No team in the history of the NBA has ever lost a 7-game series when leading 3-0. But the pressure is on the Boston Celtics to win tonight at home, or risk failing in historic fashion.

Blown out by the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics return to Beantown and try to regroup. What was once a laughable series dominated by Boston, Wednesday’s impressive victory by the Orlando Magic has made this series a near coin flip. Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis have yet to earn 10% of their bloated salaries, but the performances of All-Star Dwight Howard and the resurgent Jameer Nelson are driving the Magic back into the form they enjoyed during the regular season.

Dwight Howard was a man among boys in Game 5: hammer dunking, fly-swatting shots, running the break and even hitting a few free throws. Boston lost its best big man, Kendrick Perkins, after two dubious technical fouls in the 2nd quarter. His backup, Big Baby Glen Davis, was leveled by an errant Howard elbow, dropping him like a stone. As Davis stumbled and faltered about the court, suffering the effects of a concussion, he was a the perfect image of the Celtics last two games: unbalanced and unable to execute the most basic of plays.

The good news, if there is any, from yesterday is the Kendrick Perkins had a technical rescinded, so he will be able to match up against Dwight. The key for the Celtics is Rondo. His tentative play has taken them from world beaters to rec center backups. He must improve and energize the Boston crowd. The pressure is squarely on the Celtics tonight in Game 6. Lose and they must travel back to Orlando, where despite losing twice in this series, the Magic are normally very difficult to beat. Add to the Celtics woes that no team has ever lost a 7-game series after leading 3-0 and any Game 7 scenario may be too much.

The much-anticipated debut pairing of LeBron & Shaq had fans in Cleveland thinking NBA Championship. But the veteran-laden Celtics team had other plans, winning the first contest between two of the Eastern powers 95-89.

The story in this game was one of balance, or lack thereof. The Cavaliers have 2 superstars — LeBron & Shaq — and then a bunch of decent players. I know, Mo Williams was an All-Star last year, but I would take Rajon Rondo over him any day of the week. Troubled wing player, Delonte West, is sorely missed for his on-ball defense and outside shooting. The new energy guy, Jamario Moon, has yet to takeoff, and Anthony Parker was more or less held in check. The Celtics, however, have quality at every position. The Big 3 might be the Big 4 with the addition of Rasheed Wallace…and I think Rondo deserves a ton of credit for driving this offense. If it weren’t for a dumb decision by Big Baby Davis, this team would be stacked.

LeBron James did little to quiet any talk of a second straight MVP, as his stat line looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet at Morrison’s cafeteria: 38 pts, 4 3s, 4 rebs, 8 asts, 2 stls, 4 blks. Shaq did his part but was not as effective in the low post as you would like. But it was Paul Pierce down the stretch that kept hitting big shot after big shot. He paced the Celtics with 23 pts & 11 rebs.

It may have only been the first game of the NBA season, but the Celtics getting a victory in Cleveland sent a clear message to the rest of the league: we are back!