Lebron just decided to GO OFF in Miami’s 124-107 win against Charlotte, finishing the game with 61 total points! His previous career high was 56 (March 20th, 2005 @ Toronto as a part of the Cavaliers), which was also the team record set by Glen Rice in 1995. Not only did Lebron score 61 points, but he did it without dunking the entire game, AND he was wearing a mask because of his nose injury sustained last week in Oklahoma City. The fact that he scored 61 points without dunking as he normally does is kind of jaw-dropping. This was also the first time James has gone a full game without dunking since early January.
Lebron didn't just score from simply shooting his average mid-range jump-shot, but instead via the 3 ball! Lebron shot 8 for 10 from behind the arch, tying his own career high for 3′s made in a game. We as the fans have gotten more and more used to him shooting his fair share of 3′s and making them, but not this amount with this much efficiency. Lebron shot 2 for 33 from the field to go along with his 8 for 10 on 3′s. He was getting whatever he wanted on almost every possession, shooting mid-range shots, closer jumpers, and driving to the hole with reckless abandon. It is safe to say that last night was most definitely the best game of Lebron’s magnificent 11 year career.
Yes, Lebron scoring 61 in a single game is something that Heat fans will probably never forget, but no one is really talking about what a GREAT night Al Jefferson had! Big Al shot 18 for 24 from the field and finished the game with 38 points and 19 rebounds! That is a great game by any big man’s standards, but for Jefferson? I think that game was just what he needed to help him progress in what has been a dismal season so far for the Bobcats. Yes, I know Charlotte is currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, but we’re talking about the struggling Eastern Conference. Charlotte is currently 6 games UNDER .500 and they would still be in the playoffs if the NBA season ended today. That just comes to show you how weak the East really is.
All in all, last night was a season-changing game for many reasons, It has brought the MVP race between Lebron James and Kevin Durant even closer than it already was, it proved to all of the Lebron haters that he can still put up insane numbers whenever he wants to, and it also gave Charlotte a chance to boost themselves into perhaps a higher seed in the NBA playoffs with their outstanding play from big man Al Jefferson. Will last night be a game we have to look back at come June to decide the MVP, or will either Durant or James run away with the trophy? I think that last night was a crucial night in not only Miami and Charlotte’s seasons alone, but also the entire NBA season as a whole.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400489766
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1980179-lebron-james-scores-career-high-61-points-analysis-reaction-to-historic-night
