The Mighty Cavaliers
need the Disney script
Finals time has arrived. Lang and Ben are on their way down to San Antonio, and our coverage of the NBA championship is about to become extremely thorough. I woke up this morning to find out that Jim Gray is reporting Stan Van Gundy has chosen to take the Magic spot vacated by Billy Dee Wishwash.
Another coach hedgehogging the spotlight at Finals time. But this time it’s Stan, who it’s just impossible to stay mad at. Go get ‘em Stan! This is pretty nice for him. He was forced out of Miami after building a lottery team into something just about ready to compete for the chip. Now it is he who swoops in and takes over a young team that at least has a few pieces in place for the future, and money to spend. Good luck Stanley!
And speaking of Stanley… (wow this is a stretch)… it turns out The Mighty Ducks have won the NHL championship, referred to as the Stanley Cup. Now, as someone that knows less than zero about hockey, the natural instinct is to make jokes about how when a franchise based on a fictional team coached by Emilio Estevez is the face of a league, you might have some legitimacy problems. Then again, my favorite team in any sport of all-time is the Cleveland Indians from Major League. I’m excited to go to games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals (and 5. Maybe) just to be in the same city where Willie Mays Hayes used to operate.
But a hearty congratulations to the Mighty Ducks. They had to… I’m sorry. Just writing the phrase Mighty Ducks made me laugh.
I have been thinking about the NBA Finals more seriously. The trendy thought is to say Spurs in 5, in a series that could mirror the Lakers-Sixers when Iverson shocked an undefeated playoff team in game one, and then there was no competition once the Lakers woke up. Either that, or people are calling for the sweep, which is very possible. The Cavs are not a great basketball team, and you’d think that a team would have to be great to win a professional league championship. Unless you’ve got an intimidating name like The Mighty Ducks. Ah… I’ll stop it hockey. San Antonio has the edge in every possible category you can think of and some you can’t, other than they don’t have LeBron. Although, when Manu isn’t flopping around like a fish on the deck of a rowboat, he has had moments not quite as epic as the 29 of 30, but he’s one of the more money players in the game. A very acceptable counter to LeBron on the offensive end.
A third scenario could be something like we saw when the Pistons stunned the Lakers. Going into that Finals, people were raving about the 4 Hall of Famers from L.A., and how it was ironically their bench player Derek Fisher’s 0.4 shot that would serve as the key moment in their championship drive. Beating Minnesota in the conference Finals was easy, because Flip Saunders was the coach and he has proven himself to be allergic to the NBA Finals. Hey, I’m allergic to pollen and crisp country air. It happens. In the NBA Finals of that year - where game one took place at the same time as the Soprano’s season finale when the feds grabbed Johnny Sack (coincidence?) – L.A. was cocky and overconfident, the Pistons played much harder, and by the time the championship was decided, the Lakers were lucky to have won a single game, when Kobe bailed them out with an OT-forcing three.
Could the Spurs be overconfident? Bruce Bowen has been downplaying his assignment to be the LeBron stopper. You wouldn’t think Popovich would allow his team to go unprepared, but then again it took them six games to beat the Nets team they totally overmatched in the Finals. They did lose game one to Denver this year and choked in game 4 against the Suns, blowing a 10 point lead late in the game before some other stuff happened.
I’m going with the Orlando-Houston scenario though. Cleveland loses a close game as the Spurs show some rust in game 1, but come through with typical San Antonio execution in crunch time. The rest of the series is a coronation for San Antonio as people say “Oh well, LeBron is young and has a bright future. Don’t feel sorry for him. He’ll be back.” Cleveland already has survived a series being down 0-2 against a better team, questioning their leadership’s decision making, and learning their true identity by going through the fire as they say. If it wasn’t the Spurs they were facing, you could make a case that the Cleveland mentality could be “Nothing can stop us now!” but it is the Spurs. Welcome to the machine.
This year’s Spurs aren’t a team for the ages or an unbeatable monster or anything like that. But they are better than the Cavs, and that’s all they need to be.
