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Coach proclaims MVP, as star has triple-double for second game in row
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS: He's admittedly biased, but Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has seen enough to make his declaration.
Perhaps it was the afterglow of a 106-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers, perhaps it was hyperbole, perhaps it was because he's run out of verbal accolades for his star.
After watching LeBron James carry the Cavs to another fourth-quarter comeback Wednesday night, despite some trying circumstances, the coach was in full gush mode.
''What can I say? He's the MVP. He's the MVP this year,'' Brown said. ''I don't care how many games are left, or whatnot. This guy is terrific. He does everything out on the floor. He doesn't just score, he doesn't just get people easy shots, he doesn't just rebound, he defends. He guarded shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards tonight.''
It was quite a night for James. . . . again.
He had his second triple-double in as many nights, putting up 31 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. It's the second time this season James has had triple-doubles on back-to-back nights. It's the first time a player's done that since Magic Johnson in the 1987-88 season.
James had 10 points and seven rebounds in the fourth quarter as he took the Cavs (30-24) to their 19th fourth-quarter comeback victory of the season. And he did it in the wake of an emotional moment, when the Cavs might have lost another player for a while because of injury.
''It's a tremendous feat,'' James said of his triple-double binge and tying Johnson. ''I'm just happy we got the win.''
As has been the case quite often this season, it came at a cost. With 4:55 left in the third quarter, Pacers guard Travis Diener rolled up on the left leg of Cavs guard Daniel Gibson. Gibson left the game with a sprained left ankle.
Gibson, who had 15 points on 5-of-5 3-pointers before the injury, said he wasn't sure whether it was a high-ankle sprain or a low-ankle sprain. The nature of the injury, though, seemed to suggest it was the more serious high-ankle variety. He will have an MRI today at the Cleveland Clinic to determine how bad it is, but he could be facing some extended time away.
Moments after Gibson left the court after rolling around in pain, the players on the Cavs' bench looked like they were at a funeral, as they faced losing another key player. In addition, Ira Newble had to leave the floor with back spasms, and Drew Gooden's groin injury was acting up after he had put up 17 points.
But as has been the case often this season, the Cavs picked themselves up and fought through it, led by James.
''We needed someone else to step up and we did it. It is not the best thing to happen to us right now,'' James said.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes joined James in the fight down the stretch. With James getting massive attention, both were freed up to make jumpers, and they did so. During a 10-0 run late in the fourth, Ilgauskas scored six points and Hughes made a 3-pointer that buried the Pacers.
Ilgauskas finished with 14 points at 17 rebounds, and Hughes had 19 points.
The Cavs also tightened their defense in the fourth quarter, holding the Pacers (21-33) to 5-of-21 shooting. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 30 points.
''I'm going to get us in the best position to make plays in the fourth quarter. I attract so much attention that a lot of guys are going to get open looks,'' James said. ''I'm going to do my thing no matter who's in or who's out.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
INDIANAPOLIS: He's admittedly biased, but Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has seen enough to make his declaration.
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