20 Years Later, 1992 Dream Team Still Gold Standard

CLEVELAND - During the past several months, much has been made about the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's basketball team and the historic confluence of talent which it was comprised of. Since today marks the 20th anniversary of their gold medal victory over Croatia, I will simply add to the discussion.

That group remains the greatest team ever assembled.

When I make that statement, I am not necessarily suggesting that the iconic team could "mop the floor" with any hypothetical opponent it could face. However, I'm not exactly saying they couldn't, either. Since this year's Olympic Men's basketball team is populated by the likes of such present day megastars as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, the current debate has centered heavily on whether or not the '92 team could maintain its legendary reputation against the new guys, or if the '12 team could outdo them.

The opinions are divided, predictably, along generational lines. Bryant, the new millennium's version of Michael Jordan in both competitiveness and hoops skill, stirred the pot a few weeks ago when he opined that he and his mates could "beat [the Dream Team] one time." Newly crowned NBA champion James echoed those sentiments days later. Naturally, Jordan scoffed at the very concept of such a thing when he was asked his opinion. Fellow Dream Teamers Charles Barkley and Earvin "Magic" Johnson also articulated their support for their 1992 selves in a fictional match-up with this year's squad.

Far as I'm concerned, the 1992 team was one of absolute royalty; it doesn't matter that both Johnson and Bird were beyond their prime. What matters is that Jordan was 29 and clearly the most dominant and devastating player on the planet. Pippen was 25 and was at his best as an all-around defensive stopper/versatile athlete and triple-double threat. Barkley was 29 and in full "beast mode" in the low-post. Clyde Drexler was coming off the best season of his career and was a 30-year old "poor man's version" of MJ. David Robinson was a 25-year old, 7'1 center who was quick, athletic and highly skilled on both offense and defense. Patrick Ewing was still in the midst of his best NBA years as was the incomparable scoring/rebounding/passing/defending duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Chris Mullin was about as good as it gets as a sharpshooter and the team's curious choice, Christian Laettner, had just come off one of the most celebrated college careers in recent memory.

I bring all that up to extol the awesomeness of those players and their then-current resumes. A collection of stars as accomplished and highly skilled as those men hasn't been seen since, not even with this current team. Bryant, as outstanding as his 16 years and counting NBA career has been, still isn't as historically significant as Jordan was in half as long (MJ had just completed his 8th NBA season prior to the '92 Olympics), nor has his game ever been as dynamic and brazen. Johnson and Bird, though past their prime still possessed an aura and reputation that trumps anything any other later team possessed. In other words, it was about more than just great skill and talent on that '92 team. It was also about the privilege of watching these indelible, mythical hardwood heroes join forces and witness their transcendence and artistry take over.

I know I sound a little too magnanimous in my praise of those guys, but they left an impression on me, one of reality and fantasy, that I won't soon forget.

And they remain the "gold standard" in the history of team basketball.

Despite Recent Past, LeBron Now Worthy of High Acclaim

CLEVELAND - Ever since LeBron James bolted Cleveland for the sunny shores of Florida two years ago, my admiration and rooting interest for the man vanished quickly. But after he led the Miami Heat to a convincing 4-1 series victory and NBA championship over the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night, I realized that my disdain for him needed to be placed on hold for awhile. In other words, I decided to salute James for his total mastery of this NBA postseason.

Mind-blowing greatness should be appreciated, period.

Heavily worshipped in the media as a super spectacular basketball whiz since the final two seasons of his high school career, LeBron joined the pro ranks in the fall of 2003, just six months after the great Michael Jordan ended his career forever in a ghastly blue and white uniform. James immediately garnered immense praise for his singular brilliance; he was a breathtaking playmaker for the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a stunningly proficient scorer. As the years added up and his across the board statistical feats increased, he began to come under heavy scrutiny for not leading his team to a league title. He authored shockingly great games both in the regular season and postseason, but always fell short in leading his team to a championship.

The negative whispers grew louder.

LeBron's callously executed departure from the Cavs following another postseason loss in 2010 transformed him from beloved hoops hero to basketball outcast and villain. Instantly, he was the subject of enormous bitterness across the NBA and especially in Cleveland, where his exit quickly returned the Cavs to their pre-LeBron irrelevance. Once he joined forces with Heat megastar Dwyane Wade and the newly acquired star Chris Bosh, James was seen as a shameless opportunist who tried to short cut success. He was derided by the general public as well as former NBA greats, all of which added to his new villainous reputation. When Miami loss the 2011 NBA finals to the Dallas Mavericks, many people across the country cheered and celebrated LeBron's failure, especially since he was a non-factor in the fourth quarter of multiple games.

Fast forward to this season.

Several times during the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat looked like they were on the verge of collapse and elimination. Many people seemed ready to cheer again for James to tumble further down the ladder of public perception. However, the 27-year old superstar found another gear and enormous inner strength and focus to rescue his team from disaster. Beginning in their second round series against Indiana, LeBron turned in historically dominant performances, something that carried over to the showdown with Boston in the conference finals. His resolve, resiliency and flat-out superiority proved to be at an all-time high and sent the message that this season, his 9th as a pro, was going to end differently.

Boy did it ever.

The delicious NBA finals match-up with the Thunder afforded basketball fans the chance to witness a marvelous rivalry-in-the-making between the league's two pre-eminent players; James and Kevin Durant. OKC was favored to win the series based on their dominance of three straight Western conference powerhouses as well as their young and awesome star-laden team. Durant and star guard Russell Westbrook were outstanding in the series, but James was in another galaxy with his all-around play. He dominated the rebounding, made countless pinpoint passes to teammates for easy baskets, hit huge shots and free throws himself in crunch time and repeatedly scored in the lane. All of that brilliance came as a result of LeBron operating from the low post, something he rarely did in the past, but was always capable of.

The result? LeBron's first title and the second in seven seasons for Miami.

Without question, another factor in the Heat's 2012 breakthrough was the bitter pain they endured collectively (and James in particular) after last season's meltdown. LeBron's historic dominance of these playoffs is worthy of extensive praise, no matter how much he screwed up his own reputation by being such an arrogant brat after leaving Cleveland. He reformed that aspect of his persona this season, at least publicly, and took an all business approach from Day one of this lockout shortened campaign. These are all contributing elements as to why he now sits as a once-in-a-lifetime player who is also an NBA champion.

And he did it the hard way.

LeBron James Doesn't Deserve His Own Talent

CLEVELAND - When LeBron James was drafted straight out of high school in the summer of 2003, I was asked by several people if I believed he would live up to the unprecedented hype he was receiving once he turned pro. I said constantly, "if he never believes the hype and instead works on his game as if he were a constant work in progress, he will indeed meet expectations and even exceed them."

Eight years later, he continues to do just the opposite. He believes his own hype.

