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Unsure future for James, Cavs
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2010, Saturday
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THE Boston Celtics advanced to the National Basketball Association Eastern Conference finals with a 94-85 victory over Cleveland in Game 6 on Thursday, sending LeBron James and the Cavaliers to an early offseason.
Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and added 12 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 12 assists to reach the East finals against the Orlando Magic, who are unbeaten in the playoffs after sweeping Charlotte and Atlanta in the opening rounds.
"Winning is gratifying. You're playing the best team in basketball; the challenge is there; you don't have to dress it up," Garnett said. "One thing we don't lack is confidence. We're a veteran team and we understand when it's time to lock in as a group. We did just that."
Despite his sixth career playoff triple-double, James is headed for another premature offseason after winning a second MVP award and leading the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 61 wins in the regular season.
"The regular season is a lot different than the postseason," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "We knew that they were going to be a different team. We hoped that we were. Boston stepped up, and we didn't."
This offseason is destined to define the future of the franchise - and the rest of the NBA, too.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this summer, a move that would make the two-time MVP a free agent and set off a scramble for his services from New York to Miami to Los Angeles and, of course, back in Cleveland.
"I just told him, 'Keep your head up, man. I've been there'," said Garnett, who was a star without a title in Minnesota for more than a decade before joining the Celtics and leading them to their NBA-record 17th championship in 2008. "You have a very, very, very bright future. Continue to work and make decisions based on you and your family. Best advice I can give him."
James scored 27 points with 10 assists, and his 19 rebounds matched a career-high and were the most he's ever had in a playoff game. But he also had nine turnovers.
Mo Williams scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half for the Cavaliers.
It was the second straight year Cleveland has finished the regular-season with the No. 1 overall seed, and the second in a row that it has failed to get out of the East.
Last year, it lost to Orlando in the conference finals, an exit that left James so shaken he skulked off the court without shaking hands.
This year, he might not stop until he finds himself in a new city. James seemed like he couldn't wait to slip off his Cavaliers jersey, pulling it off as soon as he reached the tunnel to the locker room. He casually flipped it to an attendant moments after he walked into the dressing room.
Media speculation is growing he may leave the Cavaliers after failing again to win the title and Boston fans chanted "New York Knicks, New York Knicks" when he lined up for free throws, amid rumors he might be headed to the lowly New York team.
"I've made no plans," James said.
"The fact that (the season) is over right now is certainly a surprise to me."
Brown said he wasn't ready to think about the future yet.
"He's a heck of a talent and a great guy," he said. "But right now we just lost the series. I'm not thinking of that. It wouldn't be fair to everyone in that locker room to think beyond tonight."
Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and added 12 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 12 assists to reach the East finals against the Orlando Magic, who are unbeaten in the playoffs after sweeping Charlotte and Atlanta in the opening rounds.
"Winning is gratifying. You're playing the best team in basketball; the challenge is there; you don't have to dress it up," Garnett said. "One thing we don't lack is confidence. We're a veteran team and we understand when it's time to lock in as a group. We did just that."
Despite his sixth career playoff triple-double, James is headed for another premature offseason after winning a second MVP award and leading the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 61 wins in the regular season.
"The regular season is a lot different than the postseason," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "We knew that they were going to be a different team. We hoped that we were. Boston stepped up, and we didn't."
This offseason is destined to define the future of the franchise - and the rest of the NBA, too.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this summer, a move that would make the two-time MVP a free agent and set off a scramble for his services from New York to Miami to Los Angeles and, of course, back in Cleveland.
"I just told him, 'Keep your head up, man. I've been there'," said Garnett, who was a star without a title in Minnesota for more than a decade before joining the Celtics and leading them to their NBA-record 17th championship in 2008. "You have a very, very, very bright future. Continue to work and make decisions based on you and your family. Best advice I can give him."
James scored 27 points with 10 assists, and his 19 rebounds matched a career-high and were the most he's ever had in a playoff game. But he also had nine turnovers.
Mo Williams scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half for the Cavaliers.
It was the second straight year Cleveland has finished the regular-season with the No. 1 overall seed, and the second in a row that it has failed to get out of the East.
Last year, it lost to Orlando in the conference finals, an exit that left James so shaken he skulked off the court without shaking hands.
This year, he might not stop until he finds himself in a new city. James seemed like he couldn't wait to slip off his Cavaliers jersey, pulling it off as soon as he reached the tunnel to the locker room. He casually flipped it to an attendant moments after he walked into the dressing room.
Media speculation is growing he may leave the Cavaliers after failing again to win the title and Boston fans chanted "New York Knicks, New York Knicks" when he lined up for free throws, amid rumors he might be headed to the lowly New York team.
"I've made no plans," James said.
"The fact that (the season) is over right now is certainly a surprise to me."
Brown said he wasn't ready to think about the future yet.
"He's a heck of a talent and a great guy," he said. "But right now we just lost the series. I'm not thinking of that. It wouldn't be fair to everyone in that locker room to think beyond tonight."
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