King James reigning over his Kingdom

Wow. What the ****?!?! I usually don't put up a post this late in the day, but I was just too shocked witnessing the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons for a third straight time to take a series lead 3-2. The final score was 86-84. LeBron James finished with 32 points. Not only have the Cavs won three straight, they won this game in Detroit, a first for this series. Are we feeling a shakeup now my friends? The Spurs are sitting on the edge of defeat as we speak by the way: their game with the Dallas Mavericks has just started.

Getting back to King James. Honestly sports fans, as much as we get excited about LeBron in the playoffs, did you ever see this coming? I will be the first to admit that I have been on the LBJ bandwagon since day one. The kid has acted wise beyond his years since he entered the league, but who knew what would happen in the playoffs? First the King takes on the most underrated player in the league (in my opinion), Gilbert Arenas, in what was basically a head-to-head series between the two players. The series was exciting and close, but I thought it would be the end for LeBron and "The James Gang."

Little did I know that LeBron was serious here. It all started when LeBron called out Arenas at the foul line in the last series. And I quote: "You miss both of these, and y'all are goin' home." How much gall do you need to have to dis a player at the free throw line like that?? Totally BadA**. That was the first instance where I really saw a piece of Michael Jordan. Granted, their "games" are completely different, but in the 2006 playoffs, LeBron has showed me that he has MJ's attitude. Cleveland goes down 0-2 to Detroit...it's over, right? Oh my friend, all of us were sorely mistaken.

Forget about James being afraid to take the big shot. He's done it numerous times in the playoffs, not to mention recording two triple-doubles along the way. The team is rallying around him as well, members of "the James Gang" are starting to forge their own identities. Which leads me to Mike James...credit to you for coaching this team up my friend, because I will be the first to say I didn't know who the heck you were before this season.

The NBA playoffs have been the most exciting since the start of the new millennium, teams are running and gunning with a vengeance. All the sudden, players like Raja Bell and Eric Snow have become more important than Shaquille O'Neal and Ben Wallace. This only means prosperous years ahead for the NBA. Speed is back, and hopefully it will put an end to drafting players just because they break the 7 foot mark. I'm sick of seeing slow-tempo ball where the rock is put in the low post and it ends with some unathletic center getting "brushed" and flailing his arms like he has a gunshot wound. Thank you David Stern for instructing referees to adjust to this, and I look forward to the rest of the playoffs.

The NBA is back!!!