James, 26 is at the most heavily criticized crossroads a pro sports superstar has ever experienced. Two days ago, his Miami Heat lost the NBA championship to the Dallas Mavericks on their own court. The loss was stunning in the way it took place. First, the Heat dominated Game 1 at home leading many to label Dallas as severely overmatched. Secondly, after the Mavs tied up the series, they immediately surrendered their momentum by losing the first game in Dallas, allowing Miami a 2-1 series lead. Over the ensuing three games, Dallas used poise, savvy, and brilliant crunch time execution to emerge victorious in each game to win the series, 4-2. But in spite of it all, LeBron's stunning vanishing act in each of the last three games stands as the single biggest shocker of the series' outcome.

The world's most talented basketball player played like an overwhelmed role player.

In all my years of watching pro basketball, I have NEVER...EVER seen a superstar, in his prime play as uninspired, listless and cowardly as LeBron James played in this series. I don't believe it is a stretch to say it, but LeBron disgraced the sacred club of superstardom. His performance was flagrant, empty and utterly embarrassing. Making it all the worse, LeBron is in the unusual position of being both an experienced veteran as well as a young-but-in-his-prime force of nature physically. Arguably, no one has ever been as gifted physically as him. Being 6'8," 265 pounds and breathtakingly strong, quick, agile and athletic as well as being a dominant scorer and expert playmaker is a little like a person being wise, good looking, charming and rich while still just 18 years old.

It's just not fair.

Yet in spite of those colossal attributes at his constant disposal, LeBron is flawed beyond belief. He spent seven seasons as the Cleveland Cavaliers' homegrown legend-in-the-making. Then in a selfish and classless act of arrogance, he humiliated the team and city by announcing his plans on national television to bolt the team in favor of joining Miami and its megastar, Dwyane Wade and new addition, all-star Chris Bosh. That was the start of the figurative evisceration of the previously fawned over James. Ever since he joined the Heat, he has displayed a stunning amount of immaturity and self-centeredness.

Just prior to the start of the 2011 NBA Finals, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen ignited what amounted to sports blasphemy when he suggested that James is a greater player than Pippen's legendary former teammate Michael Jordan. He pointed to LeBron's playmaking style of basketball and seemed to insinuate that it was preferable to MJ's score-first mentality. If nothing else, Pippen's assessment proves that a person doesn't have to be a senior citizen to become senile. Before LeBron's watered down Finals performance ever happened, it was a ridiculous comment. After the dismantling by the Mavs and James' refusal to step up, the comment deserves to go into the comedy hall of fame and earn Pippen a one-way ticket into the most remote crazy farm on Earth.

Seriously.

Again, LeBron might be the most talented player in NBA history. But talent is just a fraction of what makes a player great, especially Jordan. The way MJ made teams bend to his will, even while his Chicago Bulls were losing in the playoffs before their 1990s dominance puts him on another plateau altogether from James. Jordan owned crunch-time, even if he was having a bad game--he never shrunk from high stakes or pressure; he embraced it and cultivated a gigantic reputation of tenacity and relentlessness. LeBron played in these Finals as if he forgot who he is. During the 2010 NBA playoffs, he did the same thing playing for the Cavs but forever denied widespread opinion that he "gave up." He often blamed the Cavs' postseason failures on the lack of formidable talent around him and when he submitted a shockingly uninspired and nonchalant effort in the infamous Game 5 of the 2010 Celtics series, he refused to take blame. Instead, he claimed that people had gotten "spoiled" by his repeatedly great play so they never gave him the right to have "one bad game in a seven year career."

Um, yeah.

With LeBron taking the easy road to a championship (or so he seemed to think it would be easy) by joining with super mega-star Wade and all-star Bosh in Miami, formidable talent was no longer going to be an issue, according to the way his mind works. In effect, LeBron put himself in a position where he couldn't win no matter what. He's the man who encourages people to call him "King James." He's the one that got "Chosen 1" tattooed across his back. He's the one that declared he'd be "taking [his] talents to South Beach." And with years of breathtaking, often superhuman highlights on the court, he set an enormously high standard for himself. And when he and Bosh, along with Wade were introduced together last July at that over-the-top celebration of their new partnership, LeBron famously declared that the Heat would now win more than half a dozen league titles.

Failure is all his.

Wade was brilliant many times in the 2011 NBA Finals. Bosh hit countless jumpers to frustrate Dallas. Even non-star Mario Chalmers had several huge moments. In other words, no one on Miami underperformed with the exception of James; the guy who is supposed to be using his unguardable abilities to dominate. When he drives hard to the basket, he is so unstoppable that it should almost be illegal. Yet in spite of this, he chooses all too often to shoot long jumpers which is a relief for whomever is defending him. When LeBron ignores his own dominant abilities, it's like a person having a Ferrari and a Ford Focus in their garage, but choosing to drive the Focus in a drag race.

LeBron averaged a putrid 17.8 points per game in the championship series. He averaged 3.0 points per game in the 4th quarter. Again, he's a super charged, springy-legged 26 year old at the outset of his prime. Meanwhile, Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals averaged over 32 points per game at the far more physically disadvantaged age of 34. In that series, he had a game winning shot at the buzzer, another game of 38 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists, another game where he dominated the 4th quarter with 15 points and the game changing 3-pointer with less than a minute to play. Lastly, he made the game winning assist to Steve Kerr in the finale en route to 39 points and 11 assists. The following year at age 35, he scored 16 of his 45 points in the 4th quarter and made his famous, title winning jumper in the Bulls' 6th championship clincher. What's more impressive than MJ leading the Bulls to six titles was the fact that the Bulls were a perfect 6-0 in the league title series. And remember, a superstar at the past prime age of 35 is in decline, whereas a superstar nearly a decade younger is at the peak of his youthful athleticism. Yet MJ reigned supreme and Lebron stunk up the joint.

How can LeBron be declared as ANYWHERE NEAR Jordan's level?

I'm very happy Dallas won the title. Dirk Nowitzki has been an awesome player for over a decade and with his performance in the entire 2011 playoffs, he proved that he was great enough to deserve it. The Mavs as a team totally impressed me with their resilience above all else as they repeatedly rallied from huge deficits to win pivotal games in every series. That was almost unprecedented. But I won't deny that I'm most happy with the Finals outcome because of the way it denied and then humiliated LeBron James. His talent is undeniable, but so is his immaturity and yes, his unmitigated arrogance. This man needs discipline and polish in the worst way, because until he gets those things--IF he gets those things, he'll be the most unimpressive and underachieving figure in basketball history. He already doesn't deserve the talent that he has, and with his misguided and annoying sense of entitlement, he won't deserve any championship he wins either.

Unless he finally gets a clue and grows up.

LeBron James Is An Embarrassment To Basketball

CLEVELAND - Right now, I feel as though I owe Kobe Bryant an enormous apology. Though I have always admired him, I also criticized his late '90's, early '00's selfish ways while playing with an in-his-prime Shaquille O'Neal. After last night's unbelievably stunning LeBron James egofest on national television, I now realize that Kobe was a saint by comparison.

