NBA Playoffs: LeBron James Gets Second MVP, but Boston Celtics Win Game Two

Boston was privately kicking itself for its Game One collapse, but they got the job done in Game Two. 

LeBron James and his mates could do nothing but watch as the Boston Celtics sustained the necessary focus to win.

The Celtics once again simply out-hustled Cleveland and executed their game plan to perfection. 

The simple act of continually applying body-blows to every one of James' forays to the hoop did its damage. James' teammates were so used to him being the aggressor and the instigator, that they fumbled away their chances.

Mo Williams, the hero of Game One, was busy being pinwheeled by Rajon Rondo to the tune of 19 assists. Every other Cavalier player not named LeBron simply would not—or could not—create for themselves or each other. 

Cleveland is in trouble, because just as Paul Pierce struggles in Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavaliers as a whole do the same in Boston.

There were times during the regular season when I thought Coach Thibodeau had lost his defensive touch.  His defensive schemes were ineffective, as the Celtics were unable to stop opposing teams. These notions contributed to the chatter over the airwaves that the Celtics had lost their defensive edge and were too old.

Someone forgot to give the Celtics that memo.  

Their entire starting five have championship rings.  They have been a positive history when it comes to playing a Game Seven. 

Their leader is a fourth-year player who makes it work, and has Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen believing that he can get them to the promised land again.

There is no second, third, or fourth that LeBron can count on.

It may not even be a reach to say that the Cavaliers have laid the same blueprint for failure as they did last year. They had the best record then too and split the first two games at home.  

LeBron only knows success during the regular season; his immense talent wins out then, because he doesn’t have to face the same team seven times. For every regular season accolade, he has been a second-season failure.

Muscle memory can either be a good thing or a terrible thing.  

In this case, it’s a good thing for the Celtics—the Cleveland Cavaliers, not so good.

In spite of this Celtics win, it will be a long series. This present Celtics core's playoff experience, however, gives them the edge.