Living to fight another day

The Cavs accomplished part one of their three-step comeback plan last night with their 112-102 (highlights) victory in Game 5 over the Magic. LeBron put up a ridiculous triple-double line of 37/14/12 in 45 minutes. And finally he got some much-needed help from Mo, who chipped in 24 points, including 6 from deeeeeeep in the Q. Other key contributiouns came from Boobie (11 points), Z (16 points), and Andy, who put up a mind-boggling +24 on the night in just 28 minutes of action. Delonte was of course his usual versatile self with 13 points and his constant energy on defense. Of immediate concern with him is the fact that he suffered a hip pointer late in the game. Let's hope that doesn't linger for Game 6, although I have a feeling he'd be playing with a broken leg tomorrow night if he had to...

What bothers me after this game is not so much that the Cavs blew another big lead (this time a 22-point first quarter advantage), but rather the fact that no one seems to remember that they managed to shake off Orlando's comeback and close out the game the right way. A lot of teams that watch a 22-point lead evaporate and become an 8-point deficit would just pack it in, especially down 3-1 in a series. But the Cavs fought back and made this a series again and shifted the pressure back onto the shoulders of the Magic. Orlando makes runs, it's just how they play. But the important thing is having the ability to counter those runs and not panic. The Cavs were able to do that last night.

LBJ and the Cavs look to force Game 7 with a win tomorrow night

There are still some things that need to be tightened up defensively. The way the Magic were able to waltz into the paint for much of the second quarter was troubling. It certainly led to Ben Wallace's staggering -19 for the game (in just 16 minutes). And watching Z and Andy nearly foul out of every game is getting a bit old. I know that Howard is a load in the paint (swinging elbows and all), but the Cavs need to find a way to get Joe Smith on the floor for more than 3 minutes. The fouls need to be spread around among our big guys because having Andy sit for nearly half the game is a recipe for disaster in this Cavs fan's opinion. And maybe the Delonte hip injury will be a blessing in disguise in that it forces Mike Brown to keep LeBron on Turkoglu for the entire game, while switching Delonte onto Alston.

So what can we expect in Game 6? I don't know, but I do know that this is probably the biggest game in the history of this franchise. I know we went to the Finals in 2007, but did anyone realistically expect the Cavs to walk away as champs then? They have a chance to earn real redemption tomorrow night in Orlando. It is basically a must-win for Orlando and already a can't-lose for the Cavs. I expect it to come down to the wire again, I just hope my heart can still take this abuse. Come on Cavs, be ready. I expect to see you again Monday night at the Q.

Comeback starts tonight...

There's really not much else to say. The Cavs are facing a 3-1 hole. The Magic seem to already be celebrating a series victory. Most casual Cleveland fans are already lamenting another collapse by their local team. All hope seems to be lost. But is it?

For some strange reason I felt really confident in our chances in this series as soon as Game 4 ended in another heartbreak. Something clicked for me and hopefully for the Cavs too. I can't really explain it. Maybe it's because the pressure is now off and all the "experts" expect us to lose. Maybe it's because we're returning home to the Q. Maybe it's because I'm ever the optimist and can't imagine my team losing to the Orlando Magic, as talented as they might be. Or maybe it's because this team has won 66 games and still has the best player in the world on its roster. Maybe it's the fact that the Magic just seem a little to satisfied with themselves already. Whatever it is, I still think the Cavs will somehow win this series. Call me crazy but I still believe. It starts tonight with a win in the Q and the pressure shifts squarely back on the Magic. If they don't win Game 6 at home, they will surely be dreading a return trip to Cleveland for Game 7. So I'll see you again on Monday when this thing is all tied up. Go Cavs. We believe.

The unofficial "must-win" game

So the Cavs head into tonight's pivotal Game 4 against the Magic down 2-1. Forget the woeful shooting in Game 3 that came on the heels of the Shot That Saved Cleveland. The Cavs have a chance to redeem themselves with a win tonight in Orlando. They get this one and they regain control of their own destiny. Will it be easy? Of course not. This Magic team is talented and chock full of matchup problems for the Cavs. But we already knew that.

