Flashback
BOSTON These teams, if not these precise players, have been through this before. Ten years ago, in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics came home from Miami with a 3 to 2 lead and a chance to close out the series in Game 6.
Then LeBron James happened. The Heat forward turned in an all time timely performance of 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, outscoring Boston s Big Three of Kevin Garnett 12 , Ray Allen 10 and Paul Pierce 9 by himself.
Two nights later, James scored 31 to end Boston s hopes of reaching the NBA Finals for the third time in five years. Instead, it was Miami going for a second consecutive year, en route to the first championship of its own Big Three of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh .
Six years later, circumstances were similar except for James uniform and the locations. He was back with Cleveland when Boston reached Game 6 of the 2018 East finals with another 3 to 2 lead. He puts up 46 on the Cavs court, then goes to TD Garden and eliminates the Celtics with 35 points, 15 boards and nine assists.