It's All About Inches

There are so many plays in Game 7 and in this series that players, coaches, you fans, and us broadcasters will replay over and over again. That means one thing: two teams a micro-fiber difference between each other.

As Delonte said best...there were few dry eyes in the locker room, because they knew as a group they had given every ounce of themselves. Especially for a 24-year-old point guard and a 23-year-old superstar, it means using that heartache of what just happened to sharpen their tools even more.

LeBron expressed his pride in what he and his teammates did in the postseason. They are in very good company, with outstanding teams who could not make it to the final 4.

To borrow a phrase from Dan Gilbert, at this stage it's all about inches...for the Cavs organization as a whole and for the players and coaches. Keep finding a way to improve every single aspect. It's the thirst to get better and keeping that single-minded goal of winning a championship that drives everyone.

As LeBron said so well..."We need to get better"..and this team will.

So, trust that there are even better days ahead...that's why as a fan, while I'm sure you feel that hurt too, you have to know we are very early in this ride. This was a speed bump.

And look at it this way...a new opportunity will come again, starting in only five months. And I can't wait.

Game 7 in Boston

Back to Boston one final time...and at stake, another turnpike ticket to Detroit.

The guys are relaxed, but focused as we just arrived. I'm sure the Celtics are too...it's the fans and family members who's stomachs are churning already, less than 24 hours away from the Game 7 showdown.

Mike Brown says the approach HAS to be same as any other game, adhering to the job at hand principles. Mike was a Rick Carlisle assistant in '05 when the Pacers came to Beantown and stole Game 7...but he says he recalls very little about it because it doesn't apply to this situation. He says he's not even going to waste the energy to look it up.

The point is, both teams have new chemistry, so, past Game 7's have nothing to do with this one.

Mike was asked if he'll continue to ask for 40 plus minutes from LeBron and Delonte...he said yes..because they'll have part of the summer to rest...Those two wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the things the coaches will remind the guys about, will be never losing their aggression or poise...even when that crowd turns up the pressure...and they do a great job of that here.

Can't wait for this one.

Don't forget to join us on FSN for Cavaliers live Pregame and Postgame, live from the locker room.

9 W's away from Mohawkness.

Unfortunate Luck

Daniel Gibson has had more than his share of tough luck this season with ailments a player can't see coming. First, a bout with a wisdom tooth...then a hamstring pull...next, a high ankle sprain when Travis Diener fell on him...and now the shoulder separation, when his arm extended, colliding with Anderson Varejao. Boobie was always very durable in high school and his days at Texas...he's a tough guy, but sometimes injuries are just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But as he rehabs, he'll keep his usual positive outlook, being the ultimate teammate...that's who he is.

Mike Brown will contemplate giving Daniel's minutes to Devin Brown, Damon Jones, or for that matter...Delonte West.

It's a blow...but as LeBron said today, it means an opportunity for someone who has not played many minutes to step up and fill a role.

The Cavs will need to get back to the defense that had been rock solid for the first four games of this series. Last night, Boston broke through big time with offensive aggression...over a stretch of 16 minutes from late in the 2nd quarter into the early 4th, the Celtics scored on a staggering 22 of 26 possessions. That's unheard of...They thus went from 14 down to 11 up. Still, the Cavs made it a two possession game with 2:00 left.

It's why every game is a different entity.

This had all the earmarks of a 7 Game series from the beginning...nothing has changed.

The Buzz Around Boston

Boston is a buzz of activity...not only Cavs-Celtics Game 5, but the scene of a movie...Rob Lowe and crew have been shooting for over a month here...a new romantic comedy entitled "This Side of the Truth" which also stars Jennifer Garner and Tina Fey. It's about a town that has never had anyone who has lied...hmmmm...sounds like those predictions of a Celtics series win may be exposed!

