Mo Williams' Clutch Play Is a Positive Sign for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Maybe the sky hasn’t fallen in Cleveland, after all.

The object of an ongoing love-hate relationship with Cavaliers fans and critics around the NBA, Mo Williams is on the hot seat as the playoffs approach.

His less-than-stellar performance in last year’s Eastern Conference finals against Orlando left a bad taste in the mouths of Cavaliers fans and a monkey on Williams’ back entering this season.

Critics haven't been any kinder since Williams’ return in February from a shoulder injury. His scoring is down (from 15 points per game before the injury to 11 a game after), and he’s been taking fewer shots as Antawn Jamison has become the Cavs’ second option on offense.

I’m on record as being a fan of Williams, and of what he has meant for the Cavaliers. He was brought to Cleveland to add firepower to the offense, and to stabilize a position that had been inconsistent since Andre Miller's departure in 2002.

He's done both.

In his first year in the wine and gold, he played more games and logged more minutes than in any previous season of his career. He averaged a personal-best 17.8 points per game on 47 percent shooting, and converted better than 43 percent of his three-point attempts.

With Williams at the point, the Cavaliers won a league-best 66 games.

This year, they are on pace to lead the league in wins once again. Williams’ scoring average is down, but his assists are up.

Even so, he knows that he and the Cavs must overcome the stigma created by last year’s playoff loss to the Magic.

Wednesday night, Williams may have put the league on notice that he’s up to the challenge. He was impressive in a 101-98 win over Milwaukee and sealed the Bucks’ fate with a series of clutch plays in the last two minutes of the game.

With the game tied at 92-92, Williams nailed a three-pointer to give the Cavs the lead with 1:42 remaining.

After a three-pointer by the Bucks’ Ersan Ilyasova and two free throws by LeBron James, the Cavs held a two-point lead coming out of a timeout.

On the ensuing play, Williams drove down the left side and along the baseline before dishing to the slashing James for an easy layup. It pushed the Cavs’ lead to four, 99-95, with 17 seconds remaining.

According to coach Mike Brown, James suggested the play in the huddle and said, “If I’m open, Mo will find me. If I’m not open, Mo will deliver the ball to the right person.”

James elaborated: “I knew it was a set they weren’t looking for, one that we hadn’t run all day. When Mo turned the corner and gauged the defense, I was able to cut back door and get a layup.”

It was the play of the game and forced Milwaukee to play catch-up. Twice in the final 12 seconds, the Bucks fouled Williams in order to stop the clock and get additional shot opportunities. Both times, Williams calmly converted a pair of free throws, sealing the win.

In addition to his 21 points, Williams had six assists while committing zero turnovers.

“Mo played a big game for us,” said Brown. “He was aggressive at the right time and he ran the team at the right time. He was terrific tonight and he was great defensively.”

It was just one game, but it was also a playoff atmosphere against a playoff-bound team.

It’s also not the first time this year that Williams rose to such an occasion. He did the same thing in Los Angeles on Christmas Day. With a national TV audience watching, Williams paced the Cavs with 28 points and seven assists in a 102-87 pasting of the Lakers.

Both performances are shining examples of what Williams is capable of when he’s at the top of his game.

In this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately era of professional sports, Williams will need to perform at that level more often than not between now and June—not only for the Cavs to win an NBA championship, but also for the fans to forgive and forget his past transgressions.

It’s unfortunate, because Williams has been a true professional since his arrival in Cleveland.

He’s accepted the duties at point guard, knowing that it’s mostly a back-seat role on a team led by James. He’s been a threat on offense and has been stellar from behind the three-point line.

While he’s no threat to make the All-Defensive team, his effort at that end of the floor has shown signs of life, as it did Wednesday against the Bucks.

Perhaps most telling, he’s recognized the importance of additions like Jamison, Anthony Parker, and Shaquille O’Neal to the Cavs lineup, and done a skillful job of getting the ball in their hands and involving them in the offense.

I wrote earlier this week  that, as a floor general, Williams is no Steve Nash. He’s no Chris Paul. However, he doesn’t need to be, with James as the Cavs’ centerpiece.

Truth be told, however, Williams is an accomplished player who has known pressure throughout his career, from his days at the University of Alabama to the harsh spotlight of the NBA playoffs.

One poor playoff series does not a career make. If Williams continues to redeem himself with performances like the one against Milwaukee Wednesday night, his story—and that of the Cavaliers—may yet have a happy ending.