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Cavs vs Celtics
LeBron in trouble
5/13/10
The Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James are facing elimination heading into Thursdays Game 6 in Boston. Heres the preview from BroburySports.com, your NBA leader.
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Boston (up 3-2) is a one-point home favorite with a total of 196-points. Tip-off is 8 pm ET.
The Celtics were behind in the series 2-1. They look Game 4 at home 97-87 behind an incredible 29 point, 18 rebound effort from point guard Rajon Rondo. He also added 13 assists for the triple-double.
Boston didnt want to depend on Rondo to carry them in Game 5 in Cleveland and they didnt. The old Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined for 64 points, while Rondo chipped in 16 after being controlled in the first half.
Pierce had 25 points and that was key. The 32-year-old small forward was averaging under 12 PPG in the series after getting worn down from guarding James. He could have another big night on Thursday.
The final Scorewas 120-88, with Boston easily covering as 7 ½-point dogs. It was the worst home playoff loss in Cavaliers history.
The question now is, what kind of shape is Cleveland in mentally? James is getting ripped from coast to coast for his 15 point performance last Game. Theres almost more speculation on where hell play next year as opposed to whether Cleveland will win.
The common theme in this series is Cleveland wins when James explodes. He scored 35 and 38 points in the two wins, one of them 124-95 in Boston for Game 3.
Shaquille ONeal has done well this series, but they seem out of sync with him on the floor due to all the missed Games down the stretch. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison arent stepping up consistently as second scorers.
Through it all, Cleveland just needs one win to regain home cOurt. That Game would be Sunday and the Cavs would be a heavy favorite. James needs a big effort to get there, but his teammates need to come alive as well.
Can the Celtics eliminate the King?
You decide at BroburySports.com.