I am pretty confident about the matchup for the cavs. The matchup with Orlando is going to be tough. People have to look at how much Orlando improved during the second half of the year and what they have done against better teams and in close games. This team is game and talented.

I think the Celtic series will be quite tough. I think it goes 7. If nothing else you have the 3 biggest drama queens in the game in LeBron, Pierce and Garnett. It could tear a hole in the atmosphere. Rondo will destroy them. Mo is a vacuum on defense. Jamison was a great pickup...no way on earth they win a playoff game last year with Mo shooting 2 for 13 as he did last night. As the TNT commentators said...Jamison allows Mo to be the 3rd option this year rather than the clear number 2 like last year.

The problem with Jamison is that his perimeter defense is about the worst in the NBA. Against the celts, they can get away with him covering Garnett. Against the Magic, he will have to match up against Lewis or Carter. Trust me when I tell you that this will be a huge liability especially considering he will not use his size to post up anymore AND its not like you can send Shaq to the high post when it comes to the offensive end. I think if they plan to use Jamison a lot, they should do it more in conjunction with using Ilquaskas than Shaq. But you never know what that coach is going to do.

They are going to have major problems with Nelson if he keeps playing this way. Its not like they can have James playing a one man zone like they did last year. They will have to play them straight up and there are some very bad mismatches out there from the defensive perspective.

LeBron James is a loser for life. The Cavs will lose this year and Mr. Self-Important Crybaby A.ssholeface will go to the Nets or Knicks and waste at least 4 years before the franchise can build a decent team.

I hope he never wins a championship. Why? Because he is an idiot who shoots too many 3's and doesn't take the ball to the hole.

If they get to Orlando, you'll see a lot of Moon for the reasons you listed. Shaq, Moon and Parker were all signed with Orlando in mind...Nelson back to his normal self is very problematic for anyone and that is the one position where they have trouble defending. Rose was difficult and it gets no easier with Rondo and Nelson upcoming. I think Parker can match up with Carter and Moon can match up with Lewis/Carter.

The last 7 words of this post are perhaps the most nonsensical words ever typed on the internet.

When the pressure is on he typically settles for bad 3's instead of driving to the hole.

You're just a fanboi who wears rose colored glasses.

Lets just see if the guy can hit a game winner when it really matters. He's no Jordan...he's not even in Kobe's league.

He's not a leader.

I never argued your "he takes too many 3's" statement. He certainly does at times. He did have two and one 3 point plays late in the 4th yesterday driving to the hole. He drives too. You take the bad with the good with him...as a lifelong Cleveland fan, there's been more good than bad on the court with him.

This year is make or break for him, IMO. He gives off the narcissist douche/petulant child vibe and if they don't win he's going to bail to a garbage team in a major media market.

And durability is a concern. He's built like a mack truck but guys with his build tend to heal much slower than a Jordan/Kobe. He'll more than likely be average by the time he's 31.

I take crazy stands because I love to be right. I want this s.hit archived so I can torture you and other LeBron fans for years to come.

What are they saying about LeBron's injury today?

I don't know. I'm watching his presser and it seems like an attention whore injury.

There is a lot of truth here without question. Athletes of his stature are often what you describe. 24 year olds in general can be childlike....and with hundreds of millions of dollars there will certainly be a narcissist quality. What he is at 31 health wise is simply a guess. Karl Malone kept going with his mack truck build. I'm a Cleveland fan so I like him...that's it. He has for the most part lived up to expectations on the court 100 percent and has not been a disgrace off the court by any means. He confiscated the tape of the Xavier player dunking on him...he wore a Yankee hat to an Indian playoff game...wow...big stuff there. His game is not perfect by any means...you highlighted them, he has a much improved but still insonsistent jump shot that he goes to too much at crunch time. In the end, I'm only a LeBron sycophant because I'm a Cleveland fan. He makes their NBA team pretty good for the most part.

boston, orlando, west champions still to come. There's a good chance the loss will come and you will laugh.

His game is not perfect by any means...you highlighted them, he has a much improved but still inconsistent jump shot that he goes to too much at crunch time. In the end, I'm only a LeBron sycophant because I'm a Cleveland fan. He makes their NBA team pretty good for the most part.

boston, orlando, west champions still to come. There's a good chance the loss will come and you will laugh.[/quote]

Thank you.....A very reasonable way to look at the hype surrounding the guy. Cleveland fans have taken a terrible beating most of which isn't deserved.

Who knows how much the injury will factor into this next playoff round but the guy on TV at the end of the last game had asymetric shoulders which usually means some degree of dislocation. It wouldn't be the first time an injury was publicized differently than it is so he doesn't take a beating on it.
I hadn't heard that Labron had an elbow prob. prior to this.....was this an issue during the season?

[quote=docicu3;641321
I hadn't heard that Labron had an elbow prob. prior to this.....was this an issue during the season?[/QUOTE]

Not really...nor the playoffs. His jump shot was actually much better than normal in the Chicago series...he was well over 50 percent from 3 point range in the series. He often goes through World Cup soccer player theatrics when he gets a minor bump in a game. If there actually is more than a minor problem, dumb move to publicize it. I'm sure when LeBron drives for an easy hoop, Boston will make it a point to direct all contact to the right elbow.

Ruh roh.

you are correct. rose, rondo, nelson. only the name changes. point guards torch them.

Sorry, I'd love to take the Cavs seriously, but this game just isn't on the level. Say what you want, that play where LeQueen smacks the ball out of Baby's hands out of bounds and the ref points the Cavs way was just the final nail. This isn't going to be allowed to happen.

Then LeBron travels twice on one play and ends up on the line. It's terrible comedy. I'd really like to enjoy this series. Pierce clearly fouled by LeQueen on a drive down 96-93, no call.

And if you think that diva is actually hurt and didn't shoot that FT left-handed solely in order to play up this injury angle, you're a goddamn idiot and you should die as soon as possible.

Pierce had a tough second half. The celtics, defensively, had a tough second half.

It really is about pace isnt it? If the celts let them run, the cavs will beat them easily. They need to make this series as ugly as possible in order to have a shot.

My one request: Everyone, stop talking about the elbow. It's a built-in excuse that he gave himself for when he ****s up, and if he doesn't **** up, he gets the hero role. The drama queen gash clearly isn't hurt, or at least not enough to significantly alter his abilities. Stop it. No more.