This is the ultimate test for the wine and gold. We knew there would be adversity in the postseason and now is the time to rise above it. It seems as if a lot of Clevelanders are ready to write off a team that won 66 games this year, including 27 on the road. This is also a team that only lost consecutive games twice this entire season. Are you ready to give up on them? I'm not. I know it's in our nature to wait for the other shoe to drop in this town. But past failures have nothing to do with this current group of Cavaliers. We've come too far to have it end like this. WE WILL WIN GAME 4, somehow, some way. Go Cavs. This is your chance to become great.

Thoughts before Game 2

I purposely waited until this morning to post my thoughts in the wake of Game 1's complete and utter disappointment. I was seriously bummed walking out of the Q after that heartbreaker. It felt like I just watched my dog get hit by a car. I had the immediate sky-is-falling Cleveland fan reaction on the car ride home too. So I'm glad I didn't come on here yesterday, and instead allowed myself some time to cool off.

Heading into tonight's must-win Game 2, the Cavs are at a crossroads. And they are facing postseason adversity for the first time. They can either shrink and die under the pressure (not likely), or they can use Game 1 as a motivating factor for the remainder of the playoffs. I knew that facing Orlando would be a challenge, but Game 1 brought out fears previously pointed out by others that I chose to ignore. Now I'm just pinning my hopes on Mike Brown's defensive wizardry to come up with a better plan to stop the Magic's 3-point onslaught. I truly believe the winner of this series will be crowned NBA champs, and I'll be damned if that team is the Orlando freaking Magic.

So what changes will we see tonight? I doubt we'll see LeBron on Rafer Alston for the entire game. Ditto for Andy on Rashard Lewis. There may even be a Sasha Pavlovic sighting in place of Wally off the bench. I just hope he's ready to play if he's called upon - and I'll admit the prospect of Sasha playing in a big spot tonight completely terrifies me. But somehow, some way I think the Cavs will get it done tonight. At least that's what I hope. And hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. (It never hurts to throw in a Shawshank quote in desperate times). Go Cavs. Please even this thing up tonight. We've come too far to throw it all away now.

ECF: Cavs vs. Magic

So it is finally upon us. After what seems like a month-long layoff, the Cavaliers finally return to the court tonight to start the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Orlando Magic. It's pretty much been a forgone conclusion since the Cavs wrapped up the #1 seed in the East that they would reach this point in the postseason. So to me, this is where the playoffs truly begin for this team.

So what can we expect from this series? Orlando is a talented team, no doubt about it. But are they on the same level as the Cavs? I have my doubts. They can certainly make you pay from outside the arc if you leave them open. And Dwight Howard is a load to deal with in the paint. The Magic certainly seem to be confident after knocking off the Celtics in Game 7 in Boston.

Will Orlando have an answer for #23? We'll soon find out.

That said, they also struggled at times with the 76ers in the first round. The same Sixers team that the Cavs' bench took to overtime in a game that meant absolutely nothing to the Cavs and everything to Philly. And then when the Magic took down the Celtics I wasn't exactly bowled over. The Celtics in this postseason were a shadow of their championship team of last season. And Orlando threw away at least two games in which they had large leads. I said back in December that I thought Orlando lived by the 3-point shot way too much. And I still think that Howard is somewhat of a glorified garbage man on offense. Much of his damage comes off rebounds or plays in which he is allowed to establish position way too low in the post. Don't get me wrong, he is a freak of an athlete, but he really isn't my huge concern heading into this series. The key will be how the Cavs are able to deal with Terkoglu and Lewis, the Magic's big forwards that love playing on the perimeter.

