This time it’s personal (again)

As LeBron prepared to go back to Cleveland for what was only his second visit since leaving, he knew what to expect, or did he? James destroyed and embarrased the Cavs amongst a chorus of hostility earlier in the season and some were predicting an easier ride off the floor this time. These Cleveland fans aren’t ever going to forget however, and this response to seeing LeBron on their court in Heat colours could become a long standing ritual. Don’t underestimate how bad the good folk of Cleveland took his departure.

I’m not going back over old ground, but it is obvious that as so often in sports, a good proportion of the hatred is driven by the fact that they miss their LeBron so so much, and they are hurting. Add to that his pantomime departure and the media swarm surrounding it, and you can see why these Cav fans are still in denial. But last night they were able to excorcise some of their demons, as they poured out their grief all over the Heat.

The Cavs saw off Miami with a 12 point win, in what was the biggest of wins for the Cleveland fans. And not only did they put Miami to the sword, they did it in the midst of a LeBron triple double. James posted 27 points for the night, and for this writer that makes the victory even sweeter. Put yourself in the shoes of the Cavaliers’ Fan. Yes it’s nice to see LeBron get blocked at every attempt and to watch him melt before your very eyes, but isn’t it better to see him trying and trying and trying, and have an amazing game, to still walk off the court a loser?

Cleveland never went behind to the Heat in this game, and they put a very impressive 23 points between themselves and Miami in the third. Hickson led the team on the night wth 21 and 12 rebounds, and Parker and Hollins were also very instrumental in keeping the Heat down. Parker posted 20 and was on fire from the edge of the arc. The Cavs number 18 commented after the game at how badly they were beat-up last time out against Miami, and how they wanted revenge.

But what does this say about mentality and ability? This was only Cleveland’s fifteenth win of the season. If Byron Scott convinces his team that it’s LeBron and the Heat out there every night, do their standards improve? We get a lot of one-offs in sport, games where the one team just wants it that bit more, and that is what happened on Tuesday in Ohio. If professional sportsmen can raise themselves to this level for one game though, there is nothing to stop them rasing it again. It’s a mental upping, not an increase in ability. The crowd made them stronger, the desire made them better.

The Cavs will obviously take a lot out of this win, but they will need to take it in to next season with them currently rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. There’s a question I would love to know the answer to, and I think I could make a good guess at what the answer would be. Cleveland fans, factoring in that Lebron and the Heat would have gone 2-0 over you in your own backyard if not; would you swap that win for a eighth seed in the playoffs?