Cleveland Rocked

The Cavs are in trouble, I mean major trouble...now you're probably saying no shit Brendan, they lost their opening round game last night at The Q, a place where they have been virtually invincible all season. But, the trouble I'm talking about extends far beyond Game 1, far beyond losing before a rowdy (and probably at game's end disbelieving) home crowd, it's trouble that may just blow some more air under the Magical Carpet Ride for Hedo, Rashard and Dwight into The Finals.

The James Gang was exposed for what they really were last night...a team with one out of this world stud, a less than scintillating Robin and a cast of role players who don't quite make you jump out of your LazyBoy. Their defense was stretched beyond recognition as Orlando banged trifecta's from distances as far away as The Tower of Terror.

I wouldn't be so worried about Cleveland if they got blown out of their building last night...you could have easily chalked that up to the rust they acquired from the month off they were granted after the Atlanta series. Last night they played well though, really well...I'm taking 63 points in the first half well, a 16-point lead at one point well, only 5 turnovers well, I fucking mean 49 points from King James well! But still the Magic had one trick after another up their collective sleeve.

I'm not ready to say the Magic have enough illusions left to send the Cavs on an early ride down Splash Mountain, but what I am confident in saying is that this series is destined for 7. I'm further confident in saying that if Orlando had Jameer Nelson, I don't think this would even be a contest. The rebuilding Pistons and the youthful Hawks were mere launching pads for Captain 23 and his band of flight attendants, but the Magic are those economy passengers that pester the airline's front desk worker into moving them into first class.

I still believe that despite some obvious kinks in their armor, the Cavs will win the NBA title this year...they just seem to be this year's team of destiny, but answer this trivia question for me.

Other than the 2005 Detroit Pistons, name for me an NBA team that has recently (within the last 25 years) won a title without at least two bonafide superstars...Pierce/Garnett/Allen, Kobe/Shaq, Tim/Tony/Manu, Jordan/Pippen, Olajuwon/Drexler, Thomas/Dumars, Johnson/Worthy, Bird/McHale/Parrish.

LeBron James and Mo Williams? Ahhh, doesn't quite role off the tongue the way the rest do.

Nevertheless, I'll stick with Bron Bron...perhaps this is yet another statistical obstacle that stands in his flight path to becoming the greatest basketball player of all time.