On the Eve of Their Worst Nightmare, a Little Advice for Cleveland Fans

     For Cavaliers fans, basketball armaggedon has arrived at their doorstep.  Once prodigal son LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammates sit just a single win away from the title.  Reading blogs and listening to talk shows today, the consensus is very clear.  It's over for the Thunder.  Trailing 3-1 (no team has ever come back in an NBA Finals facing such a deficit) in the series, the Heat appear to be too good, too lucky, too battle tested, however you want to describe it.  The Thunder's chances have been tossed aside, chalked up to being too inexperienced, facing too big a stage, even with a 1-2 punch that can get them back into this series in a hurry.  Not this time.  There will be others, but in the eyes of the professionals, it's Miami's time.  Enter Cleveland sports fan.

     Should Miami win and close things out, James will surely be named the Finals MVP.  Transformation complete.  He'll once again be on the path to the greatest player of all time.  The parade will be huge, every news outlet in the country will be covering, and it'll be plastered all over every channel.  There will no doubt be news casters looking for a reaction from Cavs fans.  Heck, ESPN will probably have crews here tonight, hoping to capture a few idiots in the waking moments after a Heat victory.  The picture will be painted as Cleveland fans being bitter, knuckle-dragging neanderthals that didn't even deserve James' services to begin with.  After all, we'll be reminded that he gave us 7 great years, and it was ownership's fault that he left because they didn't surround him with enough talent to get over the hump.

     In Cleveland, during LeBron's tenure, it was always about more than basketball.  It was about the renaissance of the team, a new owner, chinese partnership, a revamped arena, new uniforms, local businesses, that huge Witness banner, televised games every Thursday night on TNT.  The city was alive.  I remember, in 2007, moments after the Cavaliers had clinched the Eastern Conference title with their fourth straight win over the Detroit Pistons, I received a text from my brother that said "fuck yeah".  My brother, who doesn't care about any sport unless it involves speeds over 150 mph, was all in with LeBron.  That's what he did for our city.  He was so far removed from us, that he couldn't possibly understand how going on national television and kicking this city in the groin after he had lifted it up off the mat would anger us so deeply.

     We'll bounce back from this.  We've been through worse.  We've endured buzzer beaters, red right 88, John Elway, and the Curse of Rocky Colavito.  Sure, Dan Gilbert will catch some heat (no pun intended) for his childish reaction after LeBron left town.  James isn't absolved from those childish moments, either.  He's had plenty of them during the last three years.  What's important is that we represent ourselves professionally.  Don't give the national media another reason to bag on Cleveland and say "and they wonder why no one wants to play there".  It'll be hard, heck, I probably won't even watch the game, but that doesn't mean I'd give a sound bite to the first microphone shoved in my face.

     For LeBron, he'll feel something to I imagine after winning his first title.  Relief will be the immediate emotion.  No more silly questions about his legacy being defined by winning a championship; those questions will be replaced by "when will you win another one or two?".  The stakes will only go up from here for him.  After all the confetti falls, and the reporters file out of the interview room, and the parade stops, they'll be another emotion that sets in for LeBron.  Even he will tell you now that he wishes he handled things differently upon leaving Cleveland, and that he hasn't ruled out playing for the Cavaliers again one day.  There will be a feeling of emptiness, because as great as his coronation will feel.  It'll always compare to what it would have been had he gotten it done in Cleveland.  You can say that's just a desperate Cleveland fans perspective (and maybe it is), but everyone loves a story now a days, and that would have been a great one.

TR

Heat vs. Thunder NBA Finals Preview

     LeBron. KD. Wade. Westbrook. Bosh. Harden.  This year's installment of the NBA Finals isn't lacking any star power.  The Thunder, the new kids on the block, owners of the best record for the majority of the regular season, and benefactors of maybe the loudest home crowd in all the NBA, don't seem to be fazed by the prospect of facing 3-time MVP Lebron James and his Miami "Heatles".  The road traveled for these two teams to this point couldn't be more different.  Miami trudged through a weak Eastern Conference, defeating the Knicks, Pacers, and Celtics.  Neither team really threatened Miami (although the Celtics series went the full 7 games), while the Thunder dispatched the defending world champion Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, and a red hot San Antonio Spurs team.  Even more impressive was the fact that the Thunder took 4 straight from San Antonio after they had reeled off 20 straight victories.

