Considering how yesterday鈥檚 match developed, it鈥檚 clear that the Cavaliers are still a work in progress. Facing the lowly Nets — who had hitherto lost eight of the last nine games sandwiching the All-Star break — at home, they found themselves in a dogfight and needing some breaks in the crunch to eke out a much-needed victory. For all their supposed improvements on defense, they allowed their otherwise-overmatched opponents to shoot 53.7% from the field and actually take the lead with under a minute left to play. Had there been a little more time on the game clock, the outcome may well have been different.
Parenthetically, the Cavaliers needed yet another outstanding showing from All-World LeBron James to prevail for the fifth time in seven outings since pulling the trigger on a stunning trade deal that all but rebooted their roster. Not that he went above and beyond his usual exertions; in finishing the set-to with a triple-double, he ensured that he would average the same for the entire month of February. It鈥檚 no small achievement given his advancing age and increased wear and tear. If anything, it鈥檚 telling that he accomplished the feat for the first time in his 15-year career.
Needless to say, James is the Cavaliers鈥 engine. In light of his myriad contributions on and off the court, it isn鈥檛 even much of an embellishment to argue that he is the Cavaliers, period. They go where he goes, and it鈥檚 to their benefit that he鈥檚 extremely engaged of late. Since being informed that personnel changes were to be made early last month, he has been on a tear. Conventional wisdom doesn鈥檛 have him as the front-runner for Most Valuable Player honors, but no matter. He remains the National Basketball Association鈥檚 best of the best. It鈥檚 why speculation is already rampant on where he will be plying his trade next season, never mind that the current one is still to be finished. And it鈥檚 why the requisite wooing — the three Pro-Sixers billboards along Interstate 480 in Cleveland included — is already under way.
In the meantime, James is focused on keeping his streak of Finals appearances since 2011 alive. Unless injury woes befall the Warriors or Rockets, he isn鈥檛 likely to claim the Larry O鈥橞rien Trophy, but darned if he won鈥檛 try. If nothing else, he鈥檚 enjoying himself anew, confident that the Cavaliers are getting better contest by contest.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since 大象传媒 introduced a Sports section in 1994.
