When the topic of best player in the NBA comes up, for the last few seasons, I've maintained it's LeBron James. Certainly Kobe Bryant is right up there-I'd say he's the most explosive scorer-but nobody does more with less talent around him currently than James. If I'm starting a team from scratch today, LeBron is my no-brainer first choice.
Last night, the Cavs hosted the Celtics and came away with a 114-113 win. No surprise, James led the way with a game-high 33 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds, five steals, two blocks (and seven turnovers). Playing without Kevin Garnett for the fourth straight game, the C's (36-9) had plenty on offense but couldn't get enough stops at any point in the game. After a slow start to the season, the Cavs (27-20) are starting to heat up as they've won nine of their last 11 games, resembling the team that somehow, someway made the NBA Finals last June.
Ray Allen was the star for the Celtics, recording a team-high 24 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Paul Pierce, who was battling the flu, managed 19 points. Rajon Rondo put up 20 points and seven rebounds but he also turned it over five times. Tony Allen had 14 points off the bench and Kendrick Perkins scored 12 points with five boards and four assists. Glen Davis had nine points.
Cleveland led 36-35 after one quarter, a sign that Boston's NBA-best defense was nowhere near Ohio last night. Boston outscored the Cavs by three in the second, taking a two-point lead (66-64) at the break.
LeBron's hit or miss supporting cast had a good showing as Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a double-double, 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Larry Hughes had 18 points and six assists and Ira Newble scored 15 (which should never happen, ever). Sharp-shooter Daniel Gibson had 11 off the bench and Damon Jones notched eight.
The Cavs used a hint of defense in the third quarter, holding Boston to 21 while scoring 28 of its own. Boston took the final quarter, 26-22 which is a little misleading as James Posey hit a meaningless 3-pointer at the final buzzer to make the four-point game a one-point win.
It's pretty hard to lose when you shoot 56.8% as a team but the Celtics did that. The Cavs are the top rebounding team in the league and it showed as they took that category (39-29) even though Drew Gooden left in the third with a groin injury.
There's no rest for the Celts as they host the Clippers tonight back at the Garden. After a couple good years, the Clippers started to revert back to bumbling form last season and this year they've been awful. Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand have missed every game. Sam Cassell will be in town (someone whose name keeps popping up in trade rumors) so the Celtics front office will have a chance to see if the alien still has anything left in the tank.
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