Almost a classic

It was setting up to be one of those vintage (for a 23-year-old) LeBron James games.

With 23 points in the first half, James helped the Cavaliers build a 14-point lead at one point in the second quarter. We’d been waiting for it all series and it was finally happening: LeBron was going to win one by himself.

But then he didn’t. And the Celtics had a lot do to with that.

“Defensively they turned up the pressure,” James said when asked to comment on being held to two points in the third quarter. “They got into the passing lanes. We had some unforced turnovers.”

For his part, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t make any adjustments in covering LeBron. His team just executed better.

“LeBron was rejecting the pick and roll coverage,” said Rivers. “We didn’t make any adjustments. We just forced him the way we wanted to go. He is a smart player and he kept beating us the other way. We did a better job of keeping him to coverage”

James finished with 35 points, but it wasn’t enough to get his team over the hump.

“Whether he gets 35 or 20, it doesn’t matter at this point,” said Cavs coach Mike Brown. “To lose a game, especially the way we played in the third, we didn’t do the things necessary defensively…So whether he gets this or that, I’m not really concerned, because he’s going to contribute in other ways.”

One thing's for sure: James is a confident young man.

"A LeBron James team is never desperate," he said, closing his press conference.

With his flashy smile and even flashier cufflinks, it's hard not to believe him.