Clutch This: LeBron Overpowers Celtics; Heat Force Game 7

Can LeBron James Repeat His Game 6 Performance? Not Even He Knows

LeBron James' performance in Game 6 against the Celtics will go down as one of his best playoff games of his career, but now the attention shifts to Game 7 and whether he can do it again.

Following Thursday's Game 6, James was asked whether he could repeat this performance in Game 7 and he simply responded, "I don't know." With Dwyane Wade struggling and Chris Bosh still not 100 percent, the Heat might prefer a more definitive answer. James expanded, saying he takes each game as its own and he's not concerned with stats. As for whether he will be ready to play in Game 7, James was a bit more decisive.

"I'm in a great place right now as far as the game of basketball on the court and off the court. So I'm looking forward to Game 7. See you all in Miami."

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Was LeBron James' Game 6 Performance His Best Ever?

LeBron James was exceptional in Game 6 against Boston, but was it the best postseason performance of his career? With the stakes as high as they were and James as efficient as he was, you could make a very strong case that it just may have been. Here are a few of the contenders.

Thursday vs. Boston, Game 6 Eastern Conference Finals

45 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists on 19-of-26 shooting. With Miami's season on the line, James was at his best. He scored 30 points in the first half and was efficient, shooting 73.1 percent from the floor.

2009 vs. Orlando, Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals

49 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists on 20-of-30 shooting. James' highest scoring postseason game, although Cleveland went on to lose the game 107-106.

2007 vs. Detroit, Game 5 Eastern Conference Finals

48 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists on 18-of-33 shooting. With the series tied 2-2, James dominated Game 5 in Detroit, leading the Cavs to a 109-107 double overtime win. James scored 29 points of his 48 points in the fourth quarter and overtimes.

2009 vs. Atlanta, Game 3 Eastern Conference Finals

47 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assits on 15-of-25 shooting. James helped give the Cavs a 3-0 series lead with a near triple-double against the Hawks.

2012 vs. Indiana, Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinals

40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists on 14-of-27 shooting. With Miami trailing 2-1 in the series and playing on the road, James just missed a 40-20 game. Just for good measure, he also blocked two shots and had two steals.

2009 vs. Orlando, Game 5 Eastern Conference Finals

37 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists on 11-of-24 shooting. With Cleveland facing elimination, James rose to the occasion and recorded a triple-double. James went to the free throw line 19 times in this game.

So, what do you think? Was Thursday's performance the best we've seen from LeBron James?

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

The LeBron Game: A Historical Perspective

LeBron James scored 45 points in Game 6 while making 19-26 from the field. Such high-scoring, high-efficiency games are relatively rare in the playoffs, and this one stands among the best of them.

LeBron James Is Still A Clownfraud: A Level-Headed Take On Game 6

Heat Vs. Celtics Racking Up Record Ratings

The Eastern Conference finals series between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat is pulling in historic ratings for the NBA.

Josh Krulewitz of ESPN reports that the overnight rating for Thursday's Game 6 in the Celtics-Heat series is the highest in NBA history. The game pulled in an 8.2 share, trumping the previous record of 7.9 ... which was also set by this same series in Game 4.

Locally, as would be expected, the ratings looked even better. The game pulled in a 20.5 share in Boston and a whopping 22 share in Miami.

Naturally, you would expect Game 7 in Miami to pull in an even bigger rating. We will have to wait and see whether the series can top its own new record once again.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Let's Go Celtics Chant Broke Out At End Of A Blowout Loss

LeBron James Saves The Heat, And Silences Everyone Else

LeBron James scored 45 points and the Heat dominated the Celtics Thursday, forcing a Game 7 Saturday. And for one game, we remembered why everyone cares so much about LeBron.

Fan Throws Drink On LeBron James After Incredible Game 6 Performance

Sometimes, when you lose and you are a member of the Miami Heat, you get serenaded with, "GOOD JOB! GOOD EFFORT!" And sometimes, when you win and you are a member of the Miami Heat, you get a drink poured on you as you walk down the tunnel to the locker room, as LeBron James did after his phenomenal performance in Game 6 against the Celtics.

James' 45-point, 15-rebound, five-assist night was the first 45-15-5 playoff game since Wilt Chamberlain pulled one off -- in 1964. For doing something that hasn't been seen in nearly half a century, LeBron got showered with a beverage as his "shift" at "work" was ending.

And how did he react to it? With a simple, dignified head bob.

Good job, good effort.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Celtics Vs. Heat, 2012 NBA Playoffs Game 6: Heat Force Game 7 With 98-79 Win

Behind a strong performance from LeBron James, the Miami Heat won Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals 98-79 to force a decisive Game 7.