So how do I see this series going? I think it will be a much larger challenge than the previous two series for the Cavs. But ultimately, I don't see any way that the Magic can beat us. LeBron is just playing at such a high level right now. And contrary to what the national "experts" may tell you, he has plenty of help this time around to get this team back into the Finals. I see Z being able to pull Howard away from the basket and open things up for LeBron. I also see Delonte and Mo taking on a bigger role in penetrating and being aggressive on offense. And I see the Cavs' experienced bench playing a major role in this series. And don't forget about the Cavs' advantage on the sidelines with Mike Brown vs. Stan "the Master of Panic" Van Gundy. Brown has shown the ability to make great adjustments in tough playoff series since taking over for the Cavs. I think that will be a factor in this series as well. Add it all up and I see the Cavs winning in 6 games. If they go up 2-0, I could see it ending in 5. But for now I want to stick with Mike Brown's mantra of "one game, one practice, one shootaround at a time." Just get Game 1 and then worry about Game 2. Eight down, eight to go. Go Cavs.

Finally we can get back on the court

As fans we're dying to see our Cavaliers play again. I'm sure the players feel the same way. When the Eastern Conference Finals finally get underway tomorrow night, it will have been nine days since the Cavs last played. That surely brings up some concerns about rust. But I know the atmosphere inside the Q will be electric and it should help lift the Cavs if they are sluggish to start the game - I'm sure a lot of people won't remember, but the Cavs were down 11-4 in Game 1 against the Hawks before finding their footing after a similar long layoff. And they did manage to run away with that game, which basically set the tone for that series.

I have to say I'm still a bit shocked that the Magic prevailed Sunday night over Boston. Not because Boston is some great obstacle anymore. I mean look at them - they were forced to rely on guys like Brian Scalabrine and Stephon Marbury for long stretches that series. I'm just surprised that Orlando was able to put things together for such an easy win. They looked downright awful at times in both their series against Philadelphia and Boston. But their Game 7 win has seemed to propel a lot of "experts" in the national media to predict the Magic will now win this series against us. As if somehow beating a shorthanded Boston team in seven games now gives Orlando the power to erase our complete dominance in the regular season and postseason thus far. Whatever. I'm just ready to get down to business. I'll have more of a preview tomorrow as I'm sitting at work counting down the hours until I can head over to the Q to witness it all firsthand. Go Cavs.

A top 10 list of Cavs victories

As we are waiting for our next victim to emerge from the Orlando/Boston series, I thought now would be a good time to recap some of the memorable Cavs victories this year. So here's my personal top 10 list of regular season victories, along with a brief recap and a link to the highlights.

#10 - 11/3/08 @ Dallas, Cavs 100 Mavericks 81 (highlights)
This was the first blowout of the season, and a big road win (the Cavs were 1-2 at the time if you can believe it).

#9 - 3/13/09 @ Sacramento, Cavs 126 Kings 123 (highlights)
This one was special because it clinched the Cavs' first Central Division crown in 33 years. The Kings put up a massive fight, the Cavs forgot to play defense for a few games, but it was an entertaining, high-scoring affair in which the Cavs came from behind again. It ended their second straight successful West Coast trip and earned bonus points for Fred McLeod tearing up in the postgame.

#8 - 1/21/09 @ Portland, Cavs 104 Blazers 98 (highlights)
A huge road win for the Cavs against a very good young Blazers team. This one came one the second game of their first West Coast trip after they were embarrassed by the Lakers in LA. It continued the trend of this Cavs team being able to bounce back after tough losses.

#7 - 12/19/08 @ Denver, Cavs 105 Denver 88 (highlights)
I enjoyed this one for personal reasons. My wife and I had just arrived in our hotel in Times Square in NYC. I was scrambling for updates on my phone to see if Z was gonna return from his ankle sprain. We were tired from a long day, my wife decided to take a nap and I was able to catch pretty much the entire game on the hotel TV. The Cavs blew out a very good Nuggets team in their own building (possible Finals preview?) with Z going off for 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

#6 - 2/4/09 @ New York, Cavs 107 Knicks 102 (highlights)
LeBron's ridiculous 52/10/11 triple-double game in Madison Square Garden that was later downgraded by the league for mystifying reasons. One of the greatest individual all-around games in the history of the NBA... and one of those games where you sit back and think how important it is to watch everytime this kid steps onto the court.

