The Cleveland Cavaliers pretty much face a must-win tonight in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics, as the Cavs don’t want to return to Beantown with Boston having a chance to clinch. And Cleveland is well aware the red-hot Orlando is already in the East finals and is currently resting up. Also know this: 83.1 percent of Game 5 winners in series previously tied at 2 games apiece went on to win the best-of-seven showdowns.
Cleveland is a 7.5-point betting favorite tonight at WagerWeb.com.
The story of this series has shifted from LeBron James to Rajon Rondo, who had a tremendous line of 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists Sunday in Boston’s 97-87 victory after the C’s were blown out in Game 3. Only two other players have ever equaled or exceeded Rondo’s totals in each of those categories in an NBA playoff game: Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson (32 pts, 19 reb, 13 ast in overtime) versus Syracuse in 1963 and Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain (29 pts, 36 reb, 13 ast) against Boston in 1967. Rondo is averaging 21.8 points, 13 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game this series.
To help slow Rondo – Cleveland’s Mo Williams has certainly been unable to – James has asked to guard the Celtics’ point guard.
“I would love to,” James said. “It’s something we maybe should explore because Rondo is definitely dominating this series at the point guard position. For me, I don’t have a problem taking Rondo or guarding Rondo throughout the course of the game. If the coaching staff or the guys want me to do it, I will.”
The problem with that move is it takes James off equally dangerous Paul Pierce. Foul trouble and James’ defense have combined to limit Pierce to 11.8 points on 32 percent shooting in this series.
Cavs coach Mike Brown says if a smaller player guards Pierce, it could “open another can of worms.”
James had some trouble on the offensive end in Game 4, as the Celtics forced him into seven turnovers and 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting. In Boston’s two victories, the Celtics have allowed a total of nine offensive rebounds. In both Game 1 and Game 3 triumphs, the Cavaliers generated 11 offensive rebounds in both games.
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