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His goals for himself and his team are higher
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, May 04, 2008
WASHINGTON: When the Cavaliers won their first playoff series in 13 years in the final seconds of Game 6 against the Wizards in 2006, there was a pileup of players at center court.
Ostensibly it was on top of Damon Jones, who had made the winning shot, but it was LeBron James who started everything by tackling him in celebration and inviting others to follow. Then in his third season, James had never experienced anything like winning a playoff round and he celebrated the newness of it.
Just two years later, after another Game 6 and series win over the Wizards on Friday night, James calmly walked to the center of the court, shook hands with Caron Butler, did a television interview, and stopped to slap hands with his friends and agent courtside. As he left the floor, a Wizards fans hurled a curled up T-shirt at him, he looked and smiled — as if that was going to hurt him — tossed his towel to a Cavs fan and left the court.
The playoffs, once a zone he could just dream about after narrow misses in his first two years in the league, have become James' time to shine. His maturation from that first series victory until now, when he simply expects to advance, is remarkable even to himself.
''My first year I was excited I was able to finally get there,'' James said. ''Winning a playoff series was the best thing that ever happened to me at the time.''
Not anymore. James' expectations are different and he expects everyone around him to have high ones as well. He is now 5-2 in playoff series in his five-year career. In 39 career playoff games, he has averaged
27.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists as he sports an impressive 23-16 postseason record. And as the Cavs wait for their Eastern Conference semifinal opponent to be determined today when the Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks, he's not planning on slowing down.
''Now, every time I work out in the offseason, I am preparing to play until June and into the Finals,'' James said. ''I always want my team to know we're playing to make it into June. That is how I focus myself and make myself a better player.''
Even though every player on the Cavs roster has been in the playoffs before this season and players like Ben Wallace, who has a championship ring, have excess experience, James is allowed by the team to take on a general role. He is the one making speeches and setting the tone, even with elders all around him.
''Knowing these guys look up to me, even the older guys, that's a challenge,'' James said. ''To know what I say is in high demand is a challenge. I never disrespect any of my teammates but, at the same time, I want the best out of these guys.''
Being on his bandwagon has been rewarding. Fellow No. 1 overall pick Joe Smith, whom the Cavs picked up in their February trade, is in his 13th season in the NBA but advanced out of the first round for the first time. Wally Szczerbiak, in his ninth season, is advancing for just the second time. James wants to keep the feeling going.
''When Joe got into the league, I was just 9 years old, I had just started playing basketball,'' James said. ''You have to be locked in on another level in the postseason, you have to be mentally in tune. But it has been good to me in my short career.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
WASHINGTON: When the Cavaliers won their first playoff series in 13 years in the final seconds of Game 6 against the Wizards in 2006, there was a pileup of players at center court.
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