LeBron needs to take over for Cavs in Game 5

The one-man show the Cavaliers have to worry about for Tuesday night's pivotal Game 5 in their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Celtics isn't Rajon Rondo. It's that LeBron James already has learned that despite all of the roster upgrades and attempts to surround him with talent, James still has no Scottie Pippen, no Kevin McHale and no James Worthy.

And when he's ordinary, as he has been for three of the four games in this series, the top-seeded Cavaliers are quite average. And, most alarming, quite beatable.

Given Rondo's amazing 29-point, 18-rebound, 13-assist performance in the Celtics' 97-87 win Sunday, James might have to do more than carry the offensive load. The Cavaliers also might need him to defend Rondo, who has dominated the series.

"If it comes to that, if the guys want me to do it, I will," James said, though he seemed to suggest the plan could be flawed because switching would only create another matchup issue with Paul Pierce.

But more important than debating strategy, Cavs coach Mike Brown needs to address his team's lack of urgency in Game 4 and some lingering frustration afterward. Motivation shouldn't be an issue in the postseason, especially for a top-seeded team with championship aspirations.

In Game 3, James aggressively attacked the Celtics with 21 first-quarter points en route to a blowout win. That same intensity was missing Sunday, and no one else - not Mo Williams, not Antawn Jamison and not Shaquille O'Neal - could fill in the blanks, as high-end wingmen are supposed to do.

What also should concern Brown and general manager Danny Ferry is that James nudged Brown publicly when, unprompted, he questioned why O'Neal, despite five fouls, didn't play more in the fourth quarter. O'Neal was so annoyed that he didn't speak to reporters after the game.

Orlando already looks as if it again will be a tough obstacle for the Cavs to overcome just to reach the NBA Finals, but if Cleveland can't even get past the Celtics in the second round, Brown's job - if not Ferry's, too - certainly will be on the line.

Then get ready to hear more rumors involving James' ubiquitous friend, Kentucky coach John Calipari, because with free agency looming (and the Knicks breathlessly waiting for the chance to woo him), Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has no choice but to do anything to keep The King happy.