LeBron James Against the World by Ben Galli

Wow. Times a thousand.  

In what was one of the greatest performances in NBA history, LeBron James catapulted himself into serious consideration for the greatest performer of all time.  Enough so that more and more, that talk grows among media and fans alike.  If these Cleveland Cavaliers win this championship, there will be a real debate on who is better, LeBron or Jordan.  There is a certain amount of disregard for the current greatest player in the world.  The stakes have always been higher for The Chosen One.  But he's always met them before.  With one premeditated mistake, albeit one that most normal 25 year-olds would make, LeBron has silenced the doubters.  The haters may still persist, but the only doubters are fools who can't see before their very eyes.  

It started on October 29th, 2003 where at Andyman's Treehouse I kept tabs(and ran them up) on James' pro debut in Sacramento.  Couldn't even fathom that an 18 year old could have 26 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals on 12-20 shooting with only 2 turnovers in his first pro game ever. On national television.  Better than I expected.  It has been an absolute joy to watch LeBron since that day.  Even if I couldn't bring myself to root for him in Miami.  When he came back to Cleveland, something I had thought would happen eventually, just not this year, I was thrilled because LeBron had a chance to save his legacy.  

Coming back to Akron and winning a championship in Cleveland would mean the forgiveness of most of Northeast Ohio.  Something I think is important to James.  LeBron would be joining Kyrie Irving, a budding superstar.  They also had the first pick in the NBA draft.  Even with that  pick, the Cavs were still supposedly short on talent.  There was some desperation in the organization.  Burned once before by LeBron, they didn't want to take any half measures.  The first pick along with the previous year's number 1 overall pick got traded to Minnesota for Kevin Love.  At this point, Cleveland became the title favorite, and Cleveland fans started believing.

So of course, naturally, Cleveland things started happening.  Kevin Love was rudely injured by Boston's Kelly Olynyk in the first round of the playoffs and later ruled out for the postseason.  Kyrie Irving was hampered with injuries yet Cleveland soldiered on to a 12-2 record in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  This set them on a collision course with Golden State who could brag of their own impressive 12-3 record in the Wild, Wild West.  

Game 1 was everything everyone hoped for as it neared the end.  The undermanned Cavs were being carried by LeBron and Kyrie and running with the Warriors.  The Warriors proved their depth advantage, with their bench outscoring Cleveland's 34-8.  J.R. Smith was the only Cavalier to score off the bench but he shot 3-13 to do it.  Irving, known for porous defensive play, made a huge one with his block of MVP Curry with 24 seconds left.  LeBron added fuel to the hater pyre by missing a difficult long jumper near the end of regulation causing the game to go into overtime after Shumpert's put back attempt miss.  The game was basically over at that point as Golden State ran away to a 108-100 victory.  

The series may have been over with about 2 minutes left in overtime when a valiant effort from a less than 100% Irving may have backfired.  Irving went down on a drive and eventually left the game.  The next day it was announced that he'd suffered a broken kneecap and would be out 3-4 months.  Fans of all ages fought back tears.  Fought back tears of disappointment and whispered, "Put me in Coach".  From Jenny from Chagrin Falls to Robby from Chardon, Cavs fans felt something they'd felt far too many times before.

By the end of Game 1 on Thursday night, LeBron James had scored a Finals career high 44 points on 18-38 shooting with 8 rebounds and 6 assists.  Stephen Curry had 26 points on 10-20 of shooting including 2-6 from three-point land with 8 assists.  Kyrie Irving played 43 minutes and had 23 points joining Timofey Mozgov as the only other Cavalier that reached double figures in points.  Kyrie and LeBron combined for 67% of the Cavs total points.  The Cavs as a team shot 41.5% from the field, 29.0% from three, and a disappointing 68.4% from the foul line.  The Warriors shot 44.3%, 37.0%, and an astonishing 90.9% in those respective categories.  Different inferences can be made from this.  That the Cavs should have won and let one get away or that the Cavs shouldn't have been as close as they were. I think losing Kyrie in the manner they did, that late in the game,was a gut punch from which they wouldn't recover.  

