Super Bowl Sunday? Who cares? The big game for Cleveland sports fans yesterday was the Cavaliers big road win against the Pistons yesterday afternoon. After a loss to Orlando Thursday night that had many people questioning the wine and gold, they smacked the Clippers at The Q on Friday night, and basically put the Central Division title away at The Palace with a win on Sunday.
Only one All-Star? It appears LeBron James and crew is taking the snub of their teammate, Mo Williams, personally. It gives them just another chip on their collective shoulders.
The win against Detroit emphasized how important Willilams is to this team, and the Cavs no longer collapse when James is getting some much-needed rest. Cleveland trailed 66-58 going into the fourth quarter yesterday, but caught up and took the lead before #23 re-entered the game. Daniel Gibson got it going to start the final stanza by scoring seven straight points, and Williams finished the job.
In all, Cleveland outscored Detroit 32-14 in the fourth quarter, and they now lead the Pistons by 12 games in the division and the last two games between the two teams are in Cleveland. You can order up a Central Division Champion banner, the second in franchise history (1975-76).
Anyway, Mike Brown will be coaching the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game on February 15th in Phoenix, so at least James will not be the only person from one of the best team in the NBA represented there. It is a joke that Williams will not be there.
Last year, the Cavaliers won 48 games for the entire season. They have won 37 games this year with 36 games remaining on the schedule. This team is on pace to win more than 60 games this season.
True, they added Ben Wallace, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak at the trade deadline last season, but there is no question that it is Williams’ presence that turned the Cavs from a very good team into one of the league’s best. Besides giving James more rest, he is averaging three minutes less per game than the past four seasons, he has allowed James to get the ball going to the basket. He has definitely changed the offense of this team.
The Cavaliers are averaging four more points per game than they did last season. Who do the NBA coaches think is responsible for that? Certainly, LeBron James has improved, but Mo Williams has revitalized the wine and gold’s attack. He deserves to be in Phoenix.
The biggest reason he isn’t is the fans’ vote, however. Allen Iverson does not deserve to be a starter, and if he wasn’t voted in, it is unlikely he would have been added to the squad. That essentially is Williams’ spot.
Besides the big win, the coolest thing for the Cavs was Santonio Holmes’ celebration after the Super Bowl winning touchdown, homage to LeBron’s tossing the powder into the air before every game. Pittsburgh might have the World Champion Steelers, but Cleveland has the best basketball player in the world.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 