Round two of NBA playoffs should pose stiffer challenge for the Celtics
Cleveland's come-from-behind Game 7 win over Orlando puts the Cavs on a collision course with top-seeded Boston in the second round of the playoffs with Game 1 on Tuesday.
Jayson Tatum, raising up for a shot over Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, earlier this season. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
BOSTON — As the final seconds ticked away in Cleveland’s series-clinching Game 7 win over Orlando, a familiar “WE WANT BAH-STON!” chant began to make the rounds at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
It was just a couple of weeks ago when the Miami Heat faithful uttered a similar request on the cusp of facing the Celtics in the first round.
Aside from a Game 2 loss, one in which the Miami Heat made more 3’s than any Miami Heat team in the franchise’s history, Boston had no trouble disposing of Miami.
However, Cleveland is a different team and presents a different set of challenges that makes Boston advancing to the Eastern Conference finals anything but a given.
Here are five factors that will make this second-round series a tougher one for the Celtics.
