What just happened? Wait... Let me get up and shake myself up and try to snap myself out of this horrific reality. Not only is the season over, but to all of us out there who bleed wine and gold brace yourself because it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
I have never been so heart-broken in my entire life over a professional sports team and I'm sure many of you out there share my feeling.
THE PRESENT
How do we lose in 6 games to the Boston Celtics? LeBron James, the best basketball player in the entire world brings no fire, no pride, and at best half the intensity we are used to seeing from him. I've watched, listened to, or been to every single Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game this season and I have never seen such a weak ass performance and I hardly know what to say. Let's start in no other place but this pathetic performance we all just witnessed in Game 6 in Boston. Make no mistake Cavaliers fans this team stopped having fun, stopped joking around, stopped the pre-game festivities and most importantly quit on our beloved city, fans, and themselves. I dont care if we lose that last game by 30 points, but it says a lot to every single person who watched game 6 when the cavs give up with over a minute left on the clock by resorting to running out the clock instead of fouling. Reggie Miller didn't quit when he scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds?! The Indians are young, unproven, and quite frankly a pretty damn awful team and yet you don't seem them going out there on any night and losing because of their lack of fire and passion. How about Josh Cribbs?! The Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL and J Cribbs hits the field game in and game out giving everything he has. Where was the fire from LeBron? Everybody said "Oh, He'll come back in game 6 and have a 40 point explosion and lead this team to a game 7 back in Cleveland" and we see the same lackadaisical effort that we were all stunned by in game 5. I dont know what to say except Boston dictated the tempo and dictated the pace of play while Mike Brown sat back and got outcoached game after game by Doc Rivers. I could go on and on about how Antawn can't guard KG and Mo is too slow to keep up with Rajon. Just remember, the Celtics didn't have to change their entire scheme to keep up with the Cavaliers. They dictated everything while Mike Brown sat back and tried to catch up but what's done is done and it's on to bigger and more fearful things...
THE FUTURE
It has never ever ever crossed my mind that LeBron James would leave the Cleveland Cavaliers until this series against the Celtics. Where can LeBron go where he will have a better team? Sadly, the answer is anywhere. The New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls are all in much greater situations than the Cavaliers for one main reason... Cap space flexibility! Look at these numbers:
2010/2011......... 2011/2012.......... 2012/2013
Cleveland: $65.5.......... $38.9.......... $21.7
Miami: $24.3.......... $0.......... $0
NYK: $17.7.......... $0.......... $0
Chicago: $31.8......... $20.3.......... $13.3
The figures above are committed salaries over the next three years in Millions. What does it all mean? The Cavs sold out all of their options to win a championship this year and fell short. Next year, even being relieved of shaqs $20 Million dollar salary we are still $10 Million dollars over the projected $56.1 Million dollar salary cap meaning if LeBron resigns with us, he's stuck with this same shitty ball-less cast that can't make a clutch shot or perform in big time games to save their lives. Look at Miami and the Knicks numbers! $24 and $17 Million dollar committed salaries respectively and absolutely nothing after that. This is important because LeBron can not only go to a bigger market where he will become a much bigger global icon but can build HIS team from the ground up the way HE wants. He wants Coach Cal like I have been speculating, he has it. Anything he wants he can get, so why be stuck in Cleveland with players like no-show Mo, idk who I'm gonna be today Delonte, and I've never won anything since high school Antawn Jamison?!? I just want you to prepare yourself for the worst Cavs fans. The only thing that will keep LeBron here in Cleveland is loyalty, and judging from the performances we "witnessed" in games 5 and 6 I wouldn't say there's not all that much fire left.
I've never in my life felt that LeBron would actually leave Cleveland until taking all of the above information into consideration and to be honest, LBJ doesn't quite match up to Tim Tebow in terms of killer instinct and determination. Remember the infamous Tebow speech at UF after their crushing defeat? If LeBron leaves, within four-five years we will be right back to that team with the number 1 overall pick praying for another Akron prodigy... Hopefully that one will have the clutch gene required to perform in big games!
PREDICTION
LeBron James is leaving Cleveland this summer and not thinking twice about it. Starting over with his pieces, his coach, his team, and the bigger more glorified NBA market. It's pretty painful to think that after this year the team in Cleveland with the best chance of bringing a title is the Browns. Oh well... Life goes on as well as our pride, but for all of you out there who bleed Wine and Gold like I do this one really hits home where it counts.
