Cavaliers clouted by Celtics in Game One

     The Cleveland Cavaliers received help from Donovan Mitchell in game one of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final series against the Boston Celtics but it wasn't enough as the heavily favored Celtics continued their playoff roll as they defeated Cleveland 120-95 in Boston.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with thirty-three points with Evan Mobley contributing seventeen points and thirteen rebounds in the defeat.

Game two will be in Boston on Thursday night.

Swashbucklings

1) Boston is the top-scoring team in the league and is the second-best defensively, so this is a tough draw for the Cavaliers.

If they win one game (more than Miami did in the first round), I would consider it a success.

2) The Cavaliers are a good defensive squad but this Celtics team made them look slow and steps behind as their passing to the open man is stellar.

They remind me a little of the Mark Price-era Cavaliers as they move the ball around rather than clear out for one player and even though the Celtics have some stars, it's more than one player involved.

3) Cleveland shot a lousy twenty-six percent from three-point range and continued a trend that held strong through the Orlando series.

If Cleveland doesn't start improving from three, any chance of an upset is history.

4) Max Strus and Georges Niang were brought into Cleveland to improve this issue, yet they continue to struggle.

Strus and Niang were a combined one of seven from long-range.

5) Donovan Mitchell scored all of his points in the first three quarters but considering that the fourth was essentially garbage time, it's understandable how that happened.

6) Evan Mobley played well offensively, hitting eight of twelve shots with his thirteen rebounds but there is no question that Jarrett Allen is missed down low.

Will Allen's return allow the Cavaliers to rally in the series?

Maybe but if he doesn't return soon, the chances are even worse.