As if Lebron James had not been playing out of his mind enough, the NBA this week fueled his fire with a little good old fashioned angst.
First, the NBA snubbed Lebron's teammate -point guard Mo Williams- leaving him off the All-Star team. Then, when Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson had to withdraw from the All-Star due to a season ending injury, the league again snubbed Williams in selecting Ray Allen as Nelson's replacement. James, a true team oriented guy, was truly offended that the league's coaches would overlook the point guard who has been so instrumental in Cleveland's emergence as a contender. It had to sting even more when NBA Commissioner David Stern passed over Williams in favor of Allen.
The snub certainly seems to have strengthened Cleveland's team chemistry, as several players have rallied behind Williams and expressed their support for him. Just what the rest of the NBA's teams wanted, a Cleveland team with even stronger chemistry... but I have a feeling that the league may have opened an even bigger can of worms with a decision it made this afternoon.
By now you have surely heard of Lebron's record setting 50 point, 10 rebound, 11 assist, and 2 block performance against the New York Knicks Wednesday night. No opponent had ever had a triple double with that many points at Madison Square Garden. It was a feat Lebron seemed to be proud of, despite his claim that he was not trying for anything so spectacular.
But this afternoon the NBA announced that in it's review of game footage, they discovered that Lebron should have finished with 9 rebounds instead of 10. A delayed decision that renders Lebron's performance that night as less than a first, if not still spectacular.
For a legacy conscious guy like Lebron, this one has to hit close to home. And at the moment, Lebron and his teammates are probably feeling a little bit like the NBA's red headed step child. Like it's the Cavaliers vs. the world. This kind of attitude tends to strengthen the focus of a team, and it will likely bolster the Cavaliers' already tight chemistry. Right about now, this team feels like it has something to prove. They started the season with a championship or bust mantra, but now they are probably twice as driven to avenge what has to feel like a series of slights against them. Look out NBA. If this team lacked focus leading up to this week, they surely have tunnel vision with their eyes on the trophy now.
Up to now, we have seen a happy, comfortable Lebron and company- and look what they've achieved so far. Given the body of work we've already seen this season, can anyone hoestly say they want to meet an angry and even more determined Cavaliers team in the playoffs? At the very least -with the thrillingly close competition between the Cavs, Celtics, and Lakers- this year's playoffs should be one for the ages.

Hilary Rhoda
Irina Shayk



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