Why so silent.....

[DrumNFeather]

On Cleveland:

That is NOT a good supporting cast. LeBron is talented enough to carry a team on his shoulders and may win a championship as a result, but I think that as this series plays out and the finals (if they get that far) we'll see that you have to have some kind of supporting cast and LeBron doesn't have that.

Big Z is better than average and MO Williams has a motor that won't quit, but outside of that, I just don't see the players. I don't buy into Delonte West as being a significant enough player to help put them over the top. Wally and Wallace are past their collective prime and Verejo just plain sucks.

[DrumNFeather]

I hear that's going to be an issue though. Be nice to have him here. Heaven knows they have the worst staff in the league.

Sounds like in this particular case they'll do what it takes to get it done. We'll see. They need butts in the seats.

[Surfah]

On Cleveland:

That is NOT a good supporting cast. LeBron is talented enough to carry a team on his shoulders and may win a championship as a result, but I think that as this series plays out and the finals (if they get that far) we'll see that you have to have some kind of supporting cast and LeBron doesn't have that.

Big Z is better than average and MO Williams has a motor that won't quit, but outside of that, I just don't see the players. I don't buy into Delonte West as being a significant enough player to help put them over the top. Wally and Wallace are past their collective prime and Verejo just plain sucks.

Don't forget Joe Smith. Good hell that guy has Mutombo genes. This is why I like the Lakers over the Cavs. The Lakers bench, as bad as they have been of late, is far superior to anything the Cavs have. The Cavs are pretenders. I've said this all season. If LeBron doesn't see the finals this year, kiss him goodbye Cavs fans.

The Magic scare me more, not because they're deep but because the Lakers suck at defending the 3 point line and Howard can nullify Bynum and Gasol inside.

[DrumNFeather]

Don't forget Joe Smith. Good hell that guy has Mutombo genes. This is why I like the Lakers over the Cavs. The Lakers bench, as bad as they have been of late, is far superior to anything the Cavs have. The Cavs are pretenders. I've said this all season. If LeBron doesn't see the finals this year, kiss him goodbye Cavs fans.

The Magic scare me more, not because they're deep but because the Lakers suck at defending the 3 point line and Howard can nullify Bynum and Gasol inside.

I agree.

LeBron v. Kobe is the Marquee match up, but Orlando getting there could launch Dwight Howard into superstardom the way it did Shaq all those years ago.

[Sizzle]

but Orlando getting there could launch Dwight Howard into superstardom the way it did Shaq all those years ago.

Sorry, but Shaq was a superstar the day he was drafted into the NBA.

[smokymountainrain]

The difference between a win and a loss...Rashard Lewis nails a tough 24 foot three with a hand in his face while Delonte West misses a wide open 22 foot three. A great game to be sure.

Cleveland is definitely on their heels now and I agree with what has been said earlier in this thread - with Dwight and top to bottom, the Magic look too talented for LeBron to handle by himself.

The only chance Cleveland has at this point is to figure out how to impose their will defensively on the Magic just as they did to the rest of the NBA during the regular season. This is the best defensive team in the league statistically and the Magic went out and shot 55% last night.

[DrumNFeather]

Sorry, but Shaq was a superstar the day he was drafted into the NBA.

Technically so is Blake Griffin. But when you get stuck in a non-traditional NBA market, sometimes people need to be reminded of who you are. Blake Griffin will struggle in LA because he shares the spotlight with Kobe and the lakers.

Similarly, Shaq didn't stay in Orlando because he knew that he wasn't as marketable there as he would be in other places. Think about it, when Orlando made that run to the finals, it was Shaq vs. Patrick Ewing and then Shaq vs. Akeem. He might have been a superstar, but he arrived then.

Dwayne Wade is often forgotten for similar reasons.

[il Padrino Ute]

I hear that's going to be an issue though. Be nice to have him here. Heaven knows they have the worst staff in the league.

Baltimore's staff could give the Nats a run for the worst. It must be something about the DC area. All those politicians suck the will to succeed out of me - and I'm way out here in Utah. I can only imagine how it is there.

[SipiTau]

On a side note. I don't know if Lingo was watching, but I nearly had to turn it off when Bron started screaming "Mother f*ckers lets go!" Started staring down opponents. Hanging his right hand in the air for 5 minutes after his long bombs. And snarling, curling his upper lip, and wrinkling his nose like he smelled his own BO. It was disgusting. I'd hate to play with that guy.

lol.....I had the same thoughts. I'm sure he'll blame Kobe for the state BronBron was in at the end of the game; King James had to be helped off the floor due to cramps.

