LeBron Takes the Step in Game 5

You know LeBron James had a huge Game 5 against the Pistons. You know he scored 25 straight points for the Cavs. You know that he scored 29 of his team's last 30 points. You know he willed Cleveland to victory.

I did not know this.

Not even Michael.

Let us get that out of the way right now. What LeBron James did Thursday night in the Eastern Conference finals was not Jordanesque. It was Mike to a max not even he reached.

In one of the greatest performances in NBA history, the "Chosen One" of the Cavaliers scored 48 points. He scored his team's last 25 in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes it required for the Cavaliers to beat Detroit, 109-107. He scored 29 of his team's last 30.

He gave credit to his teammates afterward. He is like that, making stardust memories and then just trying to be one of the boys.

Please, do not get me wrong here. I am not going to diminish LeBron's 48 point performance. (I will even refrain from mentioning "global icons" in response to the "one of the boys" comment. Wait...)

48 points against the Detroit Pistons, though a very good team, is not 63 against a Bird-led Boston Celtics team. The big difference (outside of 15 points) is that Jordan's came on the losing end of a double overtime thriller.

Does that make LeBron's game greater? In my eyes, it doesn't.

It is just unfortunate that our sports media outlets (ESPN, the Plain Dealer, etc.) are trying to make LeBron James into Michael Jordan. It was just last season that Dwyane Wade was the new MJ.

LeBron James is not Michael Jordan. His performance does not have to be Jordanesque or better.

Because, for one, his performance was Jamesesque.

And that is perfectly fine.

Great even.

You know that performance was great.