5. The Cavaliers must contain Terry Rozier
Rozier is doing his best Kyrie Irving impression during these playoffs. Cleveland needs to make sure they keep him under control if they want to win this series.
The challenge for the Cavs is they aren’t really blessed with any point guard options that are athletic enough to stop Rozier off the dribble. It’s likely going to be a defense by committee approach for Tyronn Lue.
George Hill should get the first chance to keep Rozier under wraps. He has enough size to bother him, but there are real questions about whether or not he can stop Rozier laterally. Expect Hill to start most games on Rozier, but it’s unclear whether or not he’s athletic enough to guard him in crunch time.
The other alternative for the Cavs will be to trust J.R. Smith with the task. He’s the team’s most gifted defender from a physical perspective, but his mental focus is always a concern. Expect Lue to put Smith on Rozier in high-leverage situations where he knows his guard will be locked in.
In the end, Cleveland doesn’t need to shut Rozier down, they just need to contain him. If they can limit his efficiency it will put them in a great spot to slow down Boston’s prolific offense.