The Cleveland Cavaliers are down to their final four games of the regular season after Tuesday's impressive 112-106 win against the Toronto Raptors.
Of course, LeBron James did LeBron James-type things in the win, scoring 27 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. (More on Mr. James in a moment) Kevin Love also had a double-double.
But the story of the night, and of the last couple of games has been the rock-solid play of 36-year-old Jose Calderone. He scored 19 points and dished out four assists in the victory over the Raptors and has been an important part of the Cavs' late-season surge that has seen them win 9 of their last 10 games.
Jimmy and I discussed why Calderone seems to fit perfectly with James and Love during Tuesday's Donovan Live Postgame Show.
Also, what can we take from Monday's impressive NCAA National Championship victory by Villanova? Is Jay Wright ready for the NBA? He's bucking the trend of building a program with one-and-done freshmen stars like what we've seen with Kentucky and Duke. Are other teams going to try to follow suit?
Finally, let's consider the credentials of LeBron James in the discussion for the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Golden State's Kevin Durant weighed in on the MVP race with USA TODAY recently:
“James Harden,” he said when asked to make his pick.
Is it close?
“Nah.”
Not even with LeBron James making the kind of late push that has forced voters to take a closer look?
“I mean (LeBron) is definitely playing great ball, but I just think that James has had a way better year,” he added.
I have a feeling that the writers who pick the MVP are going to follow that logic.
Let's do a tale of the tape:
In 78 games this year, LeBron is averaging 27.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per contest.
In 68 games, Harden's numbers read a sterling 30.6 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds.
Houston has won 63 games this year and will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Cavs have yet to hit the 50 win mark. But considering the chaos that this season has produced with the Kyrie Irving trade, the Isaiah Thomas failed experiment, the massive flurry of trades at the deadline, Kevin Love's injury, Ty Lue's leave of absence, and so on, LeBron's performance this season might be the best of his career.
He hasn't missed a game. Not one. He's 33-years-old and looking like a 23-year-old out there.
Take this stat from friend of show Hayden Grove of Cleveland.com:
Harden has been terrific this year, no doubt about it. And I do expect him to be named MVP when all is said and done.
But maybe that's not a bad thing.
After all, LeBron always seems to play better when he's angry. A motivated LeBron is a threat to every team in the playoffs.
Watch the Donovan Live Postgame Show in the player below:
