28 Dec 10 Can the Boston Celtics Really Upset the Cavaliers? It's Easier Than You Think

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesLeBron James is the most complete player in the NBA, and the league's MVP, but despite all of his considerable talent, the fate of the Cleveland Cavaliers' series with the Boston Celtics is out of his hands.James still managed to score 24 points and snare seven rebounds, despite the pain from a sore elbow, and unless his injury makes it impossible to play, it is a near certainty he will have a significant impact on each game.But if Boston guard Rajon Rondo is able to duplicate his play from Monday night's home court-stealing Arizona Cardinals jersey
Celtics' win, it may not matter what James does, because Rondo just happens to be the most talented guard in the series.If you don't believe me, I'm sure Cavaliers' guard Mo Williamswill be more than willing to back up my assumption, and if not, his four point performance on 1-9 shooting while logging 35 minutes should be evidence enough.Rondo's defensive effort on Williams was exemplary for sure, but the rest of the Cavaliers' guards didn't fare much better as Anthony Parker and Delonte West teamed with Williams to score a combined 14 points for the evening.If that isn't bad enough, Rondo also managed to dish out 19 assists, which was two more than the entire Cavalier team combined.Six Celtics' players scored in double figures led by Ray Allen's 22 points, while only three Cavaliers were able to match that feat with Antawn Jamison and J.J. Hickson joining James.Boston won the game 104-86, and to be honest, the final 18 point margin is actually a lot less than it could have been, because the Celtics held a 25 point lead at one point.Boston won this game with strong defense, a refusal to run in the open court with the Cavaliers, and because the Celtics are a more talented team than Cleveland, even if they are a little older.Many will will not agree with my assertion, but take a moment to scan the rosters of each team, and then base your opinion on honesty, rather than the athleticism which courses through the Cleveland roster.Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson are skilled and athletic, but in terms of talent, they are not in the same category as Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace, especially when Wallace is motivated.Cleveland had no answer for Wallace in the post or the the perimeter, and it was his versatility that caused fits for which ever Cavalier was unlucky enough to draw him on defense.Wallace scored 17 off the bench and provided the scoring punch that had been missing in the Celtics' Game One loss, a game they led by 11 points before eventually succumbing in the Atlanta Falcons jersey
fourth quarter.Ray Allen, like Rondo, is just as good a guard as any on the Cleveland roster, if not better, and his long range shooting is what helped put the game out of reach once Cleveland made a run.In fact, James is the only player one could say is a better talent than any of the Celtics' players; but like Cleveland learned last year, James can't do it by himself (or did they really learn their lesson?).The Cavaliers failed last season for a variety of reasons, but it was mainly because of the failure of James' teammates to provide ample back up to his efforts, very similar to last night.It's not likely the Celtics will be able to play this type of game each time they take the court, but they do have home court advantage now, they are healthier than any other point this season, and they believe they can beat the Cavaliers.And why not be confident?Boston has the two best guards in the series in Rondo and Allen, the two best post players in Wallace and Garnett, and they have the experience of having been in this position before.Remember, it's the Celtics not the Cavaliers who have a championship pedigree, and despite their age, Boston has shown it has no fear of the younger, more athletic Cavaliers.James' elbow seems to be bothering him more and more as the series wears on, but imagine how it will feel if his Cavaliers fail to even the series in Boston, or even fall two games behind?Then James will be forced to deal with the usual litany of questions which follows defeat, except there will be a different line of questioning for James because his team is so heavily favored to advance.Well, that's not exactly true, because everyone outside of Cleveland and Charles Barkley felt the Celtics would put up much more of a fight than the disrespectful five games Barkley predicted.Maybe we all should have listened to the Celtics, because while everyone else was counting them out, they still spoke and carried themselves with the confidence of champions.In fact, we shouldn't be surprised at all, because when it Baltimore Ravens jersey
comes to winning tough playoff series on the road to a championship who do you think is more experienced? Boston or Cleveland?What many people fail to realize is the Celtics are also more talented of a team than the Cavaliers, and this shows up at every position except the one LeBron James plays.