CLEVELAND — LeBron James could not have played any worse, from the
opening tap to the final buzzer. And this was his homecoming, no less, a day
James matter-of-factly called “probably one of the biggest sporting events that
is up there ever.”
If you say so, LeBron.
But if you’re the one hyping the game like a boxing promoter, you’d
better come out flying. James came out flat and stayed flat as Derek Fisher
recorded his first career coaching victory in the Knicks’ surprising 95-90 win
over the Cavaliers Thursday night.
“It was a huge night,” James said afterward at his locker. “It was
exciting for the fans, exciting for the city. Now we can just play basketball.”
It was an exercise in futility against a beaten-down Knicks team that
had been embarrassed 24 hours earlier in their season opener against the
Chicago Bulls.
James may never get another chance to make a second impression.
Funny thing is, his night looked an awful lot like the last
biggest-ever sporting event in Cleveland. That was in 2010 against the Boston
Celtics when James stood passively in the corner as the Cavs’ season was
slipping away.
That defining performance was James’ final home game in a Cavs uniform
until Thursday, a night all of Ohio had been waiting for since LeBron announced
he was taking his talents to South Beach.
Anyone have any idea when that talent is being shipped back?
His final line was cringe-inducing, especially for the so-called
world’s greatest player; 5-for-15, 17 points, eight turnovers. That’s one more
turnover for every championship James promised Miami Heat fans.
“I’m mostly glad it’s over,” he added.
You knew that the questions about the Cavs would arrive sooner rather
than later. David Blatt is a rookie coach while Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are
two All-Stars with a combined zero games of playoff experience. No one ever
thought we’d be questioning James before Halloween.
This is not what he signed up for, that’s for sure. He, of course, is
Dan Gilbert, the Cavs owner who threw a public temper tantrum when LeBron
exited in 2010 and now stands to make a small fortune with James returning
home.
There will be better days ahead for James and the Cavs. We think. Look
no further than the Knicks, who trailed by as many as 35 on Wednesday,
prompting J.R. Smith to accuse his teammates of checking out after the third
quarter. On Thursday, Fisher’s group showed a little fight after falling behind
by 11 in the second quarter and went on to ruin James’ big night.
Fisher, who started Shane Larkin opposite Irving and Quincy Acy
opposite Love, should be proud of himself and his team. That first victory is
always special. Getting it against James in this setting is something Fisher
will never forget.
James isn’t going to forget this one anytime soon, either. It’s been a
hectic week for him, starting with the birth of his daughter.
The build-up to the home opener was intense. The streets around Quicken
Loans Arena were teeming with fans hours before tip-off. The plan was to have a
small percentage walk through Gilbert’s strategically placed casino before
entering the Q. There was a large media presence and a few A-list celebrities
sitting courtside. The Cavs’ 82-game circus, plus playoffs, is just beginning.
Of course, James has all the silly pregame rituals down pat: the
rehearsed handshakes with teammates and tossing the powder in the air. It was
the actual game he struggled with. After all the talk about his summer
weight-loss program, James lacked explosiveness and energy. He worried too much
about getting his teammates involved and had a tendency to overpass.
Carmelo Anthony was similarly confused and passive on Wednesday but
appeared more sure of himself against the Cavs, scoring 25 points, including a
game-clinching jumper over James in the final minute.
“That was a dagger,” James said.
Because of a scheduling quirk, the Knicks won’t return to Cleveland
this season unless the teams face each other in the playoffs.
That will be the next great sporting event in Cleveland. Maybe then
James will show up.
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