Isn’t it interesting how shocked everyone becomes when a fourth seed - specifically a fourth seed who won that spot despite not playing a single game at full strength, specifically a fourth seed who in retrospect handed away game one, and specifically a fourth seed with one LeBron James - beats the top seed in game three of a seven game series?

Short of walking into the Q and yelling, “I shocked the world,” ala Muhammad Ali, that’s exactly what LeBron James and his Cavaliers did Saturday night, trimming Boston’s series lead to 2-1.

Jaws are dropping around the nation.

The Cavaliers fired on all cylinders due to Mike Brown taking the main focus off of LeBron and letting James take what was given to him. That’s right, Coach Brown made an offensive adjustment (try not to gasp).

Despite the desires of the 20,000+ at Quicken Loans arena for James to shoot every time he touched the ball, LeBron found Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Z directly at the hoop, twice leading to uncontested dunks.

James’ 21 points on five-for-16 shooting tied for the game high. On any other night, that’d be call for a riot. But James did all the little things in game three. 

James adjusted his style of play for what the Celtics threw at him. He pushed the ball up the floor and turned it over just twice. He had five rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and four steals.

He brought the crowd to quite possibly a new decimal level in the first quarter.
Ben Wallace stole the ball and West fired a quick outlet pass, giving LeBron the ball with a head of steam at mid-court – and no one around him. James slammed it home with a powerful Tomahawk dunk that just about blew the roof off of the Q.

He did everything.

After the obvious hero, it was the new guys who stepped up.

Joe Smith found his stroke from everywhere on the floor, scoring 17 points while not missing a shot until late in the final quarter.

Big Ben Wallace, who missed most of game two with allergies and an inner ear infection, retuned to the lineup (despite not being named in the lineup during player introductions) and wreaked havoc on Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins.
Wallace rebounded, blocked shots, defended both in the paint and along the perimeter, and moved well without the ball for nine points. Wallace showed what an asset he is outside of the box score when he gets his minutes. Other than an embarrassing and yet unsurprising air ball from the free throw line, Wallace picked a great time to have his best game of the post season.

Not enough can be said about Delonte West on Monday night.

As Cleveland fans who have watched the likes of Wagner, McGinnis and Snow leading the point guard position, we’ve always had a shy eye on West while he moved from Boston to Seattle and showed great promise and potential.

Cleveland has found their point guard.

Delonte has come into his own ever since his first game with the Wine and Gold, and we’re getting to watch West fill out his full potential in Cleveland.

West took advantage of the Celtics chasing around LeBron and Szczerbiak (17 points), shooting four-of-six from three-point range and tying James for 21 points.

West played the same kind of style that’s expected of all Cleveland athletes – fearless. He took on Pierce, Allen and Rondo at different times defensively and refused to give an inch of separation. He followed his man laterally and his pressure defense twice led to 24 second violations. He shut down Rondo for 48 minutes and forced the Celtics "Big 3" to step their games up another notch.

Other than maybe LeBron’s monster dunk, the second statement of the night occurred from West driving the lane, challenging Garnett and his NBA Defensive Player of the Year credentials, changing his shot in mid air and laying it up.

If you’re keeping score at home that’s 6’3" point guard one – a 6’11" power forward nothing.

West battled his way to five rebounds, and despite scoring 21 he still dished out seven assists and finally acted as the true floor general we’ve longed for three years.

Everyone stepped up to give a hand to the still struggling LeBron, but James elevated every other part of his game to make up for his lackluster shooting.

James did make a step in the right direction by shooting 5-16 and hit his first three-pointer of this series. He set his feet, he got his legs under him, he drove the lane, and he made all the passes that were needed.

Don’t think the Cavs can keep winning without LeBron scoring with his usually ways. The Celtics have been awful on the road and Cleveland’s had as good a home-court advantage as anyone in the NBA (except for teams named Boston).

James can get the crowd on his feet, he can make everyone around him better – but that added element of putting the ball in the hoop is essential. 

We could look back on this night as the night we turned this championship run around. After probably the worst game of the season in Game 2, Game 3 – and everything it meant – may have been their best.

Now I hope you all picked up your Chalupas (Daniel Gibson’s only FG clinched the
free Taco Bell goodness) – I’m resting my voice for Monday.