Aron Baynes returns to fire up Celtics

The Boston Celtics decision to promote Australia’s Aron Baynes back into their starting line-up proved a masterstroke.

Boston Celtics centre Aron Baynes competes for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson in Boston. Picture: AP.

The Boston Celtics promoted Australia’s Aron Baynes back into their starting line-up and it proved to be a masterstroke: the team crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers and are now just one victory away from a berth in the NBA finals.

The Celtics won the pivotal game five 96-83 in Boston yesterday to take a 3-2 lead over the Cavaliers in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. The Cavs head into tomorrow’s game six with concerns over the health of 33-year-old star LeBron James, who appeared exhausted during the second half of the loss.

“Aron was great with his energy and physicality,” Celtics’ All-Star forward Al Horford said.

Baynes, a 208cm tall Queenslander, started every game of the Celtics’ semi-final series win over the Philadelphia 76ers this month, but against the smaller, more mobile Cavaliers, Boston coach Brad Stevens relegated Baynes to a bench role and promoted forward Marcus Morris.

The Cavaliers won games three and four as their forward Tristan Thompson dominated the Celtics, but he did not have the same impact yesterday with Baynes paired up with Horford around the basket.

Baynes had six points, seven rebounds and three blocks and fired up his team early with an inspirational sequence where he blocked Cavs’ point guard George Hill and then ran the full length of the court and scored with a put back. Thompson had just one point and six rebounds.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Baynes’ promotion was a move his team failed to counter.

“Considering what happened in game three and four with Tristan great on the glass and finishing around the basket, to start Baynes with a bigger body and going big with him and Horford, was pretty good,” Lue said.

Meanwhile, James denied he was sick, but had “moments” of being tired.

If the Cavaliers win game six, the series will be decided with a game seven on Monday.

AAP