Hardwood Houdini
Fansided

Boston Celtics looking to send LeBron James packing again

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Boston Celtics are looking to once again eliminate LeBron James, and maybe send him packing out of Cleveland

The Boston Celtics are somehow one win away from taking down LeBron James and reaching the NBA Finals. James is one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the NBA with his Finals streak, but this is the most vulnerable he has looked since the last time the Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Timing can be a strange thing in sports, because people have continually said this is the worst team James has had around him since that last loss to the Celtics in 2010. Interestingly, that was also the last time James was down 2-0 in a series in the East, which the Celtics closed out in six.

It also happens that James left Cleveland following that loss to the Celtics and chances are James will once again be leaving if the Celtics manage to close out this series.

All of these things are secondary, because it does not have any real bearing on what is happening on the court. On top of that, James has been down 3-2 to the Celtics since that last loss, and Boston does not need to be reminded of the effort he put forth to make sure he overcame a much more established team then they have right now.

More from Hardwood Houdini

That being said, this Cavaliers team is much less convincing than any of those Heat teams. It feels like things might be lining up for the Celtics in this game, but absolutely nobody will be thinking about that.

The Celtics are not getting help from fates or the basketball gods, but the bottom line is they realize the opportunity they have to finally end James’ remarkable finals run, and they could very well end his time in Cleveland for good with a victory.

The Celtics know how much more comfortable they would be closing out at home, but James in a game seven is a different monster. In game five he looked gassed and not ready to give the kind of performance they need.

In a closeout game six, you better believe he is going to bring something special, because he has never been anything short of spectacular in closeout games. The Celtics, however, have withstood a stellar James performance and escaped with a victory earlier in this series.

Next: Tatum's D has been more impressive than his O

If the Celtics bring anything less than their best performance of this series, none of that outside stuff will matter. It would be something special for this group to be the ones that end the reign of king James, and it would be fitting if this franchise once again knocked James out of the playoffs and out of Cleveland.

Home/Celtics News