Maybe I shouldn't be so obsessed with style points when pondering the Cavs win over Detroit. LeBron James was fabulous in the fourth quarter, especially on defense where he forced three fourth-quarter turnovers that led to key baskets. Very strong play from the guy who should be the league's MVP. Tim Legler opines that James "made a conscience effort to turn up the intensity." I'm guessing LeBron made a conscious effort too, but who's checking?
Elias points out some facts about the Cavs March, which was about as good a regular-season month as a team can have. Among them:
– Cleveland equaled the largest lead that an NBA team has ever held in its division or conference when it went 25 games up on Detroit.
– The Cavs tied a league record with 16 wins.
– James finished with 479 points, 152 rebounds and 143 assists. Elias reports: "The only other player in NBA history to reach each of those totals in one month is Oscar Robertson, who did it in eight separate months, most recently in January 1965."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about Oscar By God Robertson. James is doing things that have not been done in 40-some years. When a guy matches Oscar Robertson again and again it's pretty amazingly ridiculous to think of anyone other than him for the MVP.
By the way … Rasheed Wallace was given his 16th technical of the year for arguing a blocking call on Tayshaun Prince against James. Wallace appeaed to have a good point; it wasn't a good call.
Why was Wallace given the T?
" 'Cause I said it was a stupid-star call," Wallace said. "The one where he ran Tayshaun over and Tay' was already there. He charged him, and they called blocking on Tay'."
Wallace had more to say.
On James not being called for a foul in 41 minutes: "Y'all know what it is. I ain't even got to say that (bleep)."
On being suspended one game: "That's what happens when you speak the truth."
this streak of basketball is the best ball ever played in a cleveland uniform. sure, the competition is a little weaker in this stretch but man– if they can cap this season off the way they are capable of it will be the sweetest hoops season ever. go cavs.
LeBron is the MVP. But in my opinion, Dwight Howard should be runner-up, not Kobe or D-Wade. Howard is doing things that haven't been done since Wilt Chamberlain. I don't understand how anyone other than these two are even in the conversation.
Howard is doing things that haven't been done since Wilt Chamberlain??? Unless Howard is nailing 57 sluts an hour, I have no idea what that sentence is supposed to mean.