Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to conference finals vs. Celtics

3. Limit Boston’s scoring outlets

Part of what makes the Celtics so great is their ability to have a different 20-point scorer on any given night. One game Terry Rozier is the hero, the next it could be Marcus Morris with a podium-worthy performance. It varies from game to game.

With the absence of Kyrie Irving, Boston’s roster is filled with good but not great scoring options that have been thrust into larger roles.

That bodes well in Brad Stevens’ offense, though, as his sets aren’t dependent on a singular player. They’re predicated on constant movement, not allowing the defense to remain stationary for too long.

While this team-friendly style of play is entertaining to watch, and probably even better to play in, it’s a nightmare for opposing coaches, as they’re tasked with devising a scheme to stop it. Cleveland would have a tough time shutting down the entire Celtics roster, as it’s not that great defensively, and Boston simply has too many weapons.

What the Cavs should try to do is to funnel all the scoring output into only one or two sources, allowing them to better defend the entire team.

If the Celtics are only getting production out of, let’s say Rozier and Al Horford, that takes guys like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum out of a rhythm offensively.

Then, when the crucial final minutes come around, instead of the entire Celtics roster churning like a well-oiled machine, guys haven’t been getting enough looks to hit shots when it matters most, allowing Cleveland to take advantage and never look back.