Lebron's Shot Heard Around The World.

After a few days, I thought it would now be appropriate to look back to what LeBron James did Friday evening. Cleveland was the most dominant team on their home court in recent memory. They dominated opponents in front of their home crowd throughout the season, losing just two times through the regular season and the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs. Enter the Orlando Magic. Or as I like to call them, the Orlando Magics. 

Orlando had matched-up well with the Cavs throughout the regular season. That couldn't have been more evident than in the second half of game 1 when Orlando unleashed a barrage of threes from its forwards, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Lewis hit the eventual game winner, sending 20, 000+ Cavs fans home disappointed. This was a game the Cavs controlled the first 3 quarters with leads near 20 for much of the first half. LeBron went off for 49, and the Cavs still fell short.

Than game 2 came. The most important game of their season. The Cavs were faced with evening the series heading to Orlando, or facing the possibility of being swept out of their own building. 

Once again LeBron and company came out hot. They again had leads around 20 most of the game, including one stretch where they played with a 23-point advantage. However, Orlando fought back. With Dwight Howard struggling on the offensive end, the Magic shot three after three to get back into the contest like they did in game 1. With the shot clock unplugged, Hedo Turkoglu's off balance shot in the lane put Orlando in front 95-93 with just one second left. Again, Cleveland had seen a lead erased in the games closing moments. 

Cleveland called time out. They hoped it was true.. the NBA playoffs is where amazing happens. Well, in the Orlando huddle, they believed they had just done that. They were a second away from beating Cleveland twice in 3 nights. Cleveland again I remind you had lost just twice at home in the previous seven months.

Out of the timeout, Cleveland had one final chance to salvage a game. The shots at the fans were painful at times as they stood hoping something could save them. Luckily for Cavs fans, the worlds best player dawns a Cavaliers jersey. Mo Williams inbounded the ball to LeBron on the 3-point arc, and as Turkoglu was just slightly late getting to LBJ, LeBron released the shot heard around the world. It went in, giving Cleveland the 96-95 win.

Now, we will all hear the comparisons to what LeBron did to what other big players did in the playoffs. Michael Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 playoffs crushed the hearts of the Cavs fans. I also think back to the big time shots hit time and time again by Robert Horry as he defeated Sacramento in the earlier part of this decade. LeBron did what all of them have done. He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was something historic and amazing, and it was one of the most clutch shots I have ever witnessed live. LeBron for the moment re-instilled the hopes of Cavs fans. He resurrected a season that may have been about to have been lost. That shot came from a player, whose best days still loom ahead. I think when things like this happen, its important to put it into perspective and how that shot effected so many things. If LeBron's MVP wasn't enough proof he arrived, this shot should be. The kid is good, and just made the amazing happen.

Now, go enjoy game 3.