Can King James bring the NBA crown to Cleveland?

As we expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the NBA Playoffs. After eight years of struggling without a certified star, the Cavaliers are once again soaring to the top under the stewardship of LeBron James.

James returned to Cleveland after four years of busily campaigning for titles with the Miami Heat. While in the South Beach, King James helped the Heat reach the finals four straight times, winning two titles.

With James being back in the line-up, the Cavs are back to being a force to reckon with in the Eastern Conference, becoming the best team in Central division. ESPN.com’s weekly NBA Power Rankings placed them as this week’s second best team behind the Golden State Warriors.

Now the big question is, can the King, this time, finally bring the crown to his native Ohio state?

Cleveland has never won an NBA title since joining the league in 1970. The city has only one major sports crown it won through the National Football League’s Cleveland Browns. But that was 51 years ago when the Americans were still preoccupied with the Beatles’ invasion and when president Lyndon Johnson signed into law The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Unlike eight years ago when James almost singlehandedly carried the Cavaliers to their fruitless finals campaign, the present line-up has plenty of supporting cast helping him well since the start of the season.

Teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who form part of the Cavalier’s Big Three, have consistently delivered. They are expected to further step up as the team prepares for the post-season. JR Smith, who contributed double-digit performances in their recent games, is also playing a big part in the Cavs’ resurgence.

James had said reaching the post-season was a huge accomplishment for the team and is something for his teammates, who have never done it before, to savor.

“For me, I don’t look too far into it, but for guys who have never been in the post-season, they shouldn’t take that for granted and overlook that,” he was quoted by the Agence France Presse.

“It’s a huge thing for those guys, and I was happy to be a part of their first clinch.”

Many analysts predict the Cavaliers to win the title this year, saying James and the gang have what it takes to reach the Finals.

When James decided to return to Cleveland, there was a big question whether he could carry the Cavaliers back to being a title contender. The team has been struggling for years and had to rebuild. Part of the move was to acquire Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves to help him.

James seems happy to be back in the city where he started his storied professional career. And with the Cavaliers doing pretty well as they prepare for the crucial phase, it seems a third ring is in sight.