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In the first game, Jaylen Brown guarded Mitchell for about 33 possessions and had some success, limiting the guard to 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting, with no assists. Mitchell was defended by Jrue Holiday for about 16 possessions and Mitchell went 4 for 5 from the field. Interestingly, when the teams met two nights later, Holiday drew the assignment, perhaps because coach Joe Mazzulla wanted to get a longer look at another option, aware that these teams could meet down the road. Get Garden Party A seasonal pop-up newsletter covering everything you need to know about the Celtics' and Bruins' postseasons. Holiday guarded Mitchell for 35 possessions, three times as many as any other Celtic, and Mitchell once again had good results, going 4 for 6 from the field, with four assists. Holiday, a five-time All-Defensive team selection, has said in the past that shifty guards create challenges for him. Brown, meanwhile, has taken pride this year in picking up extra responsibility on the defensive end, and he has the strength and athleticism to keep up with Mitchell. Look for him to get the first look, with a clear by-committee approach.2. Centers of attention
The Celtics are expected to be without center Kristaps Porzingis for the entire series because of the calf strain he suffered in Game 4 of the first-round win over Miami. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, meanwhile, missed the last three games of the Orlando series because of a rib injury, and his status is unclear.
It's certainly tough timing for the Celtics to lose Porzingis, but they are well-equipped to advance anyway. They went 22-4 this season when Porzingis was sidelined. The Celtics acquired the 7-foot-2-inch big man, in part, to punish teams such as the Heat that switch constantly on screens, allowing Porzingis to exploit obvious size mismatches. That advantage would be somewhat negated against Cleveland anyway, because the Cavaliers do not switch nearly as often.
Al Horford matches up just fine against the Cavaliers, but the Celtics will want to avoid getting him caught in space against Cleveland's speedy guards. And it'll be worth monitoring the workload put on the shoulders of the forward, who turns 38 next month. Backup center Luke Kornet has recovered from his own calf strain and had some promising moments against Miami. His rim protection will help.
The Cavaliers rank just 22nd in the NBA in offensive rebounding, and they would be even more vulnerable if Allen is sidelined. Allen and Evan Mobley are an excellent defensive pairing, and a big reason why Cleveland surrendered just 46.5 points per game in the paint this season, fourth fewest in the league.
The Celtics have quickly identified and feasted on mismatches all season. In the Heat series, for example, it was no accident that whenever Tyler Herro, Kevin Love, or Patty Mills was on the floor, the offensive player they were guarding frequently became the Celtics' primary option.
Yes, the Celtics will have challenges guarding Mitchell, but the Cavaliers could have bigger problems. Look for Jayson Tatum and Brown to hunt cross-matches against Max Strus, who played for the Miami team that ousted the Celtics from the conference finals last year.
Mobley is an elite defender and will likely be tasked with guarding Tatum, but the Celtics forward's speed could make things difficult for the 6-11 Mobley in space.
When these teams met in Cleveland in March, the Cavaliers stunned the Celtics by roaring back from a 22-point deficit and securing a 1-point win that was sparked by forward Dean Wade's 20-point fourth quarter. Sixth man Caris LeVert erupted for a career-high 51 points against the Celtics when he played for the Nets in 2020. Wade missed the Orlando series with a sprained knee and his status for this series is unclear, but the bottom line is the Celtics need to avoid getting lit up by a role player. As long as they eliminate the unexpected stars, they should be fine.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
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