I don't think CLE is as good as last season but they probably don't need to be to beat the Celtics. Last season CLE was Kyrie-Smith-LeBron-Love-Thompson. This year they have replaced Kyrie with Hill. I know the bench is all different this year but that doesn't matter as much.
Last year we had IT-Bradley-Crowder-Horford-Johnson. This year we are entirely different except Horford: Kyrie-Brown-Tatum-Horford-Baynes(or Monroe?), with the bench about the same (in terms of talent). I don't know if this group can play as well as last year's team. I think Brown and Tatum are just too young to give us what Bradley and Crowder gave us last year. I think Kyrie is better overall than IT but IT was off the charts last season. And Baynes-Monroe vs. Amir-Olynyk? That change is not going to make a difference.
In spite of all this, they still should be able to play better than they did today against CLE. Coach Stevens, get your team ready. They are supposed to over-perform, not under-perform.
I think the Celts match up a LOT better this year.
Last year, they were shorter by several inches at almost every spot in the starting lineup. That has been remedied.
Last year, Cleveland had Kyrie to take up the scoring when LeBron wasn't dominating. Now they have ... Kevin Love?
The Cavs are as vulnerable as they've ever been. The Celts may be too young / have too little bench scoring, but it should be possible this year.
Biggest issue is finding a way to use the greater length / versatility on the wing this year to actually provide some resistance when Bron decides to run to the rim. Last year Bron could get inside and score whenever he wanted to. This afternoon was the same deal.
Let's hope Brad has some tricks up his sleeve.
Topic: 24-15 Team...how good are the playoffs looking? (Read 2911 times)