LeBron James made 3-pointers from every angle, drove into the lane for dunks and leaned into low post moves.
![LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lines up for a first quarter break-away dunk in front of Antonio McDyess (24) of the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Michigan. [AP]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090428/000802aa2f490b609f4d0b.jpg "LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lines up for a first quarter break-away dunk in front of Antonio McDyess (24) of the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Michigan. [AP]") |
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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lines up for a first quarter break-away dunk in front of Antonio McDyess (24) of the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Michigan. [AP] |
He was just getting warmed up - 2 hours before tipoff - and his regular routine provided another demonstration of greatness.
James had 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 99-78 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, sweeping the Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Cavaliers will now enjoy at least a week off as they await the winner of the series between Miami and Atlanta, which Miami lead 2-1.
"This is a step for us in our process, a step for us in our journey," said Cavs coach Mike Brown.
In Chicago, Derrick Rose scored 23 points while Ben Gordon and John Salmons sank clutch late baskets to spark Chicago past Boston 121-118 in a double over-time thriller that evened their series at two games apiece.
Orlando also pulled level at 2-2 against the 76ers with a close-run 84-81 victory at Philadelphia.
In Detroit, James set the tone early, making his first four attempts including a flashy dunk. The Cavaliers put the game out of reach with a 16-6 scoring run midway through the third quarter.
Mo Williams scored a career playoff-high 24 for the Cavaliers and Brown said it was that kind of support for James that allowed Cleveland to sweep.
"We had everyone step up and contribute in one way or another," said Brown, the NBA Coach of the Year. "LeBron is LeBron. That's two games that he almost had a triple-double for us. He does more than score for us. He is so effective in so many areas."
Detroit had been in the conference finals the past six years, the longest such streak in the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers' run two decades ago.
Now they are in rebuilding mode after trading Chauncey Billups in November.
"It's sort of the changing of the guard," Pistons coach Michael Curry said. "I knew once we traded Chauncey, we were going to be a different team."
While Cleveland's progress into the second round seemed all but pre-ordained, the Celtics and Bulls have provided plenty of drama.
"Everybody I'm talking to is saying this is the most exciting series that they're watching right now," said Gordon, who had 22 points for Chicago.
Salmons added 20 - his 9-for-9 effort from the free throw line including four in the final half-minute to go with his block of Paul Pierce's potential game-tying 3-pointer.
Pierce led the Celtics with 29 points while Ray Allen, who sank a dramatic 3-pointer late in regulation to force the first over-time, added 28 while Rajon Rondo contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the series.
For the third time in four contests, the game went down to the final possession.
Gordon sank a dramatic 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining in the first over-time to pull the Bulls level at 110-110.
The Celtics host Game 5 on Tuesday.
(Agencies via China Daily April 28, 2009)
