Boston Holds On Despite A Lebron Onslaught

The Boston Celtics have balance, resilience and a two-game lead in their NBA Eastern Conference finals series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have LeBron James and a bunch of problems to sort out.

The Celtics withstood a bravura performance by LeBron that featured 21 points in the first quarter and then pulled away from the Cavs in the third on their way to a 107-94 victory on Tuesday night.

“Those 12 minutes killed us,” LeBron said after the Celtics bolted ahead by outscoring the Cavs 36-22.

LeBron scored 42, plus 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Kevin Love contributed 22 points. The rest of the players should be charged the price of admission – most of them stood around watching.

Every Celtics starter scored in double figures as did Marcus Smart off the bench; Cleveland guards George Hill and J.R. Smith combined to shoot 1 of 11 from the field and totaled three points. James and Love scored 30 of the Cavs’ paltry 39 second-half points.

There’s been talk all season of LeBron leaving the Cavaliers after this season and this game would be the best piece of evidence it could/should happen. He’s surrounded by schlubs, stiffs and older players while the Celtics are young and loaded with future draft picks. The Cavs are generally undisciplined on defense, but also erratic – they were good in the first half Tuesday night, putrid in the second.

The series moves to Cleveland on Saturday night and the Cavaliers could use some positive energy from the crowd. But having won twice at home already, the Celtics could win this series without ever winning on the road. Games 6 and 7 would be played in Boston.

In the meantime, Cleveland fans get to cheer on LeBron and their team. Or LeBron, who is their team.

Maybe for the last few times.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman