Cavaliers...

[Jacobs4Heisman]

The problem with the Heat is that James/Wade/Bosh are all Iso scorers. When good teams force them to get points in the half court, they are struggling because they aren't moving the basketball. They are forcing up a lot of contested jumpers, and you just can't win consistently that way, even with 2 of the best in the world. It's going to get even worse for them in the playoffs when everything slows way down. If the heat can't get easy baskets in transition, they just aren't going to beat good teams.

The biggest problem though is Bosh. He just isn't comfortable being the third option on a good team. He has a terrible attitude, he's soft, and it's pretty clear James and Wade don't respect him on the court. We all thought the Big 3 would work with no supporting cast, but it's really a big 2.5 at this point, and we know that doesn't work with just dregs on the rest of the roster.

There are 2 solutions to this - 1 is that Bosh redefines himself as more of a hustle guy - crash to the hoop on PNRs more instead of floating out for the J, really crash the boards opposite of wherever James and Wade are Isoing from, and focus more on his rebounding.

Option 2 would be to stagger Bosh's minutes so he's always out there with their second unit, which is horrible. Maybe pull Bosh at the 6 minute mark, then put him back in for the second quarter while James and Wade rest. Then Bosh can be the guy you run your offense through for 6 minutes each half. He can still be very effective that way. When he doesn't get his touches, he just disappears at both ends, because he's a pansy.

Bosh's ego is going to make either of these pretty tought to pull off - the dude is ridiculous.

The Cavs last year on the other hand did a better job of just getting out of LeBron's way, and hitting open shots. They had a competent PG in Mo and a great rebounder in Varejao - 2 things the Heat would kill for. They had the right mix of people to put around LeBron, but overall the talent level was pretty dreadful. We've seen how fast that fell apart without the lynchpin.

[Falconfreak90]

J4H,

All the injuries this year have certainly contributed to the Cavs fall as well. I think Warthog's post pretty much summed it up.

Miami won't sniff the Eastern Conf finals...I look for the Bulls and Celtics there.

[kdog27]

J4H,

All the injuries this year have certainly contributed to the Cavs fall as well. I think Warthog's post pretty much summed it up.

Miami won't sniff the Eastern Conf finals...I look for the Bulls and Celtics there.

That Cavalier team learned to mesh with each other really well too. They all seemed to be great friends on and off the court. Maybe more so than any other team I have seen. They had fun. They were kind of like Miami is now because they are good at beating the bad teams and could not consistenly beat the good teams or in Miami's case not beat any good teams. Miami just lacks the experience those guys had playing together. Obviously James was the number one factor but he is not the only reason they are going to win about 45+ games less.

I never felt like those three coming together was going to make a huge difference. James and Wade cancel each other out and Bosh was annointed to superstar status for no reason other than he was buddies with those two.

[Flipper]

The dark horse in the East could be the Knicks. Amare and Melo were the acquisitions that got the headlines, but Chauncey Billups could be the guy that make that team something special.

Lebron is like Terrell Owens...a selfish, soul sucking cancer that will draw any team he plays for into his vortex of underachievement

[Jacobs4Heisman]

There is no way in Hell the Knicks beat the Heat, Bulls, and Celtics in consecutive road series. Each of those three teams are considerably better than the Knicks. You have to at least pretend to play a little D in the playoffs. The Knicks are not going to be able to run games up into the 110s against the best Ds in the East. I doubt they can win even one game against the celts or bulls in the 80s.

There really is no such thing as a Dark Horse in the NBA playoffs. In the past 30 years, 3 times has a team not seeded 1 or 2 won the championship, and those were all 3 seeds. The better team almost always wins a 7 game basketball series.

[bgsufalcon24]

There is no way in Hell the Knicks beat the Heat, Bulls, and Celtics in consecutive road series. Each of those three teams are considerably better than the Knicks. You have to at least pretend to play a little D in the playoffs. The Knicks are not going to be able to run games up into the 110s against the best Ds in the East. I doubt they can win even one game against the celts or bulls in the 80s.

