| Here He Becomes Legend Authored by Serge Yusim - June 1, 2007 - 12:45 pm
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with it. In doing so, at least for the time being, LeBron has silenced the critics who have claimed for so long that he wasn’t good enough, skilled enough, nor clutch enough to take over the game at critical moments of the playoffs, like some of the all time greats who have played before him. Well, last night King James put all those doubts to rest. He put the Cavaliers on his back and single-handedly carried them to the most important win the franchise has had in
decades.
How did he do it? James put on a basketball clinic and via an array of ridiculous fadeaways, unstoppable drives to the hoop, and jaw-dropping dunks scored 29 out of Cleveland’s final 30 points, including the last 25. While the rest of the Cavaliers struggled through the two overtime sessions, failing to score and going 0-6 from the field, LeBron sank shot after shot en route to 18 points on 6-8 shooting.
Not only were James’ shots incredibly clutch, but they were timely as well. The game seemed to be slipping out of reach when Richard Hamilton hit two free throws to put the Pistons up by 7 with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. That’s when LeBron began his legendary performance with a drive to the hoop that cut the lead to 5. After Drew Gooden added a free throw, the only point scored by a Cavs player other than LeBron in the last 12:48 of the contest, James drilled a triple from the top of the arc to bring Cleveland within a point at 87-88. After a couple of empty possessions, the Cavs got the ball back, still trailing by one with under a minute left. And LeBron was not to be denied. In an isolation at the top of the key, he drove past his defender and threw down a monster jam as Tayshaun Prince quickly got out of the way. Yet, the Pistons are a championship contender for a reason and 8.5 seconds later former Finals MVP Chauncey Billups hit a huge 3-pointer to put Detroit back on top by two points. But this was LeBron’s night and, after Cleveland used its last timeout of regulation, James once again drove past his defender and threw down yet another emphatic dunk. After Billups missed a tightly-contested three, the game was heading to first overtime.
There, despite 9 points from James, the Pistons were able to come back after being down by four with 34 seconds left, following a LeBron jumper, and send the game to the second overtime session. Exhausted, but still just as driven to lead the Cavaliers to a W, LeBron opened the scoring with yet another drive and then, following Webber’s 3-point play that put the Pistons up 3 with 1:28 left in the game, and despite facing a double team, hit a huge 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the game. Then, after Billups diving foul on top of Varejao for the loose ball went uncalled, and, on the other end, Rasheed’s shot fell short of the rim, Cleveland had the ball and a chance to win the game. Everyone knew where the ball was going, but no one could stop what was coming. In a moment that, for now, shall define his young basketball career, LeBron James drove into
the lane and, despite two Pistons’ defenders converging on him and Jason Maxiell making contact with both of his arms, somehow, someway, hanged in the air long enough to will himself to the basket and put the ball in the hoop.
All that was left then for Cleveland was to stop the Pistons from sending the game into the 3rd overtime with 2.2 seconds left on the clock. Detroit put the ball in the hands of their most clutch player - Chauncey Billups. He drove into the lane, but his 12-footer was just off the mark. The game was in the books and so was LeBron’s historic performance that left the Pistons’ fans shaking their heads and us,
regular human beings, unable to look away from the TV screen in awe of what we have just witnessed. Marv Albert, who has seen everyone from Wilt Chamberlain to Michael Jordan, remarked after the game that it was one of the best playoff performances he has ever seen. It’s hard to disagree. At the end of the day, we were all simply witnesses to LeBron’s greatness.
You can e-mail Serge Yusim questions or comments at
SergeYusim@yahoo.com |
