After Game 5, the question was how the Cavaliers and their fearless leader, Lebron James, would respond in the boisterous environment that is the TD Garden. Every pundit and writer talked about how the Cavaliers were done. Tonight, they were vindicated as the Cavaliers not only lost but quit in the final minutes of the pivotal Game 6.
Lebron had an uneven game despite having a triple double. Yet, he forced 9 turnovers and looked timid as the game wore on. He showed brief flashes of Classic Lebron but they were few and far between. Lebron appeared timid and picked his spots to attack. I have never seen Lebron play like this and yet I have to wonder how many games will it take to harden Lebron into a crunch time killer and multiple NBA Champion. I thought the losses to Orlando last year as well the Celtics series the year before that would do it. Now, I am not so sure. I guess despite his prowess, he may never be Michael Jordan.
Yet, he can learn from another great player who like him played terribly in a pivotal game and was labeled a choker all summer. The very next season he came back and tamed the demons of the year before as well as many others. That player was Magic Johnson who in 1984 forced unnecessary turnovers in a pivotal Game 7 against the Celtics. Yet, he redeemed himself the very next season and made the most famous shot just two years later.
Mo Williams had a good half but he along with the Cavaliers were busy baking a baker's dozen of turnover, which the Celtics eagerly chowed down for easy baskets and back breaking three pointers. The Cavaliers missed many free throws, which were most notably by Shaq, Lebron and Mo Williams. Anderson Varajao came to play early by taking charges but was never heard from after the 1st half.
The Cavalier supporting cast was unreliable as Antawn Jamison proved how much of a bust he was in this series. KG had his way on Jamison in the post and scored any day or night of his choosing. Jamison could never make the big 3 which could have breathed life into the Cavaliers but instead drove home another nail in the coffin of the Cavalier season. To add insult to injury, his team did not even foul in the final minute as they resigned themselves to a summer of uncertainty and disappointment.
As for the Rejuvenated Celtics, the Big 4 came to play as KG, Allen, Rondo and timely baskets by Paul Pierce in the third quarter nailed the coffin in what could be Lebron James' final game for Cleveland. Rajon Rondo was brilliant as usual as he slipped through Cavalier frontline as if they were huge red pylons. Kevin Garnett had a big game and had 22 points which is the first time since the 2008 Finals that he had more than 20 points in a game.
The Celtics got timely bench play as Tony Allen played solid defense as well as a highlight dunk that would make Michael Jordan proud before the half. Rasheed Wallace came up with timely three pointers and played like the player that the Celtics envisioned last summer. Together, they outscored the Cavaliers bench 23-13. Credit Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau for their suffocating defense on King James and forcing his teammates to win the game. Unfortunately, they fell under pressure and spotlight of the NBA Playoffs.
Now, we will witness the biggest Summer in NBA History as Lebron will be highly sought after along with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. He is currently without a ring but that will not stop many teams to try and pry him away from Cleveland. From July 1, start spreading the news as Lebron might be heading to a city with a treasure chest of cap space near you.
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