NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers Send Message To Each Other by Thumping Bulls

There was a difference in the way the Cleveland Cavaliers played on Sunday in Chicago, and it was about time.

This is a team loaded with talent. They boast the league’s reigning, and presumptive, MVP. They’re piloted by last year’s Coach of the Year.

They have a legend patrolling the paint, a respected veteran at power forward, and an experienced guard rotation that can make you pay if you choose to leave any of them unattended.

Their bench is as deep as any in the league. Size, speed, energy, strength, defense, shooting—you name it, Mike Brown can call on it when needed.

Entering Sunday’s game, however, the nagging doubts were creeping back into the minds of Cleveland fans.

A loss to Chicago on Thursday night wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Bulls took control early and were the hungrier, more aggressive team. They hung on to claim the win and send the Cavs a wake-up call.

Turns out, the one waking up was the proverbial sleeping giant. Cleveland came out Sunday like a team on a mission and whipped the over-matched Bulls 121-98.

“We didn’t want to send a message to Chicago,” said Cavs forward Jamario Moon . “We wanted to send a message to ourselves.”

And the people all said, “Hallelujah.”

It started of course with LeBron James, who turned in another dominating performance (37 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists), punctuated by a did-you-see-that running jumper from half court to beat the third-quarter buzzer and stick a dagger in the Bulls’ hearts.

“I knew he was in the zone, he was really focused,” said Antawn Jamison . “He had that look in his eye.

“We needed him to play a great game. He did a great job setting the tone and putting guys on his back.”

Thankfully for the Cavs, James wasn’t the only one. Jamison scored 24 points, Mo Williams had 19, and Anthony Parker added a dozen.

Parker was also instrumental on defense, drawing the assignment to guard Derrick Rose and challenging him from the opening tip. Rose had 21 points in 40 minutes, but had to work for every one.

J.J. Hickson took Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ spot in the rotation, and had 10 points in 17 minutes. For now, minutes on the court are his to lose, as Brown has decided to utilize Hickson’s athleticism to give the Cavs a lift off the bench.

It was a cleaner, more efficient, more effective performance by Cleveland, and it came at precisely the right time.

“It’s all about winning,” James said . “It doesn’t matter if you’re a One Seed or an Eight Seed. It doesn’t matter if you take a team out in four or seven. (You do) whatever it takes.”

Brown was obviously pleased with his team’s effort, and was philosophical after the game.

“Last year we had no obstacles early, we won eight straight,” he said .

“I’ve told these guys we need to have a bunker mentality, there are going to be ups and downs. Staying together like we did is how we won.”

In doing so, the Cavaliers clearly sent a message to the Bulls. The more important message, as Moon said, was the one they sent to each other.

As it turned out, he was preaching to the choir.

On to Game Five.