Celtics-Cavaliers: LeBron James and Co. Spell Trouble for Boston

Boston is playing Game 7 in the 2008 Playoffs yet again. What a shame.

Yes, you go out and get the NBA's best record so you can have home court advantage. But any championship contender worth their sauce wins on the road in the postseason. The Celtics thus far have not been able to get it done on the road.

So it comes down to Game 7. It's a sports fan's dream, but the Celtics' nightmare. Why? Well, simply put: The Cavs are NOT the Hawks.

I don't care that the Celtics are 18-5 all-time in Game 7 situations. That doesn't mean a damn thing. I don't care what the odds are for teams who win the first two games of a best-of-seven. I don't care what the odds are of the teams who have homecourt advantage in Game 7.

Game 7 is a one-time ANYTHING (and I mean, anything) goes situation. And one thing you can be certain of is that this will not be a 30-point trouncing.

If you think about it though, it is the least that the Cavs can do to force Game 7. Granted, it might be due in large part to a very questionable call against Paul Pierce (as the replay and LeBron's sheepish grin seem to suggest), but if the Hawks could push the Celtics to the brink, then there's no real reason why the Cavs, or any other team, can't do the same, and, dare I say it, win.

Let's talk about the experience factor. You could easily to give the advantage to the Cavs here. I mean, let's not forget that they are the defending Eastern Conference champs. Some on the squad actually have Finals experience (albeit last year was a sweep), and Ben Wallace actually has played in two Finals, winning one of them.

Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG, while definitely hungry for their first title, have not really had that kind of big time pressure experience. And Sam Cassell, who has actually won a championship, is not exactly proving to be the asset he was advertised to be.

But even more startling is the question of killer instinct. The Celtics don't really have it. Ray Allen doesn't have it. Paul Pierce doesn't have it. You would think that KG should have it (and to his credit he had a little in the fourth quarter of Game 1), but he doesn't. I will tell you who has it: LeBron James.

LeBron dropped 48 on the Pistons IN THEIR HOUSE in Game 5 of last year's East Finals. And let's face it, the Pistons are not a defensively inept team (like say the Suns).

Okay, let's take a look at this guy's performance throughout the series. He shoots the worst percentage over two playoff games in like 60 years (19 percent). He's way below his season average with just under 24 PPG. And his team is STILL tied 3-3.

LeBron has been able to post his usual points in the last two games (going for 35 and 32, respectively) and in his worst game of the series, Game 1, where he scored only 12 points, his team STILL had a chance to win! Can you imagine if they had?

If I'm a Celtic fan, I should be rightfully scared today. You know that one of the best players in the league is bent on beating you on your home floor (where all but one of the games have been relatively close), and you know he has the weapons in his arsenal to do it, perhaps even single-handedly.

If it is a close game in the final minutes, and I expect it will be, who will handle the ball for the Celtics? Who will take the shot? The Cavs and LeBron James know who will have the ball at crunch time, and that might put them over the top.