That gut punch turned into an ulcer on Monday when it was announced Irving would be out for the rest of the playoffs.  Few fans or media members could truly be confident in Cleveland's chances anymore especially after losing Game 1 in the shadow of LeBron's Jerry Westian game.  Admittedly, I was skeptical like most that Cleveland could win without Love. It didn't seem logical to still give them a chance without Irving too.  I'd be mildly surprised if they won 1 game in this series, not two, not three, not four.  Looking back on the last time we had one great player with a supporting cast resembling the remaining Cavs, you'd probably need to go back to 2001 with Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.  Iverson came into L.A. to take on a juggernaut Lakers squad that had gone 11-0 in the playoffs. Iverson scored 48 on the road with 6 assists and 5 steals in Game 1 and Philadelphia pulled off the big upset.  They then proceeded to lose the next 4 in a row.  Has there ever been a team that won a title without their 2nd and 3rd best player in the Finals?

Spoiler Alert:  It has not happened before.  That's what made Game 2 so special.  LeBron played hero ball and it worked.  The LeBron narrative is such that simply because it is him, people will not count the Cavs out anymore.  Not if they could win Game 2 in the manner that they did.  It's not just that LeBron had 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists.  It's the Cavs shot a miserable 32.2% from the field and still found a way to win on the road and in overtime.  It's that Matty Delly played 42 minutes helping guard Steph Curry and having a team high plus/minus of +15.  LBJ had 0.  

But at the same time, we can't forget some other numbers.  The Warriors shot a very uncharacteristic 8-35 from three-point land including Chef Curry undercooking at 2-15.  They also had 10 less rebounds and 5 more turnovers.  I like Dellavedova. He hustles and plays with grit.  He's a scrappy, likable guy (on your team).  The Cavs found their Aaron Craft.  But I don't see Steph Curry repeating his Game 2 performance.  He may still struggle a little bit for him being it's his first time on this large a stage, but he won't play as poorly as he did in Game 2 probably for the rest of the series.  LeBron played 50 minutes on Sunday night after playing 45 three days before.  How superhuman can he be?

It's probably a good thing that James Jones is playing more.  He's also been to 5 straight Finals.  The Warriors can't boast that kind of experience.  It might be what's affecting them.  Perhaps this will merely be the year that Steph Curry has to pay his dues and lose in the Finals before reigning triumphant in the years to come.  The Cavs can win but they need more things to fall into place than Golden State does.  The Warriors still have the advantage but the Cavs still have LeBron and hope.  If Golden State plays the normal game they are capable of and had been playing normally in these playoffs, the Cavs *shouldn't* stand a chance with their current lineup.  But if the Cavs can play all out again and get Curry and the rest of the Dubs' perimeter players to struggle, they can keep it close like they did in Game 2.  J.R. Smith should have a better game but as always, all eyes will be on the King.  And you come at the King, you best not miss.

(Warning:  Video May Contain Graphic Violence)

I Really Don't Care About the NBA, But Go Cavs! by Greg May

Honestly, I don't give a shit about the NBA. I like college basketball, mostly because of the NCAA tournament. which I believe to be one of the more compelling and pure sporting events each year. But the NBA bores me to tears. With that being said ... Go Cavs!  Call me a frontrunner, a bandwagoner or whatever you want. Just don't call me an NBA fan.

My reason for rooting for the Cavs is pretty simple. I have been a Browns fan all my life. I'm convinced that there is some kind of negative force field, hex, curse ... whatever you want to call it .. that is keeping the city down. And for some desperate reason I believe that if the Cavs win the NBA Championship the city karma will be equalized and all will be right again on the North Coast, allowing the Browns to stop sucking and Johnny Eightball to lead them to the playoffs this year. (What, no Super Bowl title, you ask? Even in a state of equalized karma the Browns just barely make the playoffs this year. Baby steps.)

So, go Cavs! And to be honest, I have actually enjoyed watching these games a lot more than I thought I would. LeBron has been clanking iron like a blacksmith, Kyrie's sitting on the bench, and yet the Cavs just keep rolling thanks to guys like Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova and of course J.R. Smith, who made a team record eight 3-pointers in game 1 of the Easter Conference finals, then explained after the game how difficult it is for him to pass the ball. You have to admit, his honesty is refreshing.

Speaking of J.R., here's a video I found that made me laugh so hard I tinkled in my pants a little bit. Go Cavs! #BallinWithLeBron

 



NBA Playoffs Recap and Round Two Predictions by Ben Galli

Don’t Look Back in Anger - @Bengalli33

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Recap (Round 2 Preview below)

That Game 7 though.  Wow.  That might go down as one of the best Game 7’s in Playoff history.  It’s a pity it was in Round 1.  Would have much rather seen Warriors-Rockets and Clippers-Spurs as Second Round series.  Just the flow and closeness of the game was impressive. (there were 31 lead changes(12 in 4th, and 16 ties!) At halftime, the Spurs were shooting 53% from the field.  L.A. shot at a 51.9% clip from 3 point land for the entire game.  Blake Griffin had a triple double, Tim Duncan had 27 and 11 on 11/16 shooting, but this was Chris Paul’s masterpiece.  

