Cavs-Celtics matchup could have playoff implications

BOSTON -- Friday's matchup between the Celtics and Cavaliers (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) could go a long way in determining who hosts a Game 7 between the two in the postseason.

With each team having 48 wins (the Cavs have two fewer losses with 12) and the season series tied at 1-1, a victory would give the triumphant team a leg up in the race for the East's best record. Including last year's seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals, neither team has won in the other's building since the Cavs took a 107-104 decision at TD Banknorth Garden on Jan. 3, 2007.

Boston's task at holding off the hard-charging Cavs is all the more daunting considering Kevin Garnett has been out the last six games and could be out another week with a right knee strain. The Celtics have had trouble with bigger teams such as the Cavs and the Lakers this season. Despite signing forward/center Mikki Moore on Feb. 24, the defending champs are thin in the post without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

The Celtics are 4-2 in their last six games without Garnett and 7-2 overall this season. Cleveland has won nine of its last 10 games.

Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-12 (21-11 on the road), First in East
Pace: 89.0 possessions/game (25th)
Offense: 112.1 points scored per 100 possessions (3rd)
Defense: 101.3 points allowed per 100 possessions (2nd)

Boston Celtics: 48-14 (25-5 at home), Second in East
Pace: 90.8 possessions/game (17th)
Offense: 111.1 points scored per 100 possessions (5th)
Defense: 101.2 points allowed per 100 possessions (1st)

Oct. 28 -- At Boston 90, Cleveland 85
Jan. 9 -- At Cleveland 98, Boston 83

1. How much do the Celtics miss Garnett? And how much will they miss him against Cleveland?

While they are 7-2 without Garnett in the lineup this year, the Celtics rely more on their offense to win games when KG is sidelined. The Celtics have averaged 6.6 more points per game without Garnett, but they give up an average of 7.7 more per game. Paul Pierce doesn't want to find out if the Celtics can continue to outscore people until Garnett returns.

CAVS vs. CELTICS -- 8 P.M. ET, ESPN • PREGAME RITUAL: Davina Sutton caught up with LeBron James, who provides an in-depth look at how his pre-game powder-tossing routine has evolved. Read story • VIDEO: In the latest 24 Seconds interview, Cavs guard Mo Williams talks about which former NBA star he patterned his game after. Watch clip • VIDEO: Watch highlights from the Cavs-Celtics game on Oct. 28, 2008, which Boston won 90-85. Highlights • VIDEO: Watch highlights from the Cavs-Celtics game on Oct. 28, 2008, which Cleveland won 98-83. Highlights • PHOTOS: View photos of the Cavs vs. Celtics games so far this season. View Images • VIDEO: Now teammates in Boston, Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett were the fresh young faces of the NBA in the 1990s as a budding duo in Minnesota. Watch clip

"When you don't have one of your go-to guys, the Defensive Player of the Year, we've just got to find other ways, like we have," Pierce said. "Cleveland right now is playing extremely good basketball. They're on top of the Eastern Conference. So, we got our work cut out for us.

"Just trying to hold down LeBron in itself is work, let alone the guys around him, the guys around him that are playing very well. Delonte West has come back like he hasn't lost a step. Of course, Mo Williams is an All-Star and he's playing like it. So, we've got to bring our 'A' game.

2. Is LeBron doing it by himself?

Although he had 38 points in their last meeting, and is quite capable of replicating the feat, James has been getting significant contributions from his teammates as of late. In the Cavs' exhilarating 107-100 win in Miami on Monday, Mo Williams scored 30 points, dished seven assists and grabbed seven boards. Williams is second on the team behind James in scoring and assists and earned his first All-Star nod this season.

West has also played well in his return from a broken wrist and has given the already stalwart Cavs defense another boost with his ballhawking ways on the perimeter. West has 18 steals in his last four games, including a career-high eight against Milwaukee on Wednesday.

3. What impact have Moore and Marbury had on the Celtics so far?

Stephon Marbury and Moore, in their scant time with Boston, have seen about the same amount of floor time, but the Celtics' need for a backup point guard was slightly more important than another big body in the post. Also, neither has had much practice time, making their integration into the Celtics' schemes a work in progress.

"I'm about 80 percent, 85 percent [integrated]," Moore said after the Celtics defeated the Nets in New Jersey on Wednesday. "I've got to learn the defensive calls. I know the basic setup on defense and offense, but I've just got to learn how to call them out.

"That's the big thing for them. It's the communication part. The hustle part is there. My timing is not all the way there. My jump shot is not all the way there, but I feel good out there with them."

4. How quickly will Joe Smith work his way into the Cavs' rotation?

Smith, who averaged 21.5 minutes per game in 27 games for the Cavs last season, should see pretty much the same amount of playing time with Cleveland in this go-round. Smith, who was averaging 19.2 minutes per game with the Thunder before being bought out, shouldn't have a problem fitting into the Cavs rotation right away. That's especially true with Ben Wallace on the shelf with a broken right fibula.

Smith is familiar with the Cavaliers' defensive system and should work well within the offense, setting plenty of high-side pick-and-rolls for James, Williams and West.

5. Without KG, how do the Celtics keep LeBron from attacking the rim?

It's here the Celtics face the old superstar conundrum: do the Celtics let James get his and shut down the other Cavs? Or do the Celtics focus on James and make the other Cavs beat them? As we noted above, James had 38 in Cleveland's win in January, but was held to 22 on Oct. 28, the night the Celtics received their championship rings. That game was a typical opening-night contest: somewhat sloppy and disjointed as the teams combined to shoot .436 from the field.

Then again, James has been so good at getting his points and setting up his teammates (he's had 11 games where he's dished 10-plus assists), it's no wonder he's a leading candidate to win his first MVP.

6. How important is this game to these teams?

While it's obviously important to both teams, Boston would suffer more with a loss. The Celtics would be at a severe disadvantage in the race for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs as the Cavs would have a 2-1 season-series lead. Finally, the last game of this series is in Cleveland on April 12 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The Cavs are 27-1 at home and are threatening to tie the Celtics' NBA single-season home record of 40-1 (set in 1986).