James scored 45 points to go along with 15 rebounds and five assists. He made 19-of-26 shots including 12-of-14 in the first half. James scored 30 points in the first half, helping Miami build a 13-point halftime lead. He nearly outscored Boston singlehandidly in the first quarter, scoring 14 points to the Celtics 16 as a team. Dwyane Wade chipped in 17 points, but made just 6-of-17 shots.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 21 points and 10 assists. It was Rondo's fifth double-double of the series. Paul Pierce struggled mightily in Game 6, scoring nine points on 4-of-18 shooting including 0-for-6 from 3-point range. As a team, Boston made just 1-of-14 3-point attempts.

With the win, the Heat forced Game 7 which will be played on Saturday night in Miami.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Celtics Fan Throws Ball Away From LeBron James, Sums Up Boston Reaction To Game 6

After Game 5, one earnest fan in Miami became legend by cheering "GOOD JOB! GOOD EFFORT!". This Celtics fan did that, except the exact opposite.

If someone ever mentions LeBron James' unclutchness, remember that he made this person do this essentially by himself.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Dwyane Wade Now Justifying Cool Person Faces With Cool Lay-Ups

... all right, Dwyane, you can make whatever cool faces you want now.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Dwyane Wade Makes Cool Movie Villain Face

Dwyane Wade definitely thinks he is very cool.

But looking like Doctor Claw from Inspector Gadget or something is probably not actually that cool, maybe? I dunno, keep on bein' you, Dwyane.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Rajon Rondo's Persistence Pays Off, Once Again

LeBron James is having the sort of tell-your-grandkids-to-tell-their-grandkids game that might well get the Heat to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but Rajon Rondo remains the craftiest player on the court. Snatching a rebound from LeBron and turning it into points is the latest inventive move of his night.

LeBron throwing down the ball after the play elicited a technical foul, because the ball bounced into the stands, and Ray Allen sunk the technical free throw, so Rondo's rebound was actually worth three points. That's good efficiency.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Kevin Garnett Is Staring Into Your Soul Again, Would Like To Know If You Are Serious

Kevin Garnett's intensity aura can be frightening when viewed up close, SO IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT ESPN KEEPS SHOWING EXTREME CLOSE-UPS OF KEVIN GARNETT'S INTENSITY AURA.

But, really, this is a perfect "Are you serious?!" GIF, isn't it?

Dwyane Wade Invents Basketball Punt Coverage

Dwyane Wade was chasing down a loose ball and stepped out of bounds, but remained the person closest to the ball. He then invented special teams in basketball while trying to let the punt roll to the endzone or something. A GIF of this exists.

All of this was to no avail; the ball rolling across the half-court line meant that when Shane Battier did make it to the punt to down it, he was whistled for a back-court violation. But it sure was amusing!

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

LEBRON JAMES' TRUE HAIRLINE REVEALED!

While LeBron James has had one of the best first halves of his NBA career, he also remains follicularly-challenged. And he momentarily lost his headband, giving THE ENTIRE WORLD a look at LEBRON JAMES' TRUE HAIRLINE.

LeBron could score 70 points in the second half and his hairline would still come in for criticisms, but he's sort of screwed by genetics in this one minor way. Despite being blessed with athleticism that dwarfs almost every other NBA player, he has a hairline that has receded back behind even where the French set up encampments in World War II, and his head is the wrong size and shape to pull off going entirely bald well.

But if LeBron did opt for the chrome dome look, and kept the chin beard he's been working with for weeks, he would definitely look like a pharaoh. That would be cool, I guess.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

LeBron James Is Real Good At Basketball, Dunking

The first half has been all about LeBron James, and that'd still be understating it. If there was one thing to pick on, it'd be his free throw shooting -- 5-of-9 with some bad misses -- but in the scheme of it all, does it matter at this point? He spent much of the first quarter trying to outscore the Celtics. In the second quarter, it was more of the same, with LeBron hitting just about every single shot he took.

Simply, LeBron is in that NBA Jam on fire mode. The stats: 12-of-14 from the field for 30 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes of play. And one of those misses came on Miami's last real possession of the half -- a pull-up jumper from beyond the arc.

Oh, and he did this:

It's one of those nights.

As for the game itself, Miami leads at the half, 55-42. All things considered, the Celtics might be pretty lucky.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

VIDEO: Rajon Rondo Mimics Kevin Garnett's Knuckle Push-Ups

Rajon Rondo has learned many things from the veteran Celtics who helped him win a title in 2008. One of them is how to cater to the Boston crowd, as he did by doing a single push-up on his knuckles after being fouled by Mario Chalmers late in the second quarter of Game 6. Here is the video.

