The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 109-99 in Game 6 to force a Game 7. Here are three takeaways from a night LeBron James dominated throughout.
Sometimes when a storm comes, no amount of preparation can ready you for the moment it hits.
Close the shutters, stock up on canned goods, get the generator ready…you do what you can. When the first bolt of lightning strikes, it still sends shivers down your spine.
On Friday night, the Boston Celtics got hit with a category five the likes of which it hadn’t yet seen in these playoffs. The all-around game Boston saw from LeBron James was at peak level for someone who seems like he’s been saving these types of moments for when his team truly needs them.
As Tommy Beer pointed out last night, according to Basketball Reference, LeBron’s 46 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists were something of a rare feat:
Per @bball_ref,
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 26, 2018
Most playoff games with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists over the last 50 years:
LeBron James: 13
Micheal Jordan: 4
Shaq O’Neal: 4
Larry Bird:3
Tim Duncan: 3
Wilt Chamberlain: 3
As otherworldly as James was (and really, we need a new term for what he’s doing in year 15…otheruniversally? Otherdimensionally, perhaps?), this was still a seven-point game with 2:47 remaining.
The Celtics stayed in it largely due to Terry Rozier (28 points) and Jaylen Brown (27), each of whom had their highest scoring games of this series.
Still, it wasn’t enough. For the Celtics to complete a run through the Eastern Conference playoffs when many figured they wouldn’t make it past round one, here are three things they’ll need to take away from their Game 6 performance.