In the span of just two games, the narrative has completely shifted for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coming into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs were a wrecking ball destroying every team in their path. As they prep for Game 5 tonight, they’re seen as vulnerable, showing plenty of weaknesses for a now-hot Toronto Raptors team to take advantage of.

Cleveland is suddenly in a desperate situation. The team can’t afford to go to Toronto needing to win in Friday’s Game 6. It would be a complete momentum shift, with everything tipping in the Raptors’ favor. As a result, tonight’s Game 5 is as must-win as it gets.

It certainly isn’t looking like a sure thing. The Cavs’ core players are struggling, while Toronto’s confidence is through the roof. The Raptors have the kings of the east on the ropes, and will no doubt come out playing like their hair is on fire tonight.

As a result, the mindset of the Cavs needs to shift, specifically that of LeBron James. To be frank, Cleveland’s star player needs to be ready to shoulder the load tonight should the team struggle again.

The Cavs, for the most part, haven’t asked this of James in quite some time. He averaged the lowest amount of regular season minutes in his career this year and, 10 games into the playoffs, didn’t even need to be the team’s leading scorer. It’s been a night and day comparison between this year’s postseason and last, where he essentially dragged an injured team lacking available talent within two wins of a title.

All in all, James’ energy is saved up for something like this. The lack of overexertion, having teammates capable of contributing more than enough help, his not getting beat up in the paint for 12 games straight, it’s all helped keep James as fresh as you could keep him this deep into the postseason.

So, if the supporting cast – particularly Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving – are off for the third straight game tonight, it’s up to James to take over. While Quicken Loans Arena should be full of loud supporters, the air will be sucked out of the building if Cleveland gets off to another cruddy start while Toronto keeps clicking. It’d be all the more fuel for the Raptors to steal a win in enemy territory.

This is why the Cavs’ superstar needs to be ready to step up to the plate tonight.

What he can’t do is what ESPN is starting to hint at – the disappearing act. The “I’m not thrilled with this supporting cast, so I’m going to stop playing” routine.

Though not nearly as blatant as the infamous Game 5 no-show against the Boston Celtics in 2010, James did start to drift out of the game Monday night in the fourth, not taking a shot in the final three minutes. It wasn’t egregious enough to accuse him of yet again calling out his teammates, and was more likely due to being gassed after playing 46 minutes. Still, Cavs fans are no doubt nervous about ever having to watch that situation play itself out again.

I don’t personally think James would do that tonight, especially since calling out the help would be off-base. It’s the supporting cast which has helped him stay this rested for the first 10 games. Irving and Love struggling for two of the last 12 games isn’t reason to take a shot at the team assembled around him.

However, if these two do get off to cold starts tonight, James has to know the onus is on him to carry the load. He’s barely been asked to do so this postseason, so he should be more than ready if need be.

More importantly, if he’s not up to task, and Love and Irving stay cold, the Cavs may not be around the playoffs much longer.