After getting whipped badly in a 116-86 loss in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics have every reason to make adjustments ahead of Game 4 of the series this Monday. Apparently, those changes include modification of the team’s starting unit according to Brian Robb of the Boston Sports Journal, though Brad Stevens has kept the changes he's made a secret.
Brad Stevens has made decision on his starting five but won't reveal it.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 21, 2018
In Game 3, the Celtics shot just 39.2 percent from the field and turned the ball over 15 times. It was only the second time in the postseason in which they shot worse than 40 percent, while their 15 turnovers in that game were one more than their total errors in Games 1 and 2.
As for the Cavs, Tom Withers of the Associated Press has reported that the team is going to stick with the same first-five unit it rolled out in Game 3. That means LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, George Hill, and JR Smith will be Cleveland’s set of starters again.
Article Continues BelowNo lineup changes for #Cavs
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) May 21, 2018
It’s understandable for the Cavs not to change what has worked out for them last Saturday, when they made 48.7 percent of their shots and went 17-for-34 (50 percent) from the 3-point area. As usual, LeBron James led the team in the game with 27 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds, but he also got ample support from his fellow starters who all scored in double digits; Love and Hill each scored 13 points, while Kyle Korver came off the bench and fired 14 points on the strength of a perfect 5-for-5 shooting.
The Celtics are just 2-8 in their last 10 games. The Cavs, meanwhile, are 6-0 in their latest six home games.