Eastern Semi's Game 6 - Boston 94 - Cavaliers 85 - Darkness Falls

by AncientMariner on May 13, 2010 10:16 PM CDT

First things first.

Congratulations, Boston Celtics. You earned this series win, there was nothing cheap about it. You, as a team, a very effective and cohesive team, won, and good luck in the next round against Orlando.

Cavaliers fans, the pot of gold will, for another year at least, continue to rest just over that hill up ahead, the hill we can see, but never seem to completely scale. But for now, darkness has again fallen on a season, a season that both began, and ended, with a loss to Boston.

Was the effort there tonight? Yes, it was much more evident than it was on Tuesday, and Mo Williams deserves high praise for bringing offense in the first half, and keeping it close. LeBron James had hopes rising fast in the fourth quarter when back-to-back threes had Cleveland down by only four, at 78-74, but that was truly the last gasp, that moment after the threes when Boston called time-out and regrouped.

The Cavs were done in by 38% shooting, by 22 turnovers, and by the Celtics' bench outscoring Cleveland's by 11, as well as by strong contributions once again from Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett, who ended with a double-double.

It is over, and whether or not Mike Brown will still be our coach after this, or whether LeBron James will stay or go after this....those are questions for another day.

Tonight, I need your forgiveness, because I cannot write anymore about this game right now. If you think that is irresponsible from someone who writes often and voluminously for this site, I can only fall back on this: I am a Cavaliers fan, and tonight, I am disappointed and a little heart-sick. Earlier today I wrote a column to try to drum up some faith for tonight, and I believed when I wrote it that we would win. Reality is setting in, and I need some time to process it.

So please, my dear Cavaliers fans who have been so kind to me during my time here, so far...indulge me, as I bid you goodnight.

There will be a tomorrow, for you, for me, and for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Comments

Good piece, AM. I completely agree with your article. I’ll leave with this: I still love the Cavs (and the Browns & Indians for that matter) and forget the fair weather fans.

by emily522 on May 13, 2010 10:24 PM CDT reply actions

Thank you, emily, the passion and the intelligence you bring to the game threads is much appreciated, and nothing, no loss, no player defection, no heartache, will ever make me stop loving all Cleveland teams.

by AncientMariner on May 13, 2010 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m with you guys

"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay

by Turkmenbashi on May 13, 2010 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

+4
You can count me in.
LeBron or no LeBron, I’m a Cavs for life.
I was born a Cavs fan and I’ll die a Cavs fan.
This is Cleveland, and as for the fair weathers, they can leave, good riddance, they were never really welcome anyway.

by Simmsinns on May 14, 2010 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I’ll admit I didn’t root for the Cavs until LeBron came. But I was in the 5th grade and didn’t follow pro sports much.

That said, stay or go: I’m a fan.

by emily522 on May 14, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Great piece

ALL true Cavs fans are still trying to get their minds around a collapse this monumental..
Keep up the high level of your posts…you are one of the best I’ve seen contribute here..

Wise choice, John

by cavslandrocks on May 13, 2010 10:41 PM CDT reply actions

I think the Cavs will need another young star

should Lebron stay…and i mean another star like Joe Johnson or Chris Bosh.

by inquisitiveman on May 13, 2010 11:13 PM CDT reply actions

Part of the problem was this was a terrible team in 2002. In 2003 we get a once in a generation superstar that transforms our team overnight. But the problem with that is we were too good to have a high pick again, so we had to build a team with guys that other teams were willing to give away, and it’s hard to get young stars like that. Look at the Thunder, they got their franchise player in Durant, but it didn’t change their franchise overnight, they grew naturally and had time to get other good young players in the draft.

by CavsLebronFan on May 13, 2010 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Warning: Magic Fan here.

I’m not gonna lie, I don’t like LeBron or the Cavs… and I really hate Shaq.

With that out of the way, I really hope you guys are able to keep LeBron. If he leaves after this, he runs the risk of ending up looking like the bad guy of the story. There’s also the problem that if he goes to New York or New Jersey, it’s not like those teams will allow him to become a champion anytime soon. Cleveland is his home team, his best choice, I think. It’s not like the organization hasn’t tried to surround him with good players. Remember that until recently everyone believed it was the best roster in the league.

As a Magic fan I know how it is to watch a HOF Superstar bolt to another team and win Championships with that other team. I don’t wish that on Cavs fans.

Magic Fan since the 1992-1993 Season.

by North of the South on May 13, 2010 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks.

Blake: Thanks to you, I am damaged beyond repair!!

by emd2k3 on May 14, 2010 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

As a Sacramento Kings fan

I understand your heartbreak…

Good luck

Go Cavs.
Go Kings!

Blessings.Love.Peace
Want to listen to some independent music? Visit: www.nixonsghost.com

by lifestyleforthesellout on May 14, 2010 1:23 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks

"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay

by Turkmenbashi on May 14, 2010 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

As a Hawks fan

You guys got what you deserved! All through the regular season, you tried to ridicule teams with you sideline horseplay and jokes of teams you were beating, and look at who the fools are now, YOU ALL!! Your team was cocky and arrogant as well as your fans all season just because you had the most wins in the regular season. You thought that your team was entitled to the championship b/c your team looked good on paper, but guess what…..my Hawks will be pulling up the yacht momentariIy to pick up the Cavs for a fishing trip on Lake Michigan! I don’t think your star will be leaving for another team, but hey, anything is possible. Next year your team should think about being more humble and hungry instead of all the foolishness you displayed for the past two years because right now, all the other teams are in tears laughing at you!! My Hawks were swept badly in the second round, but guess what, we as Hawks fans knew that we weren’t going to win this series, just didn’t know by how much. Our expectations were not for a championship and we were content w/ that.Good luck trying to keep LBJ in Cleveland, because if he doesn’t, watch how many bandwagon fans follow him from Cleveland to his new destination.

by Anonymous HawksGuy on May 14, 2010 7:05 AM CDT reply actions

So nice of you to remain anonymous.

