Let me start this off by saying that the Cleveland Cavaliers are good. Actually good is an understatement. They are very good. They have a once-in-a-lifetime superstar LeBron James having a mind-boggling statistical season. They have a second option in Mo Williams who can score on his own and knock down the open jumper. Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak (I almost spelled that right without checking but I missed the first "Z"), and Zydrunas Ilgauskas can all space the floor and hit the open jumper. Ben Wallace and Anderson Varajeo are both outstanding rebounders and play great defense. And Joe Smith was a solid pickup who can play some minutes at the "4" and spread out the defense with his mid-range shooting ability. So it's obvious the Cavs can play; my issue is with something completely different.
The Cavs have been performing these little cute acts where the team essentially acts as pantomimes. LeBron sets the "camera" on a timer before jumping back into the picture. Four or five Cavs huddle around Gibson as LeBron tries to "start the fire" after Gibson hits a three. All this is just ridiculous and I think it's cheesy and not really all that funny. I'm all for a good celebration. I just don't like stuff like this that is so premeditated and still not very funny. And another thing... I'm happy the Cavs "love" each other as ABC announcers Mike Breen and Mark Jackson pointed out many times during the broadcast, but do we really think that is the reason they are 60-13 on the season? I mean I could assemble a team of four of my buddies and I and I'm pretty sure we would go 0-82. And we get along great and love each other. I'm a big believer in the general rule that winning creates chemistry. There are obvious exceptions (I'm looking at you T.O. and Starbury) but in general winning cures all. And the Cavs are winning at an incredible rate and it's because of their great team and not because they all take little pretend pictures together or huddle around Boobie Gibson's fake fire. But the media will jump at any little cliche and use it as a if it's the gospel. Oh well, what does it matter? We shall find out in June when the Lakers and Cavs meet up in what should be an incredible NBA Finals.
(Tip of the hat to Andrew... This one is for you buddy.)