LeBron, to put it nicely is literally an embarrassment to the game of basketball.

I know many people may think that it's an unfair statement by a disgruntled and angry Cleveland Cavaliers fan, but the truth is, (even though I enjoyed watching the team play) I didn't care where James landed next year after an unprecedented display of arrogance, selfishness and disloyalty in this year's long anticipated NBA free agency extravaganza.

James, 25 starred in his own one off reality series on ESPN last night to tell the salivating sports world where he would be playing pro basketball next season and beyond. When those stunning words, "I'm taking my talents to South Beach to become a member of the Miami Heat" trickled almost clumsily out of his mouth, he immediately became something far worse than the proverbial Benedict Arnold. He became the most overhyped, fictitious wanna-be legend any sport has ever known. It wasn't so much that LeBron left the Cavs, he left his credibility and his good name in the dust as well.

Let me explain.

Many people have expressed bewilderment at the backlash that James has gotten since that announcement last night at 9:28PM EST. They have said things like, 'he didn't have enough help' or 'no one has to justify to their former employer that they are signing with a new employer.' People talk of the "seven good years" he gave the Cavs. While I understand that those are merely people's opinions, it is still frustrating that folks feel that he did nothing wrong. Yes, it is his life. He is an adult who has to make choices that are best for him and his family. But for LeBron to have been conceived, birthed and raised in Northeast Ohio, then fawned over in his last two years in high school like a hapless nerd drooling over the prom queen and all but deified in his seven years as a pro by first and foremost his hometown, it is stupefying that he didn't feel any obligation to handle his departure more graciously. Indeed, he didn't even alert the Cavs of his plans until moments before he stepped on stage and in front of the cameras.

Then, he slaughtered his city with the same callous iciness of the reviled Art Modell.

Millions of hard-working people spent countless millions of dollars, time and energy on worshipping James. After decades of stunning heartbreak in every sport at the hands of opposing teams' megastar players, Cleveland's fortunes took a dramatic turn for the better when the Cavs lucked out and earned the right to draft first in 2003, the very year that James was exiting high school as the most acclaimed prep star in history. He came to town and shattered the impossible expectations that were placed upon his broad, 18-year old shoulders.

After seven brilliant seasons that yielded two consecutive MVP awards, six all-star nods and two scoring titles, James decided he'd had enough of Cleveland. In his "press conference" last night, he indicated that he'd just made up his mind that same morning. But there is great reason to believe he made the decision weeks ago. In Game 5 of the East semifinals against Boston, LeBron did something he and no other bona fide NBA legend has ever done-- he quit. He played listlessly, limply and wore a hollow and detached expression the entire game which was a pivotal match which Cleveland lost and gave the Celtics a 3-2 series lead. A national debate ensued about what made James suddenly tamp down his superlative game at the worst possible time. He downplayed it and shook it off as just one bad game in a seven year career. He followed that empty performance up with another weak effort in Game 6, though his 27 points and 19 rebounds tell a very misleading story about his tenacity, which was absent for about 44 of the 48 minutes.

And he has yet to take ownership of his cowardly acts in those games.

The Cavs, winners of 66 and 61 games during the past two seasons lost the series to Boston and LeBron seemed to not even care. That was shocking and unacceptable behavior for a man so highly skilled, so talented and who proclaims himself to be the "King." Comparisons to history's greatest icons are inevitable and no way would Magic Johnson or Larry Bird have ever played so vacantly in such a critical postseason game. Or any game for that matter. And Michael Jordan? Forget about it. LeBron has explained countless times how he idolized MJ as a child, but he certainly didn't study his hoops DNA. Jordan was an assassin because of a searing determination to best his opponents and win at all costs. Yes, LeBron says he only cares about winning, but forsaking his hometown team who has a billionaire owner willing to spend whatever it took for the Cavs to contend and win for the "easy way out" choice of Miami is beyond puzzling.

The Heat's resident megastar, Dwyane Wade entered the pros in '03 just as James did. But Wade has been the fiercer, more offensively aggressive performer of the two and actually led an arguably less talented (than the '10 Cavs) Heat team to the 2006 NBA title in dominant fashion. LeBron had many excellent pieces around him to do the same and with his unique skill set coupled with his body build, his presence alone should have compensated for whatever flaws his teammates had. With the free agent signing of all-star Chris Bosh earlier this week, Miami already possessed a dynamic duo. Adding James to that only undermines his own brilliance and legacy because it illustrates a supposedly awesome megastar leaving his talented although flawed hometown teammates in favor of joining a star studded squad. I read somewhere that Jordan would never have wanted to link up with the league's other stars...he wanted to crush them.

LeBron could have toughed it out and shaped the Cavs into a dynasty, which would have elevated him to the highest peak imaginable. The first guy to lift the oft-humiliated city of Cleveland to world champion status several times over in more than half a century.

That would've been off the charts.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert unleashed a no-holds barred tirade of the most caustic variety against LeBron in the form of a letter online. He castigated James and expressed utter disdain and intolerance for James' diva-styled attitude for the months leading up to this overblown, overhyped self-aggrandizing fiasco. In other words, it was less about him leaving and more about how he did it. No matter how you slice it, LeBron owed this city and his team far more than that. Anytime more than one party enters into a long-term relationship in which they experience highs, lows and everything in between, an obligation and responsibility forms automatically between those involved. That's why LeBron's actions can't be simply dismissed as "his life, his right."

The world has finally met a new LeBron James. The real one. He's immature, self-absorbed and highly narcissistic. He'd better hope he doesn't ever run into someone else like that. But, as he proved last night, anything is possible.

Loser.

LeBron: Legend In The Faking?

CLEVELAND - Less than two days after the fact, the shock of LeBron James' flame-out continues to puzzle me far more than his top ranked Cleveland Cavaliers losing their series to the rejuvenated Boston Celtics. I'm not even focused on his super-hyped free agency.

His legacy is far more important.

In the stunning Game 5 loss in Cleveland that ignited heavy national debate, LeBron had a lousy game. But as I've mentioned before, it was his lousy effort that was the problem. True, his teammates could have played much better and given him more support. But LeBron is their leader and he sets the tone. It's him that's on the commercials, on talk shows, on the All-NBA 1st Team. It's him that is league MVP for two years running. It's him that has broken records since his rookie season. In other words, his brilliance and status means that he has the responsibility of dominating. Of being excellent even when the shots aren't falling.

Game 6 in Boston seemed promising initially as he came out very aggressive. He still shot poorly but amazingly managed a high triple-double (27 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists). Those numbers tell a huge lie because James still deferred too much to lesser teammates and played listlessly for three quarters. In the 4th, it seemed as if he was going to go on an offensive binge as he rallied the Cavs by nailing back-to-back cocky 3-pointers. Turns out, it was just a tease as the Celtics pushed their lead back into double figures in no time flat.

