LBJ v Wade (Cavs-Heat 2/4/10)

[British_Pharaoh]

I've been working 12 hour shifts so not been able to watch the last 3 games live but i saw last nights game.

I can only watch the Knicks game then I'm working through all the games until the All Star Break. It figures that i would have my 4 days off during the All Star festivities

I might have to forgo Denver and Orlando which would be a travesty


abnyway

lovely win

[Shadow Scars]

I cannot believe how amazing the Cavs look right now. Unreal. I feel like I'm dreaming. All this without Mo or Delonte? If this team is healthy going into the playoffs... well I'm not gonna jinx anything. I'll say that I think this is Clevelands best championship contending team to ever step onto the floor or a field but I won't say more than that because you know, this is Cleveland lol. So amazing to watch these guys play right now. Awesome.

[jb]

I've been working 12 hour shifts so not been able to watch the last 3 games live but i saw last nights game.

I can only watch the Knicks game then I'm working through all the games until the All Star Break.

lovely win

Those ladies you escort are sure getting their monies' worth BP.

U the man!

[Hi Oktane]

[papacass]

I cannot believe how amazing the Cavs look right now. Unreal. I feel like I'm dreaming. All this without Mo or Delonte? If this team is healthy going into the playoffs... well I'm not gonna jinx anything. I'll say that I think this is Clevelands best championship contending team to ever step onto the floor or a field but I won't say more than that because you know, this is Cleveland lol. So amazing to watch these guys play right now. Awesome.

Something Danny Ferry said last summer has stuck with me. From the perspective of a guy who won a title as a player and as an executive with the Spurs, this was Ferry's take on the Cavs' loss to Orlando in the ECF:

"We found out how difficult it is to win a championship."

In other words, everything builds upon what came before it. And making a title run is a grueling, draining act. Not only do you have to play really well in the regular season, you have to survive four rounds of increasingly difficult playoff competition. You have to have enough left in the tank, physically, mentally and emotionally, to survive late-round assults from deep, talented teams -- games that are often tightly-contested and will come down to the team that wins the final few possessions.

You have to want it. Bad. And then you have to go out keep winning until mid-to-late June. And staying healthy helps.

That's what I want to see out of the Cavs for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. This hunger to win, this mental toughness to keep winning in the face of adversity -- a mental toughness they didn't have a year ago. If they maintain that until late June, they can win a title. In fact, they're the favorites, because I don't think there is a hungrier team out there than the Cavs.

It's all about how you react when the later rounds of the playoffs try to chew you up and spit you out. Last season, not so good. This season? They seem to be better-equipped, but you still have to make it happen, prove that you learned something from the ECF.

I want to see this team win with the same drive, hunger and intensity as the Jordan Bulls during their second three-peat. Those teams were the embodiment of wanting to be great.

[Shadow Scars]

I cannot believe how amazing the Cavs look right now. Unreal. I feel like I'm dreaming. All this without Mo or Delonte? If this team is healthy going into the playoffs... well I'm not gonna jinx anything. I'll say that I think this is Clevelands best championship contending team to ever step onto the floor or a field but I won't say more than that because you know, this is Cleveland lol. So amazing to watch these guys play right now. Awesome.

Something Danny Ferry said last summer has stuck with me. From the perspective of a guy who won a title as a player and as an executive with the Spurs, this was Ferry's take on the Cavs' loss to Orlando in the ECF:

"We found out how difficult it is to win a championship."

In other words, everything builds upon what came before it. And making a title run is a grueling, draining act. Not only do you have to play really well in the regular season, you have to survive four rounds of increasingly difficult playoff competition. You have to have enough left in the tank, physically, mentally and emotionally, to survive late-round assults from deep, talented teams -- games that are often tightly-contested and will come down to the team that wins the final few possessions.

You have to want it. Bad. And then you have to go out keep winning until mid-to-late June. And staying healthy helps.

That's what I want to see out of the Cavs for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. This hunger to win, this mental toughness to keep winning in the face of adversity -- a mental toughness they didn't have a year ago. If they maintain that until late June, they can win a title. In fact, they're the favorites, because I don't think there is a hungrier team out there than the Cavs.

