James' 48

I was wrong. One guy can beat five - at least once in a generation.

I have been complaining for the past two years that LJ didn't have enough help to win a title. In reality he doesn't. However, reality went out the door yesterday as James went off for 48 - scoring 29 of his team's last 30 points in every way imaginable in game #5 versus the Pistons. It was like watching a video game come to life.

First, thank you to Flip Saunders for not taking the ball out of James' hands earlier in possessions down the stretch. I never thought a veteran, Pistons team would allow James to beat them single-handedly. Last year, Detroit made other Cavaliers make buckets. They didn't and the Pistons advanced. Last night, they allowed a great player, playing at his peak, to impose his will. Mistake!

Secondly, the loss of Ben Wallace showed up again yesterday as James was able to get to the rim on a consistent basis. Having only one shot blocker in the paint (R. Wallace) instead of two obviously hurts the Pistons' interior defense. Having two terrific post defenders was a luxury they (Detroit) no longer possess and it showed in game #5. Only James, due to his rare combination of strenght, speed and size could expose that fact.

Third, someone please tell the Cavaliers' coaching staff to save one timeout for the end of the game. The timeout called by the Cavs in the final minute prior to an inbound underneath their own basket nearly cost them the win. Mike Brown has done this before. There's no reason why you can't inbound the ball there since the inbounder was permitted to run baseline after a Billups' second free throw make. Please save your final timeout in case you need it to advance the ball to halfcourt for one final decent look at the basket - as was needed last night with :03 seconds remaining.

Fourth, I hope the multitudes of E. Snow bashers give the veteran point guard the credit he deserves after that performance. In limited action, he forced a pair of C. Billups turnovers down the stretch and defended a much taller T. Prince well when called upon. No, he's not a 30 minute a night player any more and he would have trouble beating a good recreational league shooter in a game of horse, but he has a very high basketball IQ and is still an excellent defender. There's a reason why coaches still put him out on the floor. He will be a head coach in the NBA some day if he chooses to go into that profession after retiring.

Speaking of basketball IQ, S. Pavlovic should spend more time next to Snow and James on the team bus and on flights to and from. He has size, athleticism and can shoot, but he currently lacks the basketball IQ keeping him from becoming a consistent starting #2 guard in this league. He has made strides however in '06-07.

As game #6 approaches, the Cavaliers need to remember the basics in order to secure a trip to the 2007 Finals - like making free throws down the stretch. It went unnoticed in game #4s post-game analysis since the focus was on James' spectacular performance, but the Cavaliers' horrid fourth quarter free throw shooting should have them facing a 3-2 defict if not for Superman's act.

Finally, I have felt for the past two years that James was the best player in the game. Yet after game #4, a person I respect (Charles Barkley), lauded James' performance, but in the same breath mentioned that Kobe Bryant was "the best player in the game."

I beg to differ. James' teams have won more games and he has taken his squads much deeper into the playoffs than Kobe. Yes, Kobe plays out West, where we are told the teams are better. That's the case at the offensive end only. Put James out West, where many clubs give lip service to playing defense, and he might average a triple-double for the season - leaving absolutely no doubt as to how good he truly is and how much better he makes his mates.

Finally, I expect the Pistons to play their best game of the series in game #6. The Cavaliers however should have no excuses after this one. They have the best player on the court and his teammates should be well-rested after watching him but them on his back in game #5. It should be fun to watch.