Was this LeBron James' last game Tuesday night in Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena wearing a Cavalier uniform?

  The two-time MVP’s body language wasn’t good.

  And since LeBron James is their leader, the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers were just as lifeless.

  Now they’re a loss away from seeing championship aspirations expire after losing Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, 120-88, to the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena.

  If the Celtics close out the Cavaliers in Thursday’s Game 6 in Boston, the sellout crowd of 20,562 may have watched James play his last game for Cleveland in Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night.

   They didn’t see his best effort.

   In fact, it may have been the worst playoff performance of his splendid 7-year NBA career.

    James had just 15 points, shooting a woeful 3-of-14 from the field. He only attempted four shots in the first half, missed them all and the electric energy that typically radiates off him was barely pulsating.

   By the fourth quarter when James missed a free throw with 10:31 in the game, sprinkle of boos came from the stands.

   James wasn’t the only who didn’t bring it Tuesday night.

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If LeBron James' elbow goes haywire again later in this series against Boston, the schedule won't be in his favor.

Have you seen the playoff schedule for the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics starting Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland?

Take a look.

Game 1: Saturday at Cleveland, TBD (TNT)
Game 2: Monday at Cleveland, TBD (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, May 7 at Boston, TBD (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 9 at Boston, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
*Game 5: Tuesday, May, 11 at Cleveland (TNT)
*Game 6: Thursday, May 13 at Boston, TBD (ESPN)
*Game 7: Sunday, May 16 at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m. (ABC).
*If necessary.

Now I know many folks, including my guy, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, have complained about the playoff schedule in terms of too much time between games. I’d love to spend this entire blog post doing the same, but the sun is out here in Erie, Pa., so I’m going to look at this differently.

When I look at that Cavs-Celtics schedule, three things come to mind.

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Instead of NYC, columnist Sam Smith believes LeBron may join Kobe Bryant in L.A.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers playing at the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden tonight on ESPN (8 p.m.), it gives reason to discuss the possibility of LeBron James playing for the Knicks or the New Jersey Nets after this season.

James will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Just for argument sake, check out Sam Smith’s column on the idea that James may head to Los Angeles to join Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Now, the question isn’t will or will he not go. It’s more of should he go.

My take?

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I just came out of the visitor’s locker room, which is smaller than a telephone booth, a little while ago, but I can’t get rid of that heavy scent of  Bengay right that roared out there as I hit the door.

That’s an old team in that locker room.

Ya’ll know the Celtics got some veterans in there. KG. Sheed. Ray Ray. Might as well through Paul Pierce in there. Those guys have a combined 52 years of playing experience.

Wow. Clear the cob webs.

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Stephon Marbury looked like the Marbury of old in helping Boston win Game 5 Tuesday.

The defending world champions aren’t folding.

Not at all.

In a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday night in Boston, the Celtics came back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Orlando Magic, 92-88, to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics are just winning these games on sheer guts.

Paul Pierce looks gassed most of the time. Ray Allen isn’t shooting consistently and their bench has been suspect, but the Celtics are finding ways to win.

On Tuesday night, they got a big game from Stephon Marbury, who scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter.

To put it bluntly, Doc Rivers is giving Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy a coaching lesson.

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Derrick Rose denied Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics in Game 6.

Joakim Noah made the play.

Kirk Hinrich almost became the goat.

Then Derrick Rose saved the day.

Rose blocked Rajon Rondo’s short fading jump shot with 12 seconds left and then scooped up the loose ball to help the Chicago Bulls outlast the Boston Celtics in tonight’s 128-127 Game 6 home win to force a decisive Game 7 Saturday night at Boston.

So who’s ready for a Game 7 Saturday night?

After playing seven overtimes so far in this series, don’t think the Celtics are even though it will be in Boston. However, the defending NBA champions will likely come with just enough to outlast the Bulls.

Maybe.

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What a game.

Ben Gordon was sensational. 42 points. Looked like my man Andrew Toney when he used to have his way with Boston back in the 1980s while with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Ray Allen brought the crowd to its feet after hitting the game winner over Joakim Noah (13) Monday.

He hit some shots that had me getting off the couch shouting, “MY GOODNESS!!.” When he’s hot, Gordon is a bad boy.

However, Ray Allen will go down as the hero of Boston’s 118-115 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series tonight.

He hit the game-winning shot, a 3-pointer, with two seconds left over Chicago forward Joakim Noah. Just rose up off that screen and splashed it in Noah’s face.

You have to give Allen credit. He goes 1-of-12 in Game 1. Scored only two points in the first half of Game 2, but exploded for 28 in the second half tonight.

The Celtics tied the series, 1-1, but the defending NBA champions can’t feel safe about what’s going on. Rajon Rondo injured his ankle. Leon Powe missed the second half with a knee injury.

They’re already without Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce is having to really exert himself and looked really fatigued late in Game 2. The Bulls are young, hungry and should play even better at home in Game 3 and 4.

This is a series.

The Boston Celtics were no match for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Easter Sunday.

LeBron James said there isn’t a rivalry between Cleveland and Boston.

Could have fooled me Easter Sunday.

Now forget about the Cavaliers beating up on the Celtics by 31 points. Even the best teams get blown out. Although  Boston beat Cleveland in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, it was the first time the two teams met in the playoffs with James wearing a Cleveland uniform.

But when Ray Allen and Anderson Varejao got after it in the second half Sunday, that looked like two teams that don’t like each other.

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