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

3. Can Boston keep up with Cleveland’s three-point shooting?

3-point shooting will be a large determinant of who advances to the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have snipers up and down their lineup, from J.R. Smith to Kyle Korver to Channing Frye to Kevin Love to even LeBron James in these playoffs. The Celtics have a lot of question marks with their 3-point shooters and it remains to be seen if they’ll show up in this series.

In the playoffs so far, the Cavaliers have been shooting a blistering 43 percent on 3-pointers, drilling 14 3s per game. Cleveland has five volume t3-point shooters who are above 40 percent in the playoffs: LeBron, Love, Frye, Korver and Smith. It’s more visible when Cleveland goes to their second unit to end quarters. That lineup features Deron Williams, LeBron James, Kyle Korver, Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert. Those are four marksmen around LeBron who will can 3-pointers to close out quarters.

Boston has been pretty decent from 3-point range in the playoffs as well. They’re shooting at a 37 percent clip, making about 13 3s a game. Surprisingly, Al Horford has probably been their best 3-point shooter in terms of percentage this postseason. Gerald Green, Terry Rozier and Horford are the only ones on Boston that shoot above 40 percent from long-distance. The Cavaliers’ game plan will likely leave one of Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart wide-open on the 3-point line. Can they hit 3-pointers to help the Celtics out? The statistics would lean on Cleveland’s side and they’ll take their chances in this series.

If Boston can keep up with Cleveland from the 3-point line, they’ll stay within striking distance in these games, but if the Cavaliers separate themselves in the 3-point category, this series could be over before it begins.