Prediction: San Antonio SWEEP
Happy about that: No
Cheering to be right about this: No
We could see the Disney ending, a la the team that just won the Stanley Cup. In the Disney ending, it is the storyline of LeBron learning that he had the power to win the championship all along, and he carries a rag tag team to victory over the domineering powerhouse. Hey, the Finals are on the Disney networks, so you never know. When you wish upon a LeBroooooooon…
That is all. Big time sitdown lunch meeting today with THE Ben Collins.
45 Responses to “The Mighty Cavaliers”
Jun.7 at 9:09 am
James says:
What odds do you think I could get on a Cavs sweep?
Jun.7 at 9:13 am
tony starks says:
second!
Jun.7 at 9:13 am
tony starks says:
third!
Jun.7 at 9:22 am
Steve O says:
I didn’t watch the Stanley Cup but I am glad these guys got a ring… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEat3pzFf14
Jun.7 at 9:32 am
Ryan Jones says:
They’re not mighty any more, Sam. I think that’s why they won.
Jun.7 at 10:14 am
Joel O's says:
Maybe if the Cavs are down halftime Lebron can give his team some of “Michael’s Secret Stuff” from Space Jam to uh, invigorate them.
Jun.7 at 10:23 am
nic says:
“Forget the curveball, Ricky - give ‘em the heater!”
Jun.7 at 10:36 am
Allenp says:
That allergy line was great Sam. I give credit where it’s due.
Jun.7 at 10:36 am
Jeri says:
So does this mean that when Mike Brown calls a play for Zydrunas, he yells “Flying V?”
Jun.7 at 10:46 am
Tariq says:
James: 745:0
Jun.7 at 10:49 am
white hot eboy says:
Sam, here’s a question. Where do the Cavs rank next season at the start of the season in the East? They should be better than the Pistons,no? But will the Bulls make a move to get a low-post player and run the Central? Will the Pistons make a couple of moves and become a powerhouse again? Can the Cavs really finish 3rd in the division after making the Finals? Next year has the makings of a wild season, both East and West. Oh yeah, Spurs in six.
Jun.7 at 10:50 am
mamadou n'diaye says:
Sam I think they’re just called the ducks now. They would have won the cup a lot sooner if they kept Gordon Bombay on as coach
Jun.7 at 10:52 am
Token Euro says:
“This year’s Spurs aren’t a team for the ages or an unbeatable monster or anything like that.” I still think they’re the strongest Spurs team ever.
Jun.7 at 10:53 am
patrick says:
charlie conway = lebron
banks = boobie
goldberg = varejo
that big kid with the nasty slapshot = big Z ok i’ll stop
Jun.7 at 10:59 am
Brian says:
I hope the roof collapses tonight so they have to postpone the game. There hasn’t been enough time to prepare. Cavs in 6, maybe 5.
Jun.7 at 11:10 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
hmmm… so they are not the MIGHTY Ducks anymore. Whoopsie! They were still based on the marketing potential of a fictional team. The guy that wrote the song prominently featured in the Mighty Ducks movie and every sporting event since is the original R Kelly.
Not ready to think about next year’s Eastern conference. Maybe Durant is tanking his workouts so a team from the East can swing a trade for him.
Jun.7 at 11:21 am
nastruthomas says:
don’t let me see you at the Q during those games, cuz i will point you out, and you will get booed, and you will get the a* hole chant, get off the spurs band wagon you bum. people fail to realize the cleveland lost as many games in the playoffs as san antonio, and only 1 at home. if you haven’t been to the Q at all, or lately, the atmosphere rivals that of the best home courts ever. its nicknamed the King’s Quort for a reason. no way the cavaliers get swept. end of sweep discussion.
Jun.7 at 11:42 am
Russ Bengtson says:
LeBron does not get swept.
Jun.7 at 11:48 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
I’m cheering for the Cavs and I hope it goes six games so Khalid has to leave the office to go to San Antonio and stay out of my personal business.