Delonte West is good to go, despite a scratched left cornea which he thinks he suffered around Game 3, but he's not even sure it happened during the game. He's been to an eye specialist to make sure all is well and all he knows is he had trouble keeping his eye open during Game 4...but with both eyes open this morning at shoot around he said there's nothing wrong with hands and feet, so, no excuses. The pre game fireworks and smoke bother him, so he will stay in the locker room with Ben Wallace during intros to avoid the haze. I asked him if this is what the term "Dead eye shooter" means...Delonte laughed and shook his head.

There is a lot of skepticism in Beantown if you listen to the local talk shows...some doubt I think has crept into Celtic nation...atleast a serious case of the nerves. It's called 0-5 on the road in the postseason and the weight of championship expectation in this town, including the marketing campaign of "Green 17"...as in a 17th championship. The Cavs, however, all believe the pressure is on both teams, not just the Celtics because of what is at stake, in now what is a best of three series.

See you on Cavaliers Live at 7:30 on FSN...

Playoff Basketball

THAT was a playoff game! Three hours of intense, pit of your stomach drama. When LeBron threw down his sledge hammer late in the game, I saw fans hugging each other, strangers high fiving strangers...I even saw one guy grab his buddy by the head and kiss him on the cheek. Hey it's playoff love! I guess, a new meaning to the "NBA Cares"....20,562 were definitely a factor down the stretch.

Speaking of LBJ's rim rocker, he doesn't rank 'em, but did admit, this one against three Celtics may have topped last season's Tim Duncan Fathead because it comes in the Eastern Semis and helped slam the door to Game 4.

LeBron did publicly apologize to Mom for ahem, "telling her to sit down" when he and Paul Pierce wound up in the crowd at Gloria's end of the floor...LBJ didn't want Mom to get involved in anything with an opposing player, but in her defense, she was actually standing up to protect girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, making sure she didn't get trampled. Gloria said LeBron is plenty big enough to protect himself, he doesn't need her help...LBJ drew laughter from reporters when he acknowledged his timing could have been better, chewing out Mom, a day after Mother's Day.

Wally Szczerbiak said the chants of "Wall-y, Wall-y" gave him chills. They came during the 3rd quarter when his three buckets were so huge...one came right in front of the Boston bench and after nailing it, Wally looked back at them, not to taunt, but to enjoy the moment because as he was letting the shot go, a couple of
ex-teammates were saying..."Hey, he's with us...he's with us."

Not anymore!

More to come from Boston.

10 wins away from my one and only summer haircut!!

Getting Defensive

I know an All-Defensive Team nod was a goal of LeBron's this season...he did not make either of the teams announced today, but he eventually will.

The 30 head coaches vote on the first and second team members by position...LeBron finished 5th among small forwards behind Bruce Bowen (1st team) Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince and Ron Artest. He actually received one first team vote and three seconds, the first time he has ever received All-Defensive Team votes.

King James had his best defensive year I thought and is only going to get better...just as Kobe Bryant has become a premier stopper, becoming an 8 time All Defensive Team member.

LeBron, as we often saw during the season took on the toughest guard in the 4th quarter, from Baron Davis to Brandon Roy to Kobe.

His strength, size and skill make him an ideal defender. He gives Mike Brown credit for making him a better defender and you can tell he enjoys the challenge of stopping his man.

Chase down blocks in the open floor are not a stat that is kept...but I wonder if any player had more this season. We saw LBJ pull it off close to 10 times this season, including Rajon Rondo the other night. It's a rare skill that Josh Smith and Prince also have...to me, it may be the most breathtaking play in basketball.

We'll see plenty more from number 23 as he grows as a defender...

Home Is Where The Heart Is

There's a reason why the road team is 1-12 in the round of the elite-8...home building energy!! It's tangible, feeding into everything a home team does...affecting the outcome more than any other sport. It started with a lift the half wine/half navy-shirted crowd gave the Cavs during intros, right into the lift Ben Wallace gave his mates by being out there in the first place, then providing the juice this team really needed early with his rebounding, defense and scores around the rim. His swooping rebound and putback early was vintage Ben from his Pistons days.

