That state up north just can't catch up a break.  Michigan is the home of the Detriot Lions, the Pistons, and the Detroit Tigers.  That right there is enough to make any sports fan go crazy.  Then you take the fact that their last three games have been against the Hawks, the Celtics, and last night Cleveland.  A 3-game losing streak was all but guaranteed.

In a game where LeBron James only had 5 points in the 1st half, you'd think the Pistons might have a chance to pull the upset and end their skid.  You'd be wrong.  LeBron's 24 point 2nd half did the trick, and with trusty sidekick Mo Williams drilling 3's, the Cavs won their 4th straight. 

LeBron decided to turn it on in the 4th quarter, and led the Cavs to a come from behind victory over Detroit, who seems destined to be a mediocre team.  LeBron scores 12 points in the quarter, and adds 4 assists to shut the door on Detroit.  The King records his 4th triple-double of the season, throwing up 29 points, 12 assists, and 12 rebounds.
LeBron was quoted after the game, saying, "Getting a triple double is my favorite thing to do, other than winning of course."   

LeBron had a surprisingly slow start in this game, and his 2/6 shooting equated to 5 points in the first half, which for the King is not acceptable.  His teammates had his back though; Mo Williams was huge in this game.  Antawn Jamison finally brought his A-game, Jawad Williams was huge off the bench, and the physical play of Leon Powe was just what we needed in this game.  Jawad hit several clutch shots, and Leon was the muscle and hustle we needed.  Daniel Gibson came off the bench (finally) and made the only 3 point shot he took.  It was good to see Boobie back in the rotation, if only because Delonte was inactive.

Even though LeBron dissected the Pistons, this game was won by Mo Williams.  His three consecutive 3 pointers late in the 4th quarter were the definition of clutch, and gave the Cavaliers the momentum needed to finish off the Pistons in style.  The man hit 5 of 9 three pointers in the game.  In the words of Keyshawn Johnson, "just give him the damn ball." 

This victory did not come easy, and the final score wasn't representative of the battle that occured at the Palace of Auburn Hills last night.  Attending a game in Detroit where the Cavaliers won earlier this season, I can tell you that this is a tough arena to win a basketball game in.  The Pistons were unhappy with their performance vs. the Celtics the previous night, and gave the Cavaliers all they could handle in this one.  There were 10 lead changes in the game, and the score was tied 21 different times.  Even though the Cavaliers scored the final 9 points, this game came down to the last few minutes. 

The Cavs have surrounded LeBron this year with a plethora of knock down perimeter shooters, and when we get going, you best get out of our way.  If Mo isn't hitting big shots, (he usually is) then Anthony Parker or Delonte West picks up the slack.  Jamison is a crafty veteran, and although he hasn't played to his potential in a Cleveland uniform, we will need him for our run in the playoffs.

This win propels the Cavaliers to a 4-game win streak, and we should keep it going for the foreseeable future.  I don't see us losing the rest of the month, because our schedule isn't all that tough.  The next few games are as follows:  Indiana, Chicago, Detroit again, New Orleans, San Antonio, Sacramento, and then Milwaukee to finish out the month.  Starting with tonight, the Cavs should push the new streak to 5.  By the end of the month, we should be at 11 straight.  None of these teams can compete with the Cavaliers on any given night.  LeBron wants to finish the season strong, because we need to be hot going into the playoffs.  The best player in the game should win the NBA finals, as well as the MVP.  LeBron knows this team has a great chance to get it done this year.  LeBron James is underrated

                               

Anthony Parker was a bright spot early on, as he continues to hit clutch jumpers and 3's seemingly right when the Cavs need him to.  Take for instance, when the Cavaliers were down 12-9.  He hits a deep 3 pointer, and kills any momentum the Celtics thought they may have going.  AP has been a solid pick-up for the Cavs, not only for his shooting but also for his size and quickness on the defensive end of the floor. 
LeBron then pulled a bunny out of his bag of tricks, and hit a ridiculously tough fall-away jumper while he fell out of bounds.  Cavs end the quarter up 24-18, and we knew it was only a matter of time before the Celtics fell apart.
LeBron added another couple highlight-reel blocks, including a left-handed swat on once-decent Paul Pierce.  LeBron finished off the half with a classic backdoor pass to Varejao for a nice layup, and we knew the route was on.

LeBron James had a solid week of rest, and was ready to test his ankle vs. Philadelphia and Andre Igoudala last night.  Leon Powe got his first start as a Cavalier with the absence of Antawn Jamison. The Cavs starting lineup was pretty small. Mo, A-P, Bron, Powe and Hickson.  Even though LeBron only finshed with 23 points, he added 10 assists and that was all the Cavs needed to win a close game that came down to the 4th quarter.


