THE LEBRON SERIES-THE NUMBER 23

Streaking Talents From South Beach To Ohio.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

You all know the script. The revolution was televised. Two years back, decisions where made and talents where taken. Some to South Beach and some for granted. Tears of frustration where shed in Ohio, ones of joy in Miami. Billboards fell as Voltron was formed. Rocks where thrown from all sorts of angels. Fans, critics, some of the greatest players of all time. Even with a new group of 'Superfriends', the king had to watch the throne for a year as Dallas proved they where the real Mavericks of the NBA. That was until this seasons past. Our Iron-Man had his Avenger year with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Now the MVP and champion and number 6 for the Miami Heat, LeBron James has nothing left to prove. He just has a legacy to make...his legend is set.

Still there's no stopping the former number 23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers as he and his new side are on the winning streak of their lives. 27 games and counting, with Jerry West even betting they can best his Lakers 33 game burst. No wonder the 6th sense of the NBA is drawing comparisons to the original 23, Michael Jordan. Sure Kobe's career is better all-time and Kevin Durant is the next one but as of right now it's LeBron James, time and tide. He is the best active player right now. It's his league. Still as we begin 'The LeBron Series' to go along with our 'The Jordan Series' and 'The Kobe Series' trilogy, let's look at the number 23. This is no joke, no Jim Carrey film. Yes man, this is serious. It all connects, like Jordan's influence and basketball's inspiration.

Last week LeBron and his white hot heat hit the road with a winning streak of 23 games. This is where their talents where taken to Cleveland, Ohio, where number 6 came back home to a place where his number 23 jersey was burned to the ashes with his decision departure not one, but two years back. LeBron knows what these people did two Summers back...because he knew what he did to them. Hurt feelings, bitter rage, bloody Tarantino delicious sub-plots everywhere. It was all set up to be the match-up of the moment for NBA TV. The former number 23 came back to town with a winning streak of 23 games. It looked like the sick-note, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao less Cavs wouldn't stand a chance.

Still, you can't doubt the heart of a Cavalier, especially a hurt and down-trodden one. It all looked like revenge was about to be a dish served up on the Twitter feeds, as Cleveland cooled off the hot Heat. Everyone from the friend you follow to Stephen A. Smith, couldn't believe it as the hash tags and the hate was at the ready. LeBron and his boys where down 27, days before they extended their streak to 27. How strange would it be if it was 23? The Cleveland Cavs looked to blow-out Miami quickly at the Quicken Loans Arena. They had the King and his subjects on the ropes, but like Ali, the greatest came back swinging. Before their eyes, LeBron put the Cavs to bed before the lights where out.

Chick Hearn could see the jello cooling in the fridge. The heat caught lightening and struck down and bottled up their greatest nemesis of recent times. This is why LeBron James is the MVP and his Miami Heat team the NBA champions.With all respect to the valiant Cavaliers their former number one pick and his top team where just too, damn much. Going forth into the final quarter, Miami where still down by nine, but LeBron's 11 of Miami's first 12 then extinguished the blow-out. With a game-high, MVP, triple-double, legendary line of 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists 'Bron erased Cleveland's greatest lead and what could have been their greatest moment of all time. Clevaland could have proved a point and truly showed their one-time King the door, but in the end like Jay-Hova, the takeover belonged to Jay-Z's best basketball friend. As an excited Cavs fan raced on court with a t-shirt reading 'We Miss You. 2014, Come Back', it said it all. As did LeBron's non-reaction. It's not all hate in Cleveland. Some just want their former love back.

Still LeBron took his talents, team and new 50 plus day winning streak back to Miami, where the team look to make history on their way to another championship, by way of breaking a few more records. With Kobe's new super Lakers team, recovering from a similar first-season slump, all roads look clear for the formidable Florida foundation of LeBron and company. Oklahoma are close and the beats of the East, including former rival New York are better than ever, but really no one looks like they could even touch the hem of the King's Heat shorts. They may be close but it's no 23, M.J., victory cigar. The crown and the throne isn't for the taking...it's his. All Cleveland can do is watch. they shouldn't have made him mad (like he did them). It's personal now and it's a problem. Now the only solution looks like LeBron adding another ring to his finger. The rest of the league can kiss their hopes goodbye. The hot streak looks like it's only going to be cooled off by champagne. Next rounds on you LeBron. Here's to you.