This post originally appeared on A Stern Warning as a guest post I did about a month ago:

There isn't a doubt in my mind; LeBron James will be a Cleveland Cavalier next year. ESPN and the New York media want you to believe that LeBron has already made the decision to go to New York after this season. It's an easy story. James is the most desired player of the 2010 free agency, as every team would love to have the best basketball player in the game today.

Please just stop, take a minute, and really think about it. Why would LeBron leave something he built from the ground-up? It just doesn't make basketball sense. The Cavaliers have made the playoffs now 4 straight years in a row. Dan Gilbert is not Larry Dolan, and he has every intention of keeping his prized jewel in the city of Cleveland.  He knows business, and LeBron is his business.

LeBron plays for the best team in the Association. They've already swept the Lakers with two wins this season, and the Cavaliers are the front-runner to come out of the Eastern Conference. If this much is true, then the world gets to see the much anticipated LeBron v. Kobe NBA finals showdown. The Cavaliers have already proven they can beat the Lakers, and all signs point to LeBron bringing home a championship trophy to Cleveland this June.

Now you're telling me, that LeBron is going to pack-up and move to New York after he wins it all for the city he put on the map? No chance. LeBron will win a title this year, and he knows in his heart that playing for the Cavaliers next season gives him the best chance to repeat. "King James" has already stated, above all else, he wants to win.

The Cavaliers are committed to LeBron, and have done everything in their power to show him how serious they are about being a contender every single year. This season alone, GM Danny Ferry has brought in veteran all-stars Shaquille O'Neal and more recently Antawn Jamison. Owner Dan Gilbert knows that his investment in the Cleveland Cavaliers essentially comes down to resigning LeBron this summer. He's shown LeBron he is more than willing to spend big bucks to bring in marquee players. At 38 years of age Shaq Diesel, although pretty effective this season, is on the downside of his career.

With Chris Bosh on the market this off-season as well, don't be surprised when the Cavs pull the trigger on bringing yet another high-level player into the mix. Mo Williams, Delonte West, LeBron James, Hickson, and Chris Bosh? Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao coming off the bench? That would be a team that could win titles for years to come.

LeBron won't leave the city he grew up in. Why would he build a castle just outside of Akron if he wasn't planning on living there for the foreseeable future? LeBron knows that with the collective bargaining agreement will allow the Cavaliers to offer him more money than any other NBA team, including the New York Knicks. LeBron is already well-regarded as a global icon, and going to either the Brooklyn Nets or NY Knicks wouldn't significantly impact how much money he could make. He has already built an international empire, and winning multiple titles in Cleveland will cement his legacy.

Just this week, James officially requested to change his jersey number from 23 to 6 after this year. Why do that if you're considering going to a new team anyways? If you play for a new team, you get to choose your number anyways. It doesn't add up. LeBron wants to win multiple championships, not start over with a team who is rebuilding. He already is considered the face of the NBA, and going to a franchise that is widely considered a joke doesn't make sense for someone who wants to be contending for an NBA title each year. You don't leave the best thing you have going. LeBron will stay in Cleveland.  LeBron James is Underrated

I hate admitting this, but lately.. I've been a terrible Cavs fan.  Considering the fact that I watched all 82 games (on WUAB) during the season before we got LeBron, (17 wins, 65 losses) my recent trend has made me question my own fanhood:  I missed a game.  It stings to even talk about it.  Before our loss in San Antonio and our recent win over Sacramento, we played the New Orleans Hornets.

So more or less, I don't even feel justified in writing about that game.  Here's what I'll say:  Wednesday night, we beat New Orleans 105-92.  It was Zydrunas' first game back as a Cavalier, which makes me feel even worse.  LeBron dropped 38 points, and from the Sportscenter highlight I saw, he destroyed every single player sent to defend him.  You probably know more about what actually happened than I do. 

