Where LeBron James will be plying his trade in the 2010/11 season is yet to be decided (or has it?), but whether or not this is the end of his time in Cleveland or the seventh season of a long career as a Cavalier, there are more important things to worry about right now.
Wherever James is this fall and beyond, the demand for NBA tickets will be tremendous at home and on the road, but many have speculated that his decision could well hinge on how far Cleveland goes in the playoffs this season.
Cleveland made deals in the offseason and during the season to acquire Shaquille O’Neal and Antwan Jamison to bolster the supporting cast and take some of the load off of LeBron’s shoulders. And while James is still the main attraction and #1 difference maker, he needs that supporting cast to deliver when it matters for the Cavs to realize their full potential.
Judging by Cleveland’s 96-83 win over Chicago in the opener of their first-round series yesterday, they’re well on the right track to doing so.
LeBron was a stats machine as usual, scoring 24 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out five assists, and he also registered four blocks and a steal on the defensive end.
However, that was just part of an overall splendid team effort on Cleveland’s part. Along with James’ par-for-the-course contributions, Mo Williams (19 points, 10 assists, four rebounds), Jamison (15 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks), O’Neal (12 points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks), and Anderson Varejao (eight points, 15 rebounds, two steals) all stepped up big.
Cleveland out-rebounded the Bulls 50-38, totaled 27 assists, blocked 12 shots, scored 18 points off of turnovers, and outscored Chicago 42-26 in the paint.
It wasn’t all perfect, as they shot only 26% from three (6 of 23) and committed 18 turnovers, but some mistakes can be forgiven, as the Cavs took control midway through the first quarter and coasted from there.
The opponents will get tougher from here on, but the Bulls are a familiar opponent and thusly a tough one, and it was important for Cleveland to start strong and make a statement. They did just that, and if those kinds of team performances continue over the next several weeks, Cleveland will have at least one thing to celebrate this summer, if not more.
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