I hate admitting this, but LeBron James (who probably isn’t the most popular player to fans who read this blog) turned in one of those performances people will talk about for years decades in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals.

James scored the Cavs final 25 points through the fourth period and two overtimes to (literally) lead CLE to a two point 2OT win in Detroit. If you have a TiVo/DVR, check the replay schedules on NBATV. If you don’t have NBATV, it actually might be worth three bucks to download.

For what it’s worth, I still think the Wizards at full strength are better than Cleveland. I’m sure that sentiment is strong to the readers here and Washington fans alike. Especially since that’s what most of the players were saying in post season interviews last month.

Grrrrr….I can’t wait til April/May 2008. This won’t be righted in November, December, January. At this point, it’s all about the Playoffs.

But, give credit where credit is due. LBJ was definitely King Thursday night in Detroit. What do you guys think - this series is playing out just like last spring’s DET-CLE match-up where CLE dropped a 3-2 lead (including Game 6 at home) and succumbed to the Pistons in Game 7. Do you see de ja vu in the making or will there be a new Beast of the East crowned this year?

I usually like to steer clear of what’s going on with other teams, but this one’s tough to ignore…

“At this point I’ll go play on Pluto.”

He said it, not me.

EDIT: TrueHoops reports that Kobe has told ESPN’s Greg Anthony that he may stay in LA (rather than head to what used to be a planet) as long as LA terminates the unknown Laker “insider”, who’s recent quotes in the LA Times infuriated Mamba. Another update….. It’s too bad there’s not another reference to a planet in it…

From the Wizards Post Season Guide:

“In his seventh professional season — but his first in DC — DeShawn Stevenson enjoyed his finest professional season. Stevenson averaged career-high marks in field goal % (.461), 3pt. field goal % (.404) and assists per game (2.7), and as the only Wizard to have appeared in and started every game this season, he stretched his consecutive games started streak to 168 straight games; the third longest streak among active players behind only San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen and Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince.

“Additionally, having come to Washington during the off-season with just 53 total three-pointers made in his first six NBA seasons, Stevenson’s 74 three balls in 2006-07 alone more than doubled his previous tally — and in the late season absence of Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, Stevenson filled in as one of Washington’s top offensive options. In 11 games in April, Stevenson averaged 13.6 points and 3.7 assists per game to help Washington secure the East’s 7th seed.”

Was this DeShawn’s one and only season in DC? Or will he be back for more? Time will tell and we’ll learn more after July 1. In the meantime, post your thoughts on DeShawn and what you think he meant to the team on (and off) the floor this past season.

NBADraft.net put together a great list which looks back at some of the best and worst moves that took place on those eventful (or non-eventful if you count the 2000 not-so-classic) nights in late June over the last 10 years.

But here’s one part of the piece that got me thinking…

“2004: Washington Wizards trade Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laetner, and the draft rights of Devin Harris to the Dallas Mavericks for Antawn Jamison.

Dallas got the better of this one, essentially getting their point guard of the future and the league’s best sixth man in Stackhouse for Jamison, a talented player who didn’t fit in with the Mavs.”

I think this is in the eye of the beholder in terms of who got the best of the deal. Washington traded Stackhouse, who was coming off an injury-filled season where it became apparent that he didn’t fit in to Wizards’ future (same goes for Laettner, who was making a relatively hefty salary) and a first round pick (#5 overall) for Jamison, that season’s sixth man of the year.

I think it worked out for both teams in their own way, with Washington making the playoffs for three straight seasons (while Arenas rightfully gets the credit for much of the team’s recent success, Jamison was IMHO the catalyst who brought leadership and credibility to the locker room) and Dallas doing what they did…or in the case of this past season, didn’t do…I know, “kick em while they’re down why don’t ya!” .

What do you guys/gals think? Who, if anyone, got the best of that fateful 2004 deal? And read the Draft.net story too - great comment on the selection of everyone’s favorite #1 overall pick from 2001 that hits the nail on the head (and is what I’ve been saying for years).

The 2007 Pre-Draft Camp kicks off today in Orlando. Below is a list of participants provided to us by the NBA (subject to change).