CAVS DRUB PISTONS TO COMPLETE SERIES SWEEP

Even without watching Sunday’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, it would be pretty easy to figure out the storyline:  LeBron James had another dominant performance, Cleveland routed Detroit and the Cavs move on to the second round after a 4-0 opening round sweep.  To be more specific, LeBron just missed a ‘triple double’ for the second straight game and the Cavs thumped the Pistons 99-78 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.  Cleveland will now return home to await the winner of the Atlanta Hawks/Miami Heat series.  With Miami leading 2-1, the Cavs could enjoy a break of over a week before their second round series begins.

LeBron James posted another phenomenal ‘day at the office’ with 36 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists.  Mo Williams added 24 and Delonte West 12 to round out Cleveland’s double digit scorers.  More importantly, the Cavs were tenacious on defense holding Detroit to 39.7% shooting.  Antonio McDyess led Detroit with a ‘double/double’ consisting of 24 points and 10 rebounds, with reserve Will Bynum chipping in for 22 points.  The only other Piston to score more than six points was Rodney Stuckey with 14.

So thorough was Cleveland’s domination that they became only the third team in NBA history to sweep a series with every win coming by a double digit margin (the 1980 Celtics and 2004 Pacers are the other two to pull the feat).  And should anyone need more convincing of LeBron James’ greatness, all he did during the series was average 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.  His performance in the sweep of the Pistons made LeBron only third player in NBA history to average 30 points, 10 boards and 7 assists in a postseason series—he joins a couple of ‘pretty fair’ players named Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson with his ridiculous all around basketball excellence. As if that weren’t enough, LeBron became only the second player in NBA history along with Oscar Robertson to score 1,300 points, 400 rebounds and 350 assists in his first 50 career postseason games. 

Described by Cavs’ coach Mike Brown as a ‘workaholic’, LeBron credits his work ethic for his transformation from a skinny high school kid to the best player in basketball in just five years:

"You're only born with a certain amount of gifts. You have to take advantage of them, and put in the work. My work ethic has helped me be the player I am today."

LeBron also commented that the resulting time off before the next series will be crucial for his team:

"For us to get a week off before our next game is big. That's what happens when you take care of business.”

Detroit, meanwhile, is in shambles despite making the playoffs.  Their summer will be spent figuring out how to rebuild the team with $20 million in free space under the salary cap.  Even more embarrassing than the first round sweep was the tepid support the Piston’s received on their home court which at times more closely resembled a Cavs home game.  In game four, several chants of ‘M-V-P’ were directed at LeBron along with a few ‘Let’s Go Cavs’ cheers.  Said Detroit’s leading scorer McDyess:

“It was just embarrassing.”

No matter what happens this summer, it will almost certainly be a drastically different Detroit Pistons team that takes the floor next fall.  Alan Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are almost certainly gone and there are few ‘untouchables’ on the roster.  A bigger task may be rebuilding the Piston fanbase’s enthusiasm for their team.