[Lefty Noob]

The kid did it. LeBron James has got the Cleveland Cavaliers headed for the playoffs for the first time since 1998, and all it took was a 46-point performance against the Mavericks in a 107-94 win. AP says he "outscored the entire Dallas team in the third quarter," and that James "became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 6,000 career points." Next step: help the team win their first playoff series since 1993. Think they can do it?

[cjg11582]

God yes. They could win 50 games this season! The Cavs don't have a prayer in the second round but as of now they are playing Washington in the first. With home court advantage they should get out of that series in six games. Against The Pistons, if they manage too even push that too six and lose I would consider it a success.
Is Hughes coming back for the playoffs?

[Lefty Noob]

Is Hughes coming back for the playoffs?

Looks like it. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that he may be ready to go by April 7.

[cjg11582]

Thats good news. If I were Mike Brown I might consider altering the line up a little:
PG: Flip
SG: Hughes
SF: LeBron
PF: Gooden
C: Illguaskas
Just simply start the five best players. Snow, in my opinion is completely ineffectual.

[Yougottawanna]

Cjg is correct, put your five best players on the floor. I think Snow once deserved to be the starting PG thanks to his defense but honestly I think his defense has taken a step back this year, maybe due to age, who knows.

The Cavs can, in any given series, beat any team in the east except the Heat and the Pistons. But I'm not quite sure where this team is going....Ilgauskus is getting up there in age, and he's a more important part of that team than he gets credit for.

[cjg11582]

Gooden is expected to leave following this season as well. I am hoping they draft a defensive oriented big man in June. Everyone always harps on the three point shooting for The Cavs. Between Marshall, Jones and James I feel like that should be much less of a concern. In short, the team is just soft. Their defense seems virtually non-existent. I think having Hughes and Murray can help fill that void, at least on the perimeter. But the combination of Gooden and Big-Z has to be one of the worst interior defensive combinations in the league right now. I wouldn't be all that opposed to starting Varejo over Gooden.

[Lefty Noob]

Hughes update: LeBron has told the AP that he is "probably going to play Tuesday" against Philly.