BOSTON - The agony had been prolonged more than enough.

But unless K.G. made a miraculous return to the court, the Celtics would have been thoroughly embarrassed by LeBron James and the Cavs.

Boston's defense has been a laughingstock for much of the postseason without Garnett's intimidating presence underneath the basket. Perkins and Glen Davis were more than serviceable, but no one is afraid to take the ball into the paint with Garnett out of the lineup.

The first half looked far more as though Orlando was playing a game of H-O-R-S-E since a Celtics defender couldn't be spotted anywhere near the Magic's perimeter shooters.

"We laid an egg tonight," Boston coach Doc Rivers said.

Ben Gordon carved up Boston's once formidable defense in the first round, and the Celtics had no answer for Orlando's Rashard Lewis, either.

James would have made Ray Allen or whoever else Rivers was forced to throw on the greatest player we may ever see look like one of the poor high school kids he used to play against while he was at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron.

A Boston team that received a sub-par effort from Pierce and a lackluster series from Allen still took the Magic to Game 7.

Orlando controlled the game from start to finish. There were a couple times when the Celtics appeared to have a shot, such as when Rajon Rondo cut it to 66-61 margin with a deep jumper at the end of the third quarter.

But not even Stan Van Gundy — Orlando's master magician of tilting the scoreboard against his club — could hand this one away.

But now let's just stop wasting everyone's time and just give LeBron the automatic bye to the winner of the Lakers-Nuggets series.

Rivers said he wouldn't be surprised if Orlando knocks off LeBron & Co. to get to the NBA Finals, but there's just no way that's going to happen.

Well, maybe if LeBron comes down with the Swine Flu.

This Magic team just ran into a Boston team that had nothing left.

"It felt like we ran out of gas," Pierce admitted.

This Celtics team was put together by Danny Ainge with a narrow window to compete for NBA titles. The first year that the Big Three was united also brought a banner back to the Garden.

However, Pierce knows time is running out.

The Big Three proved that even with a much-improved Rondo, they can't win unless they are whole.

Pierce was ordinary and incapable of taking over in the most critical game of the season. He finished with 16 points and two rebounds.

Sure, the defense was keying on Pierce and Allen, but these are guys who are used to that.

"I'm more than capable of scoring over double-teams," Pierce said. "I've seen it my whole career."

But he hasn't ever won anything without Garnett at this side.

"He's a difference-maker," Boston reserve Brian Scalabrine said.

He's the difference-maker.

The Celtics don't just miss his ability to dominate on both ends of the floor. It's a group that sorely needs his emotion and intensity.

Now they will go home and rest their weary bodies in hopes of giving it one more run while Howard will certainly do more finger-pointing at his coach in the upcoming series.

"When we call out our coach, we're 3-0," Howard joked.

LeBron is no joking matter.