(1) Cavaliers Vs. (4) Celtics

[hova-]

I voted for Cs in 7, but now I think they can close it out at home.

[Andrew]

They can beat Orlando no problem I think.

They probably can beat Orlando, though "no problem" might be selling the Magic a bit short.

Also, good to see you stop by.

[George7]

I voted Cs in 7 too,but yes,now i believe that they have a great chance of winning in 6 at Home.
Cs from the old!

[Andrew]

Here's a good take on LeBron's role in the Game 5 debacle.

No more excuses. Not now, not after this biblical bottoming out that pushes the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink of an unthinkable collapse. And yet, after Tuesday’s ferocious failure of his professional career, the encompassing embarrassment of a 120-88 Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics, James dismissed his unthinkably poor performance with this colossal cop-out: “I spoil a lot of people with my play. When you have three bad games in seven years, it’s easy to point them out.”

Who is he to be indignant after he gave a playoff game away? What’s he ever won to be so smug to the masses? That’s what drives the Celtics crazy about James. Eventually, he will understand his greatness isn’t measured on the hit-and-runs through NBA cities across a long season. It’s measured now, in the teeth of the battle, when a tiny guard, Rajon Rondo, has stolen his stage and nearly a series.

Somewhere, the whispers of the game’s greatest talents became a murmur louder and louder: James still doesn’t understand part of the price of greatness is inviting the burden on yourself and sparing those around you. He missed 11 of 14 shots. James didn’t score a basket until the third quarter. He was terrible, just terrible, and yet James couldn’t bring himself to say the worst home playoff loss in franchise history began and ended with him.

For all of James’ unselfishness on the floor, he can still be so selfish off it. They could’ve lined up the greatest players in the game’s history Tuesday night in the primes of their championship lives, and there isn’t one of them who would’ve deflected and deferred like the self-proclaimed King James. They would’ve been livid and they would’ve put it on themselves. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Tim Duncan and, yes, Shaquille O’Neal.

They had titles, and they would’ve mutilated themselves for public consumption. James is too cool, too stubborn and maybe too self-unaware. This is on me, they would’ve told you, and, I’ll get us out of this. They would’ve made sure teammates and opponents, fans and enemies understood. They would’ve made sure the whole world understood: This isn’t how an MVP plays in the playoffs. This isn’t how he lets a legacy linger in limbo. What you heard out of James was self-righteous: “I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out and be great and the best player on the court. When I don’t, I feel bad for myself.”

[JaoSming]

just watch, when the Cavs are eliminated (by the Celtics or by the Magic), during the elimination game of the finals, when the game has just a few minutes left and the season is all but over, he'll hold a press conference to announce he's leaving Cleveland.

[shadowgrin]

Was rooting for the Cavs but the trashing they got from Boston, damn. Mo Williams did his disappearing act again in the playoffs. The only thing good watching the game was that Shaq did his part to contribute. Can't say the same for their current superstar and franchise player.

[Jeffx]

Unbelievable. Boston just ran their sets, and got whatever they wanted. Beautiful half-court basketball. Pierce finally woke up, and what more can you say about Rajon Rondo? Dude is the truth.

[Jackal]

It's not like I like the Celtics (especially due to the lost respect of KG, whereas I adored him back when he was with the Wolves), but I dislike Lebron James a lot more than the Celtics.

He's an arrogant, arrogant person. He's good we get it. Now if he'd stop being so full of himself and just let his game do the talking instead of trying to make sure no one forgets he's good, he'd be a bit more likeable.

You don't Dwight Howard prancing around going look at me, look at me best bigman in the league I are. Stupid Lebron, fuck off with your egotism you little spoilt brat.

I'm not sure people remember this but right before the year of his draft he was invited on the MTV Movie Awards to give away an award alongside some female actress/singer (Ashanti?) and he kept begging for a kiss which was downright pathetic...even back then. Then you've got sore loser shit like this...

phpBB [video]

So yeah, I hope the Celts close it out. Go play for a big market team so you can force yourself down my throat even more.

