Don’t get me wrong—I love Lebron. He is my second favorite player after Dwyane Wade and debatably the most entertaining athlete on the planet, let alone the NBA. All year I have ooh-ed and ahh-ed just like everyone else. This whole season I have been waiting for a Kobe-Lebron matchup in the finals, where Lebron would destroy Kobe, thereby shutting up every single Lakers fan, and all would be right with the world. Then Tuesday night hit, where I was witness to one of the more disappointing performances I have ever seen.
I watched through the beginning of the second quarter and then ran to the grocery store with my mom and got back in time for the third quarter. I was shocked that the Cavs had lost their lead but I was fairly confident that the Cavs would be alright because they are at home and they have Lebron and all. Looks like I was wrong.
The second half of that game was more disappointing than when gas hit $4.60 a gallon two summers ago—gas broke my bank, Lebron and the Cavs are breaking my heart. There were just so many things wrong that it’s hard to pick where to really start.
We’ll start with the fact that the Celtics are starting to look like a team again after being plagued by Rasheed Wallace all regular season (check out Bill Simmon's article). When Rondo got knocked down in the second quarter, all of the players on the court rushed over to help him up. Every starter ended up in double digits. Paul Pierce’s jump shot finally decided to show up. Kevin Garnett played a solid all around game and shot the ball well. Ray Allen looked about 6 or 7 years younger, running off screens, draining 3’s, and generally ending any and all hopes of a Cavalier’s comeback. And then there was Rajon Rondo (who incidentally is in second place to Sam Cassel as the Human Who Most Looks Like ET).
Now, Rondo’s Game 5 wasn’t nearly as spectacular as his Game 4, but he still controlled this game. He didn’t score at all in the first half but had 16 in the second (which I had to turn off with 5 minutes left and the score 100-75). Nobody on the Cavs can guard him except maybe Lebron, and if that happens even more matchup problems ensue. Seriously though, Mo Williams looks more clueless on defense than when Tobey Maguire a.k.a. Peter Parker finds out he has special powers in Spider Man. Part of the credit has to be given to Rondo here, who is lightning quick, but still, Williams is an NBA point guard. Rondo can’t shoot outside of 17 feet and he is still demolishing whomever the Cavs put on him.
But this article is not about how well the Celtics played, but about how disappointing the Cavaliers were. After the second quarter, it wasn’t even a game. I’ll start by saying that the Antawn Jamison trade is not looking so good now. At the time, I had hopes that Jamison would be that second option that Lebron has needed—looks like I was wrong again. While Jamison is a good scorer, he is just average in the rest of his game: average defender, average rebounder, average everything. History isn’t on his side either. Jordan-Pippen, Shaq-Kobe, Magic-Kareem, Stockton-Malone, Russell-Cousy, Lebron-Jamison. It just doesn’t fit. Jamison is good, but good isn’t enough. This is just another failure by the Cavs management in giving Lebron a second option (see Larry Hughes). I know nothing can be done now, but Amar’e would have been a significantly better choice.
This next statement goes against my general rule of disliking all foreign-born players (Canada doesn’t count, thereby exonerating Steve Nash. And before people start attacking me, all I have to say is Sasha Vujacic), but Anderson Varejao was the only player worth watching for the Cavaliers. I hate myself for admitting this, but I kept hoping Mike Brown would keep him in the game. Sure, Varejao can’t do anything particularly well—at least he hustled.
Now comes the worst part of the article. Lebron played absolutely horrible. There, I said it. I don’t want to go to sleep tonight because I am afraid that performance is going to give me nightmares as bad as the first—and last—time I saw Snow White (To this day, I refuse to see that movie).
Lebron was 3-14 and didn’t make a field goal until the 3rd quarter (nice full-court, football pass by Mo Williams. Seeing as you have forgotten how to play basketball, how about you try out as quarterback for my Chicago Bears). His whole demeanor and approach to the game just didn’t make sense to me. If there really is a problem with his elbow, then it makes absolutely zero sense to keep hoisting 3’s. Also, common knowledge dictates that if you aren’t shooting well and just happen to be built like a house and are as fast as anyone and the league and basically just THE SINGLE MOST ATHLETIC HUMAN BEING THAT MANKIND HAS SEEN IN RECORDED HISTORY, then you should probably attack the hoop (Yes, that it what I considered yelling at the TV on multiple occasions until I remembered that Lebron is thousands of miles away and can’t hear me through the TV; not that I haven’t done that before…). I just don’t get it. Lebron—don’t prove to me that you are a great outside shooter when you haven’t been shooting well and (supposedly) have a hurt elbow. In the playoffs, do what you are best at. The whole league knows that when you decide to attack the hoop, you are the surest two points. No one can stop you, just look up the 48 point game.
I cannot believe I’m going to say this, but this wouldn’t have happened to Kobe. Sure, Kobe may pout, whine, and overall act like a selfish egotist, but he would never let an injury get to him like this. Kobe plays with hurt ankles, broken fingers, bad backs, you name it. He plays through the pain. MJ did it too, most memorably notching 38 points in the “Flu Game,” where he played with a 100+ degree fever, either food poisoning or a stomach virus, and was previously told not to play by Bulls trainers. If Lebron truly has an elbow injury, then he needs to grow some cojones and sack up. There is no other way to put it.
