The NBA Finals start on Thursday at the Staples Center. I would have loved to be preparing to fly cross country to LAX in the next few days. But I'll have to watch it on TV like the rest of you.

One really has to tip their cap to the Celtics, who upset the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and then took care of the Magic in the East finals. But they are a bit banged up right now.

They have until Thursday to heal. The Lakers are probably favored, but I can't pick against the Celtics right now. Both of these teams can win on the other's court.

Here's the schedule for the NBA Finals:

LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. BOSTON CELTICS
Game 1 - Thursday - Boston at Lakers 9 p.m., ABC/R/TSN
Game 2 - Sunday, June 6 - Boston at Lakers, 8 p.m., ABC/R/TSN
Game 3 - Tuesday, June 8 - Lakers at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC/R/TSN
Game 4 - Thursday, June 10 - Lakers at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC/R/TSN
Game 5 - Sunday, June 13 - Lakers at Boston, 8 p.m., ABC/R/TSN, if necessary
Game 6 - Tuesday, June 15 - Boston at Lakers, 9 p.m., ABC/R/TSN, if necessary
Game 7 - Thursday, June 17 - Boston at Lakers, 9 p.m., ABC/R/TSN, if necessary

R - ESPN Radio
TSN - TSN (Canada)

The LeBron video is ready for public consumption. It might be a little corny, but when Dick Goddard sings, people listen.

BOSTON CELTICS 94, CAVS 85
at TD Garden
Game 6 of Eastern Conference semifinals
(Celtics win best-of-seven series, 4-2)
TV: TNT
RADIO: WTAM, ESPN Radio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs didn't have any problems with effort in Game 6. They came out and played hard and with passion.

Unfortunately, they didn't play well. They turned the ball over 24 times, which led to 27 points by the Celtics.

LeBron James, who might have played his last game with the Cavs, had a triple-double and came one turnover away from a quadruple-double. He ended with 27 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, 10 assists and nine turnovers.

The first course of action for the Cavs might be to fire Coach Mike Brown. He didn't want to address it after the game.

That might be the most difficult thing GM Danny Ferry has ever done. They are that close.

And that includes trading center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. It's been quite a year for Ferry.

Rumors circulated after the game that Brown would be replaced. If they are going to do it, then do it on Friday. Don't let him dangle in the wind. He's been nothing but a breath of fresh air with the Cavs.

He is their winningest coach in the regular season and playoffs.

If he is dispatched, I'll miss him on a personal level. He's a class act.

The Cavs would have to replace him with a veteran coach, someone like Larry Brown or Doug Collins. Don't say John Calipari, either.

But they won't be able to hire a coach like that until the James ordeal is straightened out. He might have some say in who they hire, if he returns.

I've thought all along that he would re-sign with the Cavs. I'm no longer leaning that way. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

His management team will decide where he signs. It might have its sights set on bigger and better places.

* * *
FIRST TAKE: I'll be on ESPN First Take at 10 a.m. Friday morning.

* * *
FIRST REACTION: I love the comments from Doc Rivers the first time he watched Rajon Rondo.

STARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Jawad Williams
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Monty McCutchen, Bob Delaney, Eddie F. Rush

BOSTON CELTICS 120, CAVS 88
at Quicken Loans Arena
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals
(Celtics lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2)
Game 6 is 8 p.m. Thursday in Boston
TV: TNT
RADIO: WTAM, ESPN Radio

WHAT HAPPENED: If you're a Cavs fan, there were concerns heading into tonight's game.

If Good LeBron shows up, the Cavs will likely prevail in Game 5. If Bad LeBron plays in Game 5, which he did, then all bets are off.

James had just 15 points. He made 3 of 14 from the field.

James defended Celtics guard Rajon Rondo some in Tyesday's game. It's almost as if the Cavs coaching staff is drawing straws five games into the series.

We know Mo Williams and Anthony Parker can't guard Rondo. How about using Jamario Moon a little more instead of AP? The Cavs got Moon to defend. It's hard to defend on the bench.

Despite all the crazy stuff that's happened in this series, the Cavs could still win the next two games and move on. I picked them to win in six games, but I had no idead they would struggle as much as they have.