Jun.7 at 12:01 pm
Sparker says:
since we’re on hockey, the montreal canadiens won a stanley cup in the early 90s where they were clearly not the best team, but simply got hot and could not be stopped. and if i recall, they had no real stars other than their goalie
Jun.7 at 12:10 pm
nastruthomas says:
Also, as if anyone hasn’t seen it http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHiqvzLhvn8&mode=related&search= let this serve as a reminder that LeBron is not doing anything new, or that we haven’t previously seen…. the clip which begins exactly at the 2:10 mark… Game 5 Drive, Deciding, Deja Vu shot anyone? ….he never had a dynastic team at SVSM, and his dominance shows when they dismantled Oak Hill Academy, a perennial national powerhouse. Another Deja Vu?
Everyone at that time was talking about him being “overhyped” and he beat the best team in the nation to become the best team in the nation. THE THINGS HE DOES ARE NOT NEWS, PEOPLE.
He continues to dominate, he continues to hush the haters, and he continues to prove time and again that no matter what you say he can’t do, he will do it. That step back three point jumpshot has been in his arsenal the past six years, only now has it officially become a component of his repertoire. They say he can’t shoot, they say he can’t D up, they say he can’t dominate, they say he can’t lead, they say he coasts. All he has done is proven time and again how wrong the critics are. Witness. Not just an ad campaign, but a mantra to describe history being observed as it is written. Get off the safe side of the sportsline, get off the West Coast Bandwagon, and realize, this isn’t about an overachieving, underdeveloped team making a fluke appearance after cruising through a watered down Eastern Conference. This is about the next great athlete, the next great champion, taking a mediocre team (nothing new) to the promised land. All the King’s Horses and all the King’s Men, will never ever be doubted again…
and by the way, what do the Kings Men put to Kings Horses in order to move rapidly forward towards intended destination? Spurs.
Jun.7 at 12:10 pm
Dennard says:
“…Flip Saunders was the coach and he has proven himself to be allergic to the NBA Finals.” = Classic.
Jun.7 at 12:11 pm
Froggiestyle says:
Possibly only interesting subplot - Ginoblee vs. Varejevo - when flop meets flop! Or is it, flip vs. flop? imagine one or the other coming on a drive and they BOTH flop - huge entertainment and GREAT for nba worldwide. Vaya todo el mundo en america del sud !!!! mon cul oui ;P
Jun.7 at 12:29 pm
Reggie Evans says:
HOCKEY?????????/
Jun.7 at 12:43 pm
Ben Collins says:
Aw man, does this mean I need to dress up now?
Jun.7 at 1:14 pm
bryan says:
I just wanna ask..if the cavs win are we still gonna say they’re not a great team?
Jun.7 at 1:16 pm
bryan says:
I just wanna ask..if the cavs win are we still gonna say they’re not a great team?
It seems to me no one is respecting them at all, I know you have to be a little lucky but I don’t think it was all luck that got them here, lets not forget Larry Hughes is no scrub, I don’t know what happened to him but he’s a good defensive player and capable of scoring 20+ . I don’t think the cavs are gonna win but I don’t think they’re as bad as everyone makes them out to be.
Jun.7 at 1:23 pm
seppo says:
Why isnt´Billy Dee Wishwash catching more heat from the media for his stunt? I haven´t yet found any good explanation why he pulled out of the deal. As a matter of fact there really is no excuse. An adult should be expected to make and stand by by his decision. How can anyone respect this liar anymore?
Jun.7 at 1:30 pm
Steve O says:
If Mike Brown wears the Air Bombays, the Cavs sweep.
Jun.7 at 1:46 pm
Tom says:
A little off topic here, but how awesome is that NBA video vault, I was just watching top 10 plays from the 96 finals…..Payton dunked!!! Reignman teabagging Rodman…….great stuff all around
Jun.7 at 1:56 pm
Dennard says:
@seppo - I feel you, Billy Wishwash should definitely catch more heat than he is catching. If the NCAA really had any “integrity” they would make him sit out for a season and allow his recruits choose another school to play for another school if they desire. I was flipping channels the other night, and on Sportscenter, I heard Dick Vitale say that Billy would probably get the floor named after him at Florida. For what? There isn’t much difference between him and Nick Saban if you ask me.
