Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt has insisted that he respects the threat that the Boston Celtics pose ahead of their first-round playoff series.

The Cavs secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference this season, while the Celtics finished seventh in the standings to set up the series.

"A really, really, really good team," Blatt said, according to ESPN.

"Extremely well coached. Hungry. Ambitious. Playing very well and athletic around the court. Not a simple first-round matchup at all. Not at all."

Cleveland and Boston were tied 2-2 in their regular-season series, although the Cavs rested key players in the final two meetings.