Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 3 vs. Celtics
By Ryan Piers
2. The first quarter is crucial
The outcome of Cavaliers games is often dictated by the team’s play in the first quarter. It’s been a theme throughout the playoffs.
Cleveland is 6-2 in the postseason when it outscores its opponents in the first quarter. Twice now, the winning team in this series has been up by double figures after 12 minutes of play.
Here’s a hypothesis (maybe not a good one, but so be it). NBA teams approach playoff series like marathons. The object is to maintain stamina as long as possible and in games less consequential than others, teams will preserve themselves as opposed to fighting back when facing a major first quarter deficit.
Or maybe it has something to do with May 19.
Either way, I think we saw that in Boston on Saturday night and I think we will see the Celtics concede, still with a one-game lead in the series, if Cleveland delivers another early blow.
Cleveland increased pressure on Boston in Game 3’s first quarter, leading 20-4 after about seven minutes. It was the defense that set the tone, holding Boston scoreless between the 9:26 mark and 4:43 mark.
The Celtics only got off one shot in the paint during that stretch while committing a throng of turnovers. That’s what the type of output Cleveland hopes to force.