A team effort pushes the Boston Celtics into the conference finals against last year's foe the Orland Magic. With Lebron James facing the potential spectre of his last game in Cleveland, the Cavaliers bench couldn't keep up with solid performances from the C's bench. Lebron did his part with a triple-double, but the team defense of the Celtics ensured his one man effort would only break, not bend the C's season. Doc Rivers continually emphasized team-work during televised time-outs and the Boston players delivered an uniting ubuntu effort. Oh, and the crowd did their part too, even getting a "New York Knicks, New York Knicks" chant into the game.
Lebron James' Attempt Not Enough
Though Lebron put up a triple-double stat line, his seven turnovers were mistakes his supporting cast was able to overcome. Unlike truly great NBA stars, Lebron simply does not make his teammates better. The Cavs put up solid individual performances; Mo Williams with 22 points, seven boards and four assists (but a disappearance in the second half); Shaq with 11 points in 24 minutes. But, the Cavs bench got outplayed by the Celtics bench and left NBA fans wondering Lebron Who?.
Celtics Bench Deliver Winning Edge
Rasheed Wallace, yes Rasheed Wallace, led the Celtics bench with 13 points and 3 rebounds. While at times Wallace's play proved frustrating, his 50% field goal and three point shooting night gave the Celtics two double digit scorers off the pine. Tony Allen added 10 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals to go with Wallace's block and couple of steals. The Celtics bench didn't play to beat the Cavs on their own but by outscoring the Cleveland bench by 11 points proved to be the difference in the game.
Magic await the C's in Orland
Winning game 6 gives the Celtics a couple days to rest and prepare for Game 1 of the conference finals against the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 3:30 on Sunday. Dwight Howard and the Magic will have to shake off some rust from their post-sweep sabbatical but the C's too have to recharge after a difficult six game series.
“Lebron simply does not make his teammates better”
Nice piece Adam, but are you kidding me? LBJ doesn’t make his teammates better? He’s one of the most gifted passing forwards in the game if not of all time. If anything he’s too unselfish on the court IMO. No, he didn’t have a great series, but he had a damn good series. Supporting cast awful. Plain awful, outsideo Sideshow Bob (Varejao). Delonte West (awful).. Jamison (awful).. Shaq (awful and killed them on both ends of the court). LBJ is getting unjustifiably bashed right now. Put Jordan with that group and tell me how far they go.
That’s exactly my point though. Put Jordan with that crew and they might not play well but they’d at least play average to decent. Put Lebron with an awful cast and they’re an awful cast. Put Jordan with an awful cast and they’re an average cast.
Are they better with LBJ than without? Yup. And you’re right, Lebron was too unselfish. But that’s part of knowing the flow of the game and knowing when you need to take the ball and be a one man show and when you can dish it off to your teammates. Him taking control of the game helps the Cavs as it forces the C’s to pay more attention to him giving his crew better looks.
Rondo makes his teammates better because he knows when to drive and shoot/dish and when to pass it around from the start of the possession, LBJ doesn’t. Lebron doesn’t have a feel for the the moment, something champions must possess.
I don’t know man.. Fact is (like it or not, make fun of it or not..he was hurt somewhat in that series) but how’d he do with an even worse cast of characters when he had that epic battle with Pierce in Game 7 2008? I just feel too much is being made of one series with a very marginal at best supporting cast.
Oh, and yes I do think he’s hurt. It might not be a serious injury but Lebron’s elbow is bothering him.
I do think too much is being made of this one series, but my opinion on Lebron has been this way for a while and is formed by how he and his teams have performed over his whole NBA career. He’s still young and maybe he’ll prove me wrong down the line but I’ve got a feeling he’s a great player, just not a clutch playoff performer who pushes his teammates to be better.
I’m hoping he does team up with Wade and Bosh next year, so we can finally see how he and his team perform with an excellent team.
every superstar needs their ‘Pippen’.. When he gets his, like you say, watch out. There’s no Pippen or distant cousin of Pippen on that Cavs team.
Good piece.
Later
True. If LBJ, Bosh, and Wade team up with Rose and Noah in Chicago…uh-oh!
yeah, even LBJ with just Bosh OR Wade (one or the other) added to that crew in Chi-Town, watch out.