I was a senior in high school the last time the Boston Celtics faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. That marked the LeBron James era. However, Boston steamrolled their way to the NBA Finals. Advancing to win their first NBA championship since the 1985-1986 season, they might be following a similar trajectory this year. Instead of Paul Pierce squaring off against LeBron, this time, it’s the backcourt matchups that will highlight the series.
As we know, the Celtics finished first in the Eastern Conference and 16 games ahead of Cleveland. After Jrue Holiday’s arrival in the offseason, he and Derrick White have teamed up, making the case for both to be named to the All-Defense First Team.
With such unique skillsets, Boston has one of the best perimeter defenders and shot blockers in the backcourt. In the postseason, both C’s guards have a 96.6 defensive efficiency when on the court, according to ESPN.
While the Cavaliers were fourth in the East at 48-34, they had a unique season. Headlined by Donovan Mitchell, who averaged a team-high 28.7 points per game, the Cavaliers managed to stay afloat amid several injuries.
Backcourt companion Darius Garland missed 25 games on the season due to injuries. Ironically, he suffered a fractured jaw against the Celtics, which kept him out of commission for over a month. Now fully healthy, it’s been the backcourt matchup we’ve all been waiting for.
Jrue Holiday
There’s a reason why Brad Stevens traded for and extended Holiday to a 4-year, $135M extension. Although Holiday’s scoring averages took a hit, the guard has brought several aspects to the C’s lineup, which led them to an NBA-best 64-18 record. A flamethrower from the corner, Holiday shot a career-best 42.9 percent beyond the arc and 60.67 percent from the corner.
Offensively, Holiday’s…
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