Cavs vs. Celtics: 5 Standout Stats from Game 1
Game 1 of the Boston Celtics vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers is now history with the Cavs taking the game handily with a 113-100 conquest.
Many have predicted the game, and the series, to go the Cavs’ way so the pressure was all on the home team to make the prognosticators look good. While the game was hardly in doubt, the Celtics did lead by eight midway through the second quarter and were also within six late in the third to make the game interesting.
Much of the story can be told from the statistics after the game and it gives us a good look at what happened in the game that led to Cleveland’s victory. I invite you to revisit the game with me as we take an in-depth look at the stats that tell the story of Cavs Vs Celtics:
1. LeBron James: 1,026 assists for playoffs career
James’ seven assists (1,026 total) moved him past Michael Jordan (1,022) for ninth place on the all-time career postseason assists ladder.
James’ seven assists (1,026 total) moved him past Michael Jordan (1,022) for ninth place on the all-time career postseason assists ladder.
While hardly eye-popping, those seven assists from the King proved that he trusted his teammates to make their shots. Much has been said about the Cavs’ playoff newbies and how they would perform. By passing the ball to the open man, LeBron proved that he was confident in his teammates’ ability to execute in the postseason. They made the Celtics pay by converting shots delivered to them by the King. Now, LeBron continues his assault on the playoff record books in the same way that he did in the regular season.
2. Cavaliers: 13-31 three-point FGs
The Cavaliers were one of six teams this season to make 800 or more three-point shots in a season and one of 13 teams to do so in NBA history.
In game 1 versus the Celtics, they continued to bomb away en route to 13 three-pointers at 42% shooting. Kyrie Irving was the main protagonist here as he made his first 5 attempts from behind the arc. The Celts’ were helpless as the Cavs made shot after shot despite some of those being contested relatively well. If Cleveland keeps making shots from deep, this series will be over soon.
3. Cavaliers: 15 offensive rebounds = 18 second-chance points
Cleveland ran away from Boston in this one due in large part to the Cavs’ relentless pounding on the offensive boards which led to 18-second chance points.
“No rebounds. No rings,” was Pat Riley’s battle cry for the Lakers in the 80’s and it might as well have been the Cavs’ too. Thompson, Mozgov, and Love took on all-comers as they outrebounded the Celtics on the offensive end, giving the Cavs life after they missed many of their shots (45% FG shooting for the game). Those 15 boards showed us how aggressive the James Gang was on a night where many of them had the jitters. One great way to get the nerves out is by hustling hard and that’s what the newcomers did.
4. Cavaliers: Irving 30 points, 5-9 3FG, Love 19 points, 12 rebounds
Any more concerns about the playoffs from two-thirds of the Big Three? After their Game 1 performance, none.
The Cavs needed both Kyrie and Kevin to play well… and both of them delivered big in their first playoff game.
The Cavs needed both Kyrie and Kevin to play well if the team wants to advance in the playoffs and both of them delivered big in their first playoff game. Playing against a similarly inexperienced team like the Celtics, both players proved they could support LeBron and even take over for him when it counted. Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Devine reported that Irving’s 30 points made him only the 11th player in the last 20 years to score 30 or more in his playoff debut. Love also played well and outrebounded everyone on the way to 12 rebounds for the game to go along with 19 big points despite a 2-9 start.
“I thought they were phenomenal,” LeBron said. “We didn’t need a kick-start. These are the playoffs.”
5. Isaiah Thomas: 22 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds
Isaiah Thomas didn’t play like a first-timer to the playoffs as well, as the diminutive guard showed why the Celtics’ bench is such a force to be reckoned with.
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Thomas’ entire stat line tells the story for the Celtics as he was the silver lining for an otherwise overwhelmed Boston team. Aside from the stats mentioned above, he shot 6-14 from the field, 8-8 from the line 2-5 from three, with 1 steal in only 31 minutes of action. Coach Brad Stevens may want to increase his minutes to 35 if the Celtics are to challenge the Cavs in the next few games. Devine was also quick to point out the historical significance of Thomas’ performance. His 20-10-5 line made him just the third player in NBA playoffs history to do so in his first playoff game (LeBron and Oscar Robertson are the others). The guy is such a spark plug off the bench but Stevens may be better off starting him.