Boston Celtics: 5 reasons they can upset the Cleveland Cavaliers

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Apr 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) works the ball against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Crowder can limit LeBron

First of all, “limit” is the key word. LeBron James cannot be stopped, he can only be limited. Jae Crowder is clearly at a disadvantage when guarding LeBron James. Regardless, he is their best option. He is a strong defender with quick hands and the defensive IQ to make James work for his points.

That might only lead to more points for James, but forcing him to use as much energy as possible is the best chance the Celtics have at limiting him. Crowder excels at making players fight through the lane as they drive, along with keeping a hand in the face of just about anyone he guards.

Crowder is very talented defender that makes smart decisions. It will be interesting to see how he goes about guarding James, but he has proven he knows when to use his teammates for support. The Celtics’ defense revolves around Crowder and this series will be his biggest test of the season.

No one expects Crowder to stop LeBron James, but stopping him may not be the answer. OK, yeah it would be, but we all know that isn’t happening. The more Crowder can cause LeBron to make decisions within the chaos that is the Celtics’ defense, the better chances they have at containing Cleveland’s best player.

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