It has been a tough year for LeBron James. He’s witnessed major roster turnover, seen guys get injured, had to carry the load for the team numerous times and played every minute possible for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Usually, that’s a recipe for disaster and a ticket out of the playoffs, but when you’re as strong willed as King James, it has earned you a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tonight, we all witnessed another historic performance from LBJ.
He finished one assist short of a triple double with 46 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists and hit some clutch shots down the stretch to extend the Cavs lead when the Boston Celtics were getting close to making a comeback.
At one point, you could see LeBron tired, but still out there hustling on offense, making plays and setting up teammates.
Even after it looked like he got significantly injured, James went straight to the paint against three Celtics defenders and drew a foul to get to the free throw line. The man just wouldn’t stop until the W was secured.
As far as his supporting cast? George Hill dropped 20 points. Jeff Green had 14 of his own. Larry Nance Jr. even contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds in Kevin Love‘s absence (out with an assumed concussion)
On the other side of the ball, the young C’s had Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier drop 27 points and 28 points respectively, but it was quiet for Aron Baynes and Al Horford. Jayson Tatum scored 15 points, but he needed another big game for Boston to have a chance. The pair of Marcus squared (Morris and Smart) had 10 each, with the rest of the bench not doing much of anything besides them.
The series now shifts to Boston in a crucial winner-takes-all affair for Game 7, with the victory earning either team a trip to the NBA Finals.
Considering the performances we’ve seen from LeBron this postseason and in Game 7’s from the past, it will be interesting to see how much help he gets on the road in a chaotic atmosphere like TD Garden against a Celtics team who has not lost at home this entire playoffs.
Will K Love pass concussion protocol? Can the young Boston squad pull out one more win at home to reach the promise land without Kyrie Irving? Which role players will help LBJ when it counts the most?
We’ll find out Sunday.