Pregame First half Second half Postgame 10 8 67

C6 | Sports
The Plain Dealer | Monday, May 3, 2010
Sports | C7
Mar ch 3 1 , 2 01 0 / / C l ev e la n d Caval i er s 101 — Milwauk e e B u ck s 9 8 / / L e Br o n James // 23 points // 9 rebounds // 7 ass i st s / / 1 bl o ck
THE KING’S COURT
LeBron James is more valuable than just his points, rebounds and assists. He’s the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for all the things he does during the course of a game.
The Plain Dealer documented just one night of his MVP season, from his pregame warm-up, through 48 minutes of basketball, and finally to his postgame routine.
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First half
Pregame
4:57 p.m. | Walks onto court wearing
sweats, T-shirt and mostly red Nikes. Holds
sports-drink bottle. Hugs teammates Anthony Parker and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
4:59 | Begins shooting. Starts at left baseline, on or just behind 3-point line. Shoots
31 times off feeds from assistant coach
Chris Jent. Makes final 10 as Jent calls out,
“3, 4, 5...” Moves around perimeter taking
one-step jumpers (11) and shots from left
wing (44), topside near 3-point line (47),
right wing (37) and right baseline (40). Two
ball boys feed Jent, who passes to James.
5:11 | Stops shooting jumpers and moves
to foul line, where he makes 5-of-5.
5:12 | Shoots variety of 14 short jumpers/
hooks after posting up on left block. Takes
seven long shots from left wing, 10 from
right low block, 11 from low blocks and
baseline and nine from right wing.
5:17 | Shakes hands and hugs former
teammate Darnell Jackson of Milwaukee.
5:18 | Makes 13-of-14 free throws.
5:20:40 | Drives in for dunk.
5:21 | Takes two more jumpers, picks up
sports-drink bottle and leaves court.
5:44 | Has been sprawled on carpet in
middle of Cavaliers locker room as physical
therapist George Sibel stretches him. Sings
lyrics while watching tape of a Bucks-Memphis game on a big-screen TV.
5:46 | Rolls onto stomach for leg stretches.
Cavs communications director Amanda
Petrak asks him if he wants to meet with
reporters as Sibel works on his right leg.
5:47 | Reporters gather nearby as stretches
continue.
7:13 p.m. | Opening tip.
on drive.
be the Bucks’ play.
4:26 | Turns in seat to speak with
somebody behind bench. Laughs. The
person goes back up the steps into the
concourse.
6:27 | Barely pays his man, the Bucks’
Jerry Stackhouse, any mind.
6:01 | Wraps session with reporters and
goes into area of locker room off limits to
outsiders.
11:29 left, first quarter | Power move
to basket from left against Bucks center
Andrew Bogut on Cavs’ first possession.
Assist to J.J. Hickson. Cavs lead, 2-0.
10:47 | Offensive foul for running into
Bogut. Bad call; replays confirm Bogut
was moving.
3:36 | Speaks with Boobie Gibson seated
next to him.
D 6:17 | Dribbles toward baseline,
where he will make a rare mental mistake and step out of bounds on a drive
at 6:14.
2:59 | Applauds Ilgauskas dunk off
break.
5:24 | Talks in huddle during timeout
after Bucks tie score, 38-38.
2:19 | Comes out on floor to greet
teammates after Milwaukee calls time.
Wipes face, puts hands on hips and
watches “Kiss Cam” on Q Tube.
A 5:24 (7:56 p.m.) | Slaps five with
youngster on sideline as Cavs prepare to
inbound ball at opposite end.
6:50 | Cavs, minus LBJ, come out for pregame warmups.
6:51 | LBJ emerges and is immediately
handed a ball. He is wearing sweats and
mostly white Nikes. Shots in layup line include layup and missed dunk.
6:53 | Fills top of ball rack near midcourt
and prepares to shoot. Swishes fourth underhanded shot. Crowd roars.
6:54 | Takes first of 18 shots, mostly from
20-23 feet. One is a hook that misses.
6:57 | Makes 3-of-6 free throws, although
one was knocked out by another ball.
6:59 | Takes first of 19 shots, including
two-hand reverse dunk.
7:02 | Talks to Williams. Playfully rolls ball
into back of choir member preparing for
national anthem.
7:03 | Stands farthest right in Cavs line
for national anthem. Three cameras are
getting tight shots. After anthem, he taps
chest, looks at sky and signals.
7:05 | Sits on bench, ties shoes — left,
right. Sibel massages his legs.
7:06 | Plays fake drums as lights go out.
7:09 | Salutes Williams.
5:56 | Finishes stretching. Speaks with
Petrak.
7:10 | Poses for photo with Jamario Moon
and fans right next to Cavs bench. Follows
with handshakes, hugs, back slaps and
spins.
5:58 | Reporters gather around his locker.
After a few seconds, he says, “Go ahead,
guys.” Says he might not play for Team
USA this summer because of hectic
F 7:11 | Delivers famous powder toss at
scorer’s table. Salutes fans, gets ball, flips
ball to referee and greets each Milwaukee
starter.
5:51 | Talks and jokes with Mo Williams.
9:45 | High pick creates space for Williams 18-footer.
9:20 | Talks to referee Eddie F. Rush.
E 8:53 | Uses pick by J.J. Hickson to set
up textbook bounce pass to the rolling
big man. But Hickson fumbles it out of
bounds for turnover at 8:51.
:39.9 | Offers mild protest that Ilgauskas
had gotten fouled on layup.
8:16 | Drives and initiates contact on
Bogut. Misses layup and doesn’t get call.
First quarter ends at 7:37 pm with
Cavs trailing, 30-29.
C 8:06 | Takes off for layup against
Bogut after fast-break feed from Williams. Takes one dribble at 3-point
line, then two steps before scoring
with right hand at 8:02.
7:38 p.m. | Takes off sweats and walks
to end of court as second quarter set to
begin.
7:21 | Talks to referee Tony Brothers.
10:00 | Makes great pass to Delonte West
that results in reverse layup.
6:50 | Continues to sag off his man, Charlie Bell.
B 6:35 | Makes terrific athletic play
to jump high and reach over Bucks
guard Charlie Bell to secure long pass.
Lands, turns and hits 1-footer at 6:31.
(Mo Williams made the pass; Antawn
Jamison was incorrectly credited with
assist in NBA final official box.)
5:59 | Brothers whistles second foul
on LBJ, who was going hard for
rebound starting from just inside
the timeline. Bad call; replays show
Bucks guard Luke Ridnour cleverly
hip-checked LBJ into Bogut. During
timeout, LBJ talks to Brothers before
going to bench. Keeps pleading case.
Puts on several white T-shirts while
standing. Puts on tear-away sweats,
then sits.
5:13 | Claps when Williams draws foul
11:51 left, second quarter | Jokingly
scolds ball boy for causing slight delay.
O 9:59 | Defends Bell on 3-point attempt.
9:36 | Takes first two free throws of
game. Makes first, misses second.
9:07 | Barely pays Bell any mind. (At
other end, Bell has been guarding him
aggressively.)
8:51 | Wipes face and sips drink during
timeout. (LBJ wipes his face a lot over
course of game.) Chews on nails.
8:20 | Gives fist pump from left wing as
Ilgauskas hits 19-footer from top of key.
M 8:00 | Grabs rebound of Ridnour’s
miss from right baseline.
Distance, in feet,
of underhanded
shot made during
warm-ups
Dribbles in the
first quarter;
9 right-handed,
1 left-handed
Dribbles in the
second quarter;
32 right-handed,
35 left-handed
Dribbles in the
third quarter;
28 right-handed,
26 left-handed
Dribbles in the
fourth quarter;
70 right-handed,
37 left-handed
8:20 | LBJ comes out of locker room.
Gives fist bumps as he walks through tunnel of youngsters. Stands near Cavs bench
and allows woman to stand next to him
for photo.
8:51 p.m. | During break, LBJ sits by
himself at end of bench. Drinks from
sports-drink bottle with no label. Turns
it upside down and sets it on cooler.
2:56 | Splits pair at line. Free-throw
routine: three dribbles, spin ball into left
hand and back to right, bend knees, rise,
shoot.
2:34 | Slaps five with Hickson after Hickson’s blocked shot.
2:15 | Other Bucks guarding LBJ include
John Salmons.
2:11 | Makes superb semi-wraparound
pass to Jamison, who hits 3-pointer at
2:10.
9:28 | Bucks tie score, 77-77. Cavs call
timeout. LBJ watches Q Tube, which
shows mascot Moondog, as a giant,
falling on people.
8:23 p.m. | Stands up and takes off Tshirts.
11:53 left, third quarter | Bell gets up
into LBJ on defense.
3:04 | Misses layup. Wants contact but
does not get call.
Fourth quarter begins at 8:52 p.m.
8:22 | Takes off sweat jacket, then sweat
pants.
Returns to floor at 8:58 p.m.
9:10 | Passes to Ilgauskas for wide-open
3-pointer instead of finishing drive for
what likely would have been a basket, or
at least two free throws. Z misses.
11:47 | Commits turnover.
I 8:08 | Sinks first of two free throws
after beating Bell with left-handed dribble. Fist-bumps two teammates. When
he has two free throws, LBJ seems to
bend more during the first.
8:44 | Misses long jumper.
6:21 | Great play by LBJ and West leads to
West layup.
6:45 | Parker hits jumper and is fouled.
Before free throw, LBJ tells ball boy
where wet spot is on floor that just
caused him to slip.
Postgame
sank 1-of-2 free throws at 2:43.
8:52 p.m. | Asks Gibson for extra cushion to put on seat.
8:21 | Takes seat. Does not shoot.
3:24 | Misses 10-foot jumper.
G 5:54 | Surveys the scene while guarded by Stackhouse. His pass eventually
will lead to free throws by Jawad Williams at 5:46. It is yet another example
of what makes LBJ an MVP: He plays
fast, but he’s never in a rush.
1:39 | Delivers five-star pass from baseline left to topside right, where wideopen Mo Williams hits 3-pointer to give
Cavs 93-92 lead. Not many players in
the league have the strength and vision
to make such a pass.
1:14 | Blocked by Bogut on layup attempt.
1:11 | Talks to Richardson about the
no-call on previous drive.
H 0:49.3 | Makes quick move with left
hand to draw blocking foul on Stackhouse. Contact sends LBJ to floor. Sinks
two free throws for tie, 95-95. Bucks
call 20-second timeout after second free
throw. LBJ speaks with Jent as Cavs
huddle on the court.
0:36.9 | Salmons misses jumper. Cavs
call time. During timeout, LBJ talks
with Mo Williams and several others.
Chews finger nails while he’s on Q Tube
in taped message telling fans that the
Cavs need them to help pull out a victory. Crowd stands and screams.
N 0:17.4 | The play of the game: LBJ
makes shot off baseline pass from Mo Williams for 97-95 lead (9:22 p.m.). LBJ had
called the play during the timeout.
1:48 | Talks to Rush, indicating he wants
a holding foul on Milwaukee.
5:56 | Speaks with Williams during timeout. As per usual, LBJ has towel and drink
with him when seated during timeouts.
Before entering game, he steps on mat
near scorer’s table to get dust off soles.
5:09 | Power move to basket for lefthanded 1-footer and foul by Bogut.
Crowd roars. Free throw is good to
give Cavs an 86-85 lead.
0:12.8 | Mo Williams sinks two free
throws for 99-95 advantage. During
Bucks’ 20-second timeout, LBJ briefly
talks in huddle.
1:31 | Talks with Williams while Hickson
is at line.
2:46 | Speaks with Williams during
timeout.
J 3:53 | Sinks 21-footer over Stackhouse to pull Cavs within 89-88.
0:08 | Mo Williams sinks both free
throws for 101-98 lead.
K 0:50 | Leaps to snatch Bucks pass deflected by Williams. Takes off but …
0:47.7 | Beats Ridnour on run-out.
Ridnour bear-hugs him to prevent
basket — barely. LBJ and crowd watch
Q Tube; crowd oohs and aahs knowing
the shot almost went in despite hard
foul. LBJ splits free throws.
3:40 | During timeout, LBJ demonstrative in speaking to coach Mike Brown and
later to assistant coach Melvin Hunt.
0:01.9 | LBJ pops out to intercept Ridnour
pass on Bucks’ left wing near midcourt
and takes off for basket. While in the act
of shooting a layup, LBJ draws contact
from Ridnour a fraction of a second before
backboard light flashes and horn sounds.
He wants foul call but doesn’t get it. He
wears a quizzical expression for several
seconds and looks toward a referee.
44.9 | Has ball poked away from him
from behind for turnover.
0:05 | Replaced by West.
6:35 | Points to where he wants teammates to be against what he thinks will
Half ends at 8:08 p.m. with the Cavs
leading, 52-50.
25 19 23
Possessions
in the
second quarter;
1:04 clock time
Third quarter ends at 8:49 p.m. with
the Cavs leading, 77-71.
Third quarter begins at 8:24 p.m. with
the Cavs leading, 52-50.
6:42 | Makes 1-footer in traffic.
Possessions
in the
first quarter;
0:21 clock time
8:18 p.m. | First Cavs return to court for
warm-ups.
5:15 | Guarded by Stackhouse, who is
not as aggressive as Bell.
00:00 | Upset about something as Cavs
leave floor. Polite, but firm, with a Cavs
assistant coach.
