So my beloved cavs let me down last night. Lebron looked pretty bad, and unless he steps it up big time, it will be a short series for them. Hopefully it was merely first game jitters, and he will bounce back on Sunday…
Phys - hang in there. Keep in mind (despite Miami last year), the West is competely head and shoulders above the East. There a chance that Detroit and Cleveland may not even have made the playoffs in the West. I compare Cleveland a lot to LA, and LA just made it.
Anything can happen in a short series, I thought Cleveland would be on an emotional downer the first game. I think game 2 is their best shot. If they can pull of a win in SA anything can happen in Cleveland.
** (despite Miami last year),**
And Detroit the previous two years.** **But, other than having the last 3 champions, the West is better. grin
I’m not sure how much better the West is than the East (I admit they are better). It’s tought to gauge an offensive West versus a defensive East. Two different styles of play, and we as fans, are over-impressed with pretty offense. The West gets thte top 2 draft picks, but they may also see an exodus of free agent talent to the East. Looking back, the Vlade Divac - Kobe Bryant trade (LA-Charlotte) was a pretty big instigator in the West having dominance during the regular season … and the whole Spurs drafting Tim Duncan thing. In the NBA, one major player can cause a big tidfal wave (as we see again this year).
We see the same kind of thing in the NFL, conferences take turns dominating the big show. In the late 80s/90s, it was the East in the NBA dominated. The exception would be Houston’s 2-peat during Jordan’s absence/comeback. Houston rolled Orlando with a rookie Shaq and beat the Knicks in Ewing’s shot at a title.
The Spurs are head and shoulders over everyone. I’m not sure the other teams in the West are in their same league. The playoffs are more about series matchups, as the Dallas-Golden State series illustrated. Simply put, though, the Spurs make everyone look bad.
We have a franchise going for its 4th title (?) in recent years versus one making its first finals appearance. IMO, that’s the bigger issue rather than Best-Least (I mean West-East).
This year’s playoffs show why the NBA could/should follow hockey’s lead and re-seed after each round. San Antonio-Phoenix should have been the West finals, not semi-finals. Re-seeding continually rewards the team with the best regular season performance.
dude are you a sports journo or something? your posts are awesome…you speak the truth!
man i miss my NBA, and NFL, and MLB (never got into that hockey stuff)…no subscription TV in this household anymore
(sniff sniff)
**dude are you a sports journo or something? **
If that’s good, I’m it. Sorry, stealing from Ali there.
I just speak my opinion based on my experience in sports. I don’t really value the opinions/comments of the likes of Stephen A. Smith, Jay Mariotti, and any of the other no-sports-experience “experts” in the media, who seemingly go overboard on every topic. Jim Rome sucks, and I wish Jim Everett woulda finished kicking his butt years ago. I have no idea why we, as sports fans, tolerate “expert” opinions from people that have never “been there”. Like taking stock advice from a homeless man.
your posts are awesome
It’s all relative.
My best post is the one where I said Cleveland couldn’t pitch … and now they’re leading the AL in pitching (i.e., ERA). That was awesome. BUt, it’s a long season, and just like the media’s overblown panic of the struggles of Pujols, Delgado, and Howard … everything will even out.
BTW, Count me as one that ISN’T going to give Roger Clemens a parade for allowing 3 earned runs in 6 innings against the damn Pirates. This is a 7-time Cy Young Award Winner and the media is actually discussing how impressive his performance against the Pirates is/was. Unreal.
The championship series this year was the Spurs vs the Suns. Everything else is a formality. LeBron will be back though.
Tony Parker is unstoppable from anywhere on the court, the first two games. He is an offensive catalyst for the Spurs, he gets more points in the paint than Duncan!
This coming from a Cavs fan.
**he gets more points in the paint than Duncan! **
… and much LESS attention than Steve Nash.
Sorry, here I go on my “Steve Nash is over-rated” rant again. Before anyone tells me that Nash is a 2-time MVP … that’s EXACTLY what I am talking about.
Recent SI Players (<-- that’s players, not MEDIA) poll had Nash running away with the “player least likely to play defense” question. That’s gets me, I’m not a big fan of guys that play on one end of the court.
Sorry, here I go on my “Steve Nash is over-rated” rant again. Before anyone tells me that Nash is a 2-time MVP … that’s EXACTLY what I am talking about.
Recent SI Players (<-- that’s players, not MEDIA) poll had Nash running away with the “player least likely to play defense” question. That’s gets me, I’m not a big fan of guys that play on one end of the court.
It makes me ill to think that Parker will mostl likley never end up being a starter for the All-Star team, because of Nash getting all the votes. Yes I think Nash is very good, but after Parker’s display on a national TV stage…c’mon.
I hear 'ya. Not much of an NBA fan, but I do follow the Cavs
We shall see tonight. The Spurs are pretty damn good all around for sure!
If the Cavs can’t win a game like that, they deserve to be swept.
Yup - to think I’m loosing sleep over these guys.
Once again Cleveland sports breaks my heart. When will I learn…
**Once again Cleveland sports breaks my heart. When will I learn… **
Don’t tell me you REALLY had your hopes up regarding the Cavs and this series?
TT don’t you think we have to win one sometime?? I thought it would be fitting that it would be the CAVS since they the #3 team in Cleveland.
At least you have a new NBA playoff highlight that doesn’t feature Craig Ehlo and Michael Jordan. =)
The finish was befuddling.
3 straight plays saw James lose a rebound, get his pocket-picked by Duncan, and lost another rebound as he headed up court without securing the ball.
And then with 45 seconds left the Cavs didn’t foul?
Quality role players versus loading up with superstars. It wins again.
Really disappointing that they got swept. Poor Cavs. But, Cleveland sticks by their teams, and I really think that this experience will just set the stage for a great season next year (hopefully). Labron is awesome - even though he had a rotten championship series.
I tried to tell some of you guys, but noone wanted to listen!
Maybe you’ll listen to me during football season 
** At least you have a new NBA playoff highlight that doesn’t feature Craig Ehlo and Michael Jordan. =) **
you mean this one ???
VIDEO LINK
For NBA fans (maybe not Cavs fans), this is a cool video. Frankly, even being a huge bulls fan “born and breaded” (CBS’s Jimmy the Greek quote) in Chicago, I cannot remember the last time I saw the live TV angle from the sidelines since the shot from the other basket is the one in all of the highlights of the shot.
And then with 45 seconds left the Cavs didn’t foul?
because Mike Brown is not a good coach.