2008 NBA Playoffs R1G4: Winning is Never Over-rated

The DeShawn Stevenson-LeBron James feud has reached a new level. After Stevenson called on Soulja Boy to bring a Superman-sized lift to the home crowd in Game 3 on Friday, LeBron got a little boost from his good friend Jay-Z before Game 4. The story goes that Hova recorded a track rapping new DeShawn-inspired lyrics over the beat of a song by artist Too Short. The Wizards’ Caron Butler heard the song – Blow the Whistle – at a D.C. area club over the weekend and text messaged Stevenson to tell him about it. After James drew a charge call at the end of the first quarter, the crowd broke out into an “Over-rated!” chant – echoing the quip by Stevenson that started the whole feud in the first place. Later, the two had to be separated after Stevenson hit James so violently across the head that his headband flew off. Stevenson was called for a flagrant foul. James followed up the hit with a made free throw, a made 3-pointer and then two more free thows in the next 42 seconds. The Cavs went from down by one, to up by five. James admitted after the game that had the foul occurred “out on the playground” than the situation definitely would have escalated, but he had a Playoff game to worry about winning. He may have allowed himself to play along in Stevenson’s war of words, but when it was time to win the game, he didn’t let his concentration waver. James’ 34-point, 12-rebound, seven-assist performance gave birth to a new quote after the game by Cleveland coach Mike Brown that is more intriguing than any of the smack that DeShawn and LeBron have said in the past. “That was a terrific play by LeBron at the end of the game,” Brown said. “That’s why he is going to go down as the best player ever to play this game. Not only can he score and rebound, he has ultimate trust in his teammates.” The only “greatest ever” title that Stevenson can lay claim to would be for his beard. And getting attention based on your facial hair instead of your game is pretty overrated. As LeBron broke out yet another Zoom Soldier II colorway, which is one of the upcoming GRs, check out the updated Timeline Section and LeBron’s Game Four Highligths.

Photos Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE via Getty Images. Photos by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images, Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images, Nick Wass/AP Photo.