Games 3 and 4: Varying Levels of Focus

In a span of three days, the Cavs have given the public strong arguments as to why they are championship contenders and why they are not.

In Game 3, notably after an embarrassing loss by the Cavs at home, Cleveland couldn't miss and Boston couldn't breathe. It was a dominant performance in a game the Celtics had every reason to want to win. Then, during LeBron's likely normal nap time, the Cavs forgot to wake up on a Sunday afternoon game and refused to choke the life out of the wobbly Celtics. That is the one step Cleveland has yet to take in becoming a title contending team. They beat the Celtics in a game Boston WANTED but they haven't yet beaten Boston in a "must-win" game for THEM. There's a difference.

I'll spare you the actual adjustments that could be made because they're only medium important. I'm coming at this series, and whole playoffs for that matter, with a wait and see attitude.

So far, these playoffs have been unpleasant to watch...especially when compared to last years' first two round turbo sweeps (which Orlando perfected this year). Last year's team started LeBron James and Mo Williams, one and a half All Stars. The rest of the starters were Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. I've said this a million times and I'll say it again, that lineup isn't really that good. That team was stealing games with hustle and defense (and LeBron) and covering up for their lack of real talent off the bench. They played such a fun brand of basketball because they knew they couldn't coast but they had such a unique player in LeBron that when his good vibes were flowing, they blew teams out of the water. Once Orlando figured out that they matched up perfectly with the Cavs and that they could win games with LeBron playing almost flawless games, it was basically over. Once a super talented team realizes it doesn't have to scramble to stop LeBron, they can just play. The Cavs couldn't make the Magic panic last year no matter what they did.

So, back to the psychology...

This is the culminating year of the perceived preordained championships LeBron is supposed to win. They've been waiting for the Orlando/L.A. back-to-back series for a while now. When analysts say about veteran teams that the regular season bores them, I usually say, "Ahhh shut up, they're old and they suck."

Well now I'm coming back to that. This Cavs team has no beef with the Celtics anymore. If they did, don't you think they would try in the playoffs? In the playoffs so far, the Cavs have given full effort for one game in each series and they won by almost 30 in both. Nobody likes watching a team that isn't trying and it seems distasteful.

I don't know if this lack of effort is concerning or a problem...I don't even really know why it's happening. I've never been that good at anything or in the position that the Cavs are in right now. That's why all I can do is wait. I can argue with poor substitutions or strategies but it's hard for me to be critical of effort for some reason. Ultimately, it's their team and they can do what they want. I don't know what is going on with this team so all I can do is trust that they know what they are doing. I personally believe that Cleveland has the best team and will eventually show it consistently.

Basically, I have no predictions. We're in uncharted waters here. Most of the time, when a team wins the title, it doesn't come without a period of doubt. Here's to hoping this is that period.