The biggest game of his career and a legendary Hall of Fame performance.  When CP3 left late in the 1st quarter, grabbing his hamstring, you felt 2 things:  One, L.A. wasn’t winning without Chris Paul and Two, Chris Paul was gonna come back and play.  And play he did.  Paul had 5 points and 3 assists when he left the game.  He returned to the court near the end of the 2nd quarter and proceeded to add 22 more points and this remarkable shot over Tim Duncan.  Let no one doubt Chris Paul again.

Watch this!

Los Angeles Clippers:  4 San Antonio Spurs:  3 (My Prediction, Spurs 4-3)


From Hall of Fame, to Hall of Shame.  Nearly a week before Paul’s legendary performance, the infamous antics of Kelly Olynyk had enraged the Cleveland contingent.  Judge for yourself:

Watch This!

Perhaps the gangly Olynyk didn’t mean to sideline Love for 4-6 months, but his actions were surely not accidental.  No NBA player can be that uncoordinated.  And to think most people would root for the kid from Dazed and Confused all grown up.

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Kendrick Perkins was put in later to do what Kendrick Perkins is put in games to do.  Be flagrantly surly.  Later, as is J.R. Smith’s MO, he took things a little too far in the 3rd quarter with his spinning backfist of Jae Crowder, earning J.R. a 2 game suspension for the beginning of the Cavs most important series to date (see below).  I doubt Kelly Olynyk will ever have as great an impact on the NBA Playoffs as he did with his dirty play that Sunday.  

Watch that bastard Olynyk do Satan's work against Cleveland.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  4 Boston Celtics:  0 (My Prediction, Cavs 4-0)

There were some surprises in the first round of this year’s playoffs, most notably the lack of competitive series for the most part.  Of course, everything was always going to be overshadowed by the Spurs and Clippers, two title contenders somehow having to face off in the 1st round but otherwise it was just kind of a ho-hum first round.

The Washington Wizards really took it to the North.  I really wasn’t sure which of these teams would have won this series but I definitely would not have predicted the Wiz in a sweep.  

Washington Wizards:  4 Toronto Raptors:  0 (My prediction, Wizards 4-3)

I wasn’t as surprised by the outcome of this series, but I was a little dismayed by how the Blazers let themselves get dominated for the most part.  Losing Wes Matthews was one thing, but your best player shooting 33% (career avg: 48%) and Dame Lillard’s defense getting exposed spells trouble for Portland’s future.  The whispers are getting louder about LaMarcus Aldridge going to San Antonio or Dallas. 

Memphis Grizzlies:  4 Portland Trail Blazers:  1 (My prediction, Grizzlies 4-2)

It wasn’t that I doubted the Warriors as much as I respected the greatness of the individual Anthony Davis when I predicted G State wouldn’t sweep.  I wrote about what happened here but the Warriors were always going to advance.

Golden State Warriors:  4 New Orleans Pelicans:  0 (My prediction, Warriors 4-1)

The only thing that told me anything from the Mavs-Rockets series, is that Dallas players voted to not give Rajon Rondo a share of their playoff bonus.  It wasn’t a money thing, as Rondo missed out on a little less than an estimated $14,000.  That guy is the current definition of high risk, high reward.  With many doubting how high that reward actually is.

Houston Rockets:  4 Dallas Mavericks:  1 (My prediction, Rockets 4-1)

The Hawks will be the Hawks will be the Hawks will be the Hawks.  Deron Williams prioritized basketball over the buffet line for 1 game and the Nets appeared a slight threat but only because few outside of the ATL give the Hawks a second glance.

Atlanta Hawks:  4 Brooklyn Nets:  2 (My prediction, Hawks 4-1)

The Bucks showed some spunk by taking this series to 6 games and they will definitely be a team to watch next year. I cannot remain silent however, on more important matters of justice.  We continue to live in a society where a “thug” from New Jersey will receive a 2 game suspension for an act of retaliation whereas an All American from Duke will receive no suspension for a similar act of actual aggression.  Obviously I’m exaggerating the social relevance but at the same time, sports and society are mirrors into truth, and worthy of at least some analysis.  Plus, I’m biased for Cleveland.  Dunleavy’s play below led him to getting absolutely decked by the Greek Freak who’s growing up fast before our very eyes.
 
