Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Game 6: BOS Leads 3-2

Total: 201 / CLE -7

The Cavaliers have their backs up against the wall and are looking to send this series to a Game 7 on Sunday. This has been a very up and down series for them, with them losing every game on the road, and winning their two games at home. We know LeBron James is a one-man army when it comes to leading this team and they will need every ounce he has to force this to an elimination game. The Celtics are 1-6 on the road this postseason, so if all holds true, they should be playing on the back foot tonight, and we will see them in action come Sunday.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers

- The Cavaliers have scored 32 or more points in each of the first quarter in both their home games this series while holding Boston to under 20 in those same games.

- The Cavs made three or more three-pointers in each of their home games, compared to the Celtics, who only made two combined.

- LeBron James took four or more field goal attempts (in the first quarter) of each of the two home games, making four in each game.

- LeBron James averages 33 points per game when his team is facing elimination. He has also played 36 minutes or more in every single game this series.

 

Players to Watch

- What else can you say about LeBron? There is no stopping him when the Cavaliers need him most and with the numbers, he puts up in elimination games, the potential for 40 points or more is likely tonight.

- Kyle Korver played a pivotal part in the two games at home in this series and has made two or more three-point attempts in four of the five games in this series. His high for scoring is 14 points in two games, which came in both of their home games.

-  Kevin Love has scored 14 or more points in three of the five games in this series while adding two double-doubles. He has also taken four or more three-point attempts in every game this series, making only one in three of those games.

- Tristan Thompson has been very inconsistent this series but has two games with 10 or more points, and two games with 11 or more rebounds. He has also scored eight or fewer points in three of the five games.

- JR Smith has been invisible this series, scoring a total of 26 points over the five games combined. 18 or those 26 points have come from three-pointers, so its boom or bust for him.

 

Boston Celtics

- As I mentioned before, the Celtics are 1-6 on the road in the postseason and have failed to score 20 points in each of the games at Cleveland this series.

- The Celtics have only made 12 field goals over the two first quarters combined when at Cleveland.

- The Celtics are 2 for 11 from three-point range in the first quarter on the road this series, which is good for 18%.

- The Celtics have been held to under 25 points in six of the eight quarters on the road against Cleveland.

 

Players to Watch

- Al Horford  has scored 15 or more points in four of the five games in this series while putting up 10 or more rebounds in two of those games. He has also made at least one three-point attempt in each game this series.

Terry Rozier has scored 13 or fewer points in three of the five games in this series but has shot 40% or higher in four of the five games.

- Jayson Tatum has scored 16 points or more in four of the five games this series while shooting above 40% in four games.

- Marcus Smart is the defensive leader for the Celtics and is showing it by having two or more steals in three of the five games this series.

 

Pregame Props

-  Cleveland wins the opening tip

o   This one is truly a tossup, no pun intended, but I’m going with no. Horford is the better center all-around, and trust he can get it done.

- Both teams make a FG by the 11:00 mark

o   I’m going with yes on this one. Even though Boston hasn’t scored a ton in each of the first quarters on the road, we should see them try and get an early jump to counteract that. The Cavs have put up big numbers while at home, so no stopping them now.

- LeBron James scored or assists on Cleveland’s first made FD of the game

o   Have to go with yes on this one, considering what level of involvement James will have in this game. He is scoring 33 points in elimination games and should see him start early.

- Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine to score 12 or more points in the 1st quarter

o   This one is truly interesting, since the Celtics haven’t scored a lot at the start of the games on the road, and we could see much of the same tonight. I will be going with yes on this, as they need a change of pace to take some control on the road.

- Boston outscores Cleveland in the 1st quarter

o   This one is an easy no. They haven’t been able to do that anytime in the first two games at Cleveland and as I mentioned, have been held to under 25 points in six of the eight quarters on the road.

- The last made shot of the 1st quarter is a free throw (We’ll leave this open until the 1:00 mark)

o   Going with no on this one but also a bit of a tossup. Really need to see the flow of the game in order to have a feel for this, but I’m sticking with no.