LeBron's Presence Will Spell Doom For NBA Contenders

CLEVELAND - I've said it time and time again. LeBron James is professional basketball's version of the big bad wolf.

The rest of the league are the three little pigs.

With James dominating every aspect of the game, the host Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the defending champion Boston Celtics last night 98-83 to send the once-invincible squad to their fourth straight loss. It was Boston's 10th consecutive loss in Cleveland including last Spring's playoff series, where the Celtics won the set 4-3 despite dropping all three games at Quicken Loans Arena.

James was transcendent with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots which only underlined the flaws of Boston, in particular star Paul Pierce. With James' relentless defense on him, the Boston swing man struggled mightily and was ineffective, and irrelevant all evening.

This James dominance made me realize just how dangerous this Cavs team is. Their baffling efficiency and highly unexpected 29-6 record are both great. But LeBron's jaw dropping ability, size and strength coupled with a new relentless resolve is going to give headaches to the NBA's other top teams.

Just watch.

Sure, the team has improved overall, and Mo Williams has been a God-send, but James is the reason that the Celtics will, in spite of their "big three" players (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Pierce) fall victim to Cleveland in the playoffs (if they meet). He is the reason that Orlando, in spite of the awesome Dwight Howard will come up short in a match-up with the Cavs.

All of the West's best teams don't have a real chance either. The Spurs clobbered Cleveland in the 2007 NBA Finals, but times are very different now. Kobe Bryant, for all of his super attributes as well as the rest of the Hollywood Lakers wouldn't even be able to hang with this Lebron kid ... that is, if they meet in the '09 Finals.

I know I'm thinking way ahead, and there are many things that could happen between now and then, but I'm just trying to drive home the point that LeBron James has officially become "an unscalable mountain." Teams used to struggle to beat the Cavs back when LeBron was only good.

What will they do now that he's 10 steps past being only good? Last night was the answer.