The Cavaliers are not competing
Published by The Cavalier May 10th, 2006 in LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, YAYcomics!, Refs, Rasheed Wallace, Ben WallaceWhen we came into this series saying we were pretty satisfied with the season and we hoped the Cavaliers would just make it competitive, that was for us. The actual team wasn’t supposed to actually adopt that attitude. Hack-a-Ben in the second quarter? That’s embarrassing.
What can we really say? The Pistons are better, the Cavs don’t think they can win, and that’s exactly what they’re playing like. They’re scared, theyre intimidated, and their gameplan has no focus or aggression.
It was a nice little comeback attempt, but as Chauncey will tell you, that was just Cleveland being cute lil’ fellas. Hate to say it, but somewhere between 2004 when they won the title and right now, the Pistons became really unlikable, and that has nothing to do with this series. We’ve been saying it all year, if you’ve been paying attention. They’re awful arrogant for a team who won one title two years ago.
Also, Ben Wallace has never fouled anyone. That’s just the aggression of the Defensive Player of the Year. Apparently you’re quite literally not allowed to touch him, though, as LeBron learned on that rebound in the third quarter.
One last thing - looks like Scoop Jackson is right about what this series is really about, at least for LeBron.
I agree about being intimidated. How many good looks did they miss last night (especially early)? Looks that weren’t 3s and weren’t being shot by Eric Snow. And then in the fourth, they had a number of chances to really make it interesting, but failed to convert.
At one point last night I thought to myself, “Self, if they don’t care, why should I?” How can they watch the Detroit bench openly mock them and not do anything about it? I get more fired up filling out my NCAA bracket.
I don’t find the Pistons unlikable in the least. They just know that there’s no competition to be had in this series and they’re ready to move beyond it. Sucks that you’re on the receiving end of such an attitude, but it’s the truth.
And please, no team with Queen James and his Interminable Halo of Foul Calls should be complaining about referee behavior.
Charles Barkley said it best himself, “we are all witnesses alright… Witnesses to an ass kickin!” This isn’t really much of a surprise and is anyone else sick of the Spurs crying about “tired legs.” What the hell is all that shit about? They lose a game and bitch and moan but when the Mavs lost, I didn’t see them crying and blaming it on “tired legs.” If your legs are that tired then sit on the damn bench! We don’t need to hear the team crying about this bullshit! No wonder this team is hated!
Ex - to be fair why would the Mavs complain about tired legs when they’d been resting for a week after their sweep?
NVZ - the Pistons have been saying stuff like that all year. It’s their right to do so.
LeBron does do a lot of complaining absolutely. I think he’s being suitably humbled in this series, although all the people saying he’s been shut down must not be watching.
The thing LeBron is doing wrong is he’s not playing hard defense. I think after this playoff run, that becomes cemented as this summer’s “project”. Both he and the entire team are one of the worst in the NBA at rotating.
I was only trying to say that the Spurs seem to have a reason for why they didn’t play good this night or that night. They should just take it like a man and move on. That’s what the Mavs did after their loss and they came out on top in game 2.
I hope the Mavs just end this in 3 more straight wins. That would really make the victory even sweeter!
Read the Scoop Jackson piece again, only this time substitute Danny Ferry’s name for LeBron’s. It’s Ferry who’ll have to do most of the work to get LeBron a ring in the Wine and Gold.
As a pistons fan, I agree that the Pistons are the most cocky team in the NBA. I guess that’s one of the reasons I like them.
On another note, Lebron, as great as he is, needs to play defense. He is making Tayshaun Prince look like a superstar. Lebron always looks to get the steal or block, by standing in the passing lanes and jumping on pump fakes. Instead, he should stick to his man and prevent him from scoring.
i cant stand the pistons personally. They are either ‘underdogs’ despite being a favorite to win it all or they say that certain games are meaningless because they will be in the finals in june. Fuck em all
Please don’t tell me a fan of the player who leads the NBA in “And Ones” is complaining about not being about to touch Ben Wallace. That’s laughable at best.
P.S. Lebron must really be able to walk on water, I mean he never drags his pivot foot or travels.
“Also, Ben Wallace has never fouled anyone. That’s just the aggression of the Defensive Player of the Year. Apparently you’re quite literally not allowed to touch him, though, as LeBron learned on that rebound in the third quarter.”
Hey, now you know how we felt…except LeBron ain’t win SH*T!!!
Except Gilbert had been to the line way more than Bron and the # of foul calls were in your favor by like a margin of 25 or something.
Misfortunes never come alone (singly)… Adrian
Misfortunes never come alone (singly)… Adrian
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