Lebron James’ return to Cleveland: NBA Special
When Lebron James last visited the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 2nd 2010, there was an outright hostility from the crowd. They booed him, chanted ‘Akron hates you’, accompanied by obscene gestures. For Lebron, it was just another day at work,
an away game with rowdy fans, as he silenced the arena with a 38 point-performance, and grabbed a 118 – 90 win for the Miami Heat.
Nearly four months have passed since then. And with James and the Heat returning to Cleveland for another fixture on Tuesday, the two-time MVP is hopeful the crowd will be a little tamer this time around.
"Can't get no worse than it was December 2nd,'' James said.”I know that for a fact.''
That game had a huge role in both teams’ fortunes, as the Heat team have went on to register a 41 -14 record since that night. As for the Cavaliers, they were 7-10 that night, and have now fallen to the worst record in the league at 14 – 58.
"That was a huge step for us,'' James added.”After that game, we took off.''
Lebron was excited about the opportunity to meet his family in Akron. "That'll be good,'' he said. Lebron travelled to Ohio a day early to meet with his sons and spend some time with friends before the game on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Coach Byron Scott was quick to downplay the hype about Lebron’s return to Cleveland this week.
"I can't remember the last time somebody said something about Lebron to me'' he said on Monday. “I don't think it's going to be quite that crazy. I don't think it's going to be a zoo like it was last time. It might be two notches below what it was. It's
still going to be a very intense type game. I think fans remember what happened last time we played here and so do we.”
According to him, gone are the days when he was told everyday by the fans that the only thing that was important for the Cavaliers, the only thing that mattered, was to beat Lebron and the Miami Heat.
The Cleveland fans, dejected by their team’s dismal season have apparently moved on.
The last time Lebron was in town, he received a warm-welcome from his team-mates, something that was widely criticised by the fans as they considered the All-Star forward to be a traitor. The Cavs were accused of being soft on James and not fouling him hard
on open drives, while Anderson Varejao was blasted hard by the hard-core Cleveland fans for hugging James during a pre-game chat.
But when James returns to play his former team on this occasion, he might not find many familiar faces.
With Varejao and Antawn Jamison sideline due to injuries and Mo Williams and Jamario Moon traded away, the only ones that Lebron might remember are Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker, and J.J.Hickson.
Point-guard Baron Davis, one of the new acquisitions was upbeat about the whole scenario of facing the Miami Heat. He promised a good-matchup.
"We're not going to be laughing and joking'' Davis said. ''Ain't going to be a lot of smiles''
The Miami Heat enters the game on a five-game win streak, and has won eight of its last nine games. The Cavs will have their work cut out for them as the Heat’s Big Three of Lebron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have been singeing from the floor lately.
Tags: