(Edit: I just finished writing this post and I pretty much started writing and never stopped. I hope that you guys can follow this post. I bounce around from subject to subject like my panties are on fire. I guess I had alot of pent up things to say after my extended absence!)
Dearest Matthew,
To quote a famous icon of our generation, I’d like to say:
“Settle down Beavis.”
First of all, we are BFF’s.Don’t forget it, and embrace it. We did not start this site because it’s hard to maintain a long distance friendship. We started this site because we love talking Cavs, and both of us (for better or worse) live and die with the team year after year. I didn’t feel like writing about the Magic game because there wasn’t much to say. We lost a game where everyone played badly. That’s it.
Now, as for my, your, and all of our Cleveland Cavaliers. Let’s get straight to it. It’s hard to keep up the intensity throughout an entire NBA season. It is what it is. Teams that have better records than ours, like the Pistons, Celtics, Magic and the entire Western Conference frankly have more talent than we do. The Cavs aren’t a lazy team. Most teams generally coast just as much as we do.
That is to say, The Celtics playing at 60% effort is typically better than the Cavs playing at 75% effort. The Celtics have better players. So do the Pistons.
So why am I not worried if we lose some games?
1. I’m pretty sure we are going to make the playoffs, and probably have home court advantage.
2. The X factor: Lebron James. Matt expects alot from him (as well he should). Last year, I watched Lebron absolutely destroy teams in the playoffs that are more talented than we are. The New Jersey Nets have more talent, top to bottom…we killed them. The Detroit Pistons have much more talent top to bottom…Lebron and Boobie beat the entire team by themselves. The Spurs are much much more talented than us…and they showed it 
It’s not excuses to admit when you are beat. I know and you know and we all know that Lebron and the entire Cavs team isn’t running at 100% right now. I’m fine with it. And if we lose to the Celtics in the 2nd round, I’ll be disappointed, but really how upset can we be? Many people who are objective basketball fans don’t even consider the Cavs as a top 10 team in the league.
Now…let’s talk Lebron. No matter what you want to believe Matt, It’s not Lebron’s fault. It’s not. Lebron is the reason we even have hope that we can beat teams like the Pistons and the Celtics. Lebron and Kobe are the only guys in the league who can get so hot, that they can single-handedly beat teams.
Think of it this way, Take Lebron out of the equation and take the best player on any other team out of the equation (like Kobe from the Lakers) and ask yourself how many teams you would trade rosters with. It’s pretty safe to say you would trade with almost every team in the league. It is what it is.
So…what’s my point is this babbling post? The Cavs are good in the regular season. The Cavs can be great in the playoffs. The Cavs can win it all. But we aren’t expected, by any “experts” to win it all. So there are no excuses we have to make for them. Lebron is not Michael Jordan…not because he isn’t as good, but because he doesn’t have as good a team.
I do agree with you strongly on one point. I don’t know that Lebron will ever get his Scottie Pippen, until one of our players “mans up” and takes the ball to the basket and doesn’t just look to give the ball to Lebron and run away. Right now, the closest thing we have to that is Devin Brown who just isn’t good or big enough to make much of a difference.
Cavs will be fine, just wait for the playoffs.
(P.S.- Lebron can become the Cavs all time leading scorer tonight if he scores 35 or more points. In only 5 seasons!? That’s insane.)
