Post by gk on May 18, 2010 11:54:39 GMT -6
I thought this might deserve its own thread.
I have three streams of thought regarding the recent implosion by the Cavs in the EC Semis after having the best record in the NBA (again). They are as follows: 1) thoughts about the Cavs, 2) thoughts about LeBron James, 3) narcissistic selfish thoughts. But first, the most apt description of the series loss itself, from
1) The Cavs. Even in the Bulls series which the Cavs won in 5 games, there were warning signs. Those warning signs turned into alarm bells in Game 1 against Boston, where the Cavs played half-assed for three quarters. They won the game, but it looked like this team had all sorts of chemistry and lineup problems from the get go.
The Game 3 annihilation of Boston in Boston speaks to the talent level on the Cavs. It speaks to how good this team could have been. You'd think the 66-win season followed by the 61 win season spoke to it, but you'd apparently be wrong.
Cleveland's had a lot of famous collapses, but none of those collapses were every by a great team. The Indians' 97 WS extra inning loss took place after a mediocre Indians team got hot/lucky in the playoffs. Even the famous Browns losses of the 80's against Denver were only a pre-cursor to getting crushed in the Super Bowl. 60+ win seasons out of the Cavs and a failure to even reach the championship speaks to the level of collapse this team have achieved two years in a row.
The players played like crap. And Mike Brown did nothing to alleviate the situation. Jamison was getting murdered against Garnett. Williams and West were passively waving at Rondo as he blew by them. Anthony Parker made Ray Allen look like a spry 25 year old. But Mike Brown just kept sending those horses back out there. Although truth be told, I don't think there's anything Brown could have done to win this series. By the end, the Cavs players looked like they were ready to get the season over with. They went full blown Atlanta Hawks on us.
There was/is something seriously wrong with this team. I believe I was in the "I'll believe anything" category, so why not? Maybe Delonte West did sleep with LeBron James' mother. I'll believe anything. There's no rational way to explain how this team went from one of the most cohesive teams with the best chemistry in the NBA to the worst in the playoffs - in the matter of two weeks.
I have three streams of thought regarding the recent implosion by the Cavs in the EC Semis after having the best record in the NBA (again). They are as follows: 1) thoughts about the Cavs, 2) thoughts about LeBron James, 3) narcissistic selfish thoughts. But first, the most apt description of the series loss itself, from
Last year’s ECF loss was like dying of a sudden heart attack. This year’s loss was like watching a relative waste away from a terminal illness and mercifully die when the pain got to be too much.
1) The Cavs. Even in the Bulls series which the Cavs won in 5 games, there were warning signs. Those warning signs turned into alarm bells in Game 1 against Boston, where the Cavs played half-assed for three quarters. They won the game, but it looked like this team had all sorts of chemistry and lineup problems from the get go.
The Game 3 annihilation of Boston in Boston speaks to the talent level on the Cavs. It speaks to how good this team could have been. You'd think the 66-win season followed by the 61 win season spoke to it, but you'd apparently be wrong.
Cleveland's had a lot of famous collapses, but none of those collapses were every by a great team. The Indians' 97 WS extra inning loss took place after a mediocre Indians team got hot/lucky in the playoffs. Even the famous Browns losses of the 80's against Denver were only a pre-cursor to getting crushed in the Super Bowl. 60+ win seasons out of the Cavs and a failure to even reach the championship speaks to the level of collapse this team have achieved two years in a row.
The players played like crap. And Mike Brown did nothing to alleviate the situation. Jamison was getting murdered against Garnett. Williams and West were passively waving at Rondo as he blew by them. Anthony Parker made Ray Allen look like a spry 25 year old. But Mike Brown just kept sending those horses back out there. Although truth be told, I don't think there's anything Brown could have done to win this series. By the end, the Cavs players looked like they were ready to get the season over with. They went full blown Atlanta Hawks on us.
There was/is something seriously wrong with this team. I believe I was in the "I'll believe anything" category, so why not? Maybe Delonte West did sleep with LeBron James' mother. I'll believe anything. There's no rational way to explain how this team went from one of the most cohesive teams with the best chemistry in the NBA to the worst in the playoffs - in the matter of two weeks.