JUST like that.
After plucking another runway 111-102 win on Tuesday, Cleveland has made it two-in-a-row against Boston.
It came right after Cleveland’s 116-86 Game Three victory in a pointed development of an uprising that many think is waiting to explode.
That’s because when almost everybody thought the Celtics would blow by the Cavaliers after stashing a 2-0 lead in Boston, Cleveland has evened up matters at 2-2. Virtually in a breeze at that.
Now this: The National Basketball Association (NBA) is known for teams winning on their home court most of the time, if not all of the time.
Boston won the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Not by squeakers but by large margins.
But when the best-of-seven series shifted to Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavs responded with incredible routs. But, of course.
Cleveland’s big bounce back in Game Three was a screaming 30-point victory.
It happened because not only did LeBron James prod himself to be what he is again: Team leader from the opening jump up to the finish.
And then in yesterday’s Game Four, LeBron led the Cavs to a blazing blast from the starting blocks, speeding immediately to a 19-2 bulge.
To achieve that jackrabbit start, LeBron went 4-for-4 from the field for 11 points in a perfect first quarter, proceeding to finish once more in the 40s with his game-high 44 points in 41 minutes.
The Cavs went on to pile up 34 points in posting a 34-18 first quarter lead. They never allowed the Celtics to threaten from there.
They never slowed down one bit, the Cavs unloading 34 more points in the second quarter for a 68-53 halftime advantage.
To Boston’s credit, the Celtics showed some life in the third quarter.
But each time a Celtic rally was in the offing, LeBron would reappear and act out his usual firefighter’s role to the hilt.
But be wary that Game Five is set in Boston, where the Celtics rule almost all of the time.
Once more, LeBron needs all his weapons for the Cavs to make it 3-2, even as the four-time Most Valuable Player has already surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar in NBA’s all-time postseason leadership in field goals made (2,356).
Actually, Boston will fight for survival in TD Garden. A loss would virtually seal the Celtics’ defeat as Game Six is set in Cleveland country.
THAT’S IT Vic Manuel spoiled Renaldo Balkman’s return as a Beerman when the Alaska power forward sank a buzzer-beating floater for a 105-103 win over San Miguel Beer in Dumaguete City. Breaks also didn’t go the Beermen’s way as Balkman fumbled his way into what could possibly be SMB’s winning play; he kicked the ball out when dribbling his way to the basket from the harassing defense of Alaska import Antonio Campbell.