To be outrebounded the way they have falls under the category of effort. The Celtics have wanted it more than the Cavs. Rondo had four offensive rebounds in Game 4. The Cavs had three AS A TEAM!

That's usually an area where Anderson Varejao would factor in. However, he's given the Cavs very little in this series.

Some of the inconsistencies have to fall at the feet of Coach Mike Brown. He's not been getting a consistent effort from the players in this series, and he doesn't know why.

Some of the blogs and chatrooms are saying this could be James last game at The Q with the Cavs.

Let's hope they're wrong.

TARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Jawad Williams
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Joe Crawford, Marc Davis, Greg Willard

Jackie MacMullan, a highly respected pro
basketball reporter who worked for The Boston Globe for three decades and
recently collaborated on a best-selling book with Hall of Famers Larry Bird
and Magic Johnson, and Joe Tait, a popular radio play-by-play broadcaster
for the Cleveland Cavaliers for 38 years, have been selected to receive the
2010 Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of
Fame during Enshrinement festivities scheduled on August 12-13, 2010, in
Springfield, Mass,

MacMullan is the first female reporter to
receive the honor in its 21-year history.

The Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the legendary sports broadcaster
and former Hall of Fame Board member and President, the late Curt Gowdy.
The prestigious award is presented annually to members of the print and
electronic media whose longtime efforts have made a significant
contribution to the game of basketball.

“The Gowdy Media Award is an honor that is proudly presented by the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in honor and memory of the late
Curt Gowdy, one of the pioneers of sports media and a former Hall of Fame
President,” said John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President & CEO. “Joe Tait
and Jackie MacMullan excelled by sharing their unique and informative
insights on our sport while they entertained millions of loyal listeners
and readers. The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to recognize Joe’s
longtime dedication to the game, and we are thrilled to honor Jackie for
her many contributions as a writer and as the first female reporter to
receive a Curt Gowdy Award.”

BOSTON CELTICS 97, CAVS 87
at TD Garden
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals
(Best-of-seven series is tied, 2-2)
Game 5 is 8 p.m. Tuesday in Cleveland
TV: ABC
RADIO: WTAM

WHAT HAPPENED: Remember that player that scored 38 points on Friday in Game 3 for the Cavs? Well, he didn't show up in Game 4 on Sunday.

LeBron James scored just 22 points in the Cavs loss to the Celtics. When it was time for him to take over, he merely passed it to his teammates, hoping they'd make shots.

They didn't.

The Cavs shot just 40.3 percent from the field.

They didn't play with fire or intensity. They come out and play like gangbusters in one game and like also-rans in the next. It's got to be perplexing to Coach Mike Brown.

James was not the best player on the court on Sunday. Celtics guard Rajon Rondo held that honor.

He was unstoppable in Game 4 with 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists - all game highs. He was magnificent.

It's actually getting old that the Cavs have been unable to stop him in this series.

It might be easier said than done, but it's time to make an adjustment that will work.

STARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Jawad Williams
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Joe DeRosa, Mike Callahan, Michael Smith

CAVS 124, BOSTON CELTICS 95
at TD Garden
Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals
(Cavs lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1)
Game 4 is 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Boston
TV: ESPN
RADIO: WTAM

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs have command of the series, especially if they're able to prevail in Game 4.

There were concerns from their fan base heading into the game. All of that concern went out the window when LeBron James scored a franchise playoff record 21 points in the first quarter. He finished with a game-high 38 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Celtics had absolutely no answer for James. Forward Paul Pierce was trying to guard him, but he was unable to put up much resistance.

Coach Doc Rivers said the Celtics are a defensive team. They are built on defense. Two years ago when they won the NBA championship, that was the reason why.

That defense is letting them down in this series, especially after the Cavs shot 59.5 percent from the field (44 of 74).

The Cavs also pushed the Celtics around on the boards, 45-30.

They received balanced scoring, as all five starters were in double figures. Guard Delonte West was huge off the bench with 14 points.

* * *
Z-LESS - The only active player on either team that didn't play was center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. When Coach Mike Brown called off the dogs with 5 minutes to play, there was ample time for Z to get warmed up and play down the stretch. But he didn't.

