BOSTON: The Eastern Conference semifinals started Tuesday night.

Unfortunately LeBron James didn't.

Of the many unexpected things that happened in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, James having a downright dismal offensive night had to be the most unexpected.

On a night when Ben Wallace was making a fadeaway jumper and Sasha Pavlovic was brought off the shelf, James struggled.

No other way to put it.

''I missed a lot of shots that I can usually make,'' James said.

And even with that, the Cavs almost won, almost stole the first game. They led by two with 1:30 to go, had the score tied with 37 seconds left. They had chances.

Problem is they didn't, and now they trail 1-0.

This was a game the Cavs easily could have won.

Two of the Celtics stars were as AWOL as James. Paul Pierce shot 2-for-14. Ray Allen did not score a single solitary point and shot 0-for-4. The Celtics turned the ball over 23 times and committed a huge gaffe in the closing minutes when they lost track of the time left on the shot clock during a timeout.

Yet, the Celtics won 76-72.

The low score reflects the kind of game it was — a physical, hard-fought defensive game. Every possession seemed a
struggle, every shot a challenge.

So it was at the end when James still had a chance to tie and saw a driving layup rattle in and out with nine seconds left.

''That symbolized the night I had,'' James said. ''Those layups I've made my whole life. I put it right over the rim.''

Like to think James usually makes that shot. It came with him doing what he should — going to the basket — and came from point-blank range.

It didn't go in.

And it went that way the entire night for him.

''He had a tough night,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said, correctly, before quickly adding, ''He's entitled to it.''

Agreed.

It's hard to call out the guy who was so good in Game 6 in Washington, the guy who has brought the Cavs to this point in the playoffs.

It's hard to call him out, but it's not hard to wish for better.

The Cavs needed him.

They didn't need him to turn the ball over 10 times.

They didn't need him to shoot 2-for-18.

They didn't need him to score a measly two points in the fourth quarter; didn't need him to miss all six of his 3s.

James does so much so well it's hard to be too critical, but he's so good so often that when he's not it stands out.

That's the kind of night it was.

His shots did not seem wild, and he never seemed out of control. He did take the ball to the basket, did not always settle for jump shots. He just didn't get results.

''He very seldom has a game like this,'' Brown said.

The Celtics play great team defense, and they did in this game. But if James has any kind of night, is anything close to what he usually is, the Cavs win.

As it was, they were in the game the entire game despite shooting 30.7 percent and despite a first half that was downright bizarre.

The Cavs shot 28.9 percent the first half, yet only trailed 41-37.

At one point in the second quarter the Cavs were shooting 6-for-26 and were only down five.

Go figure.

The Cavs easily could have been blown off the parquet (doesn't that word have to be in here somewhere?), but they hung in despite being down 25-15 at the end of the first quarter. Which made the game a game until the closing seconds.

At that point, the Cavs needed someone to make a play, a basket, a key shot.

Usually that someone is James, who either scores it or sets it up.

It just didn't happen for him.

So how should this game be viewed?

As one that got away? Or as one when the Cavs fought and competed and kept it close despite an off night from their superstar?

The half-full view says the latter, and it's not unrealistic.

Because it's just one game, on the Celtics' home court, where they are supposed to win.

More important, it just does not seem like James will have another game like this in this series.