With a nagging elbow injury suffered weeks ago, LeBron's shooting woes could have had a valid excuse. However, he refused to mention it as a serious impediment to his offensive game. Even if it was a huge hindrance, it doesn't explain his limp body language, detachment and lack of determination. Remember, those final two games were huge in their importance and the biggest legends in history would have emphatically inflicted their will upon the games. LeBron seemed disinterested in the outcome both times which directly contradicts what he's always been as a basketball megastar.

Since Michael Jordan set the standard for what an NBA legend should achieve, how they should perform and how relentless they should be, it's inevitable that comparisons to him would arise. The NBA playoffs are where MJ made his legend. Even when his teammates were lousy and non-existent, Jordan still stamped the most critical games with his influence, aura and mythology. LeBron has been a regular season darling for years and his team has been the best for the past two seasons. But this playoff series against Boston has exposed LeBron as a pretender. No legend quits (or plays at half-speed) the way he obviously did those final two games which makes one wonder just how committed to his own legacy is he?

There's never any shame in losing or even having a bad game. But there is a truckload of shame when the losing was fueled by your leader, your ace and your cornerstone. For a man so phenomenal, LeBron James sure sucks as a potential legend.

For now, at least.

LeBron As Quitter Is Unforgivable

CLEVELAND - I began watching last night's Cavaliers-Celtics game with the assumption that the newly crowned MVP LeBron James would put his fingerprints all over it. You know, by dominating from the opening tip and forcing Boston to beg for mercy by the time it was all over.

How foolish was I?

It wasn't so much that James had a very uncharacteristic 15 points on a putrid 3-of-14 shooting performance from the floor. It wasn't even the stunning numbers which read across the scoreboard at night's end; Celtics 120, Cavs 88. It was far bigger than all of that.

LeBron James was a coward and a quitter. Period.

I absolutely never figured I would see that from him, let alone write those words. But his listless performance, during which he seemed to be totally detached from the massacre that was happening to his team was as jaw dropping as one of his scintillating drives to the basket. His body language sagged and he seemed to avoid getting involved in the offense. Instead, he focused on setting his mis-firing teammates up which is fine on most nights, but is absolutely idiotic in a Game 5 at home with a series tied at 2-2. What's worse is the fact that Boston was clearly on a roll, Ray Allen was dropping 3-point bombs like a raging alcoholic drops shots of free whiskey in a bar. None of that forced LeBron's hand and given his colossal status in the league and larger-than-life basketball brilliance, it did not add up in any way, shape or form.

I understand that even icons have bad games. I was a student of Michael Jordan's career and even he had nightmare games. But Jordan NEVER quit, nor did he ever look disinterested. Put Jordan in the same position as LeBron was in last night, and MJ would've at worst shot the ball 25 or 30 times and even if he was way off on his shot, he would've gotten to the free throw line a good 20 times. LeBron wasn't anywhere near aggressive enough to do that. In fact, he showed zero leadership and let his team and city down.

He quit before he even began.

There has been an incredible amount of speculation as to whether James will stay in Cleveland or bolt to another team in free agency this summer. All I know is, if he does leave the Cavs, the respect that I have had for him all these years will drop precipitously. For a man so phenomenal in the game of basketball, his character would be equally disgusting. This city made him, not the other way around. If he leaves, it couldn't be justified by saying he's frustrated at not winning. It will make him look like a petulant brat who just happens to be an outstanding hoopster.

I hope I'm as wrong about him on this as I was about last night's game.

LeBron Captures Second Straight MVP, But...

CLEVELAND - He's the best basketball player on the planet. He also happens to be an increasingly powerful brand with a transcendence that only few have ever possessed. And now, LeBron James is on the fast track to becoming one of the very best hoopsters in NBA history.

And he's only seven years in.

James, 25 earned his second consecutive league MVP award yesterday for yet another stupendous season of statistical and skillful excellence. He led his Cleveland Cavaliers to a 61-21 record and with it, the number one overall seed in the playoffs. The Cavs ousted the Chicago Bulls in Round 1 and went up 1-0 on Saturday in their current series with the Boston Celtics. Game 2 is tonight in Cleveland, which is when Commissioner David Stern will present LeBron with the trophy that represents the intersecting of a great individual talent and awesome team success.

I love LeBron's commitment to excellence. I love his game and his well-understood swagger. I think his career has been one astonishing feat after another. I absolutely agree with his choice as this season's MVP and I arch my brow every time someone says that L.A.'s Kobe Bryant is still the best in the game.

What puzzles and annoys me about LeBron is his game. Brilliant as it is...I can't understand why he doesn't utilize his best offensive gifts more than he does. The way he sometimes plays the game offensively can make a Cavs fan want to jump off a bridge. He is unassailable on his freight-train moves to the basket and he has an endless list of advantages when he operates in the low-post. But time and again, LeBron resorts to very ill-advised shots from 25 to 30 feet away, sometimes falling out of bounds. He also has a tendency to dribble too much when isolated at the top of the key with a defender, almost as if he has to over-dribble just to set up his breakdown move. Problem is, LeBron is awesome and skilled enough to where he doesn't need to go through all of that.

LeBron typically shoots an average of five three-pointers per game. That is an obscene number of shots that comes from his least effective place on the court. Yes, he has made a truckload of those wild, far away shots...but they will always be the weaker choice for a guy who is all but unstoppable in the other areas of the floor. This may sound dumb, but just because those shots go in, doesn't stop them from being bad, poor quality or ill-advised. For a man so prodigiously talented and smart, he should be better with his decision making.

All of this seems trivial and petty when his stats are examined. In spite of his often horrible shot selection, he shot a career best from the floor. That just serves to prove that stats don't always tell the whole story.

In closing, I need to make it clear that I am not condemning LeBron. I am praising the man for being so incredible. I am celebrating his 2nd straight MVP win. But I still wanna know why the best player in the world is still so....flawed.

We should all be as flawed as he is.

The Importance of Kobe v.s. LeBron

CLEVELAND -  Forget for a moment what last night's 93-87 Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the L.A. Lakers means for the rest of this season. Instead, consider what it means to have Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the same court facing off as the iconic leaders of their contending teams.

In other words, be awestruck.

I was mesmerized watching these two basketball giants inflict their massive talents upon the game, which took place here in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs built on their Christmas Day victory, in which they trounced the Hollywood boys on their homecourt. Last night, Cleveland was without their number two star Mo Williams, whose injury will keep him sidelined for over a month. In spite of all that, the game never became a rout in either direction.

As Kobe came out firing -- and hitting, I shook my head because it's what the man has been doing for many years. His footwork was impeccable, and his focus was clearly evident. In contrast, LeBron seemed detached from the game and stayed essentially on the perimeter as he failed to capture a shooting rhythm early. By halftime, both Bryant and James had risen to the challenge and tallied 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Bryant, who became the youngest person in league history to score 25,000 points after hitting a foul shot in the 2nd quarter, has been heavily compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan his entire career. James has been compared to both Jordan and Magic Johnson ever since he joined the NBA in the fall of 2003. In both cases, the comparisons are actually spot on, which is astonishing but also pays tribute to the level of brilliance these young men possess.

