Hey, Detroit, remember the last time the King visited?

The date was May 31st, 2007. It was just a regular playoff Thursday in the history of the NBA...unless your name was LeBron James.

That would be the night in which LeBron established himself as a true force to be reckoned with for the next twelve years in the NBA, scoring 48 points, including every Cavalier point in both overtimes and 29 of the team's final 30, to lead Cleveland to a 109-107 victory at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit.

Here is a quick refresher for those of you who may have forgotten.



Friday will mark the first time in the postseason that King James will return to the court he made his that night in May two years ago. Since that game, all LeBron has done is build up his legacy, taking the Cavaliers to their first NBA finals, win a league scoring title, and post 14 triple-doubles. Not bad for a guy who has yet to reach age 25.

That game against Detroit is one of many Cleveland has had in recent history, and it may have been the last one with any meaning.

If you look at the playoff history of Cleveland with LeBron, Detroit is the most common opponent, along with the Wizards, meeting three out of the past four seasons each. The Cavs have a 9-6 record against Detroit in the current four-year run of trips to the second season. The Cavs have a 1-1 record in the previous two series.

In those 15 games against Detroit, Lebron has led the team in scoring in 12 of them, including every victory over the Pistons. He averages 27.1 points per game.9.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists against them. All three numbers are just above or below his career playoff average and trounce his career averages.

While LeBron and Co. have fought the Pistons hard over the years, two more wins this year could spell the definite end of Detroit's reign in the East as well as the Central Division.

Sure, this years edition of the team from Motown can't hold a candle to the teams from season's past(the Denver Nuggets are thrilled to have Chauncey Billups), but the Cavs can become the first team to keep Detroit from the Eastern Conference Finals in seven years.

The meaning of these match-ups between the Cavs and Pistons is dwindling because Detroit, as well as Boston, have many prime players over 30(Detroit-Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess,Tayshaun Prince turning 30 next season. Boston-Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury), while the Cavaliers are reaching their prime with LeBron James, Daniel Gibson, Mo Williams, Delonte West, and Anderson Varejao all 26 and under.

Sure, age is just a number, but the Pistons are starting to ware down, and Boston may only have a year or two left with their current line-up. Cleveland, if the front office is smart, can secure LeBron and his supporting cast for another six or seven years come next off-season, building up what could be the third consecutive Central Division dynasty from the Eastern Conference.

That is scenario is still a year away, but for now Lebron is a Cav, and come tomorrow evening, he will return to the court he was king of during crunch time two years ago.