J.R. Smith: Cavs expect 'dirty plays,' 'cheap shots' from Celtics in Game 2

Playoff series tend to get pretty chippy when the Boston Celtics are involved, and Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith isn't ruling out the possibility of foul play after his team routed Boston in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.

"For them to come out swinging, playing scrappy like they do," Smith said of what he expects from the Celtics in Game 2. "They've been playing like that all year. Whenever their backs are up against the wall, they tend to play better, just like we do. So we just got to expect that and understand there might be dirty plays, might be cheap shots coming from the other side just because they are fighting for their lives at this point. So we just got to keep doing what we've been doing."

The Celtics are coming off a particularly physical series against the Washington Wizards, in which teeth were lost, noses bloodied, and body checks delivered. And there was no shortage of dirty plays or cheap shots the last time they squared off against Cleveland in a playoff series.

In the first round two years ago, Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk wrenched Cavs forward Kevin Love's arm from its socket, knocking him out for the remainder of the postseason. In the same game, Smith himself was ejected (and subsequently suspended) for delivering a wild backhand punch to Jae Crowder's face.

Game 2 of the East final goes Friday night.