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The Cleveland Cavaliers are arguably the best team in the NBA right now and a legitimate title contender in the Eastern Conference with a 44-14 record coming into tonight’s matchup with the Atlantic division leading Boston Celtics, but they have struggled as of late with three losses in the last four games since trading for forward Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards.

Even though it has been a rocky start for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Antawn Jamison, the Cavs were able to get back on their feet against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday with a 105-95 victory, but they will have their work cut out for them against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston.

The last time these two Eastern conference heavyweights went head-to-head, in the first game of the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were in control in the first half the game, but then the Boston Celtics took over in the second half and beat LeBron James and company by a score of 95-89.

A lot has changed since the first game of the season as the Boston Celtics have dealt with injuries to their big three in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce while the Cleveland Cavaliers have just dominated their opponents all season long since dropping the first game of the season to the Boston Celtics.

Unlike the first game of the regular season, the Boston Celtics will have to do without their leading scorer in Paul Pierce this time around as he has to sit out with asome injury that he sustained against the Los Angeles Lakers recently.

Without Paul Pierce in the lineup for the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have a clear advantage in this gameand should come away with the victory, but the one way I can see the Celtics put the brakes on Lebron James and company tonight in Boston is if the Cavs cannot contain All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.

This season Rondo has really had a breakout year as he has become arguably the most soluble player on the Boston Celtics leading the league in steals and driving opposing defenses crazy.

Even though Rondo will be hard for body on, I still believe the Cavs will come on top in this one as losing Pierce will be just too much for the Celtics to make up for.