Celtic Invasion: Boston Rocks Cleveland, Takes Game 5 In Dominating Fashion

It was appropriate that the Celtics handed the Cavaliers their worst home playoff loss in franchise history, returning the favor from Friday's Game 3 in Boston, says our Cleveland blog, Fear The Sword.

In the blog's Game 5 recap, they start with the good parts of the night, which obviously wasn't much -- it essentially boils down to just the first 14 minutes of the game. Then they highlight some of the ... low-lights. Beginning with every Cavaliers fans' worst fear: something is wrong with LeBron James.

Perhaps it is physical.  Perhaps it is mental.  Whatever it is, something is wrong.  It seems James is almost refusing to attack.  On several possessions during key parts of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, LeBron was actually backing away in the half-court as if to say I have no desire to handle the ball.  Whatever it is, and we may not find out until after the season, if at all, there is something going on in the Cavaliers locker room.

Other key points learned from a 32-point loss:

• "MIke Brown continues to look clueless." 
• "It is clear the playoffs are now in Mo Williams' head." 
• "LeBron starting the 2nd Quarter, nine players seeing action in the 1st Quarter, a baffling loyalty to Mo Williams despite yet another playoff series of Williams providing nothing on either end of the floor.  In the end, it could cost Brown his job."

The Cavs need to figure out how to right what went wrong, and quick -- the Celtics will go for the series win Thursday night.

Now, here's LeBron James to sum up the evening (via Jose, of course):

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Ray Allen went 6-of-9 from three-point range en route to 25 points, and the Boston Celtics used a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to rout the Cleveland Cavaliers, 120-88, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Paul Pierce, who had averaged just under 12 points in this series, added 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics, who took a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 slated for Thursday in Boston. Kevin Garnett posted 18 points and six boards, while Rajon Rondo had 16 with seven assists.

The Celtics, who came into this series as the clear underdog, now stand one game away from facing the Orlando Magic in the conference finals. Boston used its trademark defense to hold Cleveland to 41.2 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle, 41-31.

Most notably affected was LeBron James, who ended with just 15 points and didn't record his first field goal until midway through the third quarter. He shot a miserable 3-of-14 from the field and was held under 20 points in a postseason game for the first time since scoring 12 on May 6, 2008 against these same Celtics.

Shaquille O'Neal chipped in with 21 points, but the rest of the Cavs were largely held in check. Anthony Parker had 14 points, but Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams combined to shoot 7-of-18 and had nine points apiece.

The Celtics got off to a sluggish start, with Cleveland grabbing a 13-6 lead after a Parker three-point play midway through the first quarter.

Boston responded, though, using a 12-3 burst to take a two-point lead on a trio of Allen free throws with 3 1/2 minutes left. The Cavs finished the period with seven of nine points to head into the second ahead, 23-20.

Cleveland continued its run with six of the first seven points to begin the second, jumping front by a score of 29-21 after a Williams basket, but the Cavs went cold from there, failing to register a point for over six minutes.

During that stretch, Boston scored 16 straight points; Garnett and Pierce each had six during the run that gave the Celtics a 37-29 advantage with four minutes until halftime.

James, who failed to make a field goal in the entire first half, went 8-for-10 from the line in the second quarter, and the Cavs headed into the locker room trailing, 50-44.

Allen hit back-to-back threes to open up the third and give Boston a 12-point lead, and Rondo hit a pair of buckets around a Garnett layup to give the Celtics a 62-46 advantage 3 1/2 minutes into the second half.

James finally notched his first field goal of the game on a fastbreak dunk with 6:15 showing on the clock, but Boston kept building upon its lead. Following James' basket, the Celtics ripped off eight straight points, with an Allen three providing a 73-52 advantage.

Rondo finished with 12 points in the quarter, and Boston carried a sizeable 80-63 lead into the fourth.

The Celtics continued to roll in the fourth, beginning the quarter on a 10-3 burst. Glen Davis had all but two of the points for Boston, which held a 90-66 cushion with 9 1/2 minutes to play.

The outcome was never in doubt the rest of the way.

Davis finished with 15 points, while Kendrick Perkins had 10 for Boston...Cleveland suffered its first home Game 5 loss in franchise history when a series is tied, 2-2. It had been 3-0...The Cavs have lost only three of their last 16 home playoff games, although two of those have come in this series...The closest margin of victory in this series has been eight...Boston shot 55 percent from the field.