After James' Cavaliers lost to the Celtics in Game 5, Lebron James (international icon) said "A Lebron James team is never desperate."

Maybe the Cavs should consider desperation.

Down 3-2 to Boston it's time for something, maybe even something as radical as playing all 48 minutes. And maybe it's time for Cleveland to stop being a "Lebron James" team and become a NBA playoff level "TEAM" instead of the basketball equivalent of the Pips.

Because Gladys (Lebron) can't carry a tune through the whole concert, and the midnight train to nowhere is at the station ready for their arrival.

To recap. Cleveland is up 44-29 with 3:51 left in the first half of Wednesday night's game. With 1:04 left in the third quarter Boston is up 12. During this 27 point swing, James is 0-4 with 2 assists and a turnover.

Lebron's reaction?

"I thought I was going to play well. And I continued to play well. I didn't continue to shoot the ball extremely well like I started, but I was still able to attack and get to the lane and do the things that I'm used to or accustomed to doing. Pretty good performance by me as an individual, like I said, but us losing the game means more than anything."

James got 35 points. The "king" of the Cavs offense took 38% of their shots and got 39% of Cleveland's points. Which isn't a bad night, but it's not "playing well" enough to win in the playoffs.

You get the idea James is waiting on his teammates to elevate their game. But when your teammates are named Ilgauskas, West, Wallace, and Szczerbiak that isn't an option. James can't continue to rush out to good starts and then take four shots in 15 minutes.

The disappearing act has to stop.

In business we have a concept called "off the hook". Basically, it's a reminder that no matter what you did (or someone else didn't do) you're not off the hook if the results aren't there. If someone else on the team isn't picking up the slack you've got to step up.

Same rules apply on the basketball court.

In year five of Lebron James the Cavaliers have missed the playoffs twice, lost in the second round, lost in the finals, and are on the edge of going out in the second round this year. James wants the acclaim accorded to the league's best players but those players (Bird, Jordan, Johnson) won in the playoffs and were present for 48 minutes.

James has one year left and an option and has spent the season worrying about the team around him. Unless Cleveland adds a second option, the way the Lakers added Gasol to Kobe Bryant, next year is going to look alot like this one.

So James comes to Game 6 at a turning point. He can crank it up and carry the Cavaliers, or he can be satisfied hitting 30 and go home. If that's the tune he wants to sing, then you have to wonder what the next verse is.

The league took care of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers with the inexplicable Pau Gasol trade. Maybe Stern & Co can find a gift to send to Cleveland, or maybe the real deal is to let James career as a Cavalier play out before he becomes a Knick.

The choices all belong to Lebron James and they are now down to two.

Show up Friday night for 48 or go home. Wherever that turns out to be.