Celtics in cruise control

And can the Mavs’ bench get it together to knock off the West’s top seed?

BY DAVID THORPE

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have been on automatic pilot for most of the postseason. When will they be tested? JASON MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

Two series are heading to Game 4 tonight, but only one promises to matter. 

The top-seeded Thunder, now down 2-1 to the Mavs, will need to find a way to contain not just Luka Dončić but also Kyrie Irving and breakout contributor P.J. Washington, who’s averaging 22 points per game in the series. 

The question for the Celtics is not whether they’ll win their series but if we’ve seen their best basketball. I don’t think we have, and that should terrify the teams out West. The Cavs are little more than an ellipsis between the first round and the conference finals. 

Here’s what I’m watching heading into tonight’s games: 

Simply, the Cavs are no challenge

A source close to the Celtics claimed they were brimming with confidence heading into Game 3. I joked in our Monday meeting that the only thing we've learned is Boston can be beaten in Game 2s. 

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