LeBron James is back in Cleveland’s court, and a new book The Redemption of the King just hit the shelves. Author Vince McKee covers James’s entire journey in every detail both on and off the court — from the start of his career with the Cavaliers in Cleveland to his departure to Miami, his time with the Heat, and finally, the highly anticipated return of the “King.”
The Redemption of the King is a story that revolves more around hometown pride and character than money or celebrity. Over the next five days SheridanHoops.com exclusively will bring you excerpts of the new book, published by Clerisy Press. Click here to purchase.
Chapter 3: Beating Detroit and the NBA Finals
The 2006–07 season was a roller-coaster ride that, ironically, had Cleveland achieving a record identical to that of the previous season: 50–32. What was different was that this season, their record qualified them for a second seed in the playoffs instead of a fourth seed. This also meant that the Cavaliers would be on the opposite side of the bracket with the Detroit Pistons, and a potential rematch would not take place until the Eastern Conference Finals.
Click on this photo of “The Redemption of the Kings” to purchase.
LeBron continued to improve. By the end of the season, he had finished with a 27.3-point average, along with averaging 6.7 rebounds and 6 assists per game. He was seen as one of the top five players in the league in only his fourth season in pro basketball. The first-round playoff series was a rematch against the Washington Wizards. The result was far different from the previous season’s dramatic series: Cleveland swept the Wizards under the rug with ease in four straight games. LeBron continued to dominate, and the Cavaliers made quick work of the Wizards.
Round two would be a tougher task, because the team was up against Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and the much improved New Jersey Nets. The Cavaliers won game one with ease, and LeBron’s 36-point effort in game two enabled them to roll past New Jersey and take a 2–0 series lead. New Jersey bounced back at home, though, and won game three to climb back in the series. In game four, Hughes chipped in 19 points alongside LeBron’s 30 to secure a narrow 87–85 victory against New Jersey. Two games later, Cleveland finished New Jersey off in the series, 4–2, advancing to the Eastern Conference Championship series to once again play the Detroit Pistons.
Game one in Detroit ended in dramatic fashion, as LeBron had a chance to put Cleveland ahead in the closing seconds but instead opted to pass off to teammate Donyell Marshall, who promptly missed a three-pointer to give Detroit the win. LeBron would undergo extreme criticism following the game for not taking the shot. Marshall had hit 6 three-pointers in game six of the semifinals, clinching the win against New Jersey a few nights prior, and LeBron saw that Marshall was wide open for the shot. Despite playing the Pistons tough all night and holding a lead numerous times, the Cavaliers still lost game one 79–76.
Game two would follow almost the exact storyline as the previous night. Once again, the game came down to the end with Cleveland having the ball and a chance to win. This time, however, LeBron didn’t hesitate to drive the lane and try to take the game-winning shot. He was fouled hard by numerous Detroit Pistons, only the referees chose not to call it, and the Detroit Pistons eventually got the rebound, ending Cleveland’s chance. The Detroit Pistons made some foul shots after Coach Brown’s technical penalty for arguing the fouls on LeBron not being called. Brown was livid, and he had every right to be, as the Detroit Pistons were hammering LeBron every time he touched the ball. The final score matched game one, with the Detroit
Pistons on top 79–76.
The Cavaliers used their anger and heartbreak from both of the close losses to come out hungry and aggressive in game three back in Cleveland. The series continued to be physical, but the Cavaliers fought hard and won games three and four to even up the series. This series was following a timeline identical to the previous year’s, and game five was setting up to be every bit as crucial and dramatic. Cleveland again showed the willingness and strength not to break despite being down 2–0 in the series as they had the year before. It was another sign that LeBron’s dominance gave the Cavaliers momentum and confidence despite how bleak a situation looked. As long as LeBron was on the roster, the Cavaliers and their fans knew that the team had a chance to win any game and any series. A player with the heart, hustle, and determination that LeBron carries with him every time his feet touch the court is unstoppable.
Game five of the Eastern Conference Finals took place on May 31, 2007, and thanks to LeBron it would go down as one of the greatest games of all time. In one of the best playoff efforts in the history of the game, LeBron scored his team’s last 25 points to lead the Cavaliers to a 109–107 double overtime victory. LeBron scored 29 of his team’s last 30 points, and the Pistons had no answer for him. NBA fans everywhere
sat in awe as he singlehandedly took the game over late in the fourth quarter and carried his teammates to the game-five win.
Despite the outcome in the NBA Finals—a sweep by the San Antonio Spurs—the run of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 playoffs will always be remembered as the coming-out party for LeBron. Carman gave his reasons as to why they couldn’t get past San Antonio in the finals: “The San Antonio Spurs were a complete team full of great shooters being coached by a legendary coach in Gregg Popovich. They played great team basketball. It is humbling, but it shows you what to do as a measuring stick on how to reach that next level. In a team sport like basketball you have to be humble and not let one guy take over.” In a matter of four years the Cavaliers had managed to rebound from having the league’s worst record to reaching the NBA Finals. It was a remarkable turnaround, and now the only question remaining was not if they could get back to the finals, but when they did, could they win it all?
Click here to order your copy of “Redemption of the King” for $18.95.
PART I: Introduction
PODCAST: Vince McKee discusses his new book on Cleveland’s TheSportsFix.
Vince McKee is a growing force in the world of sports literature. His first four books, Hero, Cleveland’s Finest, Jacobs Field, and The Cleveland Cavaliers: A History of the Wine and Gold, all helped build his credibility as a top-notch chronicler of the impact of Ohio sports. He currently travels the country meeting with the public to spread the message of Hero. Vince is an avid Cleveland sports fan who enjoys spending time with his wife, Emily, and their daughter, Maggie. He is always willing to speak with his fans and critics and can be contacted by e-mail ([email protected]) or followed on Twitter (@vincetheauthor).