#5 - 1/9/09 The Q, Cavs 98 Celtics 83 (highlights)
The Cavs' first blowout win over the Celtics this season. The Cavs had this one circled on their calendars for a long time and delivered with a huge win to stake their first claim as leaders in the East. Bonus points because I was able to enjoy the game from the Hyland suite at the Q thanks to my buddy Nicko. God I love beating Boston.

#4 - 2/20/09 @ Milwaukee, Cavs 111 Bucks 103 (highlights)
LeBron's white hot shooting night... you know, the one where scored 16 points in less than 3 minutes (probably my favorite sequence of the season) on his way to his season-high 55 points. Just an incredible performance. And bonus points because I watched it from Cleats in Strongsville and the atmosphere inside the bar was electric. It was also the first time I got to hang with my friends since my accident. A great night.

#3 - 4/12/09 The Q, Cavs 107 Celtics 106 (highlights)
A 31-point beatdown of the Celtics on Easter Sunday... 5 Cavs in double figures... the Celtics getting Rickrolled in the Q on national TV... them complaining about 'being disrespected' afterward. Just a great game all around. Can't wait to do it again in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bastards.

#2 - 1/23/09 @ Golden State, Cavs 106 Warriors 105 (highlights)
LeBron's amazing buzzer-beater... Fred and AC's reaction as it happened... my wife and I jumping around like crazy in our family room... another improbable road victory by the Cavs, typical of their never-say-die attitude this season.

#1 - 3/10/09 @ Los Angeles, Cavs 87 Clippers 83 (highlights)
Speaking of that never-say-die attitude, you might be wondering how a game vs. the lowly Clippers could top the list of my favorite Cavs victories this season. Then again, remember this was the Cavaliers on the road on a Tuesday night in the middle of March. I had to work the next day and the Cavs were facing a 69-52 deficit entering the fourth quarter. I contemplated turning off the TV and just going to bed, as the team looked absolutely lifeless. But I thought the better of it and stuck it out and was rewarded handsomely. The Cavs closed the game by outscoring the Clippers 35-14 over the final 12 minutes, including an amazing performance by both LeBron and Mo. The most unlikely comeback of the year, even if it was against the Clippers.

Tribe update (quick, avert your eyes!)

Sitting here waiting for the Celtics to finish off the Magic, we're forced to uncover our eyes and stare into the carnage that is your 2009 Cleveland Indians. I'll admit, I was overly optimistic about this team. I thought the bullpen would actually be a strength. I thought they'd win around 90 games and take the very winnable Central Division. Of course I also thought they'd be able to string together a couple of wins - something that has happened exactly once through the first 34 games of the season. When you stop and think about that for a second you realize how truly pathetic that face really is - and you understand why the team is sitting at 12-22 on May 13th.

I'd boo Thome if I cared enough to still go to games

It was more of the same last night as they lost 9-4 to the White Sox to again avoid a winning streak. Old friend Jim Thome hit a couple home runs off Jeremy Sowers, who really shouldn't be in any team's starting rotation at the big-league level. The bullpen also allowed a couple of late runs in the 7th to make sure there was no chance of a comeback win. It seems like a similar script every night with these Indians. And now the finger-pointing has begun. Eric Wedge is in the line of fire and many in the organization are at his defense.

I honestly don't know how/when/if this mess can be fixed. But I was talking to my buddy Nicko yesterday and we agree that there are bigger problems in baseball than just the Tribe's shitty play. MLB should really just shut things down for a year and fix all of its problems. I'm tired of the payroll disparity, and losing budding stars before they hit their primes. The steroid crap doesn't bother me all that much, I'm just tired of watching the rich get richer. I'm tired of seeing the best players sign with New York/Boston/LA. I'm tired of fans of those teams and their sense of entitlement to everything. And I'm tired of watching the Tribe lose. Come back soon Cavs, I'm already missing you.

Halfway there...

The Cavaliers just keep giving us more reasons to love them. Last night they completed their second consecutive playoff sweep with an 84-74 win (highlights) to finish off the overmatched Hawks in Atlanta. This marks the Cavs' eighth consecutive playoff win by a double-digit margin, yet another NBA record in a season full of them. And stop and think about this for a second: the Cavs have now gone 74-16 in their 90 games this season - a winning percentage of .822! As Fred McLeod pointed out on the Fox Sports Ohio postgame wrap, they would have to finish their remaining schedule at .500 or worse just to not win the NBA championship. I know there is still a lot of work left and we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but any Cleveland fan has to be excited right about now.