It's all about how you react when the later rounds of the playoffs try to chew you up and spit you out. Last season, not so good. This season? They seem to be better-equipped, but you still have to make it happen, prove that you learned something from the ECF.

I want to see this team win with the same drive, hunger and intensity as the Jordan Bulls during their second three-peat. Those teams were the embodiment of wanting to be great.

Heck yea they're hungry! They're a team that has been heart broken before. A team that has never won the title in a city that hasn't had a sports championship since the 60's. They're starved. We're starved. We don't wanna shed another tear unless it's tears of joy. This is their year! This is Clevelands year! It's gotta be. It's gotta be cause we're never gonna have a better look at this thing then they do right now. Get it!!!!!

[peeker643]

Hey....can someone look up and tell me about the ridiculous disparity at the free throw line that Wade enjoyed over LBJ last night. I know Shaq laid him out at least twice and Wade went to the line after those two blows at least, right? So just give me the numbers and let's see how that worked out.

[Gradysmanldy]

Actually, (and I guess i'm eating crow for this) Wade got called for 2 fouls that he didn't even commit. (Fouling Boobie on the three, when he was the one that got kicked and Boobie flopped) and when he cleanly stripped Anthony Parker on the jumper from the corner.

The JJ posterizing dunk was questionable, though...could have been whistled on that.

Watching him run straight into Shaq was kind of hilarious.

[papacass]

Heck yea they're hungry! They're a team that has been heart broken before. A team that has never won the title in a city that hasn't had a sports championship since the 60's. They're starved. We're starved. We don't wanna shed another tear unless it's tears of joy. This is their year! This is Clevelands year! It's gotta be. It's gotta be cause we're never gonna have a better look at this thing then they do right now. Get it!!!!!

What last year taught me was to look at the strides directly in front of you. Which is exactly what the Cavs are doing, and need to keep doing. June is a long way off.

This is what I'm trying to stay away from, myself: Getting all hyped (This is the year!) when they're doing well, then going all melty (We're screwed, we're not winning anything, LeBron is gone!) when they maybe hit a rough patch. Not saying you're going to do that specifically, but those are the peak-and-valley swings I'm trying to avoid.

All I'm saying is there are going to be bumps in the road ahead. They might lose a game or two to Orlando, they might lose in Charlotte again, they might lose to Boston or Denver. There might be a white-knuckle playoff series in which they're pushed to the brink of elimination.

Nothing is decided yet, there is no such thing as a "team of destiny," as the popular saying goes. The result of winning a title is pretty, but the process can be brutal, and usually is, at some point. You win a championship not just because you're good enough, but because you outpaced and outlasted everybody else until the end. The marathon analogy is spot-on. And every mile after 20 is a bitch. Cavs are probably around Mile 15 right now.

[British_Pharaoh]

With only being able to watch highlights and check box scores the past 6 or 7 days I can't comment too much on the performances, but it seems like we're playing our best basketball of the season. with 31 games remaining and Mo and Delonte and Powe don't forget soon to be back in the lineup I would be severely disappointed if we don't lift that Championship.

I think this team has all but clinched the number 1 seed (don't moan about me jinxing it please, the evidence is on the court) They've finally done in the Lake Show (twice I might add) so the monkey is off their back in that respect and confidence is high.

An LA v Cavs Finals would be one for the ages

[Frank Duffy]

As someone who's on the other end of the natural calmness axis from you, Cass, (although I deny that getting exercised is the same thing as melting), one way to keep a level(er) head is to read Windy. After, eg, the losses to Chi and Char earlier this year, his methodical and calm tone and analysis, stressing it's a long season, really helped. (Peeks too, of course. )

You're also right it's a long way from Feb to April. Other teams can get healthy or jell. The team that gets hot at the right moment can sweep all before it. This stretch has been a lot of fun, but it's still early.

Speaking of Windy, he really seems dialed in to the Cavs org. He was the one who first said that Ferry wants to get a deal done before the break. This is likely bargaining bs, but the fact Ferry chose him to carry the water shows they have a relationship, and Windy has said he knows stuff he'll never be able to tell. Hopefully he'll tell some.

[Gradysmanldy]

I'm incapable of chilling the eff out. I'll ride the roller coaster....and envy anyone who can take the adversity in stride. All in.