LeBron secures his first trip to playoffs in style

[bad_meetz_evil]

CLEVELAND - LeBron James was in seventh grade the last time the Cleveland Cavaliers played in the postseason.

And he wasn’t even a Cavaliers fan.

“I was a Bulls fan — all Michael Jordan back then. I’m all Cavs now,” James said.

James helped end the NBA’s third-longest playoff drought by scoring 46 points in a 107-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, clinching Cleveland’s first postseason berth since 1998.

The league’s brightest young star will be playing in late April for the first time in his three years with the Cavaliers. James said he was pleased, especially after missing the playoffs by one game last season.

“I’ve always felt since I was drafted here that I was going to light it up like Vegas,” James said. “I said that on Day One once I got drafted. It’s been slow progress, but it takes a few years to put a building up in Vegas, too.”

The Cavaliers were low-key about their accomplishment, leaving the court without celebrating.

“We have bigger goals than that,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “If the fans want to celebrate and the city wants to celebrate, that’s fine. We expected to be in the playoffs.”

Only the Warriors and Clippers have had longer current absences from the postseason. Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the only remaining player from the 1997-98 playoff team, other than general manager Danny Ferry who was a reserve on that squad.

Against the Mavs, James was relentless driving to the basket and made several spectacular dunks. He shot 16-of-23 and 4-of-7 from 3-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists as he led the Cavaliers to their sixth straight win.

He was still in the game long after the score was out of reach, and took a couple vicious fouls before finally leaving to a standing ovation with 2:18 left.

“Before the game started I pulled him to the side and said, ‘Tonight you solidify your legacy,’ ” Cavaliers forward Donyell Marshall said. “A lot of people say he’s not going to be a legit star until he makes the playoffs. You clinch it tonight what else can they say. Only thing they can hold him to now is a championship.”

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and Jerry Stackhouse had 23 to lead Dallas, which has lost three of four.

The Mavericks (54-18) fell 1½ games behind San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

[YouDontKnowMe1633]

Mvp Mvp

[Appels]

^Can you try posting somethings worthwhile...

EDIT: LeBron is NOT overrated. He is an excellent player in an excellent franchise. They may have made the playoffs this year, but they will lose. This is a team of the future.

[Assassin™]

^Backatcha

James is still somewhat overrated, but as a team, Clevland has played hard this year and deserves their playoff spot.

[YouDontKnowMe1633]

James is no where near overrated.. Hughes has been hurt and he's still carrying his team on his back to the playoffs