The Hawks will be seeing a streaking LBJ in their nightmares for a while

Last night's game was definitely the worst the Cavs have looked in this postseason. Closeout games are always the toughest to get, especially on the road. And the Hawks weren't willing to roll over and die like Detroit. The Cavs' offense was very stagnant for long stretches. They didn't shoot particularly well. And their free-throw shooting (14-of-26 for 58.8%) was horrendous. But they again brought the one thing that will consistently help them through the inevitable tough stretches of the playoffs - their defense. Again it was suffocating last night as they held Atlanta to just 31.5% shooting from the floor (including just 2-of-13 from long range). My personal favorite moments of the night were Wally's dunk in the second quarter (is it just me, or is Wally moving a lot better lately?), Delonte's emphatic slam in the fourth quarter, and Mo's two three-point daggers in the 4th quarter. LeBron had an off-shooting night by his own high standards (9-of-22), but still finished with a near triple-double at 27/8/8. And Z had his second straight solid game going for 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Overall, this series was another extremely impressive performance by the Cavs. Yes, they were supposed to be where they are now. But the convincing manner in which they were able to achieve both sweeps has to be alarming to both Boston and Orlando. Unfortunately now the wait begins for the Eastern Conference Finals. I've read some conflicting stuff this morning, and I'm not even sure if anything is official at this point... but it looks like if the Celtics/Magic series ends in six games then ECF Game 1 at the Q would be next Monday the 18th. And if it goes seven then we are looking at a start date of Wednesday the 20th. So no matter what it will be at least another 6-day layoff. But yet another opportunity for the guys to get plenty of rest. What's maddening to us fans is actually more beneficial towards achieving the ultimate goal. And we've already waited 45 years, so what's another 6 or 8 days, right? Eight down, eight to go. Go Cavs.

Redefining PER

PER (player efficiency rating) is a rather cryptic stat for most casual NBA followers, but it has gained a lot of credibility over the last couple seasons, thanks in large part to stat geek John Hollinger of espn.com. It is a rather complex formula that levels the playing field among all NBA players and provides a measurement of their overall effectiveness on the court, relative to each other. Through seven games of these current playoffs LeBron James' PER now stands at an eye-popping 44.8. To put that into proper perspective, the next highest PER in this year's playoffs is Tony Parker's 29.2 (in just 5 games). Kobe Bryant is at 24.8. The highest playoff PER in NBA history was 38.95 by the great Hakeem Olajuwon during the 1988 playoffs. So yeah, if you didn't already know, what LeBron is doing right now is pretty special.

And speaking of efficiency, I'm not sure I've ever seen a more efficient game from a single player in an NBA playoff game than the one LBJ put down on Saturday night. His totals? 47 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists on 25 shots, including 5-of-10 from deep in Philips Arena. He singlehandedly led the Cavs to their 97-82 victory (highlights) in Game 3 in a performance that we as Cleveland fans almost take for granted at times. The Cavs now stand one win away from their second Eastern Conference Finals appearance in the last three years. Winning the series is a mere formality now, and I expect the Hawks to be sent packing for their summer vacations sometime around 9:30 tonight.

The Hawks can only stand and watch in awe, like the rest of us

Again in Game 3, the Hawks stuck to their defensive philosophy of not doubling LeBron, just shading their entire defense towards him. And again, he torched that plan with an array of acrobatic jump shots and twisting mid-range shots on drives to the hoop. Just look at his shot chart here. He basically scored from every long- and mid-range spot imaginable on the court. The Hawks could have sent a double-team his way every time he touched the ball, but it may have only worked if they decided to do that before the Cavs crossed halfcourt. They simply have no answers for the King. And when LeBron is shooting like that, there's just no way the Cavs are losing.

