LBJ Straps Cavs On His Back And Carries Them To Game Four Win Over Wizards 100-97

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA PLAYOFFS

One player no matter how good they are, can not beat five players consistently in the NBA. Michael never became a winner, until he got?Pippen and Grant to help share the burden. Larry needed McHale, Parish, DJ and Danny Ainge, Magic needed Kareem, Worthy, and Byron Scott. Kobe won when he had Shaq, started losing when his team went through their rebuild, and now with Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, and a strong bench he’s winning again. But right now there is one reason and one reason only that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a 3-1 game edge over the Washington Wizards. And his name is LeBron James. LBJ with just 2 teammates scoring in double figures, literally carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to a hard fought 100-97 win Sunday against the Wizards. It was the first win in the series for either team on the other team’s home court, and could very well be a turning point in the series. The Cavaliers can close the series out with a victory Wednesday night as the two teams shift back to Cleveland for game five.

We live in an age of hyperbole! Everything is over praised, words like great, star, have been devalued through over use. How many MLB players have been designated the next “Mickey Mantle”? How many NFL QB’s have been labeled the next “Dan Marino”? And how many NBA players have been cursed with the next “M.J.” label? Far too many in each case, and not one has come close to meeting the expectations. That is why I have hesitated to write following sentence, even though I have been tempted to since January. But I can no longer restrain myself so here goes: LeBron James is without a doubt the best player in the NBA at this time April 27, 2008.? LBJ has taken the leap that Tom Brady took with the New England Patriots last winter, he has taken his game to the next level! I predicted that the Wizards would win this series in six games before the series started, that no longer can happen. If you look at the two rosters on paper, there is no contest Washington is the much more balanced team, with a core that has been playing together for a while. Cleveland has two starters? who have been with the team all year center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and James. They had one other player get minutes Sunday who has been with the team over two years, Anderson Varejao. And it all comes from one man who has imposed his will to win on two entities, his team and his opponents. That is a special player.

This game as I wrote earlier was a battle, it also psychologically was a a big game for both teams. In most seven game series game five is the critical game. But if the Wizards won this game that would mean home court had prevailed in the first four games?and they would have tied the series at two games apiece. The momentum would have shifted towards the Wizards, if they could hold that momentum and steal a win in Cleveland on Wednesday, they could close out the series in six games at home. Where as if Cleveland won, they would have three games remaining needing one win, and knowing that unless Washington kept winning their Summer vacation would start shortly.

Wizards took the lead at the end of the first quarter as they led 28-24 at the end of the period. But they hit?a?speed bump in the second quarter and Cleveland grabbed the lead at the half 54-44. The Wizards cut the Cavaliers lead to 2 points, as Antawn Jamison completed a three point play to make it 75-73 with 1:23 left in the third. But Cleveland closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run to have an 80-73 lead at the end of three quarters.? After trailing the entire period the Wizards tied the game at 97-97 with 28 seconds left in the game as Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas hit an 8 foot shot. But Delonte West stuck the?dagger in the Wizards chest with a trey with 5 seconds left to give the Cavaliers the lead and the win at 100-97.

LBJ?had a monster game recording a double-double, scoring a game high 34 points, grabbing 12 boards, dishing off 7 assists, and 2 steals. Delonte West scored 21 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds. West is not a pure point, he is very much like Jeff McGinnis without the insecurity baggage.?Cavaliers fans remember what McGinnis could do on the court when he was focused, West appears to be the same type of player. Daniel Gibson, who I have it from high authority is turning into Cleveland’s newest heart throb ( If Grady Sizemore could have Grady’s Ladies, are Daniel’s Dolls far behind?) scored 12 points, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound.????

Antawn Jamison registered a double-double?for the Wizards, as he scored 23 points, 11 boards, 3 steals, Caron Butler scored 19 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal.? Brendan Haywood scored 16? points, 6 rebounds,?2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, DeShawn Stevenson scored 13 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal.? Gilbert Arenas scored 10 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds. Cleveland will look to advance to the second round with a win Wednesday night at the Q.

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One Response to “LBJ Straps Cavs On His Back And Carries Them To Game Four Win Over Wizards 100-97”

Triple-Double By LBJ Propels Cavaliers Past Wizards 105-88; Win Series In Six » Slam Dunk Central on May 2nd, 2008 11:07 pm

[...] We live in an age of hyperbole! Everything is over praised, words like great, star, have been devalued through over use. How many MLB players have been designated the next ?Mickey Mantle?? How many NFL QB?s have been labeled the next ?Dan Marino?? And how many NBA players have been cursed with the next ?M.J.? label? Far too many in each case, and not one has come close to meeting the expectations. That is why I have hesitated to write following sentence, even though I have been tempted to since January. But I can no longer restrain myself so here goes: LeBron James is without a doubt the best player in the NBA at this time April 27, 2008.? LBJ has taken the leap that Tom Brady took with the New England Patriots last winter, he has taken his game to the next level! I predicted that the Wizards would win this series in six games before the series started, that no longer can happen. If you look at the two rosters on paper, there is no contest Washington is the much more balanced team, with a core that has been playing together for a while. Cleveland has two starters? who have been with the team all year center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and James. They had one other player get minutes Sunday who has been with the team over two years, Anderson Varejao. And it all comes from one man who has imposed his will to win on two entities, his team and his opponents. That is a special player.?LBJ Straps Cavs On His Back And Carries Them To Game Four Win Over Wizards 100-97 [...]

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