Bryant v.s. James is destined to be a historical fascination. With such superlative reputations on the court, the matchup demands sky high ticket prices, hordes of media attention and transfixed eyes. Imagine an early 1980's era Michael Jackson on stage with a mid-1950's era Elvis Presley facing off. Imagine Muhammad Ali in the ring with Mike Tyson with both men in top form. Bryant is 31. James is 25. Their proficiency and relentlessness are powered by their surreal drive and focus, so watching them do battle should be treated as a magical occurrence. No other superstar in the game has that level of magnetism and talent. So when Bryant took the challenge of defending the much bigger James last night, it was a moment filled with drama. When LeBron revved his engines into fifth gear in the 4th quarter, it became must-see TV.

Bryant has four NBA championships. James has none, but will almost certainly win at least one in the next year or two. LeBron finished with 37 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds last night. Kobe ended with 31 points. Let's pray that this matchup isn't finished for the year.

Kobe v.s. LeBron in the 2010 NBA Finals? Have mercy!

LeBron at 25: The World In His Palm

CLEVELAND - He went from being a national unknown when the decade began in 2000 to being a national phenomenon in 2002. A year later, he was one of the most amazing NBA rookies ever. And now? Well, let's just say that LeBron James is a man with such an amazing present, that his future is a guaranteed success.

No joke.

Today is LeBron's 25th birthday and also serves as sort of a benchmark in his meteoric rise to global icon. In his 7 years in the national spotlight, he has defied all expectations placed upon him as a prep school wunderkind. Then, he redefined the small forward position in pro basketball and created another layer to what a hoops megastar could be capable of. He's the first player in history to combine brute strength and bulldozing power with dizzying balance, athleticism and scintillating speed. He's also the first NBA player to possess the skill of scoring 30 points per game effortlessly without scoring being his number one talent. Indeed, what truly makes James a maestro on the hardwood is his indigenous and pinpoint playmaking. His command of the entire court is stunning when taken in tandem with his unstoppable offense.

And he's just 25!

LeBron's legend may have begun on the basketball court, but it certainly doesn't end there. He's positioned himself as a revolutionary businessman with several risky-but-informed decisions that have ultimately worked like a charm. As a product endorser, he insists on forming partnerships with corporations that he can immerse himself in and not just be a face selling a product. He wants a significant stake in these companies because it's his image that will augment profits, so why shouldn't he be more entrenched?

Undoubtedly, LeBron's affiliation and friendship with hip-hop legend cum tycoon Jay-Z has helped his business acumen and decision making. So too has his "friendship" with financial expert and billionaire Warren Buffet. Under the tutelage of such esteemed and savvy power brokers, how can one go wrong?

Especially when your own name is worth at least a billion dollars.

LeBron shares a birthday with golf legend Tiger Woods. But even though Woods is said to be the first athlete to amass a billion dollar fortune, James still has an edge. Not only is his reputation untainted (unlike Woods, who has experienced an enormous plunge in popularity in the past month after a salacious sex scandal broke), but basketball is a far more universally adored sport than golf. That means that LeBron will resonate with more people globally and bring them into his capitalistic world, fan or no fan. Woods has brought legions of people to golf, but at the end of the day...golf remains more hobby than sport for everyday people.

LeBron's much discussed free agency next summer will be yet another pivotal time in his awesome career. But whether he chooses to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers or bolt to another team, LeBron James Inc. will continue to flourish with an unprecedented ferocity.

Happy Birthday, Mr. James.

Bryant v.s. James: The Ultimate Christmas Gift

CLEVELAND - With today being Christmas, I felt it fitting to remind the world to be grateful for the gifts we've been given all year. Loved ones. Health. Strength. But there's another gift that today will bring; Kobe Bryant and LeBron James will go head-to-head in Hollywood.

Merry Christmas.

Most pro hoops fans are keenly aware of the famous rivalry between these two brilliant athletes. Bryant is in his 14th NBA season and has amassed an awesome career highlighted by 4 NBA titles. James has only been around for half as long, but has possessed the best combination of size, speed and skill of anyone in the game for years. So today might be a Cleveland Cavaliers-L.A Lakers matchup, but the delicious star quality of Bryant and James is what's actually gift wrapped inside of it. LeBron is the reigning league MVP. Kobe is the reigning Finals MVP. Both men possess the ethereal powers to bend a game, series or season in their favor.

And we get to see the awesome performance front and center on television without the hassle of trillion dollar tickets and endless lines of people. Forget the Cavs' record. Forget the Lakers' record. This is sure to be a treat and should only be appreciated for what it is.

The greatest show on Earth.

Jordan Deserves LeBron's NBA Proposal

CLEVELAND - LeBron James, basketball prodigy extraordinaire, mentioned last week that he will switch from uniform number 23 and start wearing his Olympic number 6 next season and hopes that the NBA will follow his lead and retire the number league wide in honor of Michael Jordan.

Many have scoffed at this idea.

James, 25 next month is in his 7th NBA season. During his still ascending career, he has both met and exceeded the sky high expectations placed on him after a stunning and highly publicized high school career. Jordan, the recently enshrined basketball Hall of Famer has been widely considered the greatest NBA player in history for at least the past 12 to 15 years. With a pro career that was both legendary and globally pioneering, Jordan achieved an ethereal status that no one ever has in the history of the sport. It is because of that fact, not to mention MJ's omnipotence even in today's game and the way he changed the way business is conducted and pro athletes are marketed that makes LeBron's idea a no-brainer.

No one deserves it more than Michael Jordan.

Naturally, the idea has been met with a lot of criticism and resistance. Many in disagreement readily acknowledge Jordan's epic accomplishments but feel that the greats that came before him are either just as deserving or even more so to have their uniform numbers retired. An NBA player has never had his number retired, but Major League Baseball's Jackie Robinson, an exceptional player and the first African-American to play in the majors during the modern era had his retired more than 40 years after he played his last game.

Jordan retired for the third and final time six years ago.

Here's my take: the NBA's logo is a silhouette of former L.A. Lakers great Jerry West. Without question, West was an awesome player and was known as Mr. Clutch for his penchant for late-game heroics during his 14-year career. However, West was far from being the most prominent member of even his own era. He won just one NBA title and no MVP's, while Bill Russell racked up 11 NBA titles and 5 MVP awards. Wilt Chamberlain won 11 rebounding titles, 7 scoring titles and 2 NBA titles. Oscar Robertson was the only man in history to average a triple double over an entire season and cumulatively, he averaged one for his first five seasons combined.

Wow.

