Originally published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA Playoffs | Cavs remain perfect at home, even series with Boston 2-2

The Boston Celtics, a veritable NBA juggernaut during the regular season no matter the location of the hardwoods, have developed a definable...

By Gannett News Service

PREV of NEXT

PHIL MASTURZO / MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

Cleveland's LeBron James dunks over Boston's Kevin Garnett during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Cavaliers tied the series at 2-2.

CLEVELAND — The Boston Celtics, a veritable NBA juggernaut during the regular season no matter the location of the hardwoods, have developed a definable vulnerability in the playoffs.

After losing yet another road scuffle Monday night, the Celtics are destined to return to the shores of Lake Erie one more time.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, 7-0 in the postseason at Quicken Loans Arena, left the Eastern Conference's top seed as roadkill once again, taming the Celtics at home with a crucial 88-77 victory in Game 4 to knot their Eastern Conference semifinal at two games.

The series resumes Thursday in Boston, where the Celtics are undefeated in the postseason (6-0). Unfortunately the team that was 31-10 on the road in the regular season is 0-5 on the road with some really lousy shooting. Two of their biggest offensive weapons, shooting guard Ray Allen and small forward Paul Pierce, mostly struggled again Monday.

"We've seen this play before," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

The Celtics scored only a dozen points in the fourth quarter, when they collapsed and took what their coach derisively calls "hero shots."

"We have to play better under stress, no doubt about it," Rivers said of his Celtics, who shot only 38.6 percent.

No NBA team has ever won the championship without winning a playoff game on the road.

Meanwhile, 13 NBA teams have rebounded from 0-2 holes to win a best-of-seven series, including the Cavaliers of 2006-07 when they rallied to oust the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavaliers believe they can do it again.

All-Star LeBron James, whose marvelous passing keyed many baskets earlier in the game, took the ball into his own hands and all but ended the game with 1:45 remaining.

Driving around the Celtics' Pierce on a pick-and-roll, then blowing past James Posey, the Cavaliers' star forward elevated for a resounding dunk over a helpless Kevin Garnett, the league's defensive player of the year.

"I just wanted to continue to be aggressive," said James, who finished with 21 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

More NBA headlines...

Print Share: Digg Newsvine