As usual, LeBron gets no support in Game 2 loss

by Jeff Goodman

Updated: May 9, 2008, 11:52 PM EST 581 comments

Not that the Boston Celtics have taken the first two games of their playoff series against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but that this is the same franchise that advanced to the NBA Finals a year ago.

How in the world did that happen? Take away the top player on every playoff team and tell me who has the least amount of talent.

It's a no-brainer — the Cavs.

Subtract Joe Johnson from the equation in Atlanta and the Hawks still have Al Horford and Josh Smith. Take away Carmelo Anthony from Denver and you've still got Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby. In fact, I'm not sure there's a worse team in the entire NBA than Cleveland when you subtract the top player.

Maybe the putrid Memphis Grizzlies.

Cleveland has the robotic big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas as LeBron's sidekick. That's one sad state of affairs.

A year ago, the Cavs somehow sliced their way through the playoffs and won the Eastern Conference title with a group that included LeBron, Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden and Ilgauskas.

Cleveland GM Danny Ferry jettisoned Hughes, Gooden and a few other role guys in a three-team deal on Feb. 21 that brought in Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and Joe Smith.

It's been a disaster.

The Cavs were 30-24 at the time and went 15-13 the rest of the way. West is a quality backup guard forced to start because Cavs coach Mike Brown doesn't have another option. Szczerbiak is a one-dimensional shooter on the downside of his career, and Wallace is a shell of the player he was with Detroit — when he was an intimidating defensive force.

If LeBron struggles, the Cavs basically have no chance.

Well, not unless Paul Pierce and Ray Allen both don't show up. Oh yeah, that happened in Game 1 and the Celtics still pulled it out because Kevin Garnett picked up the slack.

LeBron was 2-for-18 and committed 10 turnovers Tuesday night, and he followed it up with more of the same in Game 2, going 6-of-24 from the field with seven turnovers. He's also missed all 10 of his 3-point attempts.

"(I'm a) little shocked that he is 8-for-42, but this is what we work on," Pierce said.

The Cavs continuously ran pick-and-rolls because there just aren't a ton of options for Brown due to a lack of talent.

"We ran pick-and-rolls a lot, maybe 80 to 85 percent of our offense," James said. "It's hard to throw that out the window."

He doesn't have the same supporting cast as league MVP Kobe Bryant. There's no Pau Pasol or Lamar Odom to pick up the slack.

He's the King without any servants.

Celtics fans began the "Overrated" chants in the second half, but the truth is that this franchise overachieved a year ago. It's sad that James has virtually nothing surrounding him.

Ferry needs to find a way to get James some help. Sure, he's from nearby Akron and there's something to be said for playing for the so-called hometown team, but even James has to realize that he's not on a level playing field with the rest of the league's superstars.

He looks across the court and sees Garnett with Pierce and Allen. If the roster doesn't get a significant upgrade in the next two years (when his contract expires), why would he want to remain in Cleveland long term?

Even with the Celtics holding a 2-0 advantage, the question still remains whether Boston can win a postseason game on the road. Remember, the Big Three came up empty down in Atlanta.

Garnett carried the team in a defensive-minded series opener, but he had help from his cohorts this time. Pierce finished with 19 points and Allen, who was shut out for the entire first half, erupted for 16 points as the Celtics pulled away early in the second half.

James and his teammates also have some experience overcoming 2-0 deficits in the postseason. The Cavs lost the first two games last season against Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals, but came back to win the series.

"They've thrown two punches at us," West said of his former club. "But it's a seven-round fight."

It's just too bad James has to head into the ring alone.