Short & Quick

It Didn’t Have to Be This Hard

The best player on the planet blew it – not that he had much help. And the coaching staff still looks lost. That’s my view of what happened yesterday, especially in the fourth quarter of game #4 versus the Celtics.

The Cavaliers had an opportunity to go up 3-1 in the series and let it slip away. Not only did they waste the opportunity, they didn’t put up much of a fight.

There was no sense of urgency going into that final period. All we saw was a lack of concentration, terrible spacing offensively, turnover after turnover, missed open looks, no transition defense and a general lay-up drill for the Celtics.

The coaching staff is still out to lunch in terms of trying to figure out how to slow down R. Rondo – much like last year’s debacle when they turned Hedo T. into a superstar. This time around, they are turning a good player (RR) into a HOFer.

Double him early on and get the ball out of his hands, try J. Moon on him, and put the sport’s best athlete on him (LBJ) at key points – end of quarters and down the stretch.

Instead we get more of the same – the Cavaliers going small when they don’t have to anymore.

Yesterday, we had Anthony Parker allowing Rondo to pick up 18 rebounds on his way to a triple-double. It's one thing to not be able to stay in front of a smaller/quicker player, but allowing 18 boards? Come on. Can you play any softer?

It would also help if LBJ got some unexpected help, but that’s not likely to happen every night with this team. Shaq showed up, but no one else did yesterday.

A. Jamison has been okay at best during this series, and Mo Williams, who played poorly last time around in the post-season, is being totally exposed this spring.

He was manhandled by D. Rose in April and is being abused by RR in May. And with the exception of one terrific shooting half (game #2), he has been a total liability on the floor. I regret saying it, but facts are facts. Sit his ass down if he’s not making a ton of shots!

Yes, the Cavaliers are still in the driver’s seat having two of the next three at home. And yes, role players play better at home. But it didn’t have to be this hard.

Yesterday, they played like they felt they could turn it on and off when they wanted to (i.e. game #3). That's a recipe for disaster - especially if LBJ turns an ankle or they shoot 25-of-75 in game #7.

Unlike conventional wisdom you are getting elsewhere from the media and the Cavaliers themselves, the Celtics are not true champions who won’t go away quietly.

Here’s the real deal – they ARE old! They have a mediocre bench at best. KG can’t dominate every night anymore. Ray Allen is a shell of what he was three years ago. And the “great” Paul Pierce has been MIA this series. Those ae all facts. Do I need to go on?

This series should be 3-1 Cavs right now and they have no one to blame but themselves.

So where are we?

Here’s what you won’t hear elsewhere - Game #5 arguably becomes the most important single game in franchise history.

A Cavs loss tomorrow probably leads to an early out versus Boston. Then the snowball effect takes place – the media and fans go nuts, James has an excuse to scoot town citing he can’t win it here, and ofcourse the Cavaliers fire Brown and his staff.

Thus the window closes on what looked like a golden era in Cavs basketball. So much for winning multiple titles with James & company.

Just keeping it real.

Of course, winning two of the next three will avoid all this misery. Again, it didn’t have to be this hard.