The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
James looks tired in blowout loss
LeBron James, in his 98th consecutive game in a season that began on Oct. 17, finally looked like a tired 33-year-old man on May 23 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers had the momentum heading into TD Garden after winning twice at Quicken Loans Arena to even the series at 2-2. But the Boston Celtics regained control by pounding — literally pounding — James and the Cavs, 96-83 to take a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 on May 25 at Quicken Loans Arena.
James finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It was a stat line any player would take. But he didn’t finish drives to the hoop he would normally make in the second half and he was careless with the basketball, committing six more turnovers.
Cavaliers starting guards George Hill and J.R. Smith couldn’t have been quieter if they had spent the night in a library. The same thing happened in the first two games, both won by the Celtics.
Hill scored five points in 29 minutes, and three of those came from the foul line. Smith was one of six from the field in 26 minutes.
Beating the Celtics in TD Garden is difficult on any night. It is almost impossible when James and Kevin Love have to carry the load almost exclusively. It is a movie we have seen before when the Cavaliers lost in the playoffs.
The Celtics led 32-19 at the end of the first quarter — exactly the start the Cavs wanted to avoid. Love had 10 points and James eight after 12 minutes. The scoring trend didn’t change much after that.
Both teams were physical in the paint. The punishment dealt out by the Celtics hurt the Cavaliers more than the Cavs being physical hurt Boston because the Celtics were more balanced with five players in double figures.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said the game plan was to make it as hard as possible for James, and that is exactly what the Celtics did.
James has one day to recover before Game 6 at The Q. It is fair to wonder whether playing more minutes than anyone else in the NBA is starting to wear on him.
Even in the blowout loss of Game 6, James played 39 minutes. All season he has taken a pounding driving to the hoop.
The Cavs have to hope that streak of 98 straight games for James this season reaches 100, because that means there will be a Game 7 on May 27 in Boston.
The Cavaliers crushed Boston, 116-86, in Game 3. The Celtics played much better and showed more poise in Game 4, especially in the last three quarters. The Cavs won, 111-102, but it is worth noting they led, 34-18 after the first quarter. The Celtics outscored the Cavs the final 36 minutes.
James has been superman ever since he returned to the Cavaliers in 2014. Now, more than ever, he has to slip on the cape again, as exhausted as he might be. Otherwise the Cavaliers’ season is coming to an abrupt end.
Reach Schudel at JSchudel@News-Herald. com. On Twitter: @jsproinsider