So for the Hawks, and really the remaining opponents on this Cavs playoff march, they will have to pick their poison. Will they let LeBron continue to beat them? Or will they make the Cavs' other shooters beat them? Either way, it will be a tough proposition to find a way to slow down this Cavalier train. They are now 7-0 with a double-digit margin of victory in every game played. And if you think you can outscore them, think again. They are giving up an average of just 78.7 ppg in the postseason. This is what the team has been working towards all season. They are now peaking defensively. They will certainly be looking to end things quickly tonight and capitalize on some more rest as the Celtics and Magic slug it out, tied at 2-2 now. Go Cavs. Seven down, nine to go.

Should it be this easy?

I had the good fortune of attending Game 2 last night, yet another playoff beatdown served up by the wine and gold. This one was a 105-85 mauling (highlights) of the visiting Hawks, putting the Cavs up 2-0 as the series now shifts down to Atlanta. And the game wasn't even that close. The Cavs were up by 36 at one point in the third quarter - reminiscent of many of their regular season romps this year in terms of lack of pressure and relative ease in which they were able to do completely destroy their opponent. This one was never in doubt.

The MVP and his teammates are making quick work of the Hawks

The Hawks stubbornly stuck to their game plan of playing LeBron straight up on defense and he torched them yet again, this time going for 27/5/3 in just 31 minutes of work. The highlight of the playoffs so far for me was his insane step-back three from 36 feet just before the halftime buzzer. Mo and Delonte also combined for 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting, with Mo putting up a ridiculous +30 in the box score. And Wally came off the bench for 17 points, great hustle, his usual high-fives and ass-slaps all around. It earned him another "Wally, Wally, Wally" chant from the Q crowd. Again, it was just another fun drubbing of an opponent at home. Nothing has seemingly changed from the regular season to these playoffs as the guys rattled off their 6th straight double-digit win.

So as we head into Game 3 tomorrow night, the Hawks have to be searching for answers. How will they be able to keep it close? Will they be missing three starters now that Joe Johnson has a severely sprained ankle? And would it even matter if they were healthy? If the Cavs win on Saturday night I don't see any way that Atlanta avoids a sweep come Monday. And I have tickets for home game E, which I'm really hoping is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Come on Boston, we're waiting for you. Six down, ten to go. Go Cavs.

Thank you

Thank you Cavaliers for finally returning to the court. I'm not sure I could have gone much longer without seeing you play, especially given the depressing way the Tribe has stumbled out of the gates (yet again). And before I get into last night's Game 1, I can't help but thank the powers-that-be for allowing us the incredible good fortune of landing the King back in 2003. I still remember the LeBron Lottery night like it was yesterday. It was the night that things changed in Cleveland... and the night I became a Cavs season ticket holder on a drunken whim, which ultimately ended up being one of the better decisions I've made in the last few years. Fast forward 6 years to last night, seeing LBJ hold up that MVP trophy. Some people are saying that LeBron should have singled out the fans of Cleveland to thank them in his speech given at SVSM on Monday afternoon. I can't fault him for maybe forgetting that during his impromptu speech... and I really think maybe it should be the other way around - we the fans thanking him. So thank you LeBron for exceeding our lofty expectations. And we all know there's still more work to be done.

LBJ hoisted the first of his many likely MVP trophies Tuesday night at the Q

Game 1 against the Hawks went about as well as any of us could have expected. The Cavs shook off some rust in the first half and then sped away to a 99-72 win (highlights) at the Q to take a 1-0 lead in the series. LeBron led the way with 34 points (16 in the 1st quarter), 10 rebounds, and 4 steals in just 34 minutes of work. Mo also chipped in 21 - his fifth consecutive game of 20+ points vs. the Hawks. Also encouraging was Ben Wallace's 15 minutes of energy off the bench. He looks to have really benefited from the long layoff. And Sasha rose from the dead with 7 points in 12 minutes. He will be needed at some point in time over the next 5 or 6 weeks, so it was important to get him some confidence.

Now the Cavs will enjoy just one day of rest before moving on to Game 2 tomorrow night. Five down, eleven to go. Go Cavs.