Celtics Looking For First Road Win

 

  

Probable Starting Matchups 

PG:  Rajon Rondo vs Delonte West

SG:  Ray Allen vs Wally Szczerbiak

SF:  Paul Pierce vs LeBron James

PF:  Kevin Garnett vs Anderson Varejao

C:    Kendrick Perkins vs Zydrunas Ilgauskas

 

Key Players

  Vs 
Paul Pierce vs LeBron James
So far in this series this has been a defensive matchup with each playing great defense on the other.  Pierce got his game going in game 2 but LeBron continued to struggle.   We know that LeBron will want to come out strong at home and so Pierce (and Posey) need to be ready to step up their defense on him. 

  Vs 
Ray Allen vs Wally Szczerbiak  
LeBron should have a better game at home and the Celtics will need to up their games as well.  One of the keys to the game will be for Ray to get on track and be able to exploit the matchup with Wally and stretch the floor for the others. 

Honorable Mention
Rajon Rondo and Sam Cassell  vs Delonte West and Daniel Gibson
The point guard matchups will continue to be important.  Doc has been using Sam more in this series and has been keeping him in down the stretch.  The two point guards for the Celtics have been out playing the point guards for the Cavs so far and that needs to continue. 

Keys to the Game
Focus  When the Celtics went to Atlanta, they lost their focus and allowed the Hawks to take them out of their game.  The Celtics lost their defensive focus and let the Hawks get to the hoop at will.  They also lost their offensive focus and didn't move the ball with each player trying to do it on his own.  The Celtics can't let the Cavs and the crowd break their focus on either end of the floor. 

Be Aggressive  The Celtics must come out aggressively and must play hard for 48 minutes.  They have to be aggressive in going after loose balls, attacking the rim and going after rebounds.  They can't let the Cavs get 2nd and 3rd chances and they can't let the Cavs out hustle them.  They can't settle for quick jumpers like they did in Atlanta.  They have to drive to the rim and try to get a high percentage shot or draw the foul. 

Defense  Defense has been the key in the first two games and the Celtics must continue to play the swarming team defense that has gotten them here.   They forgot their defense in Atlanta.  Let's hope they remember it in Cleveland. 

X-Factor
Effort and Intensity  If the Celtics put out the same effort and intensity in this game that they do at home, they should be able to win it.  If they come out flat and let the Cavs out-play them like they did in Atlanta, they won't pull it out.