LeBron James dropped 57 points in the win against the Washington Wizards. He also became the youngest NBA player to reach the 29,000-point mark. But more than the score and all-time scoring record, ending the Cleveland Cavaliers’ four-game losing streak was the best thing to happen for the worried Cavaliers fans. For LeBron, when the going gets tough, it’s time to take control of the game, and he did.
The King has taken over
Expectations were very high for LeBron James to help break the curse after the Cleveland Cavaliers picked up their fourth straight loss last Nov.
1 (Wednesday). And he did it with style, scoring 57 points to help defeat the Washington Wizards which had six players scoring in double digits.
According to ESPN, LeBron James became the youngest NBA player in the league’s colorful history to reach the 29,000-point mark at 32 years, 308 days. He finished the game with a new score total of 29,049 points. It was only the 11th time in his illustrious career that he scored at least 50 points; the last time was when he dropped a career-high 61 points back in March 2014 against the then-Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets).
LeBron also joined future Hall of Famer, Kobe Bryant, as the only players to have scored at least 50 points in one game in their 15th season or later.
King James also tied former teammate Kyrie Irving’s franchise record of 57 points. LeBron also shot made 23 field goals – a new career high. To complete his stats, LeBron was also perfect from the free throw line, grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, and dished out seven assists.
Rose has blossomed
When the game is on the line, LeBron came out with guns blazing.
And so was the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player, Derrick Rose. And at the night when the Cleveland Cavaliers was on the brink of a possible five-game losing streak, the former MVP has delivered.
It’s not that Rose hasn’t been much of help for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, the former Rookie of the Year averaged 15.0 points per game before the tossup against John Wall, Bradley Beal, and the Washington Wizards.
But more than his consistency on the floor, his signature daredevil attacks to the basket has made his contribution even more appealing.
Rotation problem
Their last four losses blatantly bared the Cleveland Cavaliers’ player rotation problem. A few reasons according to Dwyane Wade: communication, inconsistencies, and injuries.
A couple of games back, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose weren’t around while Iman Shumpert was out for two straight games now due to a sore knee. And then there’s Tristan Thompson who is reportedly out for 3-4 weeks with a calf injury.
But while facing rotation problems with key players on the injury list, Cavs head coach Ty Lue isn’t ready to give up just yet. “We're down a couple guys, so they'll get an opportunity, a chance to play a little bit," Lue said before Friday night’s game against the Wizards as posted by ESPN.
Of course, Isaiah Thomas (hip injury) isn’t expected to suit up for the Cleveland Cavaliers until January, yet this early, LeBron James is excited on what he could bring to the team, according to ESPN. Talking about motivating himself in getting back to top form after that preseason injury, LeBron teased that, “We still have a 30-point scorer, All-Star point guard that's coming soon. That's exciting.”
