The Boston Celtics – without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving – have banded together and advanced through the playoffs. As for the Cavaliers, a roster overhaul at the trade deadline and a close call in the opening round of the playoffs seemingly showed that LeBron James’ team was vulnerable. But both sides looked strong in the previous round and are ready to battle. Who had the edge in Game 1?

NBA Eastern Conference Final Point Spread and Betting Analysis

It’s hard to put much stock in the regular season meetings but for what it’s worth, the Cavs won two of the three contests, holding the Celtics to 102 points per game or less each time. Looking at some trends, the Cavs are just 28-24 against winning teams while the Celtics are 31-21. The Celtics are 4-1 SU and ATS when on three or more days’ rest while the Cavs are were 0-3 SU and ATS.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The real question with the Cavs is which team will show up: the one who barely outlasted the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the opening round of the playoffs or the team that easily swept the top-seeded Toronto Raptors? If it’s the team that looked so strong in Round 2, they’ll beat the Celtics. If it’s the first version, this is likely where the road ends.

The key for the Cavs is they have experience on their side. The Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds, but both of those teams are green. The Cavs are seasoned and now what it takes. They also have the best player in the game in James, which will make a big difference. While the Raptors probably had more talent overall, they didn’t have anyone on James level and that was the difference. Sometimes a lot of cute pieces are nice but the Cavs have a warrior like James who can will his team to wins. The Celtics have players that step up but no one superstar to lead the way consistently. The Cavaliers saw that type of team in the last round and handled them with ease, so this should be familiar to them.

Boston Celtics

The key to the Celtics winning Game 1 – and the series – is not stopping King James. He’s going to do his damage. The question is if they can slow down the rest of the supporting cast. Specifically, Kevin Love and Kyle Korver. Love averaged just 11.5 points per game in the opening round while shooting 33.3% from the field and hitting just 1.7 free throws per game. He upped those numbers to 20.5 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and hitting 4.5 free throws per contest. Korver had just 8.3 points per game in the opening round while shooting 37.8% from the field but jumped up to 14.5 and 58.3% in the second round. Those guys are the keys to the Cavs success.

The good news for the Celtics is that they’re not soft like the Raptors were. They were the third-best defensive team in the NBA in terms of points per game in the regular season and second for field goal percentage. Not much has changed in the playoffs.

Most importantly, the C’s have a huge edge in this series on the sidelines with Brad Stevens. The young genius exposed Ben Simmons in the last round and he’ll expose the Cavs’ weaknesses too. Look for the Celtics to earn a hard-fought win in Game 1 and send an early statement.

Injuries

Cleveland

JR Smith (SG)

Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18

George Hill (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18

Rodney Hood (SG)

Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18

Kyle Korver (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18

Tristan Thompson (C)

Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18

Jose Calderon (PG)

Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18

Jeff Green (SF)

Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18

Larry Nance Jr. (PF)

Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18

Cedi Osman (SF)

Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18

Boston

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18

Marcus Morris (PF)

Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18

Greg Monroe (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18

Guerschon Yabusele (PF)

Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18

Shane Larkin (PG)

Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18

Jabari Bird (SG)

Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18

Daniel Theis (PF)

out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18

Aron Baynes (C)

Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18

Al Horford (PF)

Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18

Injuries

Cleveland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
JR Smith (SG)	Ques Mon	Illness - 06 / 05 / 18	7-6	6-7	+ -
Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 01 / 05 / 18	8-7	8-7	+ -
Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
Rodney Hood (SG)	Prob Wed	Personal - 18 / 04 / 18	9-12	9-12	+ -
Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter.
Kyle Korver (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 16 / 04 / 18	9-12	9-12	+ -
Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tristan Thompson (C)	Prob Sun	Personal - 13 / 04 / 18	9-13	9-13	+ -
Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jose Calderon (PG)	Prob Mon	Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18	12-14	12-14	+ -
Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks.
Jeff Green (SF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 23 / 03 / 18	18-15	14-19	+ -
Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)	Ques Fri	Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18	20-18	18-20	+ -
Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns.
Cedi Osman (SF)	Prob Wed	Hip - 10 / 03 / 18	21-19	18-22	+ -
Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Tues	Leg - 12 / 02 / 18	25-24	22-27	+ -
James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder.

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Thurs	Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18	7-4	5-6	+ -
Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Morris (PF)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18	8-5	6-7	+ -
Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Greg Monroe (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 17 / 04 / 18	12-6	10-8	+ -
Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 12 / 04 / 18	13-6	11-8	+ -
Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Guerschon Yabusele (PF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 08 / 04 / 18	14-8	14-8	+ -
Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets.
Shane Larkin (PG)	Prob Fri	Illness - 02 / 04 / 18	16-9	16-9	+ -
Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls.
Jabari Bird (SG)	Prob Sun	Back - 14 / 03 / 18	22-12	18-16	+ -
Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday.
Daniel Theis (PF)	out for season	Knee - 11 / 03 / 18	23-12	19-16	+ -
Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus.
Aron Baynes (C)	Prob Mon	Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18	28-14	24-17-1	+ -
Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies.
Al Horford (PF)	Ques Sat	Head - 24 / 01 / 18	35-19	30-23-1	+ -
Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics Game 1 Prediction