Cleveland Cavaliers: What we learned vs. Boston Celtics Game 1

BOSTON, MA – MAY 13: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks with the media following Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics on May 13, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped their first game of the Eastern Conference Finals with a disappointing 108-83 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have it on Sunday afternoon.

They started out slow and appeared unprepared for Boston’s physicality. The Celtics took control of the game with a 17-0 run midway through the first quarter and the Cavs were never really able to get back into the game.

Kyle Korver gives a straightforward assessment of what the @cavs need to improve going forward in this Eastern Conference Finals series #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/wZZxlPrFwn
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 14, 2018

LeBron James just didn’t have it either. He finished with 15 points on an inefficient five of 16 shooting (31.3%). James also uncharacteristically turned the ball over seven times which was one more time than all of the Celtic starters.

Besides an uncharacteristically bad game from LeBron, the rest of the Cavaliers weren’t making any threes. Cleveland was just four for 26 (15.4%) from distance.

LeBron was awful, the defense was suspect, and the three-pointers weren’t falling. This wasn’t the Cavs best effort, but you have to give the Celtics credit for putting Cavs in a position to have such a poor game.

Here’s what we learned from a “feel out” Game 1.