{"id":15191,"date":"2018-05-19T16:08:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-19T20:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=15191"},"modified":"2018-05-19T16:09:17","modified_gmt":"2018-05-19T20:09:17","slug":"boston-celtics-lead-cleveland-cavaliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/05\/19\/boston-celtics-lead-cleveland-cavaliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Six \u2018Cs\u2019 Behind the 2-0 Boston Celtics Lead Over Cleveland Cavaliers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Celtics<\/a> lead the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> in the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, winning the first two games played on their home turf in TD Garden. The Cavaliers clearly struggled in the series opener. Taking a look at some of the basic stats, however, may have you questioning the outcome of Game 2. On Tuesday, Boston grabbed only one more rebound than Cleveland. Both teams shot 10-for-31 from beyond the arc. Cleveland actually shot with higher overall accuracy than Boston, at 46.3 percent from the field compared to Boston\u2019s 43.5 percent. With LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> putting up 42 points and a triple-double, how did the Celtics still take Game 2?<\/p>\n

Six \u2018Cs\u2019 Behind the 2-0 Boston Celtics Lead Over Cleveland Cavaliers<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Collaboration<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Without a superstar to lean on, the young team relies on every player contributing to the game. Game 1 of this series proved this to be an advantage, as James\u2019 lack of a star-quality performance led to a large spread in the Celtics’ favor. Boston communicates in all aspects of the game and is selfless with the ball. Playing like this allows for high awareness of each other on the court, making it easier to find the open shot. The best example of this is Jayson Tatum<\/a><\/strong>‘s alley-oop<\/a> from Marcus Smart<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>. Smart didn\u2019t even look at Tatum to make the final pass.<\/p>\n

Coachability<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Boston has one of the best coaches in the NBA. Brad Stevens<\/a><\/strong> is a finalist<\/a> for the NBA\u2019s 2018 Coach of the Year award. Opposing players and coaches often comment on his elite coaching skills. His own team has nothing but praise for his sideline performance. With a coach of this caliber, having a young and inexperienced team becomes beneficial.<\/p>\n

Smart spoke to reporters following Thursday\u2019s practice last week about Stevens\u2019 coaching ability.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s a great coach,” Smart said<\/a>. “He\u2019s a crafty coach. Some of the plays he draws up, you go, ‘Ehhh, I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s going to work.’ Then it does, and it\u2019s like, ‘Sorry I ever doubted you.'”<\/p>\n

These players listen to and respect Stevens, follow his instructions, and take responsibility on and off the court.<\/p>\n

Camaraderie<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tuesday night\u2019s game showed that the team members support each other. Smart instantly stepped up to defend Al Horford<\/a><\/strong> after J.R. Smith<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s dirty play. The way these players speak about each other in interviews and press conferences shares the same theme.<\/p>\n

In a press conference following Game 2 on Tuesday, Horford commented, \u201cI think we just have a group of guys that really believe in each other. Our group, in tough times, we\u2019ve always found a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crowd Support<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Along with teammate support, the Celtics have an immense amount of fan support. Win or lose, the crowd will be there, cheering loudly in support of their beloved basketball team. This crowd gives a whole new meaning to “homecourt advantage.” When the Celtics are trailing, or need a boost to get their heads back in the game, they know their home crowd is that energy boost they need. The team even occasionally credits the fans as being their driving force.<\/p>\n

Confidence<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Watch any interview with a Celtics player discussing the way they\u2019ve played against Cleveland, and the terms “confidence,” “fearlessness,” or “poise” surface nearly every time. With the incredible amount of support the players receive from the coach, the teammates, and the crowd, it\u2019s no wonder every last one of them is dripping with confidence.<\/p>\n

Celtics reporter Taylor Snow quoted<\/a> Smart describing how Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/strong> uses his confidence as a defensive strategy:<\/p>\n

Teammate Marcus Smart is a first-hand witness to much of Brown\u2019s trash talk and says that it seems to have a profound impact on the recipients.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just things just from [saying], \u2018You can’t guard me,\u2019 to the flexes, the poses, to calling people \u2018little one\u2019 when he posts them up and things like that. When a guy is doing that and he backs it up, it kind of gets into your head like, \u2018You know what, I don’t really know if I can guard this guy.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a mental thing, a part of the game that a lot of good players understand,” continued Smart.<\/p>\n

Competitiveness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Celtics are all in, all the time. Their energy and intensity shine through not only when they\u2019re winning, but also when they\u2019re losing. This was true when leading Cleveland by 29 points in the first quarter. Cleveland responded by playing as if they had lost all hope for ever recovering. It was also true when the Celtics found themselves in a 22-point deficit to the Philadelphia 76ers, and it helped them to battle back to win the game. Just how intense is Boston\u2019s will to win? Marcus Morris<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 reaction<\/a> after making a layup over Cleveland\u2019s Tristan Thompson<\/a><\/strong> says it all.<\/p>\n

Game 3 may be in Cleveland\u2019s home territory, but the Celtics have momentum and something to prove. These six elements will all follow them to Cleveland, with the exception of the crowd support. Boston’s players have experienced tough crowds before, though. They got a Game 3 win in Philadelphia, so the Celtics will surely look to do the same thing tonight in Cleveland.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>