Cavaliers-Celtics Game 3 reaction and analysis

The Boston Celtics came away with one of the most improbable wins in NBA Playoff history, against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the ECF

The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in a hard-fought Game 3 in Cleveland, winning 111-108 off a game-winning three-pointer from Avery Bradley. Cleveland now leads the Eastern Conference Finals 2-1.

The game-winner came from carefully drawn up inbounds play as the Celtics were able to over swing it over to Avery Bradley in the final few seconds of the game to hit the three-pointer which rolled around all parts of the rim before sinking in with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

Even before Isaiah Thomas was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason after aggravating a right hip injury over the last two games, the Celtics chances of defeating LeBron and the Cavs in Sunday’s Eastern conference playoff matchup were considered slim to none.

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After an honest effort against the Cavs in a 117-104 loss in Game 1, and a 130-86 blowout in Game 2, the Celts now had the near on impossible task of taking on the Cavs in their home turf without the services of Isaiah. Literally no one could’ve fathomed what happened next.

From the start of the game it looked like it would be business as usual for the Cavs. The Celtics scored the first two points of the first quarter, giving them their first lead in the series up to that point. From then on the Cavs proceeded to jog out to 11-2 run, hitting 4 out of their first 5 shots. Amir Johnson only lasted 9 minutes in the game before he got tangled up with Tristian Thompson and injured his shoulder.

Off the back of some slick three-point shooting from Love and Kyrie – making a combined 8-11 from deep – allowed the Cavs to spring out an early 35-24 lead in the first quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same as Kevin Love continued to hit shots, coming close to tying Klay Thompsons’ record as he hit 7 out of 10 threes in the half. As LeBron had a relatively quiet game, his teammates picked up the slack with Kyrie also putting up 17 points and six assists by the end of the first half and Thompson gathering offensive boards and sinking his free throws.

The Cavs were solid defensively throughout the first half and shot a staggering 60 percent from three. With the Cavs up 66-50 it was showing signs that the onslaught was set to continue.

The Cavs just went cold, taking their foot off the gas medal when it mattered most

Except it didn’t. Even after the Cavs took their biggest lead of the game with 21 points at the beginning of the third quarter, the Celtics refused to go away. Something changed in the Celtics psyche as they began to make their shots and became far more aggressive defensively. Kevin Love did not make another three-pointer the entire game and Lebron continued to play poorly. Off the back of some stellar shooting from Marcus Smart the lead was trimmed down to 87-82 at the end of the third quarter and we had a game on our hands.

In the fourth LeBron continued to play poorly, committing two costly turnovers, and by the last three minutes of the game the Celtics had tied it 99-99. After Al Horford made a three to put the Celts up 102-101, Kyrie responded with a two pointer from seven feet out to bring the lead back in Cleveland’s favour.

Marcus Smart was then fouled on a three-point attempt by J.R Smith and went on to make one of three free throws. Al Horford then made a jump shot to put the Celtics up 106-103 and Smith answered on the next play with three-point dagger. Following a made jumper from Jonas Jerebko, and swift move inside from Irving, the game was tied 108-108. After a time out the Celtics had the ball with ten seconds to go off the inbounds.

The ball was passed into Smart who was guarded by LeBron James. Avery Bradley got open on the wing after a dummy switch from Crowder that sent J.R Smith towards the baseline, and after receiving the pass from Smart, sank the shot. And the rest, as they say, is history.

With Bradley’s huge game-winner, the Boston Celtics ended the Cavaliers 10-0 postseason record in a game in which absolutely no one expected them to win. Filling in for the injured Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart more than proved his worth, putting up 27 points, shooting 7 out of 10 from the arc, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.

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The Cavs just went cold, taking their foot off the gas medal when it mattered most. LeBron was non-factor in Game 3 shooting 4-13 from the field and committing five turnovers. The Cavs seemed to take it easy from the beginning of the second half and that complacency cost them dearly as Boston pulled off the impossible and clawed themselves back to one of the greatest comebacks on Playoff history.