7:18 | Splits pair of free throws.
264 47 10 67 54 107 8
Shots taken in
warm-ups, including one dunk and
19 free throws
Second half
schedule. Other topics include wear-andtear this deep into season (“I prepare myself for a long season, so I feel fine.”) and
the Bucks (“Scott Skiles teams are always
going to play hard.”).
6:49 | Cavs huddle in hallway.
COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN KUNTZ | THE PLAIN DEALER
Possessions
in the
third quarter;
1:16 clock time
Possessions
in the
fourth quarter;
2:13 clock time
0:18 | Moments after Ilgauskas was
whistled for basket interference by
referee Leroy Richardson, LBJ shouts
from the bench: “That’s a bad call!”
Replays show it was a bad call.
3:32 | With Cavs coming upcourt, LBJ
talks to Jamison.
3:04 | Stackhouse hits 3-pointer over
LBJ to give Bucks a 92-88 lead.
L 2:45 | Gets knocked to floor after
running into Bogut after pass to Hickson, who drew foul from Bogut and
Game ends at 9:33 p.m.
Cavaliers win, 101-98.
9:33 p.m. | As usual, he takes off wristbands and headband and tosses them
into crowd. Goes into tunnel toward
locker room.
in love … so true!” Sings with Mo Williams and Moon. “I just want to be the
one you need. I just want to be the one
to serve you.”
9:51 | Brown tells reporters that LBJ
called play in huddle that resulted in his
layup from Mo Williams with 17.4 left.
10:22 | Mo Williams says, “That’s
enough,” as he prepares to exit the locker
room. Williams asks James if he’s going
to go out. “I don’t know what I’m going
to be doing. Maybe I’ll try to take over
the world.”
9:56 | Reporters, including a crew from
NBA TV, gather around LBJ’s locker.
10:11 | Comes out of shower area and
into locker room. He is wearing a white
T-shirt and black shorts. Reporters
open path to his locker. Questions begin at 10:11. Of the play call, LBJ says:
“I told [coach Brown] what I wanted to
run and what I thought was good for
the team. Mo turning the corner as fast
as he did takes two defenders. I kind of
read Mo.”
10:16 | Session with reporters ends.
10:17 | Begins playing hide-and-seek
with Moon for 15 seconds.
10:18 | Petrak tells LBJ that the Lakers
lost to Atlanta. “What’s our magic number then, for the whole thing [homecourt
throughout playoffs]?”
10:19 | LBJ spins on carpet as he puts in
his earrings.
10:20 | Watches TV as New Orleans and
his good friend Chris Paul play the final
minute of a close game against Washington. “Come on, C.P. Come on, C.P.”
10:21 | Puts on black pants and blackand-gold Nikes. Continues to sing. “Fall
10:24 | Puts on black shirt and chains in
front of the mirror.
10:25 | Puts on shades and Nike LBJ logo
backpack.
10:26 | Exits locker room. Walks down
hallway with NBA film crew following.
Stops in Cavs family room to say hello to
Moon’s youngster.
10:27 | Steps into studio room for interview with NBA TV. Three people are
outside the room, including one member
of The Q’s security staff.
10:36 | Exits studio and walks down hallway toward players’ parking area. Five
are with him, including Petrak and Cavs
senior vice president/communications
Tad Carper.
10:37 | Talks with Carper.
10:38 | Greets fans in family parking
area. Poses for photos and signs autographs.
10:41 | Security closes gate to block off
any further access to LBJ.
game notes by dennis manoloff | plain dealer reporter
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH | This composite image from March 31, 2010 by
Plain Dealer photographer John Kuntz shows 63 different images of LeBron
James in action during a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The individual images of different plays of the game were reassembled digitally into one image and are on the exact spot of the floor where the action happened. The result
gives an idea of just how much the 2009-10 NBA Most Valuable Player does in an
average — by his standards — game.
LeBron James from the field. 7-of-17, including 0-of-1 from 3-point range. The following tracks his shot attempts, including distance they were taken from and which hand he used. Black circles are makes:
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
11:29 left
2’, RH
8:16
1’, RH
8:02
1’, RH
6:31
1’, RH
11:14
17’, RH
6:42
1’, LH
3:24
10’, LH
3:04
1’, RH
4:58
1’, LH
4:23
21’, RH
8:44
21’, RH
8:07
21’, RH
5:09
1’, LH
3:53
21’, RH
2:20
24’, RH
1:14
1’, RH
0:17.7
1’, RH
FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER
THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER