2018 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers preview

3. Will Boston finally miss Kyrie Irving?

The Celtics’ run to the conference finals has been one of the most improbable feats of the season, in large part because their superstar point guard hasn’t played a second of it.

With the best handles in the game and the ability to finish at the rim from all angles, Irving gave Boston one of the best shot-makers in basketball, and a closer to turn to in crunch time.

His absence hasn’t seemed to matter, as the C’s have been able to receive multiple big-time contributions in every game of these playoffs.

However, those performances were against the likes of Milwaukee and Philadelphia, two teams with loads of potential, but who struggle with discipline and execution, especially on the defensive end.

A team filled with veterans, Cleveland is the exact opposite, as it understands defensive strategies and concepts, able to carry out head coach Tyronn Lue‘s defensive game plan no matter what it calls for.

Maybe Celtics coach Brad Stevens will have an answer. He seems to have all of them in these playoffs, but maybe, the Cavaliers defend Boston at a high level, forcing each individual Celtic to create offensive looks for themselves, something they’re not accustomed to doing.

In this alternate timeline, it’d be nice to know that one of the best shot-creators resides in Celtic green, giving the C’s a go-to player who can create buckets out of thin air.