The Cavaliers were in the dumps. A four-game losing streak and questions about their offense and defense and everything. This was not how things were supposed to go.
James came forward and said he had to be better. It was him that needed to improve and be better. A better leader.
All that was to say, James was going to decide to turn his play up a few notches. He was going to make himself better and, therefore, make his team better.
Orlando was the first victim. James scored 16 of his 29 points in the first quarter as the Cavaliers blew out the Magic. This was MVP LeBron.
So how would he do against a more Playoff-appropriate opponent like the Wizards? A team that defeated the Cavaliers less than a week ago and has always had designs of derailing James.
Nope. Not going to happen.
No more losing for the Cavaliers. Here they come.
James scored 29 points Wednesday night on 7-for-14 shooting, a startling display of efficiency. Maybe the kind we have come to expect from James after a decade of domination in the league. Cleveland dominated Washington.
Here they come.
The Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 113-87 at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. John Wall was held to six points. Bradley Beal was held to 10 points — he is still coming back from injury. Rasual Butler scored 23 points to lead the Wizards. The Cavaliers had this one in the bag with a 31-18 first quarter.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
| Washington | 87 | 94.9 | 50.0 | 21.9 | 19.6 | 31.0 |
| Cleveland | 113 | 120.6 | 55.4 | 26.9 | 10.7 | 51.4 |
Rasual Butler (WAS) — 23 pts.; John Wall (WAS) — 15 pts.
LeBron James (CLE) — 29 pts., 10 rebs., 8 assts.; Kevin Love (CLE) — 21 pts.
Game to Watch (11/28): Grizzlies vs. Blazers, 10 p.m.
It appears the Cavaliers are going to blitz teams early. At least while James is in this mood. This awful, awful mood. So much for Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins (or Stephen Curry) winning the MVP.
James scored 29 points, added 10 rebounds and had eight assists. Kyrie Irving scored 18 points and Kevin Love scored 21 points. Dion Waiters had 15 off the bench. That is going to be the story for the offense of this Cavaliers team.
Especially now that James had opted to pick up his pace. Here come the Cavaliers.
At 7-7, Cleveland is still an early season disappointment. No one had them hovering around .500 at any point this season. The Cavaliers have a chance to build some wins before a Dec. 5 game against the Raptors. The Raptors are the best team in the East at the moment and that will be the big test for the Cavaliers.
The journey to discovering who the Cavaliers are though has begun. It continues.
And the Cavs are coming. LeBron James will not let them hang around .500 for too long.
