Brandon Jackson

A little over two weeks ago, I believed LeBron had already mentally left Cleveland.

He put up monster numbers, but he didn’t look engaged while doing it. His teammates did him no favors, and I thought that he was sending them a message by purposely deferring or just shooting jump shots.

Since that post, LeBron has hit 2 game-winning buzzer beaters, had a triple-double, and has had 3 40-point games.

And his supporting cast has come alive, while the Cavaliers have gone 7-1 during that span. When the Cavs were down 2-1 to Indiana, it looked like there was no hope for them. It looked like their championship window had closed. Now the landscape has changed in the Eastern Conference.

With the 76ers on the brink of elimination, the Cavs have become the favorites to win the East. The Celtics have looked great, and have basically shut down Simmons, Embiid and co., but Brad Stevens hasn’t been able to come up with a plan to stop LeBron James yet. And I don’t plan for it to happen in 2018.

Just looking at the Cavaliers though, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith have been the #2 and #3 options that this team needs them to be. Jeff Green has been doing a a much better job. George Hill has been consistent since he returned from his back injury. Korver has been hitting shots.

If LeBron can be surrounded with shooters and playmakers, then the sky is the limit for this Cavs team. If they keep up the performance that swept Toronto, Clevelanders can for sure book their return trip to the finals. LeBron James has been the most outstanding player in these playoffs by far, and I have no reason (now) to believe that will change.