Roth Regatta

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Cavaliers forward LeBron James has the opportunity to close out a playoff series on his home floor—and it’s much rarer that he actually gets his team to finish the job in Cleveland. In James’ 11 playoff series before Tuesday’s Game 5, only one ended with a home victory, and that came in the East finals in 2007. But James was the highlight of the NBA schedule Tuesday night, as much for the

way he packed the stat line (19 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) as for his troublesome right elbow injury, which was painful enough to force him to shoot a key late free throw with his left hand. He’s had it poked, prodded, examined and MRI’d, with no clear explanations.

 

The Cavs also (finally) got what they’d been looking for out of center Shaquille O’Neal, who almost singlehandedly got every red-shirted big man into foul trouble with his wide-body moves in the second half. O’Ne

al had 14 points and eight rebounds, having entered the night averaging just 8.0 points and 5.8 rebounds. Bulls big men Taj Gibson and Brad Miller fouled out of the game, and center Joakim Noah had five fouls.

 

“I can’t predict the future. It’s going to be a very important summer. It’s going to be a busy summer, but right now I still have to get this out of my system first. I’m a good sportsman, but I don’t take losing well so it’s going to take a while to get over this and then sta

rt pondering my future,” Wade said in his turn on the Boston dais. “I think I’ve said enough of insurance of where my mind state is. I don’t think I have to say much more. Only thing I can do now is take time and make the best decision for my family.”

 

Those who considered the Thunder a legitimate upset threat for the Lakers most likely changed their minds early in Game 5. This didn’t look like a team that had suffered a 21-point defeat to the Thunder just two days earlier. Leave it to Zen coach Phil Jackson to conjure just the right image for the Lakers turnaround: “You have to let that one go down the drain, flush it down the toilet and let it go.”

 

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