As Tip-Off approaches, I feel good about the Cavaliers
This isn't a post about cockiness, or being a homer. I'm a Cavaliers fan, which is obvious since I run a Cavaliers fan site. I consider myself a realist, however, in everything I do. I try not to get to high or too low in life, especially about my sports. Perhaps its because I have young children.
Before, if one of my teams lost, I could yell combinations of vulgarity never heard of, or throw the cat. My 5 and 2 year old daughters appreciate the cat flying across the room, my wife wouldn't like the profanity. So I have learned to internalize, and this blog, of course, is great therapy for me. I can get everything off my chest right here, instead of yelling at her about it, or sitting up all night festering.
By now you are wondering where the hell I am going with this. I just wanted to give you a little background on me. I don;t drink the kool-aid all the time, and I can be critical. It's called tough love, and we all need it sometimes.
What the Cavs have in front of them is the hardest task they've seen. After 5 games, there aren't going to be any miracle adjustments, no secret formula to fix the Cavaliers' vulnerabilities that have been exposed. I'm not a huge stats guy, either. Sure, they tell some of the story, but numbers can be presented in any way'd I'd like to suppoprt a certain argument. No, the most important stat is the most basic - the final score, and through 5 games, the two teams are seperated by 2 whole points.
Tonight is going to come down to execution and efficiency. Like the first 5 games, expect the Cavs to look good at times tonight, and expect them to look awful. It's been the case the entire series and will be that way tonight. They are going to struggle at times with Dwight Howard, and Orlando's perimeter players are going to get open looks. Just expect it to happen.
Now that you know I am a realist, and you know exactly what to expect tonight - a close game, that will come down to the 4th quarter, let's get to how I feel heading towards tip-off. I feel great. I feel confident. I feel like the Cavaliers are going to be ready and that the best player on the planet will find a way to get the job done.
LeBron James, like all generational players, were born and bred, from day 1, for these moments. They aren't like us normal folks. Tiger, Jordan, LeBron - they all have that certain something, an innate ability to always be bigger than the moment. Few have it. Orlando has some great players, but do any of them have 'IT'?
Before the flaming starts, I'm not saying Dwight Howard doesn't, or that Rashard Lewis or Hedo don't either. I can say LeBron does, and we've seen it in action. Game 5 the other night, Game 5 against Detroit, at the Palace, in 2007. LeBron James fines a way when the way is needed the most.
There will come a time tonight when a play will need to be made. A big shot, a huge free throw, maybe just a loose ball or rebound. Who makes that play will possibly, in large part, decide the game. Credit the Magic, they have made most of those plays this series, until the 4th quarter of Game 5. A shift in momentum? Maybe.
Could the fact the Orlando has had to play 5 more games than the Cavaliers starting to take its toll? Possibly. I know that those jump shots start coming up a little bit short when the legs get a little tired. If the layoff hurt the Cavaliers early in the series, the length of the series, and the intensity, could start to wear on the Magic a little bit.
All I know is I feel as good about the Cavaliers as I have the entire series. Yes, they blew a big lead on Thursday. Orlando came back from 22 down to lead by 8 in the 3rd quarter. Unlike the other games, however, the Cavaliers took the Magic's shot and hit back. They won going away. They won as a team.
No matter what happens tonight, I'm proud of the Wine and Gold and proud to be a fan. I'm not guaranteeing a win, or taking the Magic lightly. The Cavs have had a look in their eye since Game #1 when they watched Boston get their rings and raise their banner. That lit a fire that is still burning bright. Put all of that together and I say we'll be talking about a Game 7 come tomorrow morning.
GO CAVS!
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11 comments
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Comments
i hope the magic players read this….go magic…let the crying begin!!!
by GoMagic on May 30, 2009 5:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No crying. Not at all. If the Magic win, I’ll be the first to congratulate them.
FTS
SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers Blogger
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on May 30, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
…let the crying begin!!!
I’m sure Dwight Howard won’t take it that hard.
Resident Josh Freeman fan.
by gahnki on May 30, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not as hard as he will when he fouls out in Game 7 when we’re up 20
Ride on ye fearsome Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse. We got this.
by Turkmenbashi on May 30, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL@THIS
Some people swear they down as can be
Turns out those same Homies Sit down to pee
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on May 30, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Cavs have had a look in their eye since Game #1 when they watched Boston get their rings and raise their banner. That lit a fire that is still burning bright.
And once we add a little Kerosene, that fire’s gonna explode.
We got this.
LET’S GO CAVS!!!
Ride on ye fearsome Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse. We got this.
by Turkmenbashi on May 30, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I can't wait for this game
because we won the two games I absteined from this blog we won I will do the same tonight and wear the same clothes as last game. I also have calmed down a little bit since my twin boys have come along. I used to curse and throw the remote but no more. LET"S GO CAVS LETS GO CAV’S
Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist
by E5 on May 30, 2009 6:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
WOW
Some people swear they down as can be
Turns out those same Homies Sit down to pee
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on May 30, 2009 11:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Too soon
As much as you call yourself a ‘realist’, it is contradicted when you put “Tiger”, “Jordan” and “Lebron” on the same line.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a Lebron basher. I love his play and I think he is the best all round basketball player currently. BUT, when people talk of Tiger, Jordan, it encompasses more than their athletic talents. They symbolize the will, class and overall winning personalities of champions as well as revolutionaries in their respective sport.
Not someone who walks of the court without congratulatory handshakes after losing. Not someone who takes courtside “team pictures” to mock the opposing team in front of the audience. Not someone who’s only really made one big clutch shot (to survive elimination) in his playoff history. I think you get my point.
I believe that Lebron may get there one day, but to put his name with the legends is insulting and at best premature.
by Back yard Baller on May 31, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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