Rondo would go on to miss one of the two subsequent free throws, but he did at least get the "EM-VEE-PEE" serenade he totally earned by doing a thing another guy did a few days ago.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

LeBron James May Be Catching Fire

In the first quarter, it appeared that LeBron James was going to have a good game after a his piping-hot start. In the second quarter, LeBron's somehow improved on that.

James has started 10-for-11 from the field in Game 6, making 10 straight shots after an early miss, and he's doing the sort of shooting that makes stopping him unfathomable. Just two of his field goals have come from near the basket; the other eight are on jumpers from eight feet or further away.

About the only thing LeBron hasn't done well is shoot free throws. He's taken seven and made just four, including two misses on one trip to the line, to push his point total to 25 on the night, and propel the Heat to a 45-35 lead.

LeBron was reading some of the books from the The Hunger Games series earlier in the playoffs, and he's certainly playing tonight's game with a bit of hunger, perhaps part of why he is catching fire right now. (I'm sorry.)

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

This Is Not Optimal Defense On Ray Allen Threes, Miami

Ray Allen is the NBA's career leader in three-pointers. This is how Miami defended a Ray Allen three in the second quarter of Game 6: by standing almost completely still and watching it.

Maybe don't do that, Heat?

Vince Wilfork Is Taking In Game 6, Wearing Jorts

I do feel kind of bad for hulking Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who does not look particularly comfortable and may not be able to do a lot of shopping for shorts in size (REDACTED GUESS AT WAIST SIZE) that are not jorts. But he's wearing jorts.

LeBron James Is Already Having A Nice Game 6

LeBron James' last potential elimination game against the Boston Celtics featured him ripping off a massive 27-19-10 triple-double in his last game as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010. In Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron's already looking like he could make a run at that performance.

James has 12 points in the early goings, is 5-for-6 from the field, and has scored in about every way imaginable: on a dunk in transition, a long two, a midrange jumper, a twisting transition lay-up that became a converted and-one, and a three.

LeBron's needed to be good while Dwyane Wade, once again, struggles to get in gear. Wade is 0-for-3 from the field, continuing a string of slow starts that has been a problem for the Heat through much of the 2012 NBA playoffs.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Jeff Van Gundy Wears Lensless Glasses, Beats Rest Of ESPN's Pregame Show By Default

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are among the many, many NBA stars who are wearing ridiculous things of late, and offending people who actually need glasses by wearing lensless frames. Jeff Van Gundy is the kind of guy who never met a joke he couldn't squawk at.

So the reason Van Gundy wore lensless frames during ESPN's pregame show is probably that #JVGIsTheKindOfPersonWhoMocksHipstersAndHasNoIdeaWhatAHipsterIsLongHashtag. Or something.

This, of course, inspired ESPN to Photoshop the same sort of specs onto Magic Johnson.

This was, without question, better than most of ESPN's pregame show: being inexplicable and weird is better than suggesting that Chris Bosh could be traded to Orlando for Dwight Howard, which is a thing Chris Broussard actually did, or this.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

You Are Not Inside The NBA, ESPN

There's really no comparison between TNT's Inside the NBA and ESPN's NBA pregame show. It's not even close. TNT, though ridiculous at times, still sets the bar and attempting to replicate its formula is liable to get you embarrassed.

I bring this up because...

ESPN tried to go wacky for a moment. This moment came after outlandish trade suggestions and all sorts of filler non-sense.

But hey, cherish that Chris Broussard face, Internet.

Chris Bosh Shoots A One-Handed Jumper While Doing His Tongue Thing

Remember Chris Bosh's tongue thing? He's clearly healthy enough to do something like it.

Be afraid.

Chris Bosh Will Not Start For Heat Vs. Celtics In Game 6

Chris Bosh made a triumphant-ish return to the court for the Miami Heat in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics, with nine points and seven rebounds in just 11 minutes of play. But the Heat forward, who is still recovering from an abdominal strain suffered in Game 1 of the Miami's Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Indiana Pacers, will not start in Game 6 against the Celtics, the team announced late Thursday. LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, and Shane Battier will start at the three frontcourt positions for the Heat.

Bosh's individual contributions in Game 5 look more impressive on paper than when viewed in context of the team's performance. Bosh earned a -12 in his time on the floor, which came partly during Miami's glacier-cold run in the second and third quarters, when the Heat scored just 36 points total.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Celtics, check out CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston.

Wikipedia Already Fired Erik Spoelstra

NBA Playoffs 2012, Celtics Vs. Heat Game 6: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade face the abyss against the revived Celtics in Game 6.