End rant.

[atlwarrior]

Was not that big of a deal.

phpBB [video]

[Sauru]

i am not a fan of lebron either and pretty much for the same reason, his ego is crazy. he called out rondo then didnt do shit himself, that was great to watch. all that he did by calling out rondo was set pierce off pretty stupid idea there

[shadowgrin]

All you Boston fans should start a petition to get the team hire a personal shooting coach for Rondo and see that monster of a player evolve and pretty much shite on every point guard not named Chris Paul.

[atlwarrior]

i am not a fan of lebron either and pretty much for the same reason, his ego is crazy. he called out rondo then didnt do shit himself, that was great to watch. all that he did by calling out rondo was set pierce off pretty stupid idea there

Guarding Rajon Rondo was a very poor decision on Lebron's part. He shouldve stuck with Paul Pierce. Id rather see Rondo go off than Pierce or Ray Allen because they can quickly contribute to a lead with three pointers. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are the two most dangerous players on the Celtics because they can flatout just shoot the ball. Rondo is like a decoy. The Cavs did do well on Pierce the previous games but went away from that which they payed the price for. And they still did have not have a response to Ray Allen. I think if they can find an answer for Ray Allen then that would help them a lot. Basically Mike Brown went away from their original gameplan which can be risky and cause confusion so as a result they got their asses handed to even worse. Ilgauskas had no business being on the floor. Has anybody noticed how often Mike Brown subs players in and out of the game?

[Jeffx]

All you Boston fans should start a petition to get the team hire a personal shooting coach for Rondo and see that monster of a player evolve and pretty much shite on every point guard not named Chris Paul.

Hell yeah, if that cat can develop a mid-range game, forget it.

[Sauru]

All you Boston fans should start a petition to get the team hire a personal shooting coach for Rondo and see that monster of a player evolve and pretty much shite on every point guard not named Chris Paul.

if rondo could shoot the ball well, get himself a 3 point shot, he is the best point in the game imo. to hell with chris paul. sure as hell glad we didnt trade him for those lame fuckers from detroit what a bad idea that would have been

[Jeffx]

All you Boston fans should start a petition to get the team hire a personal shooting coach for Rondo and see that monster of a player evolve and pretty much shite on every point guard not named Chris Paul.

if rondo could shoot the ball well, get himself a 3 point shot, he is the best point in the game imo. to hell with chris paul. sure as hell glad we didnt trade him for those lame fuckers from detroit what a bad idea that would have been

I can't believe Boston actually thought about trading him.

[Dee.]

i am not a fan of lebron either and pretty much for the same reason, his ego is crazy. he called out rondo then didnt do shit himself, that was great to watch. all that he did by calling out rondo was set pierce off pretty stupid idea there

Guarding Rajon Rondo was a very poor decision on Lebron's part. He shouldve stuck with Paul Pierce. Id rather see Rondo go off than Pierce or Ray Allen because they can quickly contribute to a lead with three pointers. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are the two most dangerous players on the Celtics because they can flatout just shoot the ball. Rondo is like a decoy. The Cavs did do well on Pierce the previous games but went away from that which they payed the price for. And they still did have not have a response to Ray Allen. I think if they can find an answer for Ray Allen then that would help them a lot. Basically Mike Brown went away from their original gameplan which can be risky and cause confusion so as a result they got their asses handed to even worse. Ilgauskas had no business being on the floor. Has anybody noticed how often Mike Brown subs players in and out of the game?

Ilgauskas had no bussines being on the floor???
Hell,the dude had 4 blocks in about 12 minutes,look at the stats,then talk !

