Posts Tagged ‘Miami Heat’

Guilty Pleasures

As I sat anxiously watching “The Decision” I could not control my giddiness. Everything leading up to his decision had me believing that he was jumping ship and I could not be happier. It’s not because Cleveland actually had a good, check that GREAT team…that’s right folks, that’s a Yinzer complimenting a Cleveland sports team…but rather it’s because I enjoy seeing die-hard Cleveland sports fans suffer. Yeah I know thats wrong. Probably kind of sick too, but it’s the truth. Their hopes get built up so much for the Browns and the Indians but each year they fall flat on their faces. However the Cavs were legit. But now they’re unlegit. Again.

It’s hard to say James made the wrong decision because he’s playing with Wade, and Bosh. Miami fans don’t come close to Cleveland fans. Cleveland fans are some of the most loyal fans ever. Cheering for pathetic teams isn’t easy to do…trust me, I find myself questioning why I continue to chee for the Pirates, but then I remember it’s because I love that team. And Clevelanders love their teams. No fault there. But seriously, why get all upset. In seven years, how many championships has James gotten you all? Zero. How many finals did he lead you to? One and they got swept.

Now are you a better team without him. HELL NO. Not even close. Actually, the Cavs are now one of the worst teams in the league if you ask me, but cut the guy some slack. Except for the last few games in this postseason, this guy carried you. He led what was otherwise a collaberation of run-of-the-mill players to the best record in basketball. Here’s something you all should do. Learn from Pittsburgh. When Sergei Gonchar signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators this offseason, the city didn’t go up in arms, instead they thanked him for his time and service to the team and community. Granted Gonchar was a key contributor to their Stanley Cup championship, but when he comes back to Pittsburgh, I promise you he will get a standing ovation. Please do the same with James.

These super-freakish athletes are humans too. They need to lookout for themselves. James tried for seven years and couldn’t get it done. Now nothing is for sure, but I think he has earned the right to go to South Beach to try and win a championship. If nothing else, James can’t be called greedy or that he is in it just for the money. Instead he wants to win. He tried and Cleveland, but now will try in Miami.

Yeah, I’m happy he left. I feel bad to an extent for Cleveland, but at the same time, deep down I’m smiling. Guilty pleasure.

Age Brings Experience Not Brittleness

So that’s it. It’s done. Cleveland you will probably need a eulogy after what just happened. Then again what just happened? This was the number one team in the East, those Cleveland Cavaliers. They were also the number one team in the association. They were suppose to once again walk through into the finals and have that LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant Final we all wanted. Yet again, James’ journey to the finals took an abrupt stop thanks to great defense and better team play that was the Boston Celtics.

It’s weird writing about how the Celtics have played well in this series, in fact the entire playoffs the Celtics have played great. This is a team that people wrote off because they were too old, and health was a huge issue. And yet it was the old guys that performed so well in this game 6. Rasheed Wallace able to get double digit points, Kevin Garnett got a double double, and Paul Pierce was able to get double figures. Yet the Celtics weren’t suppose to be here. In fact many people picked the Miami Heat to upset the Celtics in the first round. Yet the Celtics nearly swept the Heat and then comes this series against the Cavaliers. A series where there was only one game where the Celtics looked awful which was game 3. That makes the clash between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics a lot more interesting, don’t count out the Celtics experience.

Yet what’s sad about this series is that it’s not about the Celtics. It was never about the Celtics. Once the series went 3-2 in Boston’s favor, this series was more about James. Not the Cavaliers, but just one man. A home town hero and a home grown talent. These last two important games were all on LeBron James. He has been called the greatest, the next Micheal Jordan, a two time MVP, and yet he still couldn’t win. What doesn’t make any sense to me is that Cleveland has brought pieces to him to win. They got him Mo Williams, they got him Shaquille O’Neil, they got him Antawn Jamison, yet they only get into the second round? While in ’07 James with virtually no one carried his team over the Detroit Piston and made it to the Finals. Shouldn’t this have been easier for James to win?

What is different about ’07 was how James had people who stepped up. In this series no one other than James came to play, and even James’ play was questioned. Cavs fan had to be happy to see Williams step up getting 20 points in the first half but it seemed to little too late (Since he only had scored two points in the 2nd half). The Cavaliers were committing to many turnovers with nine going to James, and the defense made it more difficult for the Cavaliers to shoot well. James’ triple double may have seemed like he was trying to take control of this game himself, yet the look in his eye seemed very disinterested. What’s funny is that the Celtics didn’t have to rely on one person to carry the team.  This is probably why I’m not shocked that they won the series. The Celtics had production from all kinds of players not just there starters. Tony Allen, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, and Rasheed Wallace all contributed in this series. Kind of makes LeBron look over and say, “Coach, where’s my help?”

Well now the playoffs will continue without it’s prize player continuing on. Can’t say I’m upset considering I’m a huge Celtic fan. However the big picture now starts to loom over the NBA playoffs and offseason. Where does LeBron go? Before I would have said he would stay in Cleveland, yet why didn’t he take a contract extension knowing that the Cavaliers can offer him the most money out of any teams in the market? But with him not talking, not saying he will stay makes me think. LeBron James is packing and getting ready to leave. Don’t quote me on where, but I will say Chicago seems logical to me, if James leaves. Cleveland, you will now be looked at every second for the next 47 days till free agency starts, and with that if James does leave what happens to the city that desperately needs a title to revitalize it. Don’t fret just yet Cleveland, this motion picture is just over. The curtain falls, time to leave, people booing, and waiting for the sequel.

-C.J Maffris