BOSTON -- LeBron James has had his share of wins and losses against the Boston Celtics.
As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his 2008 and 2010 seasons ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Cs.
Last season, he was part of a Miami Heat team that eliminated the Celtics in Game 5 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Even though the Heat beat the Celtics, 115-107, in their first regular-season matchup in December, James knew nothing was guaranteed when they came back to Boston on Sunday.
Its just good 'ol fashioned you know what, he said following the Celtics 92-71 win. They beat us in all facets of the game, kept us under all our averages, and just completely dominated us tonight. So youve got to give them credit when credit is due.
James entered Sundays contest averaging 30.4 points, 6.3 boards, and 6.5 dimes in 28 games against the Celtics.
The Cs held him to 23 points (11-20 FG, 0-0 3PG, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, and zero assists, below is season average of 26.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists entering the game. It was only the second time in his career that James failed to record an assist.
Ive played against LeBron a number of times now over the years, said Paul Pierce (23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists). Hes good as a power forward. I think Im one of the bigger guys in my position. I might play a little more physical than other guys when I play him.
"I try to limit his opportunities, try to limit him from getting fast break dunks, stop him from getting to the basket, stop him from getting layups. I try to make him play in the perimeter a little bit more. We kept him off the free throw line for the most part. You know he wasnt having opportunities to find open guys.
The Celtics and Heat will play two more times this month -- April 10 in Miami and April 24 in Boston -- before the end of the regular season.
After playing against the Celtics for over eight years, James expects both sides to be ready.
Teams do a good job of scouting us and try to take away from our strengths, he said. Weve got to do a better job of countering that. I dont think its a system problem, I just think we need to do it better. But its also sometimes we have to play a little bit smarter at times. Well figure it out, well get in film room.
"In order to figure it out weve got to do it together and everyone has to be on the same page because we have a system and if one chain break or if one guy isnt at the right spot at the right time, then it looks bad and thats how it looks tonight.