Final: Celtics 106, Cavs 93 - Tatum and Brown combine for 61 in Game 3 win

BOSTON CELTICS at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Eastern Conference Semifinals , Game 3

Series tied 1-1

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, 8:30 p.m. - ABC

Line: Boston -7.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, calf)

Cleveland: Jarrett Allen (QUESTIONABLE, ribs), Dean Wade (QUESTIONABLE, knee) Ty Jerome (OUT, ankle), Craig Porter (OUT, ankle)

SERIES

Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavs 95

Jaylen Brown got going early to pace a hot C’s start, but Isaac Okoro hit a couple of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell nearly matched Brown to keep Cleveland within six after one. That lead grew to 10 at the half despite Jayson Tatum having a tough offensive half and Boston shooting 6-22 from 3. The third was a duel between Mitchell and Derrick White, but a late Payton Pritchard buzzer-beater made it a 15-point game heading into the fourth. The Cavs rested Mitchell to start the quarter and Boston went on a 10-2 run to grab their first 20-point lead and run away with the game.

Game 2: Cavs 118, Celtics 94

The game started very similarly to Game 1 with Boston starting strong and Cleveland answering the run. But instead of Boston firing back, the Cleveland run rolled all the way to the break, giving them a six-point lead after one. The Celtics returned the favor to tie it up at the half, but poor finishing at the rim prevented them from taking a lead. Their defense took the third quarter off, Donovan Mitchell scored 16, and Boston went into the fourth quarter down 12. It only got worse from there, as the shooting stayed cold, the defense stayed loose, and the Cavs pulled away for a blowout win. 

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Making the right plays: Looking back on Game 2, there were moments where it felt like guys were going for their own points and highlights against a bad Cavs defense instead of making the right plays. Brown had a few of those missed rim-reads. 

Jrue Holiday could have helped him out on this play by not lingering out of bounds and getting to the corner sooner, so this one is on both of them. That should have been an easy kickout for a corner 3-pointer. This next play should have as well. 

Jayson Tatum was all alone in the corner. That's a pass that had to be made.

The bottom line on these drives by Brown is if you’re going to break from the plan or what “should” happen, you’d better make the play. I’ll trust a star’s ability to finish over tough defenders, but if he’s not, then he’s hurting the team. 

If you want to go for something spectacular, then finish the play. I’d prefer making the right pass and building a lead. Like this play where he had a dump off to Al Horford 

Finishing quarters strong is incredibly important. Missing that play at that time was very damaging. 

2. Defend: This was my first point ahead of Game 2 and they didn’t follow through. The formula is very clear: Don’t worry too much about Donovan Mitchell. If other guys get going, they can beat you. Mitchell won’t do it on his own. 

The biggest issue is that Boston’s help defense was horrible. They were late, out of position, and lazy about their help, which is infuriating when you consider this is the second round of the postseason.

“I think we were solid on defense, but it wasn't good enough,” Brown said. “It's playoffs. We got to bring the fight. It wasn't enough energy, wasn't enough effort. We look around the playoffs, you see that energy on defense. You know, maintain, we gotta we gotta we gotta bring that every single night.”

3. Win the possession battle: There's no excuse for not winning this. Boston needs to finish these games with at least 10 more shots than the Cavs. They need to make the math impossible for Cleveland.

“I think getting out in transition and getting some stops, I think that helps,” Brown said “We get some stops, get out in transition, but also other ways that we can get ourselves going is we crash and get offensive rebounds, little plays, get steals, just get involved on defense, making plays at the rim.”

There's no way Cleveland wins if Boston takes significantly more shots. If they win that by 10 or more, I don't see how the Cavs can stay close. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.