Then we get to Friday night, where we were matched up against Skip Bayless' San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs thought that by acquiring Richard Jefferson, they would have enough pieces to contend with the Lakers in the West.  Jefferson has not proven to be highly effective, and last night the Spurs lost to the New Jersey Nets.   If that's not a sign that you're not going to do much in the playoffs, I don't know what is. 

Minor detail:  The Cavs lost to the Spurs, although a late surge in the 4th quarter provided for an exciting finish.  We were down 94-86, and then before you could blink we cut it to 96-92.  LeBron did all that he could to pull us from the throes of defeat, but the Spurs got lucky.  This brings me to a perplexing conclusion.  If the Spurs beat our Cavaliers, and the Nets beat the Spurs, doesn't that mean the Nets could potentially beat the Cavs?  Let's hope they don't make the playoffs, because by that premise.. we could be in for a tough series. 

On second thought, the Nets (at 10-64) are roughly 37.5 games out of 1st place, meaning they won't be in the playoffs.  Looks like we dodged a bullet there.

So Sunday afternoon, the Cavs hosted the Sacramento Queens, who were without their best player Tyreke Evans.  This game was all about Big Z; Ilgauskas played his first game at the Q since the awkward trade-that-wasn't to the Wizards for Jamison, and Cleveland showed him such much-deserved respect. 

Quicken Loans aka Gund Arena has been home for big Z since 1997, and on this one special occasion, there were more "Z" signs in the building than there were LeBron jerseys.  Z entered the game to a thunderous roar, and even though he only contributed 4 points, he still felt the love. 

LeBron scored 34 points and was on-fire in the 2nd half.  Jamison added 26, and although the Cavs let the Queens hang around for awhile, we all knew it was a matter of time until we slammed the door shut. 

My favorite part of this affair came after the game when LeBron was quoted as saying, "We've all been joking around, but seriously this might have been the most anticipated comeback since Michael Jordan coming back to the Bulls."  No arguments here.

The Cavs take on the hot Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow night, and it's getting to that point in the season where Mike Brown likes to rest his best players aka LeBron James.  We all know this is Cleveland's best shot at a championship basically ever, and he doesn't want to blow it.  LeBron knows what time it is, and he's about to show the world why the Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA.  LeBron James is Underrated

                          

Just as I predicted, the Cavaliers haven’t lost since the win over Detroit. (It was a safe bet) In two rather shaky affairs, the Cavaliers have done what they always do.. namely rely on LeBron in the 4th quarter to pull out the W. Man, is it fun watching the King do his thing in crunch time. Even if he’s having an off night, he always turns it on late, right when we need him to.

The battle in Indiana went something like this. The Cavaliers did what they’ve been doing as of late.. messing around with teams that have no business competing with us. So when the 4th quarter came, you knew LeBron was going to do what it took to win. He finished with 32 points, 9 boards and 9 assists. King James’ nightly statline is ridiculous; it seems like he’s always one or two away from a triple-double, every single night. The man is a legend. Oh yeah, and the Cavs clinched the Central Division with this win.

"LeBron closed that game remarkably," said Cavs coach Mike Brown. "He was terrific. The last five minutes, there was a stretch when he did everything. He blocked shots, he rebounded, he pushed the ball, he scored the ball, he assisted the ball, he dunked the ball, he went to the free-throw line. It was fun to see one guy take over a ball game in a lot of different ways."

Moral of the story, Cavs go through the motions until basically the 5 minute mark in the 4th quarter, and then Bron does his thing. That win propelled us to 5 straight, and we headed to Chicago on Friday night. Sorry Chicago, but you’re not going to be able to contend anytime soon. The Michael Jordan-era has long passed, he’s now focused on running the team he owns, the Charlotte Bobcats.

LeBron shot a lot of jumpers this game, and the first half was rather uneventful. Similar to the Pacers game, the Cavaliers looked like they didn’t care for the first 3 quarters, and then LeBron turned on his “try” button. When the Bulls led 75-74 with 7 minutes left, LeBron subbed himself back in. Any inclination as to what happened? LBJ scores 13 in the last 7 minutes, giving him 29, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the game. Sick stat of the night: LeBron eclipsed the 15,000 career point mark, and it’s no surprise that he’s the youngest to ever do it.

