One Move, Mate.
One win and Cleveland will do what I previously thought until last night was unthinkable. That being, win the Eastern Conference with LeBron in uniform. Or even at all, I mean, their 90s teams with Nance, Price, Ehlo and company couldn't do it...now Adolf Stern's made it possible for these putzes to do this? Well, one win gets Cleveland in to smell the roses right before the hungry Spurs put them under while TD tosses black roses on their grave. Cleveland's not beating San Antonio, no matter how badly the media and ESPNis leads you to believe otherwise.
One loss sends Detroit home early AGAIN, second time since Larry was sent packing and well, maybe Flip's proving that not everyone can truly coach great teams. Check that, after last night's performance I've got to call BS on that one. Larry Brown had a GREAT TEAM here, Flip's turned them into a 'fairly good' one. Flip, sir, why take out Rasheed in the third and allow the Cavs to go on a run that gets them back into the game when the idea is to apply the knockout blow. Wasn't in foul trouble or anything, so what's up with that? Then, when LeBron was just flat out burning your team, any reason why you didn't instruct your players to...I dunno, SEAL OFF THE LANE AND MAKE HIM KICK IT RATHER THAN SLAM IT DOWN FOR THE GAME TYING AND WINNING BASKETS?!!!
I'm seeing why the smartest move that McHale's made since coming to Minnesota was canning your ass. You suck. Rick Carlisle would've had the Cavs's nuts on his wall by now and we'd be 24 hours away from the Pistons returning to the NBA Finals. Betcha Joe D's got his number on speed dial, just waiting to hit it after your boys blow this.
Two wins for the Pistons will, more than likely mean the 'small minds' that constitute the Nielsen viewing clowns with those "Ratings Boxes" are gonna tune out what should be a great series between the Spurs and the Pistons. It will also mean checkmate for them to, because simply put they're not the same team from two seasons ago that took the Spurs to seven. I'm not seeing that same grit, the same blue collar, we're just gonna shut you down and beat you silly mentality that made them Eastern Conference Champions two seasons ago. Oh and for all you folks out there in the media busting your big ones over LeBron's big game last night, let's make it what it is. A big game in a hostile environment. He's their franchise player, this is what they pay him the big bucks to do (other than sell tickets for a franchise that until Adolf gave them the #1 pick, nobody would've cared about even if they started killing people left and right). People don't get "Eras" until 2 things are established. A) They win a title and B) they show that this is the first of many to come.
Oh and in case anyone's wondering, the Spurs haven't forgotten what LBJ did to The Big Fundamental during the regular season. If you think you're gonna get another poster out of this potential series, you're either high, stupid or both. The Spurs are sitting back, just waiting. If you think Mike Brown's gonna take his mentor to school in a seven game series, stop watching basketball because you seriously don't know shit. Pops is the best coach in the game not named Jackson or Riley and neither one of the two coaches left in this series are going to outwork, outthink or outgameplan him with the chips on the table.
If LeBron goes on to lose Game 6, then the series, then all that 48 point performance becomes is an afterthought. Something to build on for next year, maybe. But for an "Era" to ceremoniously be short circuited after a performance like that, makes you really question how legitimate this will be over the long haul. Let's be clear about something though for the record. LeBron beat the Pistons last night and wasted every last thing in his body to do so. He's got my respect after that performance, not just because he did it or the fact that the Pistons practically stepped aside and let him, but because he's had to endure the media blasting him for the shot he didn't take in Game 1, didn't make in Game 2 and now they're
quick to shower him with praise and proclaim him the next... oh wait, they've already done that.
Bottom line is, he got his team a game away from the Finals. And let me be perfectly clear about this next point I'm gonna make from a non-biased perspective, if the Cavs do in 24 hours what they couldn't do a year ago, they'll be the worst representative the Eastern Conference has sent to the Finals since the 2001 76ers who were led by yet another talented scorer who when properly gameplanned against had nothing left because nobody around him helped out. If LBJ can't find something left in that gas tank of his to close this out tomorrow night, I'll be back here on Tuesday morning to write how he more or less blew the absolute best opportunity he's had to get to The Show.
As for Detroit, fellas, wake the fuck up. You're not Bad Boys II that sent the Lakers into mediocrity three years ago, not the same team that took the Spurs to seven two years ago. You're taking on the identity of your coach, seeming unsure of what's going on when it matters the most and seemingly unable to put a team away when you've got your foot placed solidly on their throat. Second verse appears to be the same as the first from a year ago, little bit louder only LeBron's making this seem a whole lot worse. Since y'all don't seem to be getting it, let me make this real simple for all of you. If you take the head off the snake, the body dies. LBJ's that head. Games 1 & 2 of this series weren't last decade, they were last week. Like my Dad used to tell me, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Take LeBron out of the equation and make others beat you. Otherwise, have fun on the links this summer while watching a team that you're infinitely better than flounder in the Finals.
My prediction? If the Cavs lose tomorrow night, they lose Monday night.
Pistons win tomorrow night, they win the series.
I don't think LeBron wants to have to go back to Detroit. After last night's game and the performance he put on, he needs this to be OVER by tomorrow night because the Spurs are watching all of this and seeing what they need to do to stop him. He needs rest if he's gonna give the Cavs a puncher's chance against the Spurs. But even still, maybe he's truly ready to do it. So ya know what?
Cleveland wins tomorrow night and goes on to the Finals. God help me.
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