My How Things Change

Trivia Question = Other than Lebron who is the only other current Cav to have a 30+ point playoff game? (answer at the bottom)

It's amazing. It really is. Think about all the talk you heard about the Cavs in the first two rounds.

• So deep, their entire 2nd unit has starting experience.
• 3 point shooting for days...Delonte, Wally, Boobie, Mo. All can get hot on a moments notice.
• Toughness. Andy's offense isn't good but he does so many things on a basketball court that stats don't pick up.
• Lebron finally has a cast around him that can compliment him.
• Mike Brown, coach of the year

These were the story lines after the Cavs swept through the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs. Down 3-1 and on the brink Lebron had to poor his heart and soul onto the court at home to extend the series another game and breath a little more life into the series, the NBA, and into an entire city. Now the headlines, papers, and talk show guru's are saying....

• Lebron = Amazing, where is the help?
• Andy is awful
• Mike Brown what the hell are you doing?
• Mo, shut your mouth and play.
• APB out for Delonte, Wally, Z, Boobie etc...

Now. Where do I stand? Somewhere in the middle of all this. I too thought that the pieces finally all fit. That the togetherness of this team was so good that it had elevated the play of a lot of the guys that would be lesser players on other teams. But something has happened here. These are no longer the fun loving, care free Cavs that dominated for 90 games. Who do you attribute that too? Is it really as simple of blaming one person? Probably not. Part of it falls on Mike Brown for obvious reasons. Part of it falls on the city for putting out that vibe of 'OH NO!!'. Part of it falls on the supporting cast not rising to the occasion. And part of it even falls on the Lebron. While his individual performances have been nothing short of spectacular he has also been the guy that kept the whole team relaxed and having fun and ultimately successful. I think part of the problem of the playoffs is that he has had to be so focused and so intense that I don't know if the rest of the team really knows how to react. Do they follow suit and press harder? Do they keep the same loose and fun play as the regular season? It's really the first time they've seen adversity this season and they're not sure how to deal. I hope that last night was Lebron taking the reigns and saying follow me I know the way and that relaxes the rest of the team. But winning three straight over the Magic will be a tough task. Can they do it? I think so. Will they do it?

Trivia Answer = Boobie Gibson; and if you think that the only reason I know this is because I predicted it? Then you only know me all too well.....