The Orlando series is starting very quickly and I haven't even had much time to think about matchups and previews and all that. But I can't leave this past series without getting a few bite-sized things off my chest.
- Rough time for Cleveland fans. How do you react to this? It was a stomach punch series but it is so much more than that. Like they got punched in the stomach and even as they fall backward, they aren't quite sure if there's a ledge there or not. They'll find out no later than July if there is. Till then, they are just suspended in the air with no real assurances from LeBron one way or the other. I have no love for the Cavs (well, except Leon and Delonte), but I feel for the fans.
- Mike Brown, you're fired.
- Critics of the Celtics call them "front-runners" but who was the front runner this year? Lets review: The Cavs do great in the regular season and LeBron shines brightest when things are going well. When they get frustrated, like in the ECF last year and in this past series, they collapse and even quit.
- Meanwhile, the Celtics step up when the games matter most and rise up to the occasion when the odds are against them. Not just this series, but they almost beat the Magic last year while short-handed and they knocked off the Lakers when everyone was picking L.A.
- Fans aside, I kind of hope LeBron James does bolt. I think it would be fun to watch the drama unfold in NYC or wherever he lands. This should be a fun offseason to be sure.
- So, is all forgiven with Rasheed Wallace? By all accounts, he stepped up and helped us win this series. I said all along that everything depended on the postseason. So far, so good. At the very least he filled the PJ Brown role and then some.
- Rondo was the MVP of the series. This isn't even debatable.
- That's it. Enough with Cleveland. I'll let ESPN talk about them for the next several weeks while we move on to the next round.
- Bonus Link: The Cleveland Cavaliers? Gone Till November - Ball Don't Lie