[FN Phat]

Looks like Lebron will need to score 50 points every night to stay in this thing.

Lebron was selfish tonight and his team payed the price.

If you shoot 67% from the field, in an array of shots, you have the green light. It was not LeBron that costs his team the game and you know that.

[TripletDaddy]

On a side note. I don't know if Lingo was watching, but I nearly had to turn it off when Bron started screaming "Mother f*ckers lets go!" Started staring down opponents. Hanging his right hand in the air for 5 minutes after his long bombs. And snarling, curling his upper lip, and wrinkling his nose like he smelled his own BO. It was disgusting. I'd hate to play with that guy.

Funny you mention that. I noticed the same thing....cussing, scolding his teammates. I guess it is easy to be a cool guy when you are winning games. I noticed a definite lack of phony camera posing at the end of the game last night. I wonder if they went into the locker room and screamed about their new shoes?

As for LBJ's missed free throws......Kobe goes 9-9 at the line in the 4th quarter against the Nuggets. The Lakers win the game. LBJ misses 3 FTs in the 4th quarter. The Cavs lose the game. Clutch.

I think the Cavs will be ok. Lebron only has to score 51 points tomorrow night, which shouldn't be a problem, esp if he continues to take 30 shots a game.

[TripletDaddy]

If you shoot 67% from the field, in an array of shots, you have the green light. It was not LeBron that costs his team the game and you know that.

lol.

ok, you keep telling yourself that.

How about those missed free throws in the 4th quarter? The Cavs could have used those points.

I wonder how long until we start hearing complaints about how weak LBJ's supporting cast is and how he can't do it all himself.....whoops, never mind. We have already starting hearing that in this very thread.

[TripletDaddy]

The difference between a win and a loss...Rashard Lewis nails a tough 24 foot three with a hand in his face while Delonte West misses a wide open 22 foot three. A great game to be sure.

Cleveland is definitely on their heels now and I agree with what has been said earlier in this thread - with Dwight and top to bottom, the Magic look too talented for LeBron to handle by himself.

The only chance Cleveland has at this point is to figure out how to impose their will defensively on the Magic just as they did to the rest of the NBA during the regular season. This is the best defensive team in the league statistically and the Magic went out and shot 55% last night.

The Magic are freaking me out. They came to LA in the regular season and beat the Lakers fairly easily. I would not be shocked at all if they were to win it all this year. That series with the Celtics could have been the thing that taught them how to win in the playoffs. Scary thought.

[FN Phat]

On a side note. I don't know if Lingo was watching, but I nearly had to turn it off when Bron started screaming "Mother f*ckers lets go!" Started staring down opponents. Hanging his right hand in the air for 5 minutes after his long bombs. And snarling, curling his upper lip, and wrinkling his nose like he smelled his own BO. It was disgusting. I'd hate to play with that guy.

Or when LBJ went back door off a bounce pass from the top of the key via a Mo Williams bounce pass. He and Dwight met at the rim at the same time but LeBron elevated first and DH never left the ground, getting a cheap call on him. The first thing that Bron Bron did was look at Howard and yell, "I told you he didn't want to jump with me! I told ya'll." Howard tried to laugh it off and shook his head. It was awesome to see LeBron like that.

He has the drive and focus. He wasn't able to get the W but don't be so quick to count the Cavs out. They are not used to losing at home and I see them coming out of the gates in game @ and not looking back. Cavs in 6.

Then I will stay true to my prediction in the begining of the playoffs...Cavs over the Lakers in 6.

FYI: I hope I am wrong with my prediction. I would love, love, LOVE to see the Nuggets pull off the upset.

[TripletDaddy]

Or when LBJ went back door off a bounce pass from the top of the key via a Mo Williams bounce pass. He and Dwight met at the rim at the same time but LeBron elevated first and DH never left the ground, getting a cheap call on him. The first thing that Bron Bron did was look at Howard and yell, "I told you he didn't want to jump with me! I told ya'll." Howard tried to laugh it off and shook his head. It was awesome to see LeBron like that.

It is awesome to see him be a self-centered jerk and show up his opponent?

I actually was surprised because LBJ clearly has an appealing personality. I wonder how much of his humility is an act for marketing purposes.

The Cavs coming out strong in Game 2 is nothing to be proud about. They have zero choice. If they go back to Orlando down 2-0, the series will likely end in 4 games.

PS how do you you figure that the Cavs are used to losing at home? They have only lost 3 times at home this entire season? 2 of those times to the Lakers and the Magic.....good teams.