowder said. "One guy can't do it because they're running off pick and rolls and getting downhill on pick and rolls so it takes five guys and all five guys on the court being on the same page. We've been talking about it, trying to mix it up with their coverages."
Crowder later added: "[Guarding LeBron] is the biggest challenge I think I've ever took on. I'm pretty sure, anybody else ever guarding him in the playoffs [too]. It's a great challenge. He's a great offensive player and he knows the game so well. You just have to make it as tough as possible."
LeBron has wreaked plenty of havoc at the TD Garden against the Celtics before, but Crowder is looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd that could take the Cavs supporting cast out of their comfort zone
"I heard a lot of great things about it," Crowder said about the playoff Garden crowd. "Looking forward to it. I love playing in the Garden, I love the energy that the fans bring. It's amazing."
The Garden crowd has lifted the Celtics throughout the second half of the year, but they will be needed more than ever this evening, if the Celtics want to extend their Cinderella season past Game 4 on Sunday. Crowder seems ready for the challenge, but his teammates will need to improve on both ends of the floor to pull off the upset.
"If you remember, I said after Game 1," Crowder said. "They have holes in their defense; they're not the best defensive team. We've just got to take advantage of it as much as possible. Shot making plays a role. We have to make shots. A lot of our plays are designed for jump shots, but we still have to mix in both and know when to attack them and when to take jump shots and when to take open 3's. So just keep the ball moving and we'll get whatever we want on the offensive end."
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