The point is, each one of those guys were far better choices to be bestowed the honor of being the logo. If it were a racial issue (those days were very uneven racially), Bob Cousy or George Mikan were more accomplished than West. Hell...Celtics coach Red Auerbach would've been an awesome choice given his mystique and iconic presence in leading Boston to 9 league titles.

For people to say Jordan is undeserving because of others like Chamberlain and Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr. J and Larry Bird completely ignores the merits of the guys that should've been the logo over West. Plus, MJ popularized the game to such a degree that folks became fans of him that didn't even like or care about sports...and then they became basketball fans (that's how I became a hoops fan). In today's game, LeBron and Kobe Bryant are the two most obvious spawns of Michael's awesome trailblazing. From his demeanor and fire on the court to his perfectly crafted image off it, these guys were heavily influenced.

Watch an NBA game today and look at Jordan's mannerisms, iconic Jumpman logo and often references to him all over the place. To paraphrase LeBron, when one thinks of fly kicks, game winning shots and high scoring performances, you think of Jordan. Plus, the man was a winner and a money player in the crunch on both sides of the ball.

This is a debate and it shouldn't be. Commissioner Stern; retire Jordan's number 23 all across the NBA. Even if it means setting a team-by-team mandate to do so.

Considering what MJ continues to do for your league, you owe him at least that much.

Promise And Uncertainty Surround James, Cavs

CLEVELAND - And here we are; five months after the Cleveland Cavaliers unceremoniously lost to the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. Now, a new NBA season is upon them, one that will quite possibly dictate the future of the franchise.

That's no overstatement.

LeBron James, the prodigiously gifted juggernaut of the Cavs enters his 7th pro season tonight as Cleveland opens the 2009-10 campaign against the rejuvenated Boston Celtics. James more than anyone will control the direction of this season for his team, though he is also the man with the most uncertainty. With new addition Shaquille O'Neal, the Cavs figure to be much better in the paint this season than in years past. Problem is, O'Neal will be a very worn 38 years old in March and is in his 18th season. He is still a major presence and great interior target for James to deliver the ball to, but his age and durability will without question enter into the equation at some point no matter how in-shape he might be.

O'Neal is only the biggest addition, but there are others. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker joined the team in the offseason and will deepen the bench greatly. Though currently injured, former Celtic spark plug Leon Powe will also provide inside depth, though he isn't expected to play until February.

And then there's the tenuous situation with starting point guard Delonte West, who has had a very erratic and tumultuous offseason. West missed every game of the preseason and several practices and was arrested on weapons charges in the past several weeks. Just yesterday, his wife filed domestic abuse charges against him. It has also recently been disclosed that he suffers from bipolar disorder. Needless to say, his status remains up in the air.

Of course, it all comes back to LeBron, who will be inundated all season with questions about his 2010 free agency. In many ways, James' teammates, his coaching staff and Cavs management will all have their feet to the fire all season in hopes of winning their 1st NBA title and presumably entice their star pupil to stay put. Without knowing how O'Neal's aging body will hold up for an entire season and not knowing the outcome of the West debacle, this season begins with a ton of question marks. It's also anyone's guess as to how long it will take for the new additions to gel with everyone else.

But on the other hand, James is destined to be even better than he was last season, when he captured his first league MVP award. Clearly, he's either the best player in the league, the best talent in the league or all of the above. Expect him to continue his searing dominance and sheer force of will which will prove once again to be Cleveland's biggest asset when facing any team in the NBA. Also, O'Neal is still a major factor and a potential game changer in the paint who will only flourish playing alongside James.

Their most glaring weaknesses from last season have effectively been eradicated. They have more length, strength and post presence than before. Additionally, O'Neal's arrival enables Zydrunas Ilgauskas to play less minutes and remain fresher off the bench. Add in Anderson Varajeo and the improved J.J. Hickson and the Cavs have a very formidable frontline. Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson are sharpshooters from the guard position and Moon and Parker are solid swingmen that give the team more speed and versatility.

The bottom line is simple. The Cavs have many questions, but many more answers and could very well be the trophy holders in June.

Shaq To Cavs Trade Answers and Poses Questions

CLEVELAND - Shaquille O'Neal is indisputably one of the greatest, most dominant players in the history of basketball.

Now, he's teaming up with LeBron James, the best player in the world.

O'Neal was traded today to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 5th team of his storied pro career. His arrival, made possible by the Cavs giving up essentially nothing to O'Neal's former team the Phoenix Suns, will certainly fill a major hole for Cleveland after their stunning loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals last month.

But O'Neal will enter his 18th NBA season this autumn and will be a very ripe 38 years of age before the regular season ends. He is a far cry from the dominant force he was during his early years in Orlando and prime years with the L.A. Lakers due to his advanced pro hoops age. But there is no denying his skill and still formidable talent, not to mention his championship experience, and mental toughness.

He will fit well in Cleveland. Hopefully.

James, the resident superstar for the Cavs will greatly benefit from Shaq's presence as opposing defenses won't be able to swarm him as much as in the past. Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who has never been an aggressive player will likely become more effective as he won't be the team's only offensive big man. Anderson Varejao may become better defensively and can now play his natural power forward position.

That is, if Shaq holds up physically.

Bottom line; if O'Neal can defy age and play with the same passion, skill and fire as he did during his resurgence in Phoenix last season, and if he can avoid major injuries and play in the majority of the games, then Cleveland will challenge the reigning champion Lakers for the '09-'10 NBA.

That's a lot of ifs.

LeBron's Legendary Season Wasted By Cavs

CLEVELAND - In NBA history, what LeBron James just experienced is old hat. His breathtaking, dominant and iconic accomplishments during the 2008-09 season was all wasted.

He is on summer vacation.

The Orlando Magic eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers last night with a 103-90 drubbing of the team that boasted the best record in the league at 66-16 and the top seed in the playoffs. The Magic's 4-2 series victory put an end to what had been a storybook season for the 24-year old James as he earned MVP honors and greatly improved his defense and overall game. In the Cavs' 14-game postseason, he averaged 35 points per contest after a 28.4 ppg average during the season.

But LeBron was clearly stunned and infuriated with the loss; he walked off the court at the final horn, dressed silently in the locker room and after a terse statement to his teammates, he disregarded any media interviews or chats with anyone, and disappeared from the arena into the Florida night.

He owes no one anything.

James was abandoned in this Eastern Conference Finals by his formerly sharp and talent-laden team. His sizzling 49 points in Game 1 mattered little as the other Cavs did nothing to support his effort. They shockingly loss that game at home, a place where they had been nearly unbeatable in 45 previous games this season. It took a miracle of a last second shot from James for the Cavs to escape Game 2 with a one-point victory and even though Cleveland headed to Orlando tied 1-1, their former dominance had clearly eroded at the hands of the far superior Magic team.

LeBron's 41 points in Game 3 was offset by a balanced Magic effort led by Dwight Howard's 24 points. By now, the Cavs were a team of one.

