LeBron James has come a long way on the defensive end in his career -- from looking completely lost to being one of the team's top defenders.

He earned a few votes by the league's head coaches on Monday when the All-Defensive team was announced. James didn't make either of the first or second teams, but it's only a matter of time before he's a perennial member.

"He will definitely be on that All-Defensive first team," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "The things he does out on the floor can't be duplicated. He's only going to get better on that end of the floor."

Since Brown has arrived on the scene, James has become more serious about his defense. Obviously, Brown had something to do with that improvement, but playing on Team USA in the summer can't hurt, either.

"He was with Coach K (Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski) in the summer and with those players like Kobe (Bryant) and (Jason) Kidd," Brown said. "His on-the-ball defense was already pretty good. He's mentally trying to step it up every time he gets on the floor."

James said it would be quite rewarding to earn a spot on the team. It could happen as early as next season.

"It's something I came into the season trying to (improve)," he said. "I want to be one of the best defenders in our league."

CELTICS 96, CAVS 89: LeBron James had been nothing short of prolific in Game 5's in his short career.

That magic touch has run out.

James still scored a game-high 35 points, but the Cavaliers were unable to snap the Celtics' long winning streak at TD Banknorth Garden on Wednesday.

Despite putting a major scare into the favored Celtics, the Cavs stumbled and trail in the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

The Cavs are on the brink of elimination as the Eastern Conference semifinal series shifts back to Cleveland for Game 6 on Friday. Their saving grace might be the fact that the Celtics have yet to win in five games on the road in the 2008 postseason.

"We have to approach it like any other game," James said. "We know it's a win-or-go-home situation. We have to approach it like that. A LeBron James team is never desperate."

James had been phenomenal in three previous Game 5's, averaging 41.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists. More important, the Cavs had never lost a Game 5 in James' postseason career before Wednesday.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pounder was more efficient offensively as he converted 12 of 25 from the field (he's now shooting 31 percent from the floor in this series). He also made 11 of 13 from the foul line and added five assists.

But the Cavs let the game slip away late in the first half. They led the entire first half and even opened up a 14-point bulge, 43-29, after James' 21-foot jumper with 3:49 remaining.

However, the Celtics closed the second quarter on a 14-2 run that included back-to-back 3-pointers by point guard Rajon Rondo. He had just one 3-pointer in the first four games of the series.

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