The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
James has found fountain of youth
It seems ages ago the Cavaliers were 5-7 and playing more like pretenders than legitimate NBA title contenders.
Just a bit more than one month since, they are 20-8 and hot on the heels of the Celtics and exCavs standout Kyrie Irving for the best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
The Cavs have reversed those fortunes because LeBron James has found the fountain of youth. He was his usual formidable self Dec. 12 in a 123114 victory over Atlanta at Quicken Loans Arena. He finished with 25 points while making 11 of 13 shots, matched his careerhigh with 17 assists and grabbed seven rebounds in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score.
It can only be hoped Cavs fans aren’t taking for granted what the soon-tobe 33-year-old Akron native is doing in his 15th NBA season.
This is rare stuff.
Not a one-man show
In the easy win over the Hawks, the four-time Most Valuable Player got plenty of help in the scoring column. Fellow starters Kevin Love (17), Jose Calderon (14) and Jae Crowder (13) all reached double figures. J.R. Smith scored only three points but finished with eight assists, one shy of his career high.. Even with veteran guard Dwyane Wade held out with knee soreness, the second unit again excelled with 51 points.
Kyle Korver, another Cavs player sipping from the fountain of youth, recorded 19 points. He made six of his team’s 20 3-pointers. The 35-year-old veteran of 14 seasons has as good a shooting stroke as you’ll see in a league loaded with long-range snipers. Every time the ball leaves his hands, his aim looks true.
Veteran forward Jeff Green added 17 points and again augmented his teammates’ outside shooting with old-school work on the inside.
This group of reserves is by far the best James has had to work with in his 11 seasons with the Cavs. You get the best player on the planet working with two top-flight units, and that team is going places.
Best is yet to come
As well as the Cavs are playing, it stands to reason they’ll be even better when restored to full strength.
Tristan Thompson got back on the floor briefly against the Hawks after missing six weeks and 19 games with an injured calf. The Cavs have the luxury of working him back into the rotation slowly at center behind Love, now the starter.
More tantalizing is the prospect of high-scoring point guard Isaiah Thomas being cleared to play soon after his long recovery from hip surgery. Obtained from the Celtics in the trade for Irving, Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game last season and finished fifth in the MVP voting.
As well as Calderon, Wade and the indomitable James are manning the point in his absence, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue will be able to ease Thomas back into a rotation that’s as deep and potent as any in the league.
Contact Glasier at DGlasier@News-Herald. com; On Twitter: @nhglasier