MIAMI — LeBron James forged one of those games.
He popped eyes, he dropped jaws, he carried teammates, he sank Celtics. When his Game 6 Rembrandt handiwork was done, he was mentioned with the likes of Wilt, Michael, Larry, Magic and Kobe — the first-name only superstars among superstars.
But that 45-point, 15-rebound tour de force was Game 6. Tonight is Game 7, Heat against Celtics. So go prove yourself again, hotshot.
James’ brilliance likely would soon be forgotten in critical circles should he fail to deliver the Heat into the Finals against the Thunder.
Reuters
BEST OF ONE: After LeBron James’ Game 6 masterpiece evened the series, the Heat need just one more win over the Celtics to return to the finals.
“I take every game as its own,” James said. “I will continue to be aggressive. I will continue to play at a high level.”
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “Definitely in basketball, I have never seen an athlete under the scrutiny that LeBron James is under.
“I don’t know what else he can do. He does the right things. When he makes the right pass and a guy misses a shot, he’s criticized. When he forces a shot in a double team, he’s criticized. It’s just the way it is for him for whatever reason.”
Rivers also noted the magnificence of James’ Game 6 could be dinged by Game 7’s result.
“Obviously, if they win then that Game 6 you’ll remember,” Rivers said. “If we win, the Game 6 will be just another great game.”
James and friends, having escaped elimination Thursday, regained home court and now look to apply the hammer. And the Celtics will be doing everything possible to sidestep that shot to the noggin. They know their best chance was to avoid the trip back here, but they didn’t.
Paul Pierce (9), Kevin Garnett (12) and Ray Allen (10) combining for 31 points — or 14 fewer than LeBron — sort of ensured the trip back.
“They won one game,” said Rajon Rondo, who recalled how the Celtics won Game 5 in Miami. “We have done it before.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra again declined to reveal if Chris Bosh will start or not. Bosh played 28 minutes off the bench in Game 6 and changed the game with his length. Spoelstra did not tip his hand, but uttered what must be the battle cry for both sides.
“By any means necessary,” Spoelstra said.
The Celtics looked their age Thursday, but James can make anybody look like senior oatmeal eaters. People around the Heat insisted they never saw him better. Basically, they just fell in line — and hope to do the same again.
“The best I’ve seen, one of the best this league has ever seen,” Bosh raved.
Rivers paid homage to James, but insisted the Celtics did not match his 19-of-26 shooting strength with equal defensive force. But nothing will change drastically — “We do what we do,” Rivers said, “defensively for the most part we have to do it better.” — and everything must be unleashed at the start, maintained to the end.
“Nothing’s been easy up to this point,” Garnett said. “Can’t expect it now. We’re going to take these cards and play them. Lot of confident guys here, lot of guys who have been through Game 7s, lot of experienced guys. We’re going to lean on that and we’re going to fight.”
James, averaging 34.0 points and shooting 54.2 percent in this series, only has faced two Game 7s in his career, losing both on the road. It was noted Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were a combined 14-1 in their home Game 7s.
“For me, this game is all about team,” James said. “I’m looking forward to Game 7.”
fred.kerber@nypost.com
LeBron James, Celtics, the Heat, Doc Rivers, Heat, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra
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