June 7th 2007
WITNESS: Rise to Power, 2006-2007

As LeBron prepares for the finals, we look at the achievements that got him here. Today: his 2006-07 season leading up to Game 1 of the finals.

When LeBron & Co. returned from their tough Game 7 loss to Detroit to start the 2006-2007 season, the expectations were higher than ever.

With so many people predicting a trip to the finals, LeBron & Co. had their work cut out for them.

But the path through the East was as treacherous as ever.

Could LeBron lead the way?

2006-2007: THE REGULAR SEASON

November 3, 2006: In a rugged 88-81 win against San Antonio, Cleveland’s first road win against them since 1988, LeBron executes a particularly memorable dunk over San Antonio’s formidable defensive superstar. Poster companies around the world rejoice.
December 23, 2006: LeBron puts up 32 points against Orlando, including 19 in the fourth (outscoring the entire Orlando team), to become the youngest player in league history to get to the 7,000-point mark.

February 18, 2007: LeBron lights up the league’s midseason classic in Las Vegas, leading the East with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists.

March 14, 2007: LeBron does it again, scoring 29 against Orlando to become the youngest player in league history to reach 8,000 career points. March was LeBron’s best month of the season, averaging 30.3 points, 7.0 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game en route to an 11-5 record.

April 18, 2007: LeBron closes out the regular season with another dunk for the highlight reels, defeating Milwaukee 109-94 and giving Cleveland a 50-32 record to earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

“We expected to go to the playoffs and we accomplished that. Now it’s all about trying to win a championship,'’ said LeBron.

First they would have to get past a familiar first round opponent: Washington.

2007: THE WASHINGTON SERIES

Cleveland wastes no time disposing of Washington in the first round, going 1-2-3-4 for their first playoff sweep in franchise history. LeBron averages 27.8 points, 7.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds for the series, owning his opponents with a barrage of killer crossovers, brutal blocks and ridiculous dunks.

Unlike 2006, there are no first-round jitters. Cleveland moves on assuredly to Round 2 to face New Jersey.

2007: THE NEW JERSEY SERIES

The first two games of Round 2 are a Cleveland fan’s dream, as LeBron & Co. shut NJ down defensively in Game 1 and LeBron takes over Game 2 for the 2-0 series lead. After a tough loss on the road in Game 3, LeBron roars back with 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to win 87-85 and go up 3-1. After NJ takes Game 5 in Cleveland, LeBron bounced back from foul trouble and a long stint on the bench to finish the series in style, winning 88-72.

Now LeBron has Cleveland on the move towards uncharted territory.

But as Wise LeBron predicted, first he has to go through Detroit.

2007: THE DETROIT SERIES

Game 3: After two tough losses to the team that stopped him in seven the year before, LeBron returns to form, dropping 32 points plus nine rebounds and nine assists in a crucial 88-82 win. Once again keeping the poster industry in business, LeBron delivers a nasty dunk over Sheed and draws the foul for good measure, then wraps it up with a clutch jumper at the end.

Game 4: LeBron keeps it moving. His 25 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds lead Cleveland to a 91-87 win that evens the series. It’s another strong finish for the squad, featuring a gravity-defying alleyoop dunk and one-handed tomahawk from LeBron that gave them some much-needed momentum going back to Detroit.

Game 5: In one of the greatest athletic performances since Dr. Naismith nailed up two peach baskets and wrote the rules of basketball, LeBron singlehandedly changes the game with a performance that deserves a story of its own.

Forty-eight points and two overtimes later, LeBron’s 25-point run to close out the game results in a 109-107 win that will never be forgotten.

For the first time ever, Cleveland is one game away from the finals.

Game 6: LeBron shows no sign of wear from his Game 5 tour of duty, putting in 46 minutes on the floor and scoring 20 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals in Cleveland’s biggest victory in franchise history.

It’s already been a highlight-filled postseason for LeBron.

Now Cleveland is headed to the finals.

Four wins stand between LeBron and a championship.

Is the best yet to come?

Only time will tell…

Stay tuned for continuous postseason coverage as the WITNESS saga continues.

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