NBA Eastern Conference Finals Preview

If you told me after Boston’s game 2 loss to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs that the Celtics would go on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals I would’ve thought you were delusional.  Yet somehow, the same Celtics roster that struggled against Robin Lopez, a washed up Rajon Rondo, and a practically retired Dwayne Wade is now about to take on the Cavaliers for a chance to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.  The key to the Celtics’ elite performance as of late doesn’t just fall on Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging 25.4 ppg and 6.5 apg (not to mention his 53 point game in game 2 vs the Wizards).  In fact, this success has primarily come from key role players like Al Horford and Kelly Olynyk.

Horford, who has truly emerged as the superstar that he is this post-season, had a fantastic series against the Washington Wizards, helping land the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Averaging 16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 5.1 apg, while shooting 67.6% from the field, 60.9% from 3 point territory, and 70% from the free throw line, Horford has done everything he possibly can to put the Celtics in the position they are at now.

Olynyk may not have as well rounded of a stat line as Horford, but his contribution on offense was great enough to shake up the Wizards roster and eliminate them from the playoffs.  Kelly is going into the Eastern Conference Finals shooting 35.1% from beyond the arc, which includes his crucial 26 point performance in game 7 against Washington, where Olynyk also shot 80% from the free throw line and helped Boston move on to face the King of Akron.  Olynyk’s impressive 3 point shooting, especially for someone 7’0” tall, has greatly helped improve ball movement for the Celtics and could possibly be one of the key assets that keeps Cleveland from pulling away with a lead during the Eastern Conference Finals.  However, despite Olynyk’s successes in 3 point shooting, his rebounding is still sub par.  If Olynyk’s ability to box out properly and grab crucial rebounds doesn’t improve vs Kevin Love or Tristan Thompson, Cleveland could easily capitalize on second chance opportunities and make it extremely hard for Boston to hold any lead throughout the series.

The Celtics may be the 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Cleveland is still the favorite to win this series.  Between having one of the best Point Guards in the league, a bench filled with solid talent, and the greatest active basketball player on the planet (especially in the NBA Playoffs), there’s a very good chance that Lebron and the Cavaliers will see a third straight appearance in the NBA Finals.  While the Celtics were struggling to get by the Bulls and the Wizards, the Cavs were sweeping the Pacers and the Raptors with ease, and with a win in game 1 against Boston, the Cavs could become the 7th team to start 9-0 in the NBA Playoffs, further proving that they are still the best team in the Eastern Conference even though Cleveland is the 2 seed in the East.  As long as as Lebron, Kyrie, and Love can stay healthy and perform at the same elite level we’ve seen through the first two rounds of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, and as long as the Celtics struggle to keep up with Cleveland on transition, there should be no reason as to why Cleveland cannot not move on to try to repeat in the NBA Finals.  Also, be on the lookout for Kyle Korver to shine in this series.  With Boston focusing its attention on guarding the Cleveland big 3 of Kyrie, Lebron, and Love, look for Korver to emerge as the next clutch shooter for the Cavaliers, especially since Lebron has relied on stellar 3 point shooters like Ray Allen and Kyrie Irving heavily in past playoff runs.  In conclusion, Cavs win this series 4 games to 2.  

Written by Erik Clark