     Despite their path to the Finals, both these teams are pretty evenly matched.  LeBron is playing arguably the best playoff stretch of basketball in his career (you know how I hate giving him his due), and Kevin Durant is showing the world that at the ripe old age of 23, no stage is too big for him.  The superstars will treat the fans to some spectacular moments, but this series will be won or lost by the role players.  Here's how I see the match ups breaking down.

     LeBron vs. KD.  Winners of the last four league MVP awards, all eyes will be on these two guys.  They're both going to explode for monster games, but the defining moment might come when one of these two guys makes the big DEFENSIVE play.  LeBron can guard every position on the floor, so expect him to check just about everyone at some point in this series, especially if the Heat are struggling collectively defensively.  For that reason alone, much to the chagrin of Clevelanders (especially me), advantage LeBron.

     Wade vs. Westbrook.  The other marquee matchup pits two of the best against each other.  While Westbrook is young, he brings a lot of energy to the game, and is a dynamic scorer.  He likes to run...a lot, and as much as Miami likes to run, this could pose a big problem for them.  Miami is a veteran team, and they definitely can't afford to get into a track meet with OKC, even with 2 of the best transition finishers in the game.  The big test for Westbrook is going to be his decision making during the "big" moments.  He's had a habit of trying to upstage KD by taking too many shots, and it's resulted in bad offensive possessions.  He's not a true point guard by trade.  He's a scorer.  Wade has looked and played fragile this post season.  He's been invisible for long stretches during games, offering little support to LeBron.  While there has been some speculation as to whether Wade isn't hiding some type of injury, he'll need to be huge, along with with LeBron, if the Heat hope to win the title.  Advantage Westbrook.

     Bosh vs. Harden.  While these two guys won't be matched up against each other, their performances will play a huge role in how this series is decided.  Miami gets a fresh Chris Bosh back after he missed a good chunk of the East Semis and East Finals due to an abdominal injury.  Harden has displayed the ability to hit huge shots in big spots during games this postseason.  It will be interesting to watch how these two work themselves into their game, and just how effective both will be.  Push.


     Ibaka/Perkins/Fisher vs. Haslem/Anthony/Chalmers.  Another key matchup to watch has more to do with the first two names in each set here, than the point guards involved.  With plenty of slashers on display, the paint and the offensive glass will be two very critical areas, and whoever wins those battles, WILL win the series.  It's that important.  Serge Ibaka has to be respected.  He blocks so many shots, that offensive players have no choice but to try and lure him outside the paint.  Still, the Thunder are one of the longest teams in the league, and they will no doubt try to clog the paint and turn Wade and LeBron into jump shooters.  This is a dangerous scenario for Miami.  Erik Spoelstra will have to get creative in calling plays to get his stars the ball on the move.  Foul trouble will tip the scales heavily to one side.  If I'm Miami, I attack the bigs, and hope for whistles to go your way.  Advantage Ibaka/Perkins/Fisher.


     Coach Brooks vs. Coach Spo.  One of the biggest mismatches in this series will occur right here.  Spo has struggled at times to get creative with his offensive play calling, and his team goes through lapses where they just don't look confident, and a lot of players are just standing around.  It sometimes looks like Spo struggles to command the huddle during timeouts.  Guys look disengaged, and he's already had one spat with Wade in these playoffs.  Scott Brooks is one of the better coaches in the league today, and is very creative with his offensive sets.  In order for his team to have a chance, Erik Spoelstra is going to have to coach his butt off.  Literally.  Advantage Brooks.


     This series will be entertaining for any basketball fan.  You've got the two best players in the league, facing off for a shot at the Larry O'Brien trophy.  The Thunder will have the home court, which does provide a small advantage.  Miami has shown the ability to survive when times are desperate.  LeBron will have to have another great series AND get some big games from Wade and Bosh for Miami to legitimately win this thing.  The Thunder have been battle tested throughout these playoffs, while Miami has been pushed, but really haven't been in big trouble.  With all that being said, I'll take the Thunder to win this years NBA Finals in 7 games.  Enjoy.

TR