Thoughts before Game 6

After Boston's Game 3 loss to Cleveland, I thought the Celtics were done. The Cavs had the best player on the planet, and enough of a supporting cast to counter a limited, aging Celtics team. It's not that I had lost all faith, but I thought the Celtics had blown a big chance after stealing Game 2 in Cleveland.

And then LeBron laid one of the biggest eggs in playoff history. 15-7-6 is a good line for a complimentary player, but not for a super-duper star in a key playoff contest. The game's significance in LeBron's career has been covered ad-nauseum in other places, so I will leave it alone. But I will say this: the dude is only 25, so let's not get too carried away calling this a defining moment in LeBron's career. The series isn't even done yet.

What does this mean for the Celtics? It seems like KG has been rejuvenated to a certain extent, playing a role using the considerable skills he still has (even if it's not what he used to be).

One thing is clear: this is Rondo's team now. He is the best Celtics player on both ends of the floor, disrupting on defense and fueling the offense. Even when the Celtics were clicking in the first half of Game 5 without Rondo playing a major role, you knew he would have to get involved to get the Celtics past the Cavs. And he did in the second half, making Mo Williams looks foolish, and exposing some of LeBron's defensive weaknesses.

And on top of that, Glen Perkins showed again why he's good to have around: he's a good clutch scorer who provides a ton of energy. Kind of like the anti-Rasheed, who sucks energy out of the Celtics almost every time he steps on the floor. Oh how I despise Rasheed.

If the Celtics finish off the Cavs in Game 6, I'm not sure what it means. It will be tragic for Cleveland sports fans, and it may not mean much to Boston if the Celtics get thumped by the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. It feels like Cleveland has everything to lose over the next couple of days, while the Celtics are trying to over-achieve.

And I think the Celtics will win tonight on Boston. I think Rondo will light it up, and Pierce will have his best games of the playoffs. I think the Cavs have played to the strengths of the Celtics, and that the LeBron era in Cleveland very well may end in complete disappointment.