The entire homecoming of LeBron James was bigger than basketball. From the Together, Nike commercial, to the gigantic new banner outside the arena and the pregame concert this was a major event. The moment the world had been waiting for since it was announced the King had returned home. What Cav fans dreamed off since the day after The Decision. The Q Arena got a facelift (new floor, and brand new HD scoreboard monitors, etc). The atmosphere was off the charts all day in Cleveland, all eyes were on LeBron.
Going into the game after watching the New Look Knicks having Triangle troubles, getting blown out in their season debut by the Bulls, everyone just knew the Cavs were going to run through Melo and crew in game two. But not even the haters could have foreseen LBJ have one of his worst performances in his career. Who would have thought we would be talking about the Knicks sharing the ball and having more energy that the Cavs.
The Akron bred baller who was the pride of St. Vincent-St. Mary,just 40 miles away from The Q, finished the game with 17 points, but shot 5-15 and committed an unthinkable eight turnovers. The Cavaliers as a team committed 19 turnovers, with James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combining for 14 of them. Other than Irving, who scored 22 points on 15 shots, no Cavalier played well. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 25 points, including the baseline jumper that sealed the game with under 30 seconds remaining.
This is the second game in James’ career with fewer than 20 points and 8 or more turnovers, the first game was, game two of the Big Three in Miami. So for all you fair-weather dans, all those that jumped on the Lebron bandwagon and are ready to jump ship or already left after his disappointing debut, don’t run just yet, one thing you can count on this will be the worst performance of the season from James, and he won’t make the mental errors he made Thursday from the emotions and expectations of the return. Expect him to shake it off and have a break out year.
Both teams (Knicks and Cavaliers) are getting used to rookie NBA coaches, new teammates and are still trying to find their identity. In game two, the King and his crew face co-Eastern Conference favorite, the Bulls in Chicago the lack of identity is expected to be exposed more, although I expect LeBron to have a much better performance after shaking off the opening night jitters. But as I wrote after the first 20 games of the Big Three (James, Wade and Bosh) of the Heat, Cleveland’s new Big Three (James, Irvie and Love) will be just fine after a little on the job training. They will still be in it at the end to contend for the Eastern Conference, but as for the home-opener, the Carmello and the Knicks turn LeBron’s homecoming dreams into a nightmare.
Black Westchester
Black Westchester - News With The Black Point Of View is an online news magazine for people of color for Westchester and the Tri- State area of New York at every economic level. Our mission is to promote the concept of “community” through media.