LeBron started off with two assists, one to JJ Hickson for a smooth jumper and one to Mo Williams for a set 3 pointer. He then came down the court, walked in for a layup, and then stepped into a 3 pointer. 2 minutes into the game, LeBron already had 4 points and 2 assists. JJ Hickson had an unreal baseline drive and dunk on Igoudala, and the Cavs were rolling. But Philadelphia held their own. They took advantage of Shaquille’s absence, and kept driving and scoring baskets in the paint. Initially, Dalembert, Brand, and Igoudala were getting close baskets. Meanwhile, LeBron was putting on a shooting clinic. Hit 3 out of his first 4, and kept the Cavs in the game.

With just over a minute to go in the 1st quarter, LeBron got real nasty, real quick. Driving baseline, he jumped roughly 17 feet in the air, and extended a reverse pump jam. The crowd was buzzing and everyone in the arena knew; No one else in the world dunks like LeBron.

Philadelphia did hit 5/7 three’s in the quarter, and Andre Igoudala had his own set of impressive sky-high dunks. The Cavs led 36-32 and as many predicted, this game resembled a track meet. Both teams shot over 60%, and there wasn’t much defense to speak of.

Cavs started the 2nd quarter off cold, missing their first 4 attempts. Just as usual, no LeBron pretty much means no offense. This team needs LeBron both as a scorer and a distributor. Without him in the game, offensive stagnation runs rampant.

And then there was a Delonte West sighting. As Austin Carr put it, “Delonte West drove down Euclid Avenue and throws the hammer down.” Samuel Dalembert attempted to block this dunk, but halfway up realized he was about to be on a poster. Delonte has been known to throw down some serious dunk-faces from time to time. At the end of the half, LeBron had 13 and 8 assists.

Mo Williams started off the 2nd half with an aggressive mindset. The Cavs started to clamp down defensively, and LeBron drilled a 3 with 9 minutes left to bump the lead to 11 at 68-57. Mo-mo finishes the quarter with 10 points, and the Cavs were in a pretty good game. The Cavs production fell off a little bit, and in the 4th quarter we found ourselves down 85-80. This team never stops coming though. After a quick Jamario dunk, Mo Williams spotted a 3, and then Jamario hit a 3 right after. Problem solved, we’re up 88-85. The next 2 points were priceless, as LeBron caught an alley-oop that was thrown way too high, went from two hands to one and finished with a flush.. Are you kidding me? And where did this surge from Jamario come from?

Sometimes the Cavs just play with teams like Philadelphia, and then wait til the last few minutes to seal the deal. With 4 minutes to go, Mo hits another 3. Don’t forget about LeBron’s sensational block on Elton Brand. This game actually did up coming down to the wire, as Jamario Moon missed a 3 with 24 seconds left that would have put us up 6.

Instead, Philly grabbed the rebound and called a timeout.  Down 95-98, they needed a 3. Instead, they turned the ball over in a laughable possession. Delonte comes down, drills some free throws, and you can pretty much put this one in the book. Cleveland shows Philadelphia why they’re not in contention for the playoffs. First time the Cavs have swept the 76ers during the regular season in 13 years. LeBron looked good, and so did the Cavaliers. We pretty much follow the King’s lead. Makes sense if you think about it. LeBron James is Underrated
                                    

The greatest athlete to ever play basketball is bound to have a highlight reel with no comparison. Here's a great video that displays LeBron's top 10 blocks of all time. "Get that weak stuff outta here" is without question a top-2 line for Austin Carr, and he never forgets to use it as you'll hear it over.. and over.. and over again in the video.

"And further more young man, don't come in here with that weak stuff!"  I didn't personally count how many times he says it in this short clip, I don't have that kind of time.

Austin Carr is probably one of the greatest announcers of all-time. "Throws the hammer down!" and "Get that weak stuff outta here" are legendary lines, and Carr doesn't really have much else to say when LeBron gets dirty.

Austin, we respect you and your amazing analytical skills provided during Cavaliers games. Sometimes when I watch LeBron make an amazing chase-down block, I forget how awesome it is; You never fail to remind me. Keep it up AC, you're a legend in my book. Austin Carr gets to see up close and personal on a nightly basis.. LeBron James is underrated

                                          

Monday night, King James missed his second straight game. His ankle was bothering him and the Cavaliers had to face a tough Spurs team without LeBron, and without the Big Aristotle. Not to mention, Antawn Jamison went down in the 3rd quarter.

The Cavs really showed their depth in this game, and pulled off a 97-95 victory over a team that probably should have beaten us without our stars. You know Skip Bayless had to have been disgusted to see his favorite team lose to the LeBron-less Cavs. He defends the Spurs on a daily basis on ESPN and thinks they have a shot to upset the Lakers in the playoffs this year. Well Skip, what happened? Even with Duncan, Dejaun Blair and Manu Ginobili, this team couldn't handle the Cavaliers.

"Without LeBron and Shaq, and Antawn for most of the second half, a lot of guys had to step up," Mo Williams said. "We did a good job today of finding a way. Guys came through and made plays."

Mo knew the importance of this win, as the Cavaliers had the week off until tonight vs. Philadelphia. King James will play tonight, and expect him to go off against the 76ers. In the 2 previous meetings against Idougala and company, LeBron has already dropped 36 and 32 points respectively.

