Cavs-Celtics Redux
Final thoughts and pie
–On Saturday night, I had some delicious Forrest Berry pie. The following afternoon, with two minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 7, I ran into the kitchen and cut myself a slice of leftover pie. There was no way I was going to watch the last two minutes of that incredible game without some pie. Sometimes you want your epic Game 7 and you want to eat it, too.
–As much as the home away from homer in me wanted to see the Cavs pull an upset, this seems like a logical progression for LeBron and co. They fought hard, have nothing to be ashamed of, and look to be on the cusp—second scorer still needed—of glory. They were one clutch shot—DJ, live and brick from the corner; Sasha stepping ill-fatedly on the line—from being able to put themselves in position to deliver a knockout blow. Anyone else thinking Boobie’s absence made a huge difference? They needed a knockdown guy to space the floor and unclog the lane and they just didn’t have him on Sunday (though kudos to Delonte West in all of his creative glory and admirable will power).
–With the Celtics and Pistons a year older and the West wide open and beating the crap out of itself, I don’t see why the Cavs can’t win it next year. Yeah, I said it. Sure, the roster is overpriced and there isn’t much G-Managerial leg room. Still, the Cavs, health-permitting, will always be able to Team D up and that is criminally underrated in May and June. Hell, had they won yesterday, you know they weren’t going to lose to Detroit—the whole thing seemed set up like dominoes. (In truth, I was hoping for CLE-LA, mostly for Sasha vs. Sasha, both looking for the vic). Anyway, the Cavs have defensive structure; they just need another layer. If championship basketball is a house, the Cavs have most of it (LeBron&defense) in place. It’s hilarious to listen to the national pundits wet themselves because LeBron could sign elsewhere in 2010. They jump on the team’s weaknesses, and all of a sudden the average couch potato is sitting there arguing like the team got swept. Fellas…screamers…this is Cleveland basketball, not extreme makeover ho edition.
Plus, the Cavs, as currently comprised and with minimal tweaking, will always be a more dangerous in the playoffs than in the regular season.
–After game 1, I wondered if the Cavs really blew their shot at a game in Boston that was theirs for the taking. Bron’s seemingly inconceivable 2-18 was reverse reminiscent of Reggie’s 8 second Game 1 takedown of the ‘95 Knicks, who, despite the meltdown, were still a Patrick Ewing finger roll away from a ECF matchup with young Shaq/Penny. The roles were reversed in this series, but the hard fought grind it out nature was the same.
–Pistons-Celtics. Celtics in 7. Because sometimes it just is what it is.
This story is filed under: Absence of Evidence, Blogs, NBA
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And the winner is……..Jake.
Pie is good. But Pi is bad.
With LeBron, we don’t know yet. Definitely too early to make any conclusions because he’s shown very positive signs. But, y’all know who is a straight-up loser? One Carmelo Anthony.
Z: I don’t completely understand myself. That’s why I rarely comment. Don’t know why I did today.
Tariq: I hope that answered your questions. Rings and things are important, but more important is how you go about it.
Jake: Just my opinion right now. Subject to change.
tealish: Glad you feel me on Udonis, but what signs do you see in Bron? Unfortunately, I agree on Melo–very sad. Mixed messages.
After game 7, LeBron was like “I told Paul Pierce, let’s give these fans something to remember”. Bron, you’re playing in game 7 of the Semi-finals — worry about winning the game, instead of putting on a show.
Bron also talks a lot about the history of the game, referencing the legends and the classical performances. I suspect that his focus is going down in history, with outstanding performance after performance rather than to go down as winner.
This is all speculative and his intentions might not be how it appears. I’d like to believe that we can at least hold off judgment because at least he plays with passion like he cares. Whether it’s about acheiving legendary status as a showman or a winner, we’ll see soon enough.
I think the term your after, regarding quantifying someones value to the out come of a basketball game is my old favourite… “BLUE COLLAR”. The intangibles, the intensity, motivations and presence felt thats not necessarily measured in the box score add up to being a valuable asset at necessary times, ie
BIG SHOT ROB (Horry), Boobie, Luc Longley (against the Sonics in 1996 final - stay with me…). But then there is a thin line between ‘wanting’ to win, having particular skills and being borderline woeful: Adam Keefe, Sean Marks, Manute Bol, Shawn Bradley, Rick Brunson, Paul Shirley, Rich King. But at different times each of these players were on successful teams, even adding to their teams success. I just think defining anyone by being a STAR or WINNER is not substantial in terms of how accurate that is….But hey, you should DEFINITELY post more!
^_^
The best thing for Lebron to do is treat the NBA for what it is….A BUSINESS. “Putting on a show” is the best thing to do for fans, and obviously by “putting on a show” he is going to give a thorough display of his skills…surely a show wouldn’t consist of his 2 for 18 performance, and you would have to say that wasn’t pre-arranged…and wanted to perform - if not every game? TIM DONAGHY is that you down there making calls/plays?
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