* * *
DOMINATING PERFORMANCE: How dominant were the Cavs? They never trailed in the game and opened up a 35-point bulge in the fourth quarter.

STARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Jawad Williams
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Bennett Salvatore, Ken Mauer, Zach Zarba

Fans can pick up free admission vouchers for the Game 3 watch party at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday at Mentor and Halleen Kia.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with live game action on ESPN featured on Q-Tube. The game starts at 7 p.m.

Free tickets are now available at The Q's box office on Wednesday. There is a limit of four free vouchers per person (18 and older).

Vouchers are good for one free reserved ticket at the box office up to game time of Game 3. A ticket for reserved seating is required for entry.

BOSTON CELTICS 104, CAVS 86
at Quicken Loans Arena
Monday
Eastern Conference semifinals
(Best-of-seven series tied, 1-1)
Game 3 is 7 p.m. Friday at TD Garden
TV: TNT
RADIO: WTAM

WHAT HAPPENED: Cavs forward LeBron James is clearly not been himself in this series. If his elbow is not right, as it appears, then that levels the playing field.

That enormous edge the Cavs' possessed is no longer there.

But James is far from being the only problem. After all, he's averaging 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

Guard Mo Williams wants desperately to be the Cavs' second option. That's not been the case. He was fantastic in the third quarter of Game 1. In the other seven quarters of the series, he's been non-existent.

He was 1 of 9 from the field in Game 2. In the first two games in the series, he's still looking for his first 3-point goal. In fact, the Cavs are shooting 24 percent from behind the arc in this series (8 of 33).

It's not like Coach Mike Brown has many options. One would be to play Daniel Gibson.

What was uncharacteristic after the game was Brown's criticism of Williams. He rarely - if ever - does that. Basically, he said Williams must pick up his game. What he says is true, but it was surprising to see.

Brown must really be stoked. Instead of giving the Cavs off on Tuesday, which was expected, he said they're practicing at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Center Shaquille O'Neal has also been a disappointment. He's averaged 10 points and 4.0 rebounds in the first two games. Some think the Cavs would be better off giving J.J. Hickson O'Neal's minutes.

Hickson is averaging 12 points in 16 minutes per game. Unfortunately, he's averaging 1.5 rebounds in the first two games. For those of you math-challenged, that's three rebounds in the first two games. That's almost a joke.

* * *
BRIGHT LIGHT: The Cavs have never lost a playoff series after winning Game 1. They are 10-0 after winning the opening game of the series.

* * *
SHEED AWESOME: The Celtics were trying to light a fire under veteran forward/center Rasheed Wallace, who has been almost non-existent as of late. Whatever they tried, must have worked. He had a playoff-high 17 points in Game 2.

* * *
FUNNY REACTION: There wasn't much we could use here in the newspaper, but it makes a funny video. Here's my question after Game 1 to Coach Mike Brown on Williams' dunk and his reaction to it.



STARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Leon Powe
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Dan Crawford, Dick Bavetta, Ed Malloy

LEBRON JAMES’ SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Led the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 61-21 (.744) record and became just the 12th team in NBA history to win 60 or more games in a season.

• Helped Cleveland post an NBA-best 35-6 (.854) record at The Q and a 26-15 (.634) road record, which tied for the second-best road record in the league this season.

• Helped the Cavs become first team to have the best overall record in consecutive seasons since the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 (72-10) and 1996-97 (69-13)

• Is the only player to average at least 27.0 points in each of the past six seasons

• Led the league in plus/minus total at +650 and plus/minus ratio per game at +8.6

• Led the league in road scoring at 31.0 ppg and averaged more than 30.0 points on the road for the third straight season

• Led the league in both second half scoring at 14.9 ppg and fourth quarter scoring at 8.0 ppg; scored at least 20 points in the second half of an NBA-best 19 games and at least 10 points in the fourth quarter an NBA-best 27 times

• With 2,258 points, 554 rebounds and 651 assists, became just the third player (seventh time) to have more than 2,250 points, 650 assists and 550 rebounds in a season; he joined Oscar Robertson (five times: 1961-1966) and Michael Jordan (1988-89)

