The streak is at 24, and for the second straight game it looked in jeopardy. In what LeBron James said was one of the most bizarre nights of his career, the Heat stormed back from 27 points down against the Cavs. Normally, a LeBron return to Cleveland is enough of a story in itself, but throw in the streak, 2014 free agency and a fan storming the court and last night was hugely strange game for the NBA...and hugely entertaining too.
Let's start with last night's game. The Cavs were without star Kyire Irving, Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao, and still managed to get a 27-point lead on Miami mid-way through the third quarter. But a karmic twist from The Decision was not to be found for Cleveland. Miami woke up in the third, made the game close, and then used the fourth to take the lead and essentially rip out the heart of Cleveland once again. And for the second time as a member of the Heat playing in Cleveland, LeBron had a triple-double.
This hasn't been the first game against a lottery team where Miami has collectively exhaled after the game. This streak has seen the Heat do it all against the bad teams. A LeBron game-winner against Orlando, a double overtime thriller with Sacramento, and now two big comebacks in Boston and Cleveland have made a few of Miami's wins more interesting than perhaps we all thought beforehand. But throw in decisive wins against the Clippers, Thunder, Bulls and Pacers, and it's clear the Heat have no problem playing 48 minutes against playoff teams.We know that the Heat are getting the opponent's A-game every single night, which makes this streak so impressive.
Finally, let's speculate on a 2014 return to Cleveland for LeBron. If he so chooses to opt out and becoming an unrestricted free agent in summer 2014 there will be half a dozen teams that will clear space ahead of time and realistically have a chance to sign LeBron, two of those teams are sure to be the Heat and Lakers. Decision 2.0? Maybe
For LeBron to become a Cav once again, things must play out like this: The 2013-2014 isn't the fun ride that last year was for Miami. Dwyane Wade has clearly lost multiple steps and is barely able to make the All-Star team. Meanwhile in Cleveland, Kyrie Irving further improves (think 2011 D-Rose) and wills the Cavs into the playoffs with help from development of Waiters and Tristan Thompson. In the playoffs, Miami loses in the Finals or perhaps even earlier, leaving LeBron with that bad taste in his mouth where he will seriously consider life removing his talents from South Beach.
Consensus: If the Heat keep winning, LeBron will stay. Why wouldn't he?
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