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NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 keys to Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup

By Rucker Haringey

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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The Celtics will be the underdog against the Cavaliers. However the series turns out, these will be the deciding factors.

The Eastern Conference Playoffs have finally boiled down to the matchup most fans wanted to see all along. The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers will clash in what should be a hotly contested series.

The Cavaliers will enter the fray as the favorites, but their return to the NBA Finals is far from a given. LeBron James has led his squad on a great playoff run, but their regular season was pretty mediocre. It’s fair to wonder whether or not the Cavs can keep up their momentum.

Boston’s season seemed to be doomed when they lost Gordon Hayward in the first game of the year. Instead of going into the tank, Brad Stevens has galvanized this squad into one of the most complete teams in the NBA. They may not have a transcendent star like LeBron James, but that didn’t stop them from dispatching the 76ers in five.

At this point, Celtics fans think Brad Stevens can craft a game plan capable of establishing world peace. It’s still unclear whether or not stopping LeBron is within his range of powers though. On the other side, Cavalier fans are gathering more and more ammunition to name James as the best player of all time.

That’s an issue for another day though. Today’s issue is to examine what will determine the winner of this series. Here are the top five keys to determining a winner between the Celtics and Cavaliers.

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