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.

Pressure Cooker...

Hope you had a chance to watch that home court clincher in Philly. The mob scene that was the Devin Brown team hug meant a lot to him. Devin says it was indeed a little emotional given the fact this is his first year with the team.

As you may know, Devin is a 6 handicap golfer. He says he went through his same mental routine before his free throws that he does when he steps up to hit a pressure golf shot.

In fact, get this...Devin says he's been more nervous with people watching him tee off at the first hole at his club, than he was at the Wachovia Center with 0.2 seconds left and the house howling at him.

That to me is pressure and being oblivious to it.

Let the playoff pressure cooker begin.