Here we go. Biggest game of the season. Whoever wins this one is a game away from a date with the Magic. LeBron and the rest of the team has to come out aggressive and get that crowd going. Shooters have to get it going and keep that defense spread. Slow Rondo down by limiting transition opportunities — limit turnovers, hit those boards, and watch the long rebounds. Also, hustle at every opportunity. I have no idea what’s going to happen tonight, but hopefully it’ll be the Cavs with the 3-2 advantage when the final horn sounds. Have fun, everyone.
@Todd: That’s true, the Orlando games were close when he did that, but this game was not out of reach early in the 3rd quarter. The Cavs came all the way back from 22 down against the Celtics in Bostonin the 4th quarter at the end of the year. Maybe that doesn’t happen in a playoff game, but they still had a chance when they were down 12-16 in the 3rd. I just didn’t see any response from Lebron. You have to admit, it just looked different from the Lebron we are used to.
Again Todd, Kobe has won four rings. Sure, Kobe had some bad games in that series, but it wasn’t because he stopped trying. And I believe the Lakers ended up winning that series. Kobe’s issue hasn’t ever been his refusal to impress his will on another team. His problem is when he tries to become Superman as Bill Simmons says. My point is this: in game 5 in a series tied 2-2, Kobe doesn’t shoot 4 shots in the first half (unless he’s super pissed at Jackson). Jordan doesn’t either. Ditto Bird, Johnson, etc. We can go down a list of legit superstars who don’t put in a performance as bad as Lebron did tonight.
As an aside, I can’t believe I’m giving Kobe any credit over Lebron but it has come to this.
I tried to tell you all months ago……
http://whybedumb.com/index.php/2010/01/dont-hand-the-cavs-anything-just-yet/
Seriously Jim. Kobe took 3 shots in the second half of game 7…. and they lost! Check it: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/12666699/ns/sports-nba/
He won 4 rings, congratulations to him. I’m not disputing that at all. But your claim that his “issue hasn’t ever been his refusal to impress his will on another team” is just wrong…
Man you wrote a shitty blog post, what do you expect from us? You wrote an article using no facts or evidence and you’re waving it around now?
This team sucks and LeBron played like shit tonight. We built a team where LeBron had to dominate to win and he didn’t show up tonight. We lost. LeBron gets the blame for playing so awful and most of the team gets the rest of the blame for not picking up their best player when he doesn’t give them 35-10-10.
Hate this team. Hate Jamison. Hate Mo. Hate Andy. Hate Parker. Worst of all, I’m disappointed in LeBron.
I’ve got nothing to say except: Go Suns!
I don’t like Kobe and I think that Game 7 performance in any discussion about Kobe’s supposed killer instinct, but who knows, maybe he has matured since then…in any case, it doesn’t really matter what Kobe would or would not do. It just seemed to me that Lebron tonight didn’t want the ball, he didn’t want to be the center of the offense, and this team is done if he doesn’t do that, because that is how they’ve won all year. I’m as confused as anyone but that is what it looked like.
the points comparing Bron’s performance to Kobe in the ’06 game 7 against Phoenix are not valid. LA was the big underdog in that series, had pushed it to 7 only because of Kobe’s off the charts brilliant play. That game 7 was lost in the first half, and Kobe tuned out after that, implying he had done all he could, he needs players. In the ’08 finals against Boston, Kobe played well enough, and fought, the team just wasn’t mentally prepared yet to win. The Cavs were heavy favorites in this series, and Lebron’s performance is utterly dis-connected to what we are used to seeing with him. It seems he’s decided that the team is not good enough to win a championship (something from afar I disagree with) and he’s decided to prove a point, or whatever. It’s highly disapointing, almost deranged. and there’s no excuse
Danny, “deranged” is a great word to use.
Anyone else have an insane feeling of hope right now?
wish I did Chip. I think ‘Bron puts out a big performance on Thursday, so he claims he went out with effort, something comparable to the ’08 game 7 in Boston, but Boston wins by less than 8 points. The Cavs, in this series, seem toast to me. The Celts have champions, and are too experienced to blow their strangle hold.
@danny
Good points, but this Cavs team is NOT good enough to win a championship, even if LeBron plays out of his mind (which he usually does). Orlando is on a mission and are better than the Cavs AT EVERY position except SF:
Jameer Nelson >> Mo Williams
VInce Carter >> Anthony Parker
Matt Barnes <<<<< LeBron James (see I'm being fair, that's five " Antwan Jamison (close, but Lewis is efficient, higher true shooting %, Jamison terrible on D)
Dwight Howard >> Shaq (sorry Deisel, you’re OLD)
Bench:
Pietrus, Gortat, JJ Redick, Brandon Bass, etc. >> Varejo, West, Hickson, Z (the Magic bench can SCORE big time)
Coach:
SVG >>> Mike Brown (almost as much of a mismatch as LeBron vs. Barnes; seriously)
I challenge anyone to explain how in the world the Cavs could beat the Magic. Then they’d have to go through the Lakers. Fact is, if LeBron realize the Cavs can’t win it all, he’s right (should have realized it 2+ years ago), but that does NOT excuse his performance tonight. But still, this was never going to end well for the Cavs.
sorry need to fix the PF comparison:
“Rashard Lewis > Jamison (close, but Lewis is efficient, higher true shooting %, Jamison terrible on D)”
tough pill to swallow.
Things look bleak. There’s an old saying “gotta have faith” – but at some point, people deserve to have their faith rewarded.