If you checked the NBA standings this morning - and doesn't everyone start his or her day that way? - you'll find that LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers can finish no better than third in the Eastern Conference, regardless of the outcome of tonight's regular-season finale against the visiting New York Knickerbockers.
For some folks who choose to undervalue the power and passion of James - as well as the fact that the Cavs are scoring only 1.1 points a game more than they're surrendering - that's reason enough to believe Cleveland's finest will fall short of reaching their fourth straight NBA Finals.
To that assumption - or wish, perhaps - I have two words: Forget it.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) pauses before shooting a free throw against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 9, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)Instead, when someone brings up the Cavs' apparent aversion to defense, or that the 33-year-old James is wrapping up his 15th pro season, or that he will have played in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career if he gets on the court tonight, merely point that person to Thursday and Friday of last week, the Cavs hosting the Washington Wizards less than 24 hours before playing at Philadelphia.
Because if anyone anywhere needed proof that King James is still the baddest, best-est (hey, my daughters used to love that faux word in daycare) basketball dude on the planet, those two games proved it. With a cherry on top.
We'll start on Thursday, the Cavs down 17 points at home with just 7:35 to go and 10 behind with a little over three minutes to play. Somehow, thanks to LeBron scoring 13 of his 33 points in the final period, Cleveland won, its 10th victory in its last 11 games.
But that was nothing compared to the comeback James almost delivered Friday in Philly after the 76ers forged a 30-point lead late in the second quarter. Delivering a preposterous triple-double of 44 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, James went to the foul line with 0.9 second to play for three free throws that likely would have forced overtime.
Alas, he missed the first, hit the second and missed the third on purpose to wind up on the short end of a 132-130 final score when a tip-in just missed.
Nevertheless, despite playing without their top two point guards - George Hill and Jose Calderon - in both games due to injury, the Cavs staged two of the most impressive comebacks of the NBA season against two playoff teams.
If that's not enough to make you believe the King and his court are as dangerous as ever, regardless of their overall lackluster regular season, nothing will.
The other reality is this: When the playoffs begin this weekend with four games Saturday and another four Sunday on the multiple television platforms of ABC, ESPN and TNT - NBA TV joins the fun on Tax Day Tuesday next week - the East is still least when it comes to serious contenders.
The Houston Rockets and defending champion Golden State Warriors both figure to somewhat easily knock off the Cavs should they reach the Finals. San Antonio and New Orleans could also prove dangerous, though neither figures to become the best of the West.
Still, LeBron is LeBron, as tough to count out as New England quarterback Tom Brady on a final drive. Or tennis star Rafael Nadal on clay. Or Nick Saban on the recruiting trail.
It's also worth noting that he just keeps getting better. Those uber smart guys at FiveThirtyEight figured out this week that James has hit 52.3 percent (23 of 44) of the 3-pointers he's attempted from 28 feet or farther this season. By comparison, Golden State's Stephen Curry - whom most of us would rate as the best deep, deep threat ever - is hitting ony 32.7 percent from that distance.
To be fair, Curry is hitting 43.4 percent of his triples short of 28 feet while James checks in at 35 percent from that distance.
Nevertheless, when the most physically imposing player in the history of the sport not named Shaquille O'Neal is hitting more than 50 percent of his 28-foot (or longer) shots, there would seem to be little hope that James will slow down any time soon. He might even make good on his dream to one day share an NBA court with his 13-year-old son LeBron James Jr.
So instead of waiting for his dominance to end, we might all begin to more warmly embrace the words of Wizards coach Scott Brooks after James spearheaded that improbable victory last Thursday.
"Like I said before the game, I'll say it after the game and probably five years from now I'll say the same thing," Brooks began. "He's the best player in the league and he does that every night. You don't get to see players like him often."
Or ever. Unless, of course, LeBron Jr. winds up being better than his dad.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.