King James Gospel
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Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just proved you wrong, again

By Jason Timpf

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the second half with LeBron James #23 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 20, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Cleveland won the game 116-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the second half with LeBron James #23 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 20, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Cleveland won the game 116-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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It has been a long time coming, but the Cleveland Cavaliers finally look like the dominant basketball force we expected to see much earlier in the season.

Hey everyone, guess what? You fell for it. Again. You somehow managed to convince yourself that the best player in the history of basketball — still at the height of his powers and surrounded by sufficient help — was vulnerable. The Cleveland Cavaliers have now won five straight, and seven of nine. They are 5-0 against the Celtics, Pistons, Wizards, and Bucks. They have the fourth-best offense in the league and just held a top-ten offense to 62 points in three quarters on their home floor.

The funny thing is that there really is no excuse. For six seasons and counting, we’ve seen just three basketball entities strike Lebron down. Greg Popovich, a fractured Kyrie kneecap and a freaky assembly of four All-NBA players (and he’s managed to avenge two of those).

The problem is us, honestly, us basketball writers. There is a certain level of narcissism that leads a writer to believe the public is actually interested in hearing what he/she has to say.

So we hop on and off bandwagons. We advance narratives that portray us as ahead of the curve.

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For instance, Lebron James is having just as impressive a season as Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you add points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, Giannis is averaging 47.9 to Lebron’s 46.6. But Lebron is shooting a 5% higher true shooting percentage and his team has a better record despite similar supporting casts.

And yet, who have you heard more about in the MVP conversation? I’ve even seen lists with Kristaps Porzingis ahead of Lebron.

Writers like to tell ourselves that we’re operating on some sort of higher plane. Meanwhile reality — aka Lebron James — is perpetually slapping us in the face.

This is the genesis of #savagemode.

As it turns out, the simple game of basketball can be turned on its head by certain indomitable forces. Natural laws of the game cease to function in their wake. As long as Lebron is playing like this, you can no longer disqualify his team based on age or effort.

Now, that team in the bay is still around. The Cavaliers certainly must reach even greater heights in order to threaten the Warriors. But no traditional basketball entity — even a good team with a transcendent coach in Boston — can threaten Lebron James.

The Cavaliers will look feeble again at some point in the near future. When it happens you will see many writers, like myself, bloviate about how slow Dwyane Wade looks or the defensive ineptitude of Isaiah Thomas. But make no mistake, Lebron James will be hoisting the Eastern Conference championship trophy.

Must Read: 3 Cavaliers that have stepped up while the team is shorthanded

It is time we learn our lesson.