Jun.7 at 2:16 pm
Simmy Sosa says:
I think this is actually the strongest San Antonio team. When you have Michael Finley, Brent Barry, and Robert Horry coming off your bench you know you’re deep. These guys don’t have to log huge minutes, so they can go all out when they play defense and knock down outside shots on offense. How deep are the Spurs? Beno Udrin, a sixth man on most teams can’t even get any burn. Spurs in 5.
Jun.7 at 3:07 pm
bryan says:
I don’t think beno would be a sixth man for many teams.
Jun.7 at 3:49 pm
Bigi says:
Teeeeeeeeemuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Selanneeeeeeee!!!!So Mighty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Buhahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa…
Jun.7 at 4:46 pm
Chukaz says:
I reported on Stan Van Gundy today really early in the morning or that “NBA Finals Diary Day 0″ sh*t.
Jun.7 at 4:46 pm
joe_x says:
@Sparker, you are quite wrong. The 1993 Montreal Canadiens were the better of the two teams in the finals (the other being the LA Kings). They were better in that series, and they were better during the regular season. In fact, they were first over all as late as February that season. While it’s true that they did have the best goalie ever (Patrick Roy), they also had other very good players. Don’t make me list them. If you’re wondering who the team was that finished first overall that year was - it was the Mario-led Pittsburg Penguins. The Penguins lost to the Islanders in 7, who the Canadiens then defeated in 5. In a 7 game series, the better team always wins. That’s some education for you.
Jun.7 at 4:59 pm
Chukaz says:
The NHL season already came to an end? I didn’t even know that it had begun. By the way, don’t be fooled if the Cavs loose the first 2 games by an average of 3 ppg. That doesn’t mean that they will come back the way they did against Detroit for 2 reasons. #1) A 79-76 victory by the spurs is like 20 point loss against the rest or the league, you just can’t over come it. #2) The Spurs aren’t coach the Flop Saunders.
Jun.7 at 5:06 pm
Chukaz says:
Beno Udrin wouldn’t be 6th man on most teams. Maybe the Cavs (he would probably start) or Houston, but that’s about it. He would be a 20 min guy on most teams. He will be a solid back up as soon as the Spurs waive him, trade him, or his contract expires and goes somewhere else.
Jun.7 at 5:34 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Regarding the Ben Collins lunch… we went to this thai place right near the office that is usually pretty quiet. OF course today there would be a high school end of the year party there. Our waitress lied to me and said it was a speed dating event, or maybe I just interpreted her nod to mean that.
NBA FINALS!
Jun.7 at 6:28 pm
Peter says:
Is it just a coincidence that emilio estevez’ brother charlie sheen was the star of major league?
Jun.7 at 7:09 pm
Travis. says:
LeBron is A BEAST…CAVS ALL THE WAY BABY!!!
Jun.7 at 9:04 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Sam really came with the hysterical one liners today. I think he felt freed up by my being out of the office instead of leaning over his desk to nag him about some website question or another. Also, can’t believe Cub didn’t chime in today with the hockey talk; he’s the only legit puck fan of anyone in the SLAM family (as far as I know).
Jun.8 at 2:47 am
Froggiestyle says:
lebron - smoked - pop’s got mikey’s number, all day long
Jun.8 at 3:42 am
just askin says:
you forgot to mention the role the refs will play because the real reason wade won last year and that pistons team won against the lakers was the refs. whoever the refs favor will win the chip and i say sweep because the refs love the spurs they get all the calls.
Jun.18 at 7:59 am
» So now what? Oh yeah, Kobetime. - SLAM ONLINE says:
[…] Looking back on The Finals, I am glad they are over and it was a sweep. If you want be to get all sportswritery, I could say that I predicted it. But hey, if you used that information as a basis to earn supplemental revenue, then I congratulate you, and it is you who are the real winner. […]