LeBron cries ‘uncle’ as Celtics press on

Friday, May 14, 2010

Michael Parente, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Before we get into everything Boston did right Thursday in its series-clinching victory against Cleveland, let’s start by aiming a few more haymakers at the gutless Cavaliers, who – for lack of a more in-depth analysis – quit on their fans, city and coach in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

On several key possessions during the fourth quarter, at least three Cavaliers stood in the paint without even attempting to leap for the rebound on a missed jumper. Both LeBron James and Mo Williams walked the ball up the court on separate possessions, showing no sense of urgency with their team trailing by double figures. To top it all off, they didn’t even bother fouling to extend the game in the closing seconds.

At least LeBron stuck around to shake hands with the victors this time, unlike last year when he stormed off the court like a selfish child after Orlando eliminated the Cavaliers in the conference finals. In fact, he seemed somewhat relieved, as if he realizes this is the last time he’ll have to play alongside a supporting cast of drifters and derelicts in Cleveland.

As LeBron walked off the court last night exchanging fist-bumps with Boston fans following the Celtics’ 94-85 win, he couldn’t rip that jersey off fast enough. Can you blame him? I’d be embarrassed, too – even if most of this is his fault. Asked to lead by example, LeBron checked out mentally after Game 4 and his teammates followed suit. He might as well have worn a Yankees’ hat at the post-game press conference. Now, Knicks, Bulls and Nets fans have 43 days to wait until the start of the free-agency signing period to see if the most coveted prize of the offseason will fall into their laps (assuming they still want him).

Six hundred miles north of Cleveland, the Celtics have defiantly regained the championship swagger that oozed form their pores in 2008. Too old and slow? Not with Rajon Rondo running the point like a young Nate Archibald. Likewise, “The Big Three” has finally awoken from its playoff coma. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce erupted in Games 5 and 6 to close out Cleveland, and they got a little help from their friends, too, specifically Rasheed Wallace, who chipped in with 13 points off the bench last night, and Tony Allen, who added 10.

Conversely, the Cavaliers relied solely on James, who – elbow injury or not – lacked the drive and determination to bring this series back to Cleveland for a seventh game. Credit the sheer aggressiveness of Boston’s defense, which kept its hands in the air and disrupted a number of shots and possessions to force 24 turnovers.

Orlando has yet to lose a playoff game and will be the heavy favorites in the conference finals, but it’s impossible (even for me) to count out Boston based on what we saw in these last three games. In many ways, this series against Cleveland resembled the beating the New England Patriots laid on Indianapolis in the 2004 divisional playoffs (a 20-3 wipeout). Undermanned and underestimated, the Patriots were supposed to wilt under the pressure of the Colts’ star power (Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, etc.), but instead out-hustled and out-worked Indianapolis, proving once again that quality always beats quantity.

While the Cavaliers deserve criticism for waving the white flag long before this series was officially in the books, let’s not lose sight of what Boston did to pull off the upset. Starting Sunday, we’ll find out if it’s enough for one more run to the Finals.