[atlwarrior]

Yes he had 4 blks but thats not the point. You cant just throw random players out of desperation. Ilgauskas did not play much the whole series up until then. At the end of the day his 4 blks did not really matter when Garnett ,Big Baby, Kendrick Perkins all scored double digits and outrebounded the Cavs 41 to 24. They won one game by 29 when they used Hickson instead and should give the guy atleast 20 mins or more. It is more appropriate to use Hickson than Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas is too slow for any of Boston's bigs and is very bad on defending pick and rolls. The Cavs lost game 4 bc Hickson played 5 mins and game 5 played four minutes. What is Mike Brown thinking?

[Dee.]

Stop right there.
I Bet not even Mike decides such stuff,he's not even coaching.

[atlwarrior]

Whoever does needs to fix that.

[Dee.]

I Rather think it's not about o's and x's right now.
It's all pretty ok,just that the players need to step up.
It's pretty simple,if LeBron goes off,the team goes off,that is really poor,theres no teamwork.

[Jackal]

Was not that big of a deal.

For a sport that shoves sportsmanship down our throats and one of its marquee players not displaying any of it might not be a big deal to you...but it is to me. He's a spoilt little brat.

[Rip32]

He shouldve stuck with Paul Pierce. Id rather see Rondo go off than Pierce or Ray Allen because they can quickly contribute to a lead with three pointers.

Most would agree that Pierce, on a good night, gets you 28 points 7 rebounds 5 assists. Rondo on a good night gets you like 20 points 7 rebounds and 13 assists. Technically Rondo going off accounts for a helluva lot more production (8 less points of his own, but 16-20 more points off his distribution assists-wise and just ball movement wise) than Pierce. If you're playing a team with a great PG/Play maker, which Rondo is right now, then you have to shut down the PG. You shut him down, you shut down the entire machine.

I can't believe Boston actually thought about trading him.

I can't believe Joe Dumars didn't want him

For a sport that shoves sportsmanship down our throats and one of its marquee players not displaying any of it might not be a big deal to you...but it is to me. He's a spoilt little brat.

End of game sportsmanship in Hockey ftw.

[benji]

Ilgauskas had no bussines being on the floor???
Hell,the dude had 4 blocks in about 12 minutes,look at the stats,then talk !

Ilgauskas and Shaq were playing just well enough to not allow Mike Brown to realize they shouldn't have played a combined 41 minutes.

You can't change your entire rotation before a key game (benching Hickson and Moon, playing Varejao just 17 minutes) especially from one that gives you an advantage to one that plays right into your opponents hands. (Mike Brown should feel free to ask Avery Johnson about this.)

[Andrew]

Was not that big of a deal.

For a sport that shoves sportsmanship down our throats and one of its marquee players not displaying any of it might not be a big deal to you...but it is to me. He's a spoilt little brat.

I don't dislike LeBron as Jackal does, but I have to agree with him here. Perhaps too much was made out of it, but to me it was poor form, as was leaving his teammates holding the bag after the game. Kobe's take on the matter was a fair call, they're human just like the rest of us but that doesn't mean that it wasn't LeBron's finest moment or that he handled the situation poorly. If he'd come out afterwards, admitted he'd foregone sportsmanship because he was upset and skipped the press conference for the same reason, fair enough. It's understandable and yes, he is human. But he spouted some rubbish about "I'm a winner" and therefore it would be inappropriate to shake hands with an opponent after a loss, which is just ridiculous. Again I have to agree with Jackal, that was childish and bratty. Then again, when you brand yourself with a tattoo that says "Chosen One", you're probably taking a healthy ego a step too far.

[Jackal]

I dont hate him or anything, hate is what I did to the Sacramento Kings of back in the years, I just think he comes off as way too "entitled".

Now it may sound surprising as I am a Kobe fan, so spoilt and bratty probably applies to him too...but Lebron is just too eager to be "the greatest ever/saviour of franchises" especially with his toying with where he'll land up with his upcoming free agency thing he's got going on.

I don't hate him, he's a spectaculiar player and one who is going to dominate the league for years to come...but it wouldnt hurt him to be a bit more humble and not want to be the focus of attention at all times.

More people should be like Tim Duncan.