From there, the ball moved and shots started to fall and the Cavs were never in danger of losing this one, once they ballooned the lead to 26. 29 assists and 12 turnovers overall is a hard combo to beat.

LeBron met with the media, with his sidekick, LeBron junior. Little LBJ has a non-stop motor like all kids his age. LeBron told the gathering of reporters, "see what I go through at home", smiling, as Junior sipped on water, tested a second mic and didn't want to sit still. Dad had to tell him to stay cool. LeBron only had two turnovers in the game, as he said he made a conscious effort to make good passes, and not be as lackadaisical as he felt he had been in the first two games.

Joe Smith agreed this was probably his best game as a Cavalier. Damon Jones had told him before the game, be aggressive and knock down the shots you have always made, because the Celtics are always going to give their attention to LeBron. Joe said he was very aware he had a perfect shooting game going 7 for 7 until he missed his final shot. He laughed, saying he blamed Devin Brown for passing him the ball, forcing him to take the shot which was his only errant field goal.

How about Delonte West, tying his career best with 21 points? When he attacks as he did in this game, the Cavs move up a notch. Delonte says what really fuels him, is the desire to keep getting better everyday, and proving to himself he belongs in this league. He says the pressure he puts on himself is the true pressure he feels. Delonte said the coaches encourgaged him to to be aggressive from the start, and that he did...not just scoring, but dishing.

Z also set a career high for the postseason with 6 dimes.

11 wins away from the buzz of the hair clippers!

Friends on Opposite Sides

Ben Wallace attended shootaround this morning and looked much better...he says he is feeling better from that viral infection in his inner ear, but is still doubtful for Game 3 tonight. Anderson Varejao will get the call in his place.

In the middle of most if not all heated playoff series, are friendships on opposite sides of the ball, such is the case with Joe Smith and Kevin Garnett, who along with Wally Szczerbiak, played together for four years together in Minnesota. Joe and KG forged a bond that is just as strong today as it was then...something that has to be put aside when they are dueling each other, trying to get to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Joe and Kevin also have a little ritual when they see each other, a quick hug and a tap of each other’s tattoo, to honor their fallen teammate from the T-Wolves, the late, Malik Sealy. In 10 days, it will be eight years to the day, since Sealy was leaving KG’s birthday party, when his life was senselessly taken by a drunk driver going the wrong way on a suburban Minneapolis freeway. Thus, Joe had a tattoo placed on his right forearm, which reads, “Only God can judge me, rest in peace MS 2 (Sealy’s number)." Soon after, Kevin joined Joe with his own tattoo honoring their close friend, who died at the age of 30.

On a side note, the driver who served a four year prison term as a result of that accident, was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving again in Minnesota, and has been sentenced to an even longer prison term...a sobering reminder for us all.

See you tonight on FSN Ohio, for Cavaliers Live at 7:30.

Back Home

Back home...It's deja vu from Detroit the last two years...lose the first two on the road and come home knowing if you take care of your business and feed off that tangible energy at The Q, this can also can become a brand new series just like those did.

Boston's defense is very good...but their scheme is not anything LeBron or the Cavs haven't seen before.

Mike Brown and his guys, while giving the Celtics their just due for taking the Cavs out of their comfort zone, know they must trust each other, their own schemes and if shots begin to fall, this series can be even again.

Again, the series with the Pistons last year is a great example...LeBron made shots, especially in Game 5 and discussions about the offense became moot.

Mike wants LBJ to stay aggressive, not hesitate, and knock down shots he's made countless times in the past..and he knows LeBron will...The King knows that too, better than anyone.

By the way, Ben Wallace is doubtful for tomorrow due to a viral infection in his left ear, which caused last night's dizziness.

The Atmosphere in Boston

The atmosphere tonight will be much the same as Game 1...highly intense! Joe Smith noticed a difference in the atmosphere, in his first taste of a round 2 game.

As good as the atmosphere was in Washington, it was even louder in Boston...part of that is the function of being in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But this is a very knowledgeable fan base, even though there is a generation of fans who know nothing about the banners, other than hearing about them from their parents, and looking up at the ceiling of the TD Banknorth Garden.

