THAT was a playoff game! Three hours of intense, pit of your stomach drama. When LeBron threw down his sledge hammer late in the game, I saw fans hugging each other, strangers high fiving strangers...I even saw one guy grab his buddy by the head and kiss him on the cheek. Hey it's playoff love! I guess, a new meaning to the "NBA Cares"....20,562 were definitely a factor down the stretch.

Speaking of LBJ's rim rocker, he doesn't rank 'em, but did admit, this one against three Celtics may have topped last season's Tim Duncan Fathead because it comes in the Eastern Semis and helped slam the door to Game 4.

LeBron did publicly apologize to Mom for ahem, "telling her to sit down" when he and Paul Pierce wound up in the crowd at Gloria's end of the floor...LBJ didn't want Mom to get involved in anything with an opposing player, but in her defense, she was actually standing up to protect girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, making sure she didn't get trampled. Gloria said LeBron is plenty big enough to protect himself, he doesn't need her help...LBJ drew laughter from reporters when he acknowledged his timing could have been better, chewing out Mom, a day after Mother's Day.

Wally Szczerbiak said the chants of "Wall-y, Wall-y" gave him chills. They came during the 3rd quarter when his three buckets were so huge...one came right in front of the Boston bench and after nailing it, Wally looked back at them, not to taunt, but to enjoy the moment because as he was letting the shot go, a couple of
ex-teammates were saying..."Hey, he's with us...he's with us."

Not anymore!

More to come from Boston.

10 wins away from my one and only summer haircut!!

I know an All-Defensive Team nod was a goal of LeBron's this season...he did not make either of the teams announced today, but he eventually will.

The 30 head coaches vote on the first and second team members by position...LeBron finished 5th among small forwards behind Bruce Bowen (1st team) Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince and Ron Artest. He actually received one first team vote and three seconds, the first time he has ever received All-Defensive Team votes.

King James had his best defensive year I thought and is only going to get better...just as Kobe Bryant has become a premier stopper, becoming an 8 time All Defensive Team member.

LeBron, as we often saw during the season took on the toughest guard in the 4th quarter, from Baron Davis to Brandon Roy to Kobe.

His strength, size and skill make him an ideal defender. He gives Mike Brown credit for making him a better defender and you can tell he enjoys the challenge of stopping his man.

Chase down blocks in the open floor are not a stat that is kept...but I wonder if any player had more this season. We saw LBJ pull it off close to 10 times this season, including Rajon Rondo the other night. It's a rare skill that Josh Smith and Prince also have...to me, it may be the most breathtaking play in basketball.

We'll see plenty more from number 23 as he grows as a defender...

There's a reason why the road team is 1-12 in the round of the elite-8...home building energy!!  It's tangible, feeding into everything a home team does...affecting the outcome more than any other sport.  It started with a lift the half wine/half navy-shirted crowd gave the Cavs during intros, right into the lift Ben Wallace gave his mates by being out there in the first place, then providing the juice this team really needed early with his rebounding, defense and scores around the rim.  His swooping rebound and putback early was vintage Ben from his Pistons days.

From there, the ball moved and shots started to fall and the Cavs were never in danger of losing this one, once they ballooned the lead to 26.  29 assists and 12 turnovers overall is a hard combo to beat.

LeBron met with the media, with his sidekick, LeBron junior.  Little LBJ has a non-stop motor like all kids his age.  LeBron told the gathering of reporters, "see what I go through at home", smiling, as Junior sipped on water, tested a second mic and didn't want to sit still.  Dad had to tell him to stay cool.  LeBron only had two turnovers in the game, as he said he made a conscious effort to make good p****, and not be as lackadaisical as he felt he had been in the first two games.

Joe Smith agreed this was probably his best game as a Cavalier.  Damon Jones had told him before the game, be aggressive and knock down the shots you have always made, because the Celtics are always going to give their attention to LeBron.  Joe said he was very aware he had a perfect shooting game going 7 for 7 until he missed his final shot.  He laughed, saying he blamed Devin Brown for passing him the ball, forcing him to take the shot which was his only errant field goal.

How about Delonte West, tying his career best with 21 points?  When he attacks as he did in this game, the Cavs move up a notch.  Delonte says what really fuels him, is the desire to keep getting better everyday, and proving to himself he belongs in this league.  He says the pressure he puts on himself is the true pressure he feels.  Delonte said the coaches encourgaged him to to be aggressive from the start, and that he did...not just scoring, but dishing.

Z also set a career high for the postseason with 6 dimes.

11 wins away from the buzz of the hair clippers!

Back home...It's deja vu from Detroit the last two years...lose the first two on the road and come home knowing if you take care of your business and feed off that tangible energy at The Q, this can also can become a brand new series just like those did.

Boston's defense is very good...but their scheme is not anything LeBron or the Cavs haven't seen before.

Mike Brown and his guys, while giving the Celtics their just due for taking the Cavs out of their comfort zone, know they must trust each other, their own schemes and if shots begin to fall, this series can be even again.

Again, the series with the Pistons last year is a great example...LeBron made shots, especially in Game 5 and discussions about the offense became moot.

Mike wants LBJ to stay aggressive, not hesitate, and knock down shots he's made countless times in the past..and he knows LeBron will...The King knows that too, better than anyone.

By the way, Ben Wallace is doubtful for tomorrow due to a viral infection in his left ear, which caused last night's dizziness.