There really is no such thing as a Dark Horse in the NBA playoffs. In the past 30 years, 3 times has a team not seeded 1 or 2 won the championship, and those were all 3 seeds. The better team almost always wins a 7 game basketball series.

The Knicks should just be happy they won't be seeing the Cavaliers on their side of the playoff bracket. They'd get swept.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

There is no way in Hell the Knicks beat the Heat, Bulls, and Celtics in consecutive road series. Each of those three teams are considerably better than the Knicks. You have to at least pretend to play a little D in the playoffs. The Knicks are not going to be able to run games up into the 110s against the best Ds in the East. I doubt they can win even one game against the celts or bulls in the 80s.

There really is no such thing as a Dark Horse in the NBA playoffs. In the past 30 years, 3 times has a team not seeded 1 or 2 won the championship, and those were all 3 seeds. The better team almost always wins a 7 game basketball series.

The Knicks should just be happy they won't be seeing the Cavaliers on their side of the playoff bracket. They'd get swept.

Heh - so weird how important matchups are in the NBA. Like the Bulls losing to the Bobcats every time this year until they started losing all their guys to trade/injury.

Knicks got crushed by the Mavs last night, and Amare picked up Tech #16. 28 yrs old, and still a spaz.

[Falconfreak90]

CAVALIERS 102, HEAT 90. How do you like that one, Bron? The Cavs played a GREAT game tonight. When they get healthy and another year under Scott, they will be a good team. GO CAVS!!!

[Warthog]

When they get healthy and another year under Scott, they will be a good team. GO CAVS!!!

I think you may be a bit optimistic there Freak.

But I see what you are saying. Varajao being healthy will make a big difference. They need to get lucky with their two lottery picks and have them both really develop. And then flip Baron and Jamison next season (expiring contracts) for more lottery picks and then maybe in two/three years, you will see a contender in Cleveland again.

[Falconfreak90]

When they get healthy and another year under Scott, they will be a good team. GO CAVS!!!

I think you may be a bit optimistic there Freak.

But I see what you are saying. Varajao being healthy will make a big difference. They need to get lucky with their two lottery picks and have them both really develop. And then flip Baron and Jamison next season (expiring contracts) for more lottery picks and then maybe in two/three years, you will see a contender in Cleveland again.

Well, I always am optimistic. LOL. Obviously there is some dead wood that needs to be dropped but there is some young talent there. Dan Gilbert won't be shy about spending money. This team isn't as bad as their record due to injuries this year and the players lost from last year. They showed what they can do when playing 48 min and Scott has been preaching that all year. Hey, tis a good day in Ctown today.

[VDub26Falcon]

How about that win last night!?!? I know it was only #15 on the season but it felt like a playoff game and definitely had the atmosphere of one. There is no way the Heat are winning the championship this year.

[Warthog]

Something interesting I noticed last night (and trust me, I only watched after half time when I saw the Cavaliers were winning and they were playing the Heat, otherwise I wouldn't have wasted one second of my evening watching the Cavaliers), James just didn't 'look' right out there. Can't really describe it, but it looked like he was uncomfortable or something. And I can't remember any time where James and Wade actually ran an offensive play together. In fact, there was a time when Wade drove the lane and got fouled. His other three teammates were nearby and/or Wade approached them and slapped hands. James just went and lined up on the lane and did not interact with Wade at all. Anyone else notice that?

And Chris Bosh sucks. Ryan Hollins was schooling him for crying out loud. Ryan frickin' Hollins!!!

[Redwingtom]

I am not going to count out the Heat for the title just yet as I'm sure the league will want them around as long as possible for myriad reasons

[Falconfreak90]

Cavs drop a close one tonight in Charlotte as Anthony Parker gets his shot blocked at the buzzer..98-97 Bobcats.

[Falconfreak90]

I am not going to count out the Heat for the title just yet as I'm sure the league will want them around as long as possible for myriad reasons

Valid point but I don't see the Heat making the Eastern Conf finals...