Watch this!

Chicago Bulls:  4 Milwaukee Bucks:  2 (My prediction, Bulls 4-1)

Love Will Keep Us Together. Round 2 Preview

Each conference is down to their own Final Four.  As usual, the West has more intriguing matchups than the East but the most intriguingest one of them all is da’ Bulls versus Cleveland.  Let’s get to the other three first.

#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. # 5 Washington Wizards

One of the writing guidelines I adopted a long time ago was don’t waste too many words on the Atlanta Hawks.  Let people in Atlanta discuss them and root for them and suffer their inevitable disappointments.  Even with “team basketball” and “unselfishness” and “Popovich disciple” as catch phrases surrounding this team, does anyone else really give a damn?  I admit it is interesting to see if they can succeed against superstar laden teams but I feel I already know the answer to that.  

A good test will be John Wall’s Wizards.  Wall is as fast as a bullet and I can’t stop using bullets to describe Washington’s basketball team.  The Wizards have an intriguing team with young sharpshooter Bradley Beal, the always dangerous Paul Pierce, and the recent emergence of former 3rd pick in the draft, Otto Porter Jr.  Still they ended the season struggling majorly and it is always hard to pick a team to win 4 games against a team that won 14 more regular season games including 3 of 4 head to head.  But Atlanta doesn’t have a real go to guy especially with Horford not being 100%.  And I’m on the John Wall bandwagon.  

Pick:  Washington in 7

#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies

What happened to Mike Conley Jr’s face?  Guy had to get plates surgically inserted and has already missed 3 games in the playoffs including Game 1 of the Warriors series.  That must have been the hardest elbow ever.  With Conley at full go, the Grizzlies did pose a challenge to the Warriors because of the always difficult matchups that Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol pose both on offense and defense.  

Conley’s a gamer so I expect he’ll be back for Game 2 but the Warriors are playing really well right now.  Their comeback against the Pelicans, from 20 points down in the 4th quarter, may have given the team the indomitable confidence that leads some to magical postseason runs.  The Grizzlies will still be the toughest defense the Warriors play in the West and I still think they find a way to steal 2 games.  But deserved MVP Steph F’in Curry will get to his first Conference Finals. 

Pick:  Golden State in 6.

#2 Houston Rockets vs. # 3 Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers’ MVP Chris Paul will likely miss the first game of this series which gives Houston a great chance at taking advantage of a brief dip in the Clippers’ momentum.  Perhaps finishing 2nd to Steph Curry will give James Harden the extra motivation to take no prisoners and carry Houston to a Conference Finals showdown with the guy who stole his MVP in the 2nd half of the season.  Harden’s biggest challenges remain in his ability to get Howard and Josh Smith to play the playoff basketball they need to play.  They both showed they could contribute against the Mavs, but these Clips are far removed from that team talent wise.  With Doc Rivers at the helm and Chris Paul looking to advance to a Conference Finals for the first time in his career, Los Angeles looks too tough a matchup for Houston.  

Pick:  Los Angeles in 6

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. # 3 Chicago Bulls

This is the series that all eyes will be on in Round 2.  So many questions raised by the unnecessary antics in the Cavs’ Game 4 clincher over Boston. (I really only mean Olynyk’s actions that led to everything else).  Losing Kevin Love, who the Cavs traded the Rookie of the Year for, really hurts, especially mentally.  Losing J.R. Smith for 2 games is not as bad but starts the series with Cleveland in an even deeper hole.  The fact that Derrick Rose has not gotten hurt again and Jimmy Butler is playing lights out ball recently, gives the Bulls a seeming advantage.  

But the Cavs have ability and versatility on the bench.  They can change up what positions some of their players play most notably because of the 4 position monster LeBron is.  They may not be able to stretch with Tristan Thompson playing more minutes, but he has been very solid on the glass.  If some combination of James Jones, Mike Miller, and gulp! Shawn Marion, can put in some quality buckets, the Cavs can overcome the absence of Love.  More than anything however, the Cavs know they all need to step it up with KLove out for the playoffs and that may be just the motivation they need to really come together as a true championship contender.  

Pick:  Cleveland in 7

And not to forget, the newest episode reflecting on this year’s playoffs: