2010 NBA Playoffs: LeBron James and the Cavs, Too Quiet On The Home Front?

The Cavaliers organization has gone into dark ops mode for Game Five.

Since the post-game interviews after Game Four, Cavs players have foregone media contact, with the exception of Big Z.

Pressure either bursts pipes, or creates diamonds.

For a young Cavs team, it seems some leaks may be starting to form, and that's NBA hopes, not water splashing on the floor.

The fact remains, the Cavaliers only lost one game. The Game Four loss only enabled the Celtics to tie the series. A win tonight puts the Cavs back in the driver's seat for the series.

So why all the gloom and doom surrounding LeBron and the Cavaliers?

Rajon Rhondo, and the ugly truth he has exposed about the Cavs.

He had an epic performance, going for a triple-double that included 18 rebounds. Take away Game Three, and Rhondo emerges as the MVP of the series thus far.

Yes sir, it's Rhondo that has the Big Diesel—or what ever his nom dujour happens to be, unusually quiet.

Mike Brown and the Cavaliers have more to worry about than just Rajon Rhondo. The Celtics point guard represents only a symptom of the problems the Cavs face against the Celtics. If he were the problem, the solution would simply be having LeBron cover him defensively.

The real problem, Mo Williams still will have to stop Ray Allen. Anthony Parker will still have to keep Paul Pierce quiet. The cause to this Rhondo effect, really is the Cavaliers inability to play consistent team defense.

Shaq refused to speak to the media following the Game Four loss. He and LeBron felt Shaq should have played late in the fourth quarter.

Really?

I guess having Shaq foul out, or having to shoot clutch free throws in a tight playoff game, made more sense than Mo Williams actually playing defense.

Cavs fans and the media have given Antwan Jamison a pass on his performance in this series. Look back, and you'll notice how little Jamison contributed late in games.

That may work for a team just looking to compete like the Wizards. That won't work for LeBron's team, the team expected to challenge Kobe and the Lakers for the NBA title this season.

You have to also look at the Cavaliers lack of depth. Yes, lack of depth.

Someone started the rumor that LeBron James' cache of backups could compete.

Again, really? As I look at the list of names, only two really stand out, J.J. Hickson and Verajao. Neither has shown the ability to make a difference in this series.

Moon and West can come in and hold the fort, but no one expects a break out game like we saw from the Celtics' Tony Allen.

It's playoff time. Everyone needs to step up. Right now, everyone in a Cavs uniform seems to be looking to pass the buck.

Herein lies the Cavs biggest problem, the team concept.

In all the losses, James' supporting cast has provided no help. Like fans in the arena, they have chosen to stand and watch James attempt to beat the Celtics on his own.

After being blasted in Game Three at home, very little noise came out of the Celtics camp. After the Cavs Game Four loss, LeBron indirectly questioned some of Mike Brown's coaching decisions. He offered his own strategy.

LeBron decided to coach from the press room, openly stating he would guard Rhondo if needed. Unfortunately, LeBron failed to recognize Mo Williams' total lack of defensive effort.

Antwan Jamison's lack of production down the stretch went without comment. Instead we heard about how Shaq's absence in the fourth quarter, a coach's decision, surprised the super star.

Great players make great plays, to help their teams win games in the playoffs. Good teams win series. Bad teams go home without the hardware.

Presently, the Cavs have chosen to follow the path of the Larry Brown led 76ers. Just like AI and those Sixers, LeBron will not be enough to beat a good Celtics team. Mike Brown also knows, that building a team doesn't happen in between games of a series.

That's why things have gone quiet around the Cavaliers' facilities. There's reason to worry. Soon the worry will end for LeBron—he just hopes it ends to start again against the Orlando Magic.