As last night's game ended, my wife was holding our three-month-old daughter and trying to put her to sleep. We watched LeBron James hug Celtics players one by one, then take off his jersey and walk into the locker room, as the ESPN commentators wondered aloud whether that would be the last time LeBron ever took off a Cavaliers jersey. As the postgame interviews started, leading off with Kevin Garnett, I picked up the remote and asked my wife what she'd like to watch. She said, "Definitely not interviews with Celtics players."
I scrolled through the recordings on our DVR, found last night's installment of Jeopardy!, and we watched that. It's the annual Tournament of Champions, and though it was a runaway for one of the contestants, the Tournament of Champions is always interesting to watch. At no point during the program did I stop thinking about what I'd just seen from Boston, but it was at least a helpful diversion.
After Jeopardy! ended, my wife asked me if I was sad. I don't remember word for word what I said, but it was something to the effect that no, I'm not sad, but I'm very disappointed. It's just a sporting event, it's really not important in the grand scheme of things, etc., etc. But I really wanted to see this Cavaliers team win a championship.
I really wanted to see this Cavaliers team win a championship.
The team that steamrolled through the NBA all season, swept the Lakers, hung tough against all the league's heavy hitters, and looked unstoppable, simply rolled over when it counted the most. LeBron James' elbow obviously is a big part of the reason why, as he clearly was physically off his game for this whole series against Boston, but he seemed mentally off his game too. He grabbed 19 rebounds and had a triple-double last night, but he seemed to play lazy defense too. How many times did he fail to stay in front of his man, for example? And as the seconds ticked off at the end of the game, he and the Cavs completely gave up, conceding when they still might have had some faint glimmer of hope if they fouled to stop the clock.
Now the talk will turn to LeBron's future. Will he stay in Cleveland? Will he go to New York or Chicago or Miami? I have no idea, and right this minute, I barely even care.
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4 comments:
Well written Steve...my thoughts exactly! Jeopardy's better than knitting anyway.....K
This loss will stay with the city forever. It's a race among writers to be the first to coin a hurtful tag for it. I suggest you try, Steve.
Dear Steve.
A very solemn post...
Yeah, the effing Cavs lost, but they sure made this basketball season awesome. Mentally, the Celtics have alwyas been a tough team for the Cavs to beat. The Cavs played like thier heart just was not in the game.
I will personnally be shocked if Lebron leaves Cleveland. He has brought a lot to the Cavaliers and is a hero to a lot of people here, not just as a basketball player, and I think that means a lot to him.
I could tell how upset you were last night during the game...Your yelling at the tv was a dead give away...but it is over..it was a beautiful season that ended on a sour note, and all we can do is hope on next year.
I agree with Kathy...Jeopardy is a much better hobby than knitting...except the Tournament of Champions answers must be in German or something...because I barely knew any of the questions.
So, is baseball the only sport I have to watch for the time being?
Steve, LeBron James will not be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. After 7 seasons, he has maxed out his personal and professional development.
Similar to a successful business person who has risen to the top of his or her profession, when it's entirely appropriate for that person to find a more challenging position, LeBron needs the challenge of New York or Chicago to bring out his best.
That's why he lost interest at the end of the Celtics series -- he knew he wasn't going to receive the support from his support-less cast (just like each of the previous 6 seasons) (remember Ricky Davis?), and he had already begun conserving his energy for his next challenge of being with a new team.
The 2010-11 NY Knicks with LeBron and Chris Bosh and Eddy Curry, plus a couple of mid-level free agent signings, should produce a 50-win team and glide The King back into the playoffs, when he will have more interest.
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