Although we won and LeBron was the hero, there might be some concern for Cavs fans. Chicago played without Derrick Rose, Deng, and “No-Game Noah.” Should this even have been a game? The answer is no. Does it matter in the long run? Absolutely not. Are the Cavs on a 6 game winning streak? Most definitely.

"We were executing alright but just missed a lot of easy shots,'' James said. "That is what allowed them to stay in the game. It's very difficult (for the Bulls) to play and win with starters out like they have had."

The Cavaliers play again tonight at 6 vs. the Detroit Pistons, meaning there’s no reason why we can’t keep this streak going tonight. Make that through the end of the month. (or the end of the season for that matter) Danny Green doesn’t need to point to his fake watch, LeBron already knows what time it is when the game’s on the line. LeBron’s internal clock generally reads, “Take Over Now.” Fun times, watching the best player in the world. LeBron James is Underrated.

                                

                             

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

Shaquille O' Neal won't play again during the regular season. Thanks to Glen Davis, the Big Aristotle required surgery on his thumb, and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks. Your initial thought might have been one of supreme worry, but there really isn't any reason to stress. Consider the current state of the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are still the best team in the league. Shaq being forced to sit will open up more minutes for Leon Powe, JJ Hickson, and Varejao. The Cavaliers acquired O'Neal to matchup against Dwight Howard in the playoffs, which the Diesel will be well-rested for. Shaq is almost 38 years old, and the 2 month layoff will allow his body to regenerate so he can give LeBron and the Cavs his best performance when we really need him. O'Neal is still a force in this league, and his field-goal percentage at 57% leads the Cavs.

So Shaq goes down, and the Cavaliers first test was against the mighty New York Knicks on Monday night. This game absolutely confirmed that LeBron won't leave the best team in the league to go to the defense-less Knicks. It's not like the Knicks don't have talent. David Lee, Galinardi, Al Harrington, and more recently the likes of Tracy McGrady. It's more about the culture of losing within the franchise, which has been consistent for many years.

You could have just watched the 1st half and gotten a good feel for the game. The Cavaliers scored 74 points, including a multitude of dunks by LeBron. Anderson Varejao played like a man possessed; He was all over the floor. Delonte played great too. West contributed solid defense, scored 15 points, and had a back-door dunk on Tracy McGrady. Thanks for coming out T-Mac.

JJ Hickson started at the 5 for the first time I can remember. The Cavs went small, and it showed in our ability to get out on the fast-break. The end of the first half demoralized the Knicks, and they had to go into the locker room knowing they weren't coming out of the Q with a win. An underrated statistic in the NBA is the plus/minus of each player every night. Playing against the Knicks helps, but observe the ridiculous plus/minus of the 5 starters.

LeBron - +39
Jamison - +38
Hickson - +28
Parker - +35
Williams - +21

Clearly the Cavs did work. The Knicks never stood a chance, and this was precisely the game the Cavs needed after finding out Superman was out for the rest of the season. "They outclassed us, outmatched us and outplayed us," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "Obviously, they're a better team than we are." The final score of 124-93 doesn't even do justice to the beatdown that ensued. We were up 40 points at one point.

Which is why LeBron won't leave Cleveland for your crappy, defense-less team. It was made known recently that LeBron filed the paperwork to officially change his number from 23 to 6 next season. His reason is simple; LeBron wants to commemorate Jordan and thinks no one else should wear his number. What's more telling is the timing of this. LeBron didn't need to do this if he wasn't planning on staying in Cleveland. It's common knowledge that when you change teams, you can simply select the jersey you want, you don't have to change your number from your old team. Add it up. Best team in the NBA + looming championship ring in June = LeBron wants to stay in the city he built from the ground-up. LeBron James is underrated