Looking back at Celtics-Cavaliers over the years
On Tuesday night in Boston the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the defending champion Boston Celtics. Cleveland is closing in on a 15-0 start to the season if they take care of business tonight in Charlotte. While the 11-3 Celtics have had a few hiccups early in the season for the most part though they’ve still looked like the dominant NBA Champs that they were all of last season.
It’s not often you get NBA games before Thanksgiving with a lot of juice but that’s exactly what we’ll be getting on Tuesday night. With Boston and Cleveland both having reigns of dominance in the Eastern Conference over the last twenty years let’s look back at some of the best games during this time period.
Pierce vs. Lebron 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7
I know were turning back the clock a little bit on this one but it’s hard not to think of this classic right away when it comes to Celtics-Cavs. The new big 3 of Pierce, Garnett and Allen taking on a young emerging Lebron on their way to a title.
This game was a heavyweight fight between Pierce and Lebron. Pierce would end with 41 points including two late free throws to ice the game, while Lebron had 46 points of his own doing everything possible to try and get Cleveland the win. An instant classic between one of the greatest players of all time taking on one of the greatest teams of all time. The Celtics would win 97-92 and go onto win the title against the rival Lakers.
Avery Bradley’s game winner 2017
Another down to the wire classic battle between these two teams took place in early May of 2017. One of Lebron’s worst games ever against the Celtics, Lebron was held to only 11 points while playing 45 minutes something that almost seems impossible. This was a Kyrie Irving night though before he was the most hated man in Boston. Kyrie had 29 and 7 in a dominant performance but those late 2010’s Celtics teams loved to fight and work every single night for wins and this game was a perfect example of that.
Boston was led by it’s dynamic defensive back court duo of Smart and Bradley in this one who combined for 47 points in the win. The hero in this one becoming Avery Bradley hitting a 3 pointer with tenths of a second left to give Boston the three point lead and the win. An undermanned Boston team took down Lebron and Kyrie and gave fans another classic between the teams.
Eastern Conference Final Game 7, 2018: Tatum’s coming out party
Another low scoring game 7 classic between these franchises with a little bit of role reversal from 2008. Now it was Lebron the elder statesman taking on a young Jayson Tatum led Celtics team. Lebron got the last laugh in this one as he was dominant with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists.
For Celtics fans though even if it was a crushing playoff loss they got glimpses of their future franchise star becoming that player. Tatum had 24 points and 7 rebounds and had the highlight that still lives on today dunking on Lebron in the 4th quarter. Cleveland would go on to win 87-79 but this was another playoff classic and Boston got a preview of the future of their franchise.
November 2nd, 2022 early season thriller
While these teams are vastly different now there were a lot of familiar faces two years ago in an early season matchup that was down to the wire. Maybe we’ll be treated to a similar hard fought game on Tuesday night? Back in 2022 Darius Garland had just returned from injury and was on a mission against Boston. Garland scored 29 in his return, while Jaylen Brown had 30 for Boston in a back and forth contest that had elite play on both ends.
The highlight in this one for Celtics fans was a monstrous dunk for Jayson Tatum at the end of regulation on Jarrett Allen to send the game to overtime. Even with the momentum from Tatum’s slam Boston couldn’t secure the win in overtime after Cleveland took an early 5 point lead Boston would go on to lose 114-113.
Cleveland will take on the Charlotte Hornets tonight as they sit at 14-0. They should handle Charlotte no problem and we should get a heavyweight tilt in Boston on Tuesday night with a lot more heavy blows than the Tyson-Paul fight on Friday night.
Listen to the latest Green Teamers episode with James Stewart and James Scaramozzino discussing this week’s upcoming Cavaliers game and the last week of Celtics basketball. Green Teamers comes out every Sunday night discussing the past week and previewing the next week of Celtics basketball.
