Cleveland closed 33-9 and in my view is the best team in the Eastern Conference. Nothing less than a championship is the Cavaliers' goal. So Cleveland doesn't want to mess around with Boston.




The Celtics have yet to take the Cavaliers' best punch beating them twice during their last four games when Cleveland didn't play its best players. But now the Celtics are going to get their full lethal dose of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Cleveland is not going to lack motivation here.




Brad Stevens is turning out to be a fine coaching hire. The Celtics are kind of like a poor man's version of the Hawks with big men who pass and spread the floor bolstered with a good bench play and chemistry.




However, the Celtics lack playoff experience. This is just their second nationally televised game of the season. The Celtics also have nowhere close to the Cavaliers' talent. Stevens has the Celtics ahead of schedule making the playoffs in just his second year at the helm. There is much rebuilding left to do, though, in Boston. The Celtics are not ready to make this big of a jump - stay close to an elite opponent in a road playoff game - yet. That may come next year. Not this season.