Antawn Jamison will still not be playing tonight, but much like Monday night, other players will step up. The Cavaliers will dominate the rebounding battle, and we can defend with the best in the league. This adds up to a beatdown for the 76ers, who LeBron has a history against. LeBron getting a week-long rest at this point in the season is bad for any team, because you know he's going to bring it when he returns.

The 76ers play at a very fast tempo, so expect to see LeBron get a couple fast-break throwdowns. He has a history of destroying Philadelphia, and now that Allen Iverson aka The Answer aka The Unwanted One has resorted to gambling and drinking, the Sixers really don't stand much of a chance. Hopefully we can blowout this team right from the start. LeBron will make some magic happen tonight, guaranteed. LeBron James is underrated

Friday night, the Cavs took care of Detroit, extending the win streak to 6 games. There were bigger things at stake however, as Rodney Stuckey apparently suffered a seizure when he collapsed late in the 3rd quarter. He was removed on a stretcher, and there was obvious concern over about his health. All signs look good for Rodney though, and he was released from the Cleveland Clinic after they ran a series of tests.

So the Cavaliers escaped with a big win after a 4th quarter surge, and headed to Milwaukee Saturday night to keep the streak alive. Small problem. Mike Brown decided to give LeBron the night off, hoping his team would step up in the Kings absence. In a 40 point effort, King James rolled his ankle vs. Detroit. The Milwaukee squad, in particular Brandon Jennings, definitely took advantage of our LeBron and Shaq-less team. "The main difference was that they didn't have LeBron," said Bucks guard Brandon Jennings. "We did a good job of closing them out."

Antawn Jamison played great, scoring 30 points including 20 in the 1st half. After the game Andrew Bogut noted how much easier it was to operate in the paint without Shaq roaming. The Cavaliers miss Shaquille's intimidating presence, and other teams such as Milwaukee can play inside-out with much more efficiency when he isn't playing. "It's a much different game with him there," Bogut said. "It's certainly easier to get the ball inside and make plays."

So what's the deal with LeBron? How serious is this injury? Don't make too much of it. Apparently LeBron wanted to play but Brown said no, and it officially went down as a DNP - coach's decision.

"It's just a coach's decision," Brown said. "He's played a lot of minutes for us and I thought it would be a good opportunity for him to get some rest. This has nothing to do with the injury. This is my decision based on the minutes that he's played."

Yeah, right. Don't let Mike Clown fool you, he's taking no chances with LeBron's injury. We have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and there's no reason to put any undue stress on that billion-dollar ankle. With the Lakers losing their 3rd straight game, the Cavaliers are still in great shape to have home-court throughout the playoffs.

The Cavaliers host the always-tough San Antonio Spurs tonight, and the King's status is unknown. This will be another tough test for the Cavs, who have to deal with the likes of Tim Duncan and Dejuan Blair. Man, we could use Z right about now. After tonight the Cavs have off until Friday, when we play Philadelphia. We need this win to feel good until then. If he plays, LeBron will have to be on his game. It looks like he may have to sit though. Even in street clothes.. LeBron James is underrated

The NBA schedule-makers shouldn't allow the Nets to play on the same floor as the Cavaliers. New Jersey might as well have forfeited this game. When LeBron and the best team in the NBA rolls into town, a thrashing is all but guaranteed. The Cavaliers likely played their last game in the Izod Arena last night, as it is expected that the Nets will move to Brooklyn next year.

This game was hardly a contest. There were so many dunks, and the frustration of the Nets was evident right from the start. LeBron had 8 assists in the 1st quarter alone, and threw down some classy dunks that left the crowd wanting more. When you have the worst team in the league, potentially the worst team of all-time, you don't get to see LeBron try his hardest.

In their second game without Shaq, the Cavs yet again didn't miss a step. Hickson, Jamison, and Varejao all brought their A-game and the route was on early. LeBron finished with 26 points, 14 assists, 7 boards, and 3 steals. Sorry New Jersey, but LeBron won't be joining the worst team in the NBA after this season. Even though LeBron is boys with part-owner Jay-Z, it doesn't make sense to leave a team that will contend for championships for the foreseeable future.

The King had several incredible plays in this one, my favorite being a jump bounce-pass to Varejao that got the crowd on their feet. No one else in the league has the size, strength, and sight to even come close to making that play. He dribbled towards the top of the key, palmed the bal in his right hand, and sailed through the air while bouncing a ridiculous pass to the Wild Thing for an easy layup. The King's other unreal play was a twisting layup that required the perfect amount of touch, which of course he delivered.

It's a great time to be a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is head and shoulders the best player in the world, and the things he does on a nightly basis justify why he'll win back-to-back MVP trophys. I fully expect the Cavs to destroy the Pistons on Friday, because there's something about playing on ESPN that gets the Akron Hammer going. LeBron will extend the Cavs winning streak to 6 games, because he doesn't accept losing.. ever. LeBron James is underrated