King James Gospel
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Expect LeBron to Squash Bulls Tonight

By Jared Mueller

May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) in the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) in the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to knock the Chicago Bulls out of the NBA Playoffs. Expect a big game.

Tonight’s game between the Cavs and Bulls is a big one for a variety of reasons. The Cavs can lock up home court throughout the Eastern Conference side of the NBA Playoffs, they can bounce back from a loss to the Indiana Pacers and they can start to gel going into the final two games of the season.

Possibly even more important, the Cavs can knock the Bulls out of the Playoffs.

Based on his history, expect LeBron James to have a huge game tonight to squash the dwindling hopes of his Central Division foes.

James’ teams have eliminated the Bulls from the NBA Playoffs in 4 of the last 6 seasons. Starting in 2009-10 with the Cavs, then 10-11 and 12-13 with the Miami Heat and then again last year, LeBron has led the team that put the dagger in the Bulls heart.

This year, LBJ gets a chance to do so even before Chicago makes the NBA Playoffs.

Maybe it is the legacy of his childhood hero Michael Jordan but LeBron has seemed to always get up for games against the Bulls. For his career, in 47 games, James is averaging 28.2 points per game along with 7.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He has only scored more points per game against 6 other teams, with 3 of those averaging just .1 points per game more.

His almost 1 assist less per game, compared to his overall career average, also suggests that he is taking the offensive load on himself against Jordan’s former team.

Just being a Division rival doesn’t seem to be the only motivation, besides Jordan, either. While LeBron plays well against the teams he plays often (highest scoring total is against Boston, who he has played 42 times compared to Chicago at 47 times), is there more to it?

Oh yeah! Derrick Rose won the MVP trophy over LeBron in 2010-11.

If LBJ loves to put daggers on people who wear his shoes, how much more against a player that has “his” trophy?

Many people believed that LeBron was the MVP that year but was hurt by his reputation after leaving the Cavs for Miami. Rose was better from the free throw line and had 1.1 assists per game more than James that season. LeBron’s stats were amazing since he was playing with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade for the first time.

Think LeBron doesn’t remember “his” trophy going to Rose and the Bulls? The Heat destroyed the #1 seed Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, 4 games to 1. LeBron averaged 25.8 points, 8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in the series while playing the most minutes of any player in the series.

Remember this from last year?

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So tonight, with the chance to once again knock out Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, expect LeBron James to put on a clinic. With a couple days of rest, extra after sitting out the Pacers loss, expect LeBron to be aggressive going to the hole, rebounding and defending. Anytime he gets matched up with Rose, expect him to attack him and treat him like the little brother.

Tonight, the Cavs are likely to lock up the #1 seed in the East and knock out the Bulls from the NBA Playoffs. We expect LeBron James to do so with authority.

What stat line are you expecting from LBJ tonight?