NBA Preview and Tips: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers

On Monday night, the Boston Celtics (45-20) head to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (40-26). This will be their fourth and final encounter this season.

The Celtics are coming off of a double overtime loss to the New York Knicks, while the Cavaliers have won their last two games. As favorites, Boston will be given an edge of 6.5 points and the total set at 218.5.

Take Care of the Ball

Boston may be a top-of-the-line defensive team, but they are not without fault when it comes to handling the ball. Turnovers have been an issue throughout this series and have been a major contributing factor in each loss - especially on the road.

In these Finals, the Celtics have turned the ball over on 16.3% of their possessions - more than any other team in the NBA, including even the Warriors who have yet to match that mark.

Defense

The Boston Celtics boast one of the top offensive units in the NBA. Unfortunately, their defense also struggles to stay healthy.

Cleveland has allowed 110 points or more in five of their last six games, which is the second-longest streak in team history and one of the primary reasons why they have struggled so much this season.

It's a serious problem. The Cavaliers' perimeter defenders and trapping big men fail to stop ball handlers from driving past them, leaving opponents with wide open looks.

Thankfully, this issue can be remedied through communication and effort; however, it remains a puzzle.

Rebounding

Boston Celtics must never neglect rebounding, especially when the Cleveland Cavaliers are leading the league with 41.8 rebounds per game this season (23rd).

Here are a few strategies the Celtics can implement to increase their chances of succeeding in the rebounding battle:

First and foremost, the Celtics need a powerful team effort on defense. That means working hard and aggressively to get the ball to players who can effectively clean it up.

A major aspect of that strategy will be making sure their frontcourt has players who can assist them. That includes adding some reinforcements on the big man front, like Marcin Gortat.

Officiating

Officiating can make or break a game, so in this NBA preview and tips: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers, officials need to be cognizant of the situation. With an early 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, Boston must use this advantage wisely while Cleveland will also be eager to capitalize on it.

In Game 1 of their series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to overcome some questionable officiating. Despite being down by 18 points, they managed to hold off a late surge by the Hawks.

In Game 2, the Cavaliers were able to regain a lead when they won a crucial call. With only one possession remaining, Donovan Mitchell was awarded a free throw after the league determined it was an "incidental" call.