• Became the youngest player to score 13,000 points (24 years, 301 days) on Oct. 27 versus Boston, 14,000 points (25 years, three days) on Jan. 2 at New Jersey and 15,000 points (25 years, 79 days) on Mar. 19 versus Chicago

• Set a career-high in field goal percentage at .503 and shot his second-highest career mark in free throw percentage at .767; was the only player in the Top 8 of the NBA’s leading scorers that shot above .500 percent from the field

• His 8.6 assists average was a career high and he became the first forward in NBA history to average more than 8.0 assists per game and is just one of three players in history at 6-foot-8 or taller to average eight assists for an entire season (Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68 and Magic Johnson 11 times)

• Led the league in points+rebounds+assists average per game with 45.6 and was the only player to have an average over 41.0

• Had a league-high 15 games this season in which he led his team (tied or outright) in the categories of points, assists and rebounding

• Was the only player in the NBA with at least 500 rebounds, 600 assists, 125 steals and 75 blocks

• Won the NBA’s Player of the Month award for the first four months of the season (Nov. 2009, Dec. 2009, Jan. 2010, Feb. 2010) and for six consecutive months dating back to the 2008-09 season (Mar. 2009, Apr. 2009); won the NBA’s Player of the Week award six times this season

• Had a season-high 48 points on his birthday, Dec. 30, versus Atlanta, to go along with 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks; shot 15-23 (.652) from the field, 4-6 (.667) from behind the arc and 14-16 (.875) from the free throw line; was the most points scored against the Hawks by a Cavalier

• On Feb. 6 versus New York, set a franchise record with 35 points in the first half and scored 23 points in the first quarter, tying The Q’s individual record for points in a period; finished the game with 47 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals; became the first player to reach those numbers in a game since Rick Barry (64 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, five steals) did it for Golden State on March 26, 1974

• On Jan. 31 versus the Los Angeles Clippers, tied The Q’s record with 23 of his game-high 32 points in the first quarter, while also tying the team record with five three-pointers made in the first quarter

• Named to the 2010 NBA All-Star Eastern Conference Team and tallied 25 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals in the All-Star Game

• On Feb. 18 versus Denver, posted 43 points, a career-high tying 15 assists, 13 rebounds, two steals and a season-high tying four blocks; became the first NBA player ever to reach those numbers in a game since steals and blocks became official statistics in 1973-74.

CAVS 101, BOSTON CELTICS 93
at Quicken Loans Arena
Saturday
(Cavs lead best-of-seven series, 1-0)
Game 2 will be at 8 p.m. Monday
TV: TNT
RADIO: WTAM

WHAT HAPPENED: Guard Mo Williams was heading toward possibly wearing the goat horns. Then, suddenly, he became the hero.

He had a major throwdown with 5:16 left in the third quarter. It was his first dunk since he came to the Cavs. He claims to have dunked earlier in his career (I remain skeptical until I see proof).

He scored 14 points in the third quarter and finished with 20.

Forward LeBron James was bothered by his strained right elbow. He was reluctant to shoot his outside shot early on. However, he made some big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. James ended with 35 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Antawn Jamison vs. Kevin Garnett matchup is intriguing. If KG continues to play as aggressive as he did in the first three quarters, it will cause problems. KG, though, was ineffective in the fourth quarter and made just 1 of 5 shots.

Jamison has to do more than seven points and nine rebounds.

Another game-changer was the Cavs' decision to have 6-6 Anthony Parker defend Rajon Rondo in the second half. Rondo had 19 in the first half, eight in the second half. He had just one field goal in the second half.

* * *
MEDIA ADVISORY - James' MVP press conference will be at 4 p.m. at the University of Akron's JAR Arena, 373 Carroll Street. The event is also free and open to the public. Doors open at 3 p.m.

It will also be shown live on Fox Sports Ohio, and broadcast on WKNR.

* * *
FINE COMING? - None of the Celtics players came down to the postgame press conference. They'll likely be fined for that.

STARTING LINEUPS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 265)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Mo Williams (6-1, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Danny Green, G Sebastian Telfair, F Leon Powe
Celtics - F Tony Gaffney, G Oliver Lafayette, F Brian Scalabrine
OFFICIALS
Eddie F. Rush, Jason Phillips, Bill Spooner