Blake: Thanks to you, I am damaged beyond repair!!

by emd2k3 on May 14, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

A couple points, which are probably more than this deserves:

1) We are not our team. We were anything but cocky and arrogant; if anything, we have the opposite problem. Cavaliers fans are always waiting for the guillotine to drop on our necks.

2) The team wasn’t cocky and arrogant either. They goofed off during games and had fun, which, frankly, makes teams more appealing to me. For that matter, I think the Hawks had a bit of goofball to them as well — which is part of why I enjoyed watching the Hawks play. I think you’re confusing media hype with team arrogance.

by Chemo on May 14, 2010 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree to respectfully disagree

Of course you’re going to see things one way since you’re a fan, hell i’m guilty of the same. Why would you agree to what I think? I’m just giving my opinion and calling it like I see it.

by Anonymous HawksGuy on May 17, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, you’re so full of it, its amazing you can actually type. I’m so very sorry that you don’t have something better to do with your time than show how classless you are.

by darkcorvus70 on May 14, 2010 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions

That's your opinion, you're entitled to it

so i’m not going to respond back being hateful. IMO the Cavs have been classless all year, but my opinion doesn’t mean anything to you, right? J

by Anonymous HawksGuy on May 17, 2010 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

that’s always been my username, just like yours is emd2k3, idiot!

by Anonymous HawksGuy on May 14, 2010 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

Perhaps your team’s and the fans low expectations and acceptance of being a failure are the reason they got swept two years running..As much as some people here liked Woodson as a assistant coach, I can’t stand his constant crying to the officials. Perhaps, if your team loosened up and had a little fun, they could get farther than they have

And BTW, Ohio borders Lake Erie, Sacagawea

by cavslandrocks on May 14, 2010 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree to respectfully disagree again

As a die hard fan, i’ve always had high expectations for my Hawks, just not for my coach. Woody did a helluva job molding this team into a playoff team, but he reached his peak. His lack of making in-game adjustments and not having the respect and discipline of his players was badly exposed in the second round, which why he isn’t the Hawks head coach moving forward. And I agree, its good to have fun on the job, but not at the other team’s expense. Cavs fans may deny it, and I can respect you for having your teams back and defending them, but they were cocky and arrogant all year in my opinion.

And BTW, does it matter, both teams are still gone fishing for the season, doesn’t matter if they are in the Pacific or the Gulf.

by Anonymous HawksGuy on May 17, 2010 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Glass houses. Stones.

by darkcorvus70 on May 14, 2010 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's How the Cavs Win it all...

Here’s what the Cavs need to have success in the playoffs…

1. They need to get 2 good point guards. No more combo guards playing the point.
2. They need to run the fastbreak. LeBron wants to run and he wants a true point guard that can get him the ball on the break. No more walking the ball up on offense. The Cavs have a lot of young players who have energy and can run. They need to wear other teams out.
3. Keep Parker. He’s tall, long, can shoot the 3, and is just an excellent team player.
4. Varejao is not nimble enough to guard others on the perimeter. He needs to play the opposing team’s center, cuz even though he’s undersized, he can draw fouls. JJ can back up Varejao, or maybe even start like he did during the Cavs most successful run this season back in February. Remember that Russell and Cowens were both undersized centers.
5. Jamario and Jawad need to play serious minutes, because both can bring energy, run, and defend.
6. These players need to be kept. The others are expendable. In the playoffs, only 8 or 9 players will be used. This year we had too much talent sitting on the bench. It should have been used, but the only way it would have been possible was if the offense was running fastbreaks and getting a shot up within 10 seconds.

by BirthTimes on May 14, 2010 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

Ancient Mariner, You Are A Class Act!

Very classy post, Ancient Mariner, and thanks for putting it all in perspective.

Indeed, Congratulations to the Boston Celtics for a hard fought victory in the series.

No excuses, the Cavaliers flashed some excellent moments, some incredible displays of talent and focus, but they simply did not win the endurance test of the best of seven series.

As disappointing as the loss is, for me it is difficult to knock a team that had the NBA’s best record two years in a row. They played hard, they fought hard, but two years in a row they were upset by the dynamics of a short series.

And you are right, Ancient Mariner, that the dust needs to settle before the talk about Mike Brown staying or going, or Lebron James staying or going, becomes a hot topic.

But I do want to go on record to thank both Mike Brown and Lebron James for so many wonderful winning moments they brought us over the past five years or so. And of course the rest of the Cavs, too. Championships are hard to come by, but many wonderful memories remain nevertheless.

by BrownsCavaliersIndiansForev on May 15, 2010 12:21 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks, BCIF, your post not only was also very classy, what you said made me smile.

by AncientMariner on May 15, 2010 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

But I do want to go on record to thank both Mike Brown and Lebron James for so many wonderful winning moments they brought us over the past five years or so. And of course the rest of the Cavs, too. Championships are hard to come by, but many wonderful memories remain nevertheless.

Agree. Even if LeBron goes, as cheesy as it sounds, we’ll still have the memories.

by emily522 on May 15, 2010 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions