After the opening tip, the Celtics showed LeBron what a true team is capable of.
On a night when questions still lingered about the status of King James’ elbow and the Celtics understood the urgency of staying out of an early 2-0 series hole, it seemed almost predestined that the Celtics would rise to the occasion this time. This time, the great team would beat the great individual.
“This was a must-win,” Glen Davis told the media after the Celtics’ 104-86 victory in Cleveland. “We had to execute, and play defense, and do whatever we had to do to win the ballgame.”
Elbow notwithstanding, James was a relentless battler in Game 2, refusing to quit and finishing with 24 points and seven rebounds to show for his efforts. But the Celtics overwhelmed the Cavaliers with their deep, versatile rotation. Celtic after Celtic after Celtic stepped up.
Six of them finished in double figures. Their point guard, Rajon Rondo, displayed his unselfishness to the tune of 19 assists. Their bench, a source of frustration in a deflating Game 1 loss on Saturday night, breathed new life into the game from the second quarter on.
This was a night when even Rasheed Wallace committed himself to making the team better.
Rasheed, coming off the bench to replace Kendrick Perkins late in the first quarter, got down to business right away. He worked hard on the low post, creating good inside shots on one end and focusing on team defense on the other. He even finished 7-of-8 from the floor and made a trio of 3-point shots in the first half.
“It was a big spark,” the captain Paul Pierce said of Wallace. “Coach [Doc Rivers] called upon him to step up, and he did that. That’s the reason we brought him in — because he can be an X-factor in this type of series. He brings championship experience, and he’s a go-to guy in the post in the second unit. We’re going to need that from him every night, and from all the guys who come off the bench.”
The Celtics built a lead as big as 25 at one point, looking poised in the fourth quarter to finish the Cavs off. And even when the Cavs surged back, rattling off 15 straight points to make them sweat a little, the C’s were able to regain their focus and take care of business.
“You knew they were going to make a run,” Pierce said. “We can’t expect calls or anything — we’re on the road, and everything is pretty much against us. But that’s the way it should be when you’re playing against the best team in the NBA, against the MVP. In this series, it’s going to be tough. You’ve got to expect them to make a run, but I was happy with the way we responded.”
Unlike in Game 1, the Celtics stepped up down the stretch this time, making big shots when big shots were needed and icing the all-important Game 2 win.
From here, the complexion of the whole series changes dramatically. The Celtics have new life.
“The series is tied, and it’s a whole different ballgame,” Davis said. “Going home down 0-2, if we’d lost, would have been tough. They’re a tough team to play. But we’re still even in this ballgame now, and now it’s our turn for home-court advantage. We want to see what we can do with it.”
On Friday night, they’ll find out.
Even on the road, the Celtics stuck it out, proving that a true team wins when it matters. At home, this team has a chance to be even better.
This will be a series yet.
