The Cleveland Cavs have the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs all sewn up, so there's not much to play for except pride when they host a Boston Celtics team on Friday clinging on to the playoff spot by a game with four to go.
Projected Starting Lineups
Boston Celtics (36-42)
G Marcus Smart – 7.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg
G Avery Bradley – 13.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
F Evan Turner – 9.5 ppg, 5.3 apg, 5.1 rpg
F Brandon Bass – 10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg
C Tyler Zeller – 10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Cleveland Cavaliers (51-27)
G Kyrie Irving – 22.o ppg, 5.2 apg
G J.R. Smith – 13.0 ppg, 3.6rpg
F LeBron James – 25.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 7.4 apg
F Kevin Love – 16.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg
C Timofey Mozgov– 10.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg
What to watch for:
The Brad Stevens effect/a possible playoff preview
After Boston Celtics management basically tried to punt on the 2014-15 season with a flurry of trades that could best be described as 'roster deconstruction,' it's been the NBA Coach of the Year-worthy leadership of Brad Stevens which has kept the Celts afloat heading down the stretch. Now in what could pan out as a potential 2-7 matchup in the East (that's the way it'd fall if the season ended today), Stevens will have to pull every bit of effort/talent out of his young Boston team to get the big W in Cleveland.
Prediction: Cavs win 108-105
The Celtics are going to put up one hell of a fight as they scrap and claw for their postseason lives, but the Cavs are just too talented and too in sync right about now to hand Boston a Friday showcase game in front of a raucous Cleveland crowd.
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