All that being said, there is no way I am counting the Cavs out. If they get it together, they can come back and win this series. The Magic are another story for another time. Lebron can be an absolute beast, and I hope more than anything that he returns to his normal self on Thursday night. Otherwise, the Cavs are goin’ fishin’ and the Summer of the Quest for Lebron begins.
I watched through the beginning of the second quarter and then ran to the grocery store with my mom and got back in time for the third quarter. I was shocked that the Cavs had lost their lead but I was fairly confident that the Cavs would be alright because they are at home and they have Lebron and all. Looks like I was wrong.
The second half of that game was more disappointing than when gas hit $4.60 a gallon two summers ago—gas broke my bank, Lebron and the Cavs are breaking my heart. There were just so many things wrong that it’s hard to pick where to really start.
We’ll start with the fact that the Celtics are starting to look like a team again after being plagued by Rasheed Wallace all regular season (check out Bill Simmon's article). When Rondo got knocked down in the second quarter, all of the players on the court rushed over to help him up. Every starter ended up in double digits. Paul Pierce’s jump shot finally decided to show up. Kevin Garnett played a solid all around game and shot the ball well. Ray Allen looked about 6 or 7 years younger, running off screens, draining 3’s, and generally ending any and all hopes of a Cavalier’s comeback. And then there was Rajon Rondo (who incidentally is in second place to Sam Cassel as the Human Who Most Looks Like ET).
Now, Rondo’s Game 5 wasn’t nearly as spectacular as his Game 4, but he still controlled this game. He didn’t score at all in the first half but had 16 in the second (which I had to turn off with 5 minutes left and the score 100-75). Nobody on the Cavs can guard him except maybe Lebron, and if that happens even more matchup problems ensue. Seriously though, Mo Williams looks more clueless on defense than when Tobey Maguire a.k.a. Peter Parker finds out he has special powers in Spider Man. Part of the credit has to be given to Rondo here, who is lightning quick, but still, Williams is an NBA point guard. Rondo can’t shoot outside of 17 feet and he is still demolishing whomever the Cavs put on him.
But this article is not about how well the Celtics played, but about how disappointing the Cavaliers were. After the second quarter, it wasn’t even a game. I’ll start by saying that the Antawn Jamison trade is not looking so good now. At the time, I had hopes that Jamison would be that second option that Lebron has needed—looks like I was wrong again. While Jamison is a good scorer, he is just average in the rest of his game: average defender, average rebounder, average everything. History isn’t on his side either. Jordan-Pippen, Shaq-Kobe, Magic-Kareem, Stockton-Malone, Russell-Cousy, Lebron-Jamison. It just doesn’t fit. Jamison is good, but good isn’t enough. This is just another failure by the Cavs management in giving Lebron a second option (see Larry Hughes). I know nothing can be done now, but Amar’e would have been a significantly better choice.
This next statement goes against my general rule of disliking all foreign-born players (Canada doesn’t count, thereby exonerating Steve Nash. And before people start attacking me, all I have to say is Sasha Vujacic), but Anderson Varejao was the only player worth watching for the Cavaliers. I hate myself for admitting this, but I kept hoping Mike Brown would keep him in the game. Sure, Varejao can’t do anything particularly well—at least he hustled.
Now comes the worst part of the article. Lebron played absolutely horrible. There, I said it. I don’t want to go to sleep tonight because I am afraid that performance is going to give me nightmares as bad as the first—and last—time I saw Snow White (To this day, I refuse to see that movie).
Lebron was 3-14 and didn’t make a field goal until the 3rd quarter (nice full-court, football pass by Mo Williams. Seeing as you have forgotten how to play basketball, how about you try out as quarterback for my Chicago Bears). His whole demeanor and approach to the game just didn’t make sense to me. If there really is a problem with his elbow, then it makes absolutely zero sense to keep hoisting 3’s. Also, common knowledge dictates that if you aren’t shooting well and just happen to be built like a house and are as fast as anyone and the league and basically just THE SINGLE MOST ATHLETIC HUMAN BEING THAT MANKIND HAS SEEN IN RECORDED HISTORY, then you should probably attack the hoop (Yes, that it what I considered yelling at the TV on multiple occasions until I remembered that Lebron is thousands of miles away and can’t hear me through the TV; not that I haven’t done that before…). I just don’t get it. Lebron—don’t prove to me that you are a great outside shooter when you haven’t been shooting well and (supposedly) have a hurt elbow. In the playoffs, do what you are best at. The whole league knows that when you decide to attack the hoop, you are the surest two points. No one can stop you, just look up the 48 point game.
I cannot believe I’m going to say this, but this wouldn’t have happened to Kobe. Sure, Kobe may pout, whine, and overall act like a selfish egotist, but he would never let an injury get to him like this. Kobe plays with hurt ankles, broken fingers, bad backs, you name it. He plays through the pain. MJ did it too, most memorably notching 38 points in the “Flu Game,” where he played with a 100+ degree fever, either food poisoning or a stomach virus, and was previously told not to play by Bulls trainers. If Lebron truly has an elbow injury, then he needs to grow some cojones and sack up. There is no other way to put it.
All that being said, there is no way I am counting the Cavs out. If they get it together, they can come back and win this series. The Magic are another story for another time. Lebron can be an absolute beast, and I hope more than anything that he returns to his normal self on Thursday night. Otherwise, the Cavs are goin’ fishin’ and the Summer of the Quest for Lebron begins.
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