NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 big questions for Cavaliers vs. Celtics matchup

The Eastern Conference Finals will feature the top two seeds during the regular season, the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are five big questions about the matchup.

After a rigorous seven games for the Boston Celtics in the second round against the Washington Wizards, they finally have made it to the East Finals to take on their nemesis: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All season long, the Cavaliers and Celtics were the cream of the crop in the East, dueling it out for the two top seeds. Many had pegged Cleveland as the favorite to land the No. 1 seed in the East, with little-brother Celtics chasing from the No. 2 spot.

After the Cavaliers slipped post-All Star break, battling numerous injuries and developing chemistry, the Celtics gained confidence game by game. An early April matchup between these two was the biggest regular season game in the East till date. It was a battle for the No. 1 seed and a prime-time matchup for the entire country to watch. Cleveland was coming off a back-to-back, while Boston was rested and ready.

The headlines were ready for the Celtics to literally and figuratively leapfrog the Cavaliers and take control of the Eastern Conference. LeBron James and the Cavs waltzed into TD Garden and didn’t break a sweat. From the opening tip, it was glaringly obvious who the top dog in the East was and the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 was as big as the Grand Canyon. The defending champions led by as much as 29, eventually winning by 23 points on the road. The Celtics’ fans left the arena deflated, likely knowing that the ceiling of their team was No. 2 in the East, behind the King and his mates.

The Cavs did sputter down the stretch and fell to the No. 2 spot in the standings and the Celtics were the No. 1 overall seed. The media and fans wrote off Boston as the weakest No. 1 seed they’d seen in years. The last time that a No. 1 seed had only 53 wins was the 2006-07 season, when the Pistons held it over the No. 2 seed Cavaliers.

The road for these two teams in the playoffs has been day and night. The Celtics were down 2-0 in the opening round to a young and hungry Bulls’ squad. After the injury of Rajon Rondo, Boston found life, winning four straight and advancing. The next round pitted Boston against Washington, which ended up going seven games. Neither team could win on the opponents’ floor and the Celtics pulled out a Game 7 victory at home.

Cleveland has only played in eight games in a span of 31 days. With the scheduling of the first round and the mini-vacations in between each series, the Cavaliers are coming in well-rested and prepared for this series. Tyronn Lue’s squad swept Indiana and Toronto with ease, reminding everyone in the process who the King in the Eastern Conference is.

The Celtics and Cavaliers are set to face off from TD Garden on Wednesday night for Game 1. Let’s take a look at five big questions in advance of the series.

5. How will the Cavaliers defend Isaiah Thomas?

Isaiah Thomas has been by far and away the best Celtics’ player this season. He’s a top-five MVP candidate and as cool as the other side of the pillow in the fourth quarter. His 5-foot-9 frame has not deterred him from getting into the lane and finishing at the rim or stepping back and pulling up for 3s.

During the regular season, Thomas averaged 25.4 points and 6.5 assists per game, but against the Cavaliers, his scoring jumps up to 29.5 points per game. Thomas has been a thorn in the side of the Cavaliers, breaking them down off the dribble against switching big-men and getting to the free throw line. In the four games against the Cavaliers during the regular season, Thomas got the stripe 47 times.

How will the Cavaliers decide to take out Thomas in this series? Against the Raptors, when Kyle Lowry went out, Cleveland went to a trap of DeMar DeRozan to get the ball out of his hands. Expect the Cavaliers to do something similar against Boston and the 5-foot-9 star. The Celtics like to use high pick-and-rolls to get Thomas a switch on a big man and a head-start towards the rim.

According to head coach Tyronn Lue, it looks like the Cavaliers will use Kyrie Irving primarily on Isaiah Thomas, not J.R. Smith. When Irving goes to the bench, look for the Cavaliers to use Iman Shumpert heavily on Thomas. If Boston tries to switch the pick-and-roll, Lue probably would prefer big-man Tristan Thompson on the perimeter, rather than Kevin Love. Thompson has the lateral quickness to try and slow down Thomas, which isn’t Love’s strength.

The Cavaliers will also try and trap Thomas early to get the ball out of his hands and chase the shooters. There will be other Celtics wide-open, who will have to make the Cavaliers pay by knocking down their shots. LeBron’s squad has stepped up its’ defensive intensity in the playoffs and have been executing the game plan at a B+ grade. Look for them to put similar pressure on Thomas and try and make the other Celtics’ players beat them in this series.