In Game 4, Cleveland was assaulted by Orlando's deadeye marksmanship as they nailed an unreal 17 baskets from the 3-point line. What's worst is the fact that Howard punished the Cavs inside the paint to the tune of 27 points and 14 rebounds. In spite of it all, Cleveland nearly won the game in regulation before Rashard Lewis hit a huge 3-pointer that led to overtime. Howard had 10 huge points in the extra session, but LeBron barely missed on a 35-foot 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

All he did was get 44 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

Game 5 back in Cleveland was a must-win for the Cavs, who trailed 3-1 heading in. When the dust settled on that game, LeBron had played arguably his greatest game as a pro as he scored or assisted on his team's final 32 points. The Cavs turned back the Magic, winning 112-102 by virtue of the colossal excellence of James; 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for his 4th career playoff triple-double.

This guy was beyond belief.

LeBron was clearly spent in last night's game. He tried valiantly to get his teammates involved and was mildly successful at it. In the end, he mustered his least impressive effort of the series with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. But given the load he carried for the previous 5 games, his Game 6 performance may have actually been his strongest.

Orlando is headed to their 1st NBA Finals since 1995. They will be matched against the L.A. Lakers, a team coached by Phil Jackson -- who knows a little something about super dominant players having their top notch seasons wasted. Jackson coached Michael Jordan when the former Bulls megastar did it all only to have his team leave him hanging. Of course, Jordan led his team to an unreal 6 NBA titles after those seasons of crushing defeats had come and gone.

James will be 25 next season at playoff time and in his 7th NBA campaign. He will be even better and more focused and hopefully, his team will be too. His time will come just as it did for Jordan and others throughout history.

Still though, he had one hell of a season!

Lethal Weapon 5

CLEVELAND - LeBron James is having perhaps the best playoff series of his stunningly brilliant NBA career, and it is perilously close to going to waste.

Or maybe not.

James used every ounce of his surreal talent, focus, intensity and desire last night to will his needy Cleveland Cavaliers to a rousing victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals over the pesky Orlando Magic, 112-102.

The Cavs still trail, 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Orlando.

LeBron has been nothing short of legendary in this series. He rolled to his 4th career playoff triple-double with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists and completely controlled the 4th quarter with sharp playmaking, ambitious treks to the basket and deadeye shooting. He either scored or assisted on Cleveland's final 32 points.

Wow.

Without question, Saturday night's Game 6 in Orlando will be an enormous mountain to climb. The triumvirate of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu will continue their unstoppability for the Magic. Last night, they steered a huge Orlando rally after Cleveland took a 22-point first quarter lead, then let it melt into an eight-point 3rd quarter deficit.

But if LeBron gets consistent help from his team in Orlando, this seemingly lost-cause series for the Cavs could actually get very intriguing.

Maybe.

James Feeling Same Frustration As Jordan Did

CLEVELAND - LeBron James scored 44 points in last night's crucial Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

His team still lost, 116-114 in OT and now trails the Orlando Magic 3-1 in their best-of-7 series.

This playoff series has been a stunning wake-up call to anyone who hastily awarded the Cleveland Cavaliers their 1st ever NBA championship after they dispatched their first two postseason opponents. It has also been a series that has proven the Magic to be a highly underrated team with a super dominant star player in Dwight Howard.

James has been stupendous this entire series, but his teammates have largely disappeared. Even when they perform well, they still vanish in crunch time. Last night, Mo Williams had an active and much needed 18 points through three quarters, but was a no-show in the fourth quarter and overtime.

LeBron scored a playoff career high 49 points in Cleveland's stunning Game 1 loss, then hit for a smooth 35 in their narrow 96-95 Game 2 win. That was the game in which James miraculously drilled a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer after catching an inbounds pass with just one second left. He was unstoppable in Orlando as well, scoring 41 in that Game 3 defeat. For the series, LeBron is averaging an alien-like 42.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists, numbers that are so overwhelmingly epic that he should be forced to take a DNA test to see exactly what he's made of.

Barring a major miracle, the Cavs will lose this series. They would need to win three straight games over the Magic to advance to the NBA Finals, something that only about 4% of teams in this same hole has ever done in league history. With such scintillating excellence, James has to be majorly frustrated. His boyhood hero, basketball icon Michael Jordan endured similar set-backs during the early part of his storybook career.

Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to a shocking upset of the Cavs in 1989 when he hit "The Shot," a legendary jumper at the buzzer to send Cleveland to a series defeat. The Cavs were expected to sweep Chicago, and were superior to them all season, especially talent-wise. That seminal moment in MJ's career sparked the upstart Bulls and they blew past New York in six games to face the rowdy but great Bad Boy Detroit Pistons in the East Finals. 

On the strength of Jordan's remarkable Game 3, in which he scored 46 points and hit the game winner, the Bulls held an unlikely 2-1 lead. That's when the Pistons locked in on MJ and won the next three straight to oust Chicago in six games. The Bulls weren't expected to make it past the first round that season, but they came within two victories of the '89 NBA Finals, which was frustrating to the hyper competitive Jordan.

The following season ended in much the same way for Jordan as he dominated on offense and defense but his teammates disappeared at key times. Chicago took the defending champion Pistons to 7 games, but were shellacked in Game 7. MJ was bottled up by three defenders at all times, but still managed 31 points. Detroit won in a rout, 93-74.

That's how Jordan's 1989-90 season ended. A Game 7 loss on the road after an outstanding 55-27 season. Jordan averaged 36.7 points in 16 playoff games. James is at 36.0 in 12 games so far. Of course, the biggest difference between Jordan's Bulls then and James' Cavs now is the expectations factor. The 1990 Bulls were never considered true contenders, not with Detroit having beat them in both the 1988 and 1989 playoffs, and having a better team and sophisticated defensive scheme against Jordan. This year's Cavs rolled to a league-best 66-16 record and the number one overall seed.

They were one of the favorites.

Bottom line, LeBron is traveling a road that even the great Jordan struggled with. It should give him optimism for the future, but it won't dull his anguish in the present. He's going through all this at 24. MJ was 27 in 1990 when he limped off the court and cried in the post game locker room. For the rest of the decade, he led the Bulls to a whopping six NBA championships.

Greatness takes time. Championships take patience.

Game 4 Will Make Or Break Cavs Season

CLEVELAND - The players and the coaches probably won't say it, but I will. The Cleveland Cavaliers must win tonight's Game 4 in Orlando...or else.

Or else what?

Put it this way; if the Orlando Magic win again on their own home court tonight and go up, 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, they will absolutely win this surprising series. No way do they win tonight and then drop the next three consecutive games it would take for Cleveland to pull it out. The odds are against that happening no matter how you slice it, but even more so when the greatness of Dwight Howard and the sharpshooting of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are taken into consideration.

