Celtics-Cavaliers: Boston Holds Off Cleveland To End Three-Game Slide

It has been a long hard season for the Boston Celtics and their fans. They have been standing on the precipice wandering if and when this free fall would end. They had a lot to prove to each other and the faithful who have been on life support with them.

They survived Sunday's game because LeBron James made his run a little too late. James showed why he owns the game in the regular season: He has yet to translate those same skills into a championship.

The Celtics look at the 82-game schedule as a chore, as they find no joy in chasing the young NBA legs of LeBron, Kevin Durant, and whoever else the media deems the next big thing.

They also have a lot to think about after blowing a 22-point lead and had to stave off the aforementioned James run.

The coaching staff has to figure out what is causing this team to have mental gridlock at the most inopportune times.

The Celtics stopped moving themselves and the ball, as if they were the ones that were losing to Cleveland. They went into that hideous offensive set called "elbow," which calls for Pierce to get a mismatch at the free throw line. This play often deteriorates into Paul Pierce fighting the shot clock.

Doc Rivers should prohibit that play in the second half of games. In fact, he should remove it from the playbook.

The boys on Causeway Street should be afraid, very afraid, as there is no moral victory in being toyed with by James and his gang.