Expect things to get even scrappier in Game 2...Delonte West says he loves those kinds of games. He already had games of 19 and 20 against his former mates during the regular season...one with the Cavs, and one with the Sonics.

Mike Brown says, as always, his guys must stay ready, including Devin Brown, who did not play in Game 1...those minutes went to Sasha, who I thought gave the team a lift. Sasha talks more these days about wanting to establish his defense first, and rebound, then worry about his offense. He says before he enters the game, he’s thinking D from the start...perhaps a different approach from his earlier days as a Cavalier.

Devin, as you may know wears New Balance shoes, a rarity for an NBA player as most guys wear Nike, Reebok or Adidas. In fact, for years, players on all 30 teams have made the in-season migration to Nike for apparel when teams visit Portland...a bus is usually needed to take everyone to the company campus. Devin was asked when the bus is going to New Balance on this trip to New England, since their headquarters are here...Devin laughed of course, since he would be the only one on that bus, as a loyal wearer of the shoe.

See you tonight on FSN...join us at 6:30 for Cavaliers Live.

As the Dust Settles

The dust has settled from Game 1 in Boston...the guys were in good spirits as they went back to work. Although as Mike Brown said today, there are no moral victories in the playoffs, he thought his team did a pretty good job with their early offense, as evidenced by their 17 fast break points...but against the Celtics set defense, work needs to be done. Mike talked about floor spacing, keeping the ball moving, and driving the ball more...

LeBron said he definitely rehashed the game in his mind, knowing he doesn’t see many 2 for 18 nights with 10 turnovers...the layup he missed with 9 seconds left, he expects to make 100 out of 100 times, but as he said, when you have already missed 15 of 17, that’s what happens. He says he can’t play any worse...

LBJ went on to say, there is no need for soul searching because handling disappointment means never losing confidence and that is something he will never do. He also added no one in that locker room is down, because this series is just getting started...

But as we all know, it’s awfully difficult to win a game when you shoot 30% from the floor, something the Celtics deserve some credit for. Daniel Gibson admitted he has not seen the kind of attention he received last night, very often...so, he'll have to attack a little more to score, or create space for others. It’s clear, just like the Spurs in the NBA Finals, these Celtics are game planning for not only LeBron, but Daniel too...

See you tomorrow night on FSN, starting with Cavaliers Live at 6:30...

Astronomical Odds

What are the odds of LeBron going 2 for 18 while Paul Pierce/Ray Allen combine for 2 for 18? Astronomical...

As LeBron put it...he had rubber bullets in his gun for this one...but give Boston's aggressive, attacking, recovering defense a lot of credit. There's a reason they had the #1 ranked D all season.

Still, the King took this one and his 10 turnovers with a grain of salt because he knows he never misses that many shots around the rim. The lefty at the rim was a microcosm of his entire night.

Wally said...'Bron, I didn't get you 15." LBJ said, "No, but look at my line."

These guys know it's going to be a long, grind-it-out series.

Still 12 more to a Mohawk.

Familar Ground

Cleveland-Boston: Part 2 is ready to get started...does that mean this is Game 8? For the Tribe’s sake, the Cavs can get back to even tonight.

One of the subplots in this series, is Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West, traded not only to the Cavs together, but part of the Ray Allen swap with Seattle. What better way to show New Englanders, the Celts did not make the steal of the century, by playing an integral role for the Cavs these next two weeks...

Both enjoyed their time in Celtic green, and made plenty of friends here. Delonte knows full well what makes this Doc Rivers defense go. It’s a terrific team concept, and Delonte says you must attack it. That will be one of the major story lines, how well the Cavs handle the Boston pressure...do they move the ball and hit shots like they did in Games 2, 5 and 6 against Washington...

Wally and Delonte said Celtic mystique is very tangible in everything the guys in green do...their famous name ring wearers are very visible, and a part of the storied tradition. But what about the Leprechaun? Is he real? Wally said “no, not when I was here." The Celtics were hit with numerous injuries in his short time here...