If the Cavs win tonight, the series will be tied 2-2 heading back home to Cleveland and their vaunted Quicken Loans Arena. Granted, Orlando won Game 1 in the seemingly impossible-to-win-in building (and came within one second of winning Game 2), but the way this series has played out, the Cavs won't allow another game on their turf to get away from them (I think). Assuming the Cavs have that mindset (and with LeBron James instilling confidence in his suddenly lackluster teammates), then Game 5 in Cleveland will be theirs as well as a 3-2 series lead.

That's a whole lot of what if's.

The Cavs will be one win from advancing with two cracks at clinching. Game 6 would be in Orlando where the Magic will surely come out on fire. A couple things that the Cavs have in their favor is knowing how easy it is to get Howard in foul trouble. He spent nearly half of Game 3 on the bench because of just that and even though he hit a ton of free throws in the fourth quarter, that belied his career-long awfulness at the stripe. In other words, that accuracy is unlikely to happen again in this series.

Even if the Cavs lose Game 6 in Orlando, their 66-16 regular season record earned them the right to have Game 7 on their home court in Cleveland, in any series they play in -- if they can make it to a Game 7. In spite of it all, they would have a major advantage in that potential game and be favored to win and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.

Of course, none of this will happen if they lose tonight.

Impact of LeBron's Shot Is Yet To Be Determined

CLEVELAND - Everyone on the planet knows that pro basketball star LeBron James is immensely talented.

Last night, that talent took a back seat to his sheer force of will.

James, the league's recently crowned Most Valuable Player faked a cut to the basket before breaking free from the defense of Hedo Turkoglu to catch the most critical inbounds pass of his career. This all took place with only a single second on the game clock and the Orlando Magic holding a seemingly etched-in-stone 95-93 lead. Once James stepped behind the top of the three-point arc to catch the pass, he squared his body, jumped and hit a dramatic, fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer.

James reacted with stunned excitement as did his delirious teammates, who stormed onto the court and mobbed the basketball hero. Everyone else inside Quicken Loans Arena exploded with unbridled jubilation as the suddenly mortal-looking Cleveland Cavaliers escaped with a 96-95 victory and a 1-1 series tie against the Magic.

Game 3 is tomorrow night in Orlando.

Though the shot earned instant legendary status both for its degree of difficulty and the circumstances surrounding both teams, it should be noted that the Cavs displayed major flaws for the second straight game. They held a 23-point lead in the first half over Orlando, only to watch it evaporate gradually the rest of the game. Turkoglu, who scored at will against the limp defense of Sasha Pavlovic hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 48.7 seconds left as a precursor to the pull-up jumper he nailed with one second left in the game to seemingly win it for the Magic.

For whatever reason, the Cavs defense was mediocre and their offense was often inept.

Orlando superstar center Dwight Howard (10 points, 18 rebounds) was hampered by foul trouble all game and never got on track offensively. Rashard Lewis however, proved to be a major threat, nailing four pivotal 3-pointers and scoring 23 points to supplement Turkoglu's 21.

LeBron finished with a giant 35 points and according to him, "the biggest shot of [his] career." The incredible play is indisputably his best ever moment on a basketball court. I believe that it even eclipses his virtuoso performance in Game 5 of the 2007 East Finals in Detroit, when he scored 29 of the Cavs final 30 on an array of stunning shots to earn the unlikely road win.

With endless praise by teammates, fans and the media, the shot has been widely discussed and fawned over. Where it ranks in NBA history or even Cavs history is still an open case. Consider this: if the Cavs lose this series to Orlando, then the shot suddenly suffers a reduction in impact and magnitude. If they beat the Magic and advance to the NBA Finals, it becomes the biggest reason why. If the Cavs win the NBA championship, then James' legacy expands greatly and the shot would have to be placed very high on the list of epic moments in NBA annals.

LeBron's brilliance has long been a given, but it was his resolute drive, staggering confidence and ultra intensity that made this monumental shot a reality. It has the potential to have a greater impact than anything Kobe Bryant ever did in the postseason and rivals all but a couple of Michael Jordan's most transcendent hoops moments.

At the end of the day, LeBron is a special sports icon that is still amazingly a couple years from entering his prime. His historic basket saved the season from being a bust after their 74-16 record (66-16 in the regular season, 8-0 in the postseason) entering this Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

We'll always remember this LeBron James masterpiece. But how the Cavs' season ends will determine just how indelible it will be in the history books.

We'll soon find out.

Magic Over Cavs: Surprisingly Expected

CLEVELAND - For all of the hubbub surrounding this season's Cleveland Cavaliers, their 66-16 regular season record and 8-0 mark in the ongoing 2009 NBA Playoffs prior to yesterday, they were never going to cakewalk to an NBA championship.

The Orlando Magic proved that last night.

Despite a sterling playoff career high 49 points from league MVP LeBron James, the Cavs fell victim to the Magic on their own home court, 107-106 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to this loss (which stunned Cavs fans everywhere), Cleveland had been flawless at Quicken Loans Arena in this postseason at 4-0 after a mega dominant 39-2 march through the season.

On the strength of solid-as-stone Dwight Howard's 30 points and 13 rebounds, Orlando erased a 16-point first half deficit with a 30-19 3rd quarter romp. Their vaunted three-point shooting re-emerged in the 2nd half after being non-existent in the 1st. Foward Rashard Lewis hit the jumper that eventually won the game for the Magic.

While it is very understandable that many people were stunned at the home loss for Cleveland, it was actually quite normal. In spite of my season long praise for this team, I was very aware of the pitfalls that could come upon them. After decades of watching stunning wins and losses by some of the greatest teams in NBA history, this game wasn't a shock at all...especially considering that the Magic are actually an excellent squad.

Howard is one of the top 5 players in the game and guys like Hedo Turkoglu and Lewis are outstanding. They have been well coached by Stan Van Gundy and they are battle-tested. They also just beat the defending champion Boston Celtics in the previous round even though Kevin Garnett wasn't around. The Magic's Jameer Nelson hasn't played since February, so that too needs to be considered.

All in all, I still believe the Cavs will win the series. But hopefully, the fans that were seduced by their earlier dominance have finally gotten their wake up call.

The Cavs surely did.

Bring on the Next Victim

CLEVELAND - With the magnificent LeBron James displaying his MVP credentials all series long, the Cleveland Cavaliers were never in danger of losing to the Atlanta Hawks.

Last night, the Cleveland boys put the ATL out of their misery.

With last night's 84-74 victory over Atlanta, James and his mates earned their second straight series sweep and the right to face either Orlando or defending champion Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Celtics and Magic are tied, 2-2.

So thorough was the Cavs and their megastar James in their four-game romp that last night's 10-point victory seemed paltry by comparison to earlier routs in this series. LeBron of course sliced and murdered the Hawks' defense and is now averaging a sick and twisted 32.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in eight playoff games this year thus far.

Sheeesh!

I feel bad for whomever emerges from the Celtics-Magic series. These Cavs are clearly on a mission and can't be stopped. Of course, having an alien like LeBron helps their cause a little.

Kind of.