Cavaliers-Celtics: Supporting Cast Rescues Cavs, LeBron James in Shooting Slump

Despite what Doc Rivers says, LeBron James is in a shooting slump.

James has not shot above 35 percent in any game yet this series against Boston. But something has happened between leaving TD Bank North Garden in Boston and arriving back at the "Q" for Game Three of the series.

You can call it whatever you want. It could be miraculous, or it could just be karma. But despite LeBron's anemic shooting from the field, the Cavaliers find themselves tied 2-2 with Boston in their playoff series. 

Granted, the Celtics have not played well on the road. But the Celtics were in the game last night all the way til the end, only to lose at the end.

Saturday, Delonte West picked up the Cavaliers, tying his best point total of the playoffs with twenty one. But it wasn't just West's heroics either. Three other players scored in double figures for Cleveland in Game Three.

Last night, it was Wally Szczerbiak and Daniel Gibson each contributing fourteen points to help Cleveland top Boston for the second time in three days. James was the one whose clutch shots finally put away Boston—but if it weren't for the supporting cast, this game would've been lost in the fourth quarter.

Rewind to the end of the regular season. This Cavaliers team limped to the finish of the regular season. The box score was rather predictable each night. LeBron would score his 30-plus points, while the next highest scorer for the Cavs had nine points. Many wondered what chance this team stood in the playoffs with contributions like that.

Cavs GM Danny Ferry made what many consider the most controversial trade of the season, acquiring West, Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, and Ben Wallace in a deadline deal. But he had to gave up some popular players in Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, and Drew Gooden in order to make the deal complete.

Ferry drastically changed his lineup and team chemistry to make a run at the NBA championship. The results have been mixed so far, but these past two playoff games show you a glimpse into what these Cavaliers could do.  

Only time will tell if this team can beat Boston. You can blame the Celtics' recent woes on any number of things. Maybe it's the lack of scoring from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Maybe the Celtics are a bad road team.

But the Cavaliers are doing what many said they couldn't after they were down two games to none in this series.

It's not just the heroics of LeBron James that has them back in the driver's seat. It's because he might have just found his supporting cast over the last seventy-two hours. Only Game Five will tell.