Watching the Cleveland Cavaliers reveal every one of the Orlando Magic’s tricks last night, it felt like playoff basketball had come early. There was a huge level of intensity to the game, with the Magic manhandling LeBron James early, Rafer Alston knocking down threes like everybody’s business and the King finally proving in the end that he is a class about everybody else.
The Cavs won 97-93, which when combined with the Los Angeles Lakers’ shock loss to Philadelphia, put the LeBroneers squarely on top of the heap with the best record in the NBA, with 54 wins. They also created some breathing space between themselves and the Magic, who sit in second place in the East.
Down the stretch of March the Cavs will face likely playoff teams Portland, Atlanta, Detroit and Dallas — as well as easier-beats New Jersey (twice) and Minnesota. The Lakers have a much lighter load in March, with Detroit, Atlanta being the only real challenges, in addition to Golden State, Chicago, Oklahoma City, New Jersey and Charlotte.
Then again, with the way James was playing last night, noone should be a challenge. His line looked like this: 43 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 15/27 FG, 9/10 FT, 4/7 3PT, 6 TO. Wouldn’t it be great to see a series full of LeBron v DWade? At this stage that is unlikely — though not impossible by any stretch.
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Today’s Warnings:
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The Strap: Re-casting Star Wars with NBA players.
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5iveMag: The history of basketball — did you know that our sport was originally governed by the Handball Federation?
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Zoner Sports: The Best Names in Sports Blogs. Please, please, pretty please, go and vote for A Stern Warning (scroll down the page), as well as friends of the blog, Pete Marasmitch, And One, PSAMP and Pippen Ain’t Easy (which is run by The Zoner).
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NBA Mate: Watch out Kobe, LeBron is about to screw with your legacy.
