LeBron James ready for another battle versus Boston

Smart was Boston’s starting point guard as a rookie in 2015 for the first three games of Boston’s sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers before Jae Crowder replaced him in the lineup for Game 4 after Smart was late to the morning shootaround. It was my first time being in the playoffs, being able to go against one of the best players in the league, if not the best. “Even when I got to the National Basketball Association that was one of my only goals – to be as great as I can be, to play in big games in the National Basketball Association and be remembered – and I think I’ve done that in my career”, said James.

According to Bleacher Report, Morris said: “I think probably the best guy defending him in the league, outside of Kawhi”. LeBron James is averaging 34.3 points and nine assists while Kevin Love is averaging 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds. He can stay in front of James, and he can absorb the hefty blow James can administer with his shoulder in the post.

Of course, the Celtics understand full well why they are underdogs in this series, particularly with the way James is playing and the relative ease with which these Cavaliers swept through top-seeded Toronto in Round 2.

Pundits have predicted Celtics coach Brad Stevens will create a gameplan to nullify James.

“I spent a lot of time with him (Thursday)”, Stevens said. Against a guy like LeBron, it’s the team.

Who’s the better basketball player: LeBron James or Michael Jordan?

Morris comparing himself to Kawhi Leonard – the 2014 NBA Finals MVP victor – is a definite example of his inflated confidence, but it goes even further than that. “It was definitely a good time”, said Morris. “It’s a team effort”.

But James proved his postseason bona fides yet again, and the Celtics, thanks to the emergence of “Scary” Terry Rozier, also proved up to the task by eliminating the 76ers. While starters Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford will likely get the first crack at James, Marcus Morris figures to be the player Stevens would first turn to off the bench. But if the Celtics can make those baskets a little more hard, they might be able to get a few key stops. Morris thinks he can defend the king just fine. He looked very confident.

I don’t really see they’re lacking at any position.

“It is a big challenge, but the thing I told you guys earlier in the playoffs, it’s not about the one-on-one matchup”.

He believes his team’s mental toughness and grit have carried it more than anything he’s done. “I think our guys have done a good job with that”. But it’s just one of those things that’s gonna bother me for a little bit. That series helped establish Leonard as one of the NBA’s best perimeter defender and the only player that is really seen as someone that can handle James 1-on-1. That has been sharpened and hardened over the years, facing vicious opposing crowds (many of which were in Boston).

Though 76ers fans had to put up with four straight years of tanking, the Celtics have made the playoffs for four straight seasons and improved each time. With his attack neutralized amidst the Celtics’ frantic energy, the big man stormed off the court when he realized he’d be leaving without even a participation trophy. The Pacers? They made life rough on the Cavs for second games, as was evident in the almost four turnovers a game James totaled. I think there’s a lot that everybody knows that makes LeBron so great. They spread the floor with shooters and make defenses choose to either guard one on one against elite scorers, or help and give up open three pointers.