Delonte says he used to believe in the Irish lucky charm...now, he’s a Moondog believer! And he added, there is no such thing as the Leprechaun.

See you on Cavaliers Live on FSN...

Boston Here We Come...

Bawwston here we come...Eastern Semi's without the diatribe in this series.

Two teams built with a defensive foundation, who have enough scorers to give the other side headaches.

Z said this series will be different without all the chatter, musically inclined invited guests, and a pizza delivered taunt...this series will be hard-nosed slug it out half court basketball...Indians-Red Sox with pitching the dominant theme.

Mike Brown was impressed with how hard the Wizards played D the final few games of the previous series, but says the Celtics will be a lot more aggressive employing Doc Rivers' #1 ranked defense compared to what the Cavs just saw in DC.

Headin' Home!

Hey Cleveland...headin' home...lots of smiles and laughter on the team plane.

Nobody's happier than Wally...he said he just had to let it fly and not worry about missing. When he and Boobie are making shots, this team goes to another level...and I don't mean a combined 18 for 32...even if one of them is knocking them down, this team is a threat.

LeBron did predict it though telling Wally at shoot-around, "Hey I need 18 or 20 from you"...then added, "I'm serious". Wally nodded, and I guess took LBJ seriously.

How about King James and Delonte, a combined 20 assists and one turnover!

Some of the guys were following the Celtics-Hawks updates on their phones...what a time of year!!

It's on to the Eastern Semi's...12 wins away from a Mohawk!!

Suspended

Darius Songaila has been suspended for tonight’s Game 6 because of the shot to the face he administered to LeBron James in Game 5. The Wizards will not be happy about that ruling, pointing to the Brendan Haywood shove to LeBron while in mid-air in Game 2 which did not get a suspension...I’m sure Stu Jackson wants to try and clean up the rough stuff around the face, especially since this came after the whistle.

Look for Andray Blatche to get some extra minutes behind Haywood, which will limit the Wizards’ ability to play small ball somewhat. In case you are curious, while this series has been loaded with physical play and extra curricular stuff, the 10 total techs and two flagrants are only the fourth most in these playoffs.

The Dallas/New Orleans series drew 16 techs, the Boston/Atlanta series has had 13 of them called and the Denver/Los Angeles series has a dozen...each of those series had two flagrant fouls called a piece...it’s just that time of year.

The Cavs are loose and have won five of the last seven playoff games in the “Phone Booth”, so, they know they can win here...but, they’ll be facing a team just as hungry and aggressive as they were in Game 5 at The Q...it’s win or go home for the Wiz.

See you tonight on Cavaliers Live at 6:30 on FSN...

Momentum Swing?

The playoffs of course are about momentum swings almost like an NFL season, where one Sunday you're up, and the next week, your down. As soon as we arrived in D.C., a taxi driver shook his head and said "it's a series now." And the hotel bellman said "we're coming up for Game 7." Not that these guys write blogs in their spare time, but the local fandom has been energized with how the Wizards came from behind to win Game 5.

The Cavs are highly disappointed with the way the game got away. Z said today all the guys took the lousy feeling home with them, because they are human. He added that today was a brand new day, smiles back on teammates faces because it's still three games to two and the trick is to keep things in perspective. Zydrunas says he still likes the position his team is in.

Sasha Pavlovic is chomping at the bit to play and says he's physically ready to give Mike Brown what ever he needs in Game 6. Mike hinted Sasha could see some time depending on how things go, but hesitates to commit because Sasha has not really had any "live" practice since he turned the left ankle in Philadelphia over two weeks ago. You may recall back in January when Sasha suffered that mid foot sprain against the Wizards at The Q. He challenged Caron Butler very well in the first half before he suffered the injury in the 3rd quarter and Butler finished with just 10 points that night. Sasha is strong enough to battle the tough minded forward. So, stay tuned.

We'll know more after shoot around.

See you on FSN and WUAB.