Cavaliers Won, Lakers Nothing

I sat up late last night watching the big game. Now, the media guys and the ball players will all collectively tell you that this was just another game. Political things like this are an accepted practice and I suppose there is no harm in allowing these bits of deception to continue doesn’t hurt anyone or anything. However, since I am but a fan with a pen, let me tell you that there was HUGE implications in that game.

First, the Cavs lost both games to LA last year, and we all knew it. It was on the shoulders of the Cavaliers as the moved closer to the Finals, and would not be in the least bit surprised if in an honest moment, LeBron and company would admit that they were not as focused for Orlando as they could have been as they were looking over the top of Dwight Howards head at Kobe looming in the background.

Next, the common media reaction to the Christmas day ass kicking was that the Lakers were not focused and didn’t truly take the game that seriously, “But come January, there will be hell to pay!!!” Well, January came, and just as the game was about to begin, the Cavaliers lost their starting point guard for a month. That is pretty demoralizing. However, instead of laying down, the Cavs fought back against adversity to begin the game on a 0-9 start.

Yea, I admit it… I thought that the game was going to be a route at the end of that run. Especially when Coach Brown didn’t call a time out to get the guys in check. “What the hell is he waiting for? 0-15??”

Let me hate on Kobe for a moment here, because I just can’t start my first sports blog and not bash on the ‘Kobe is the best in the game’ guys. When it gets to around the beginning to middle of the third quarter of any Lakers game I have seen since Kobe joined them, it almost like its scripted out that the announcers need to remind us that Kobe is good. We know guys. We know all about the man. Stop telling us about his determination and his will to win. “Kobe is staring down Parker, his will is too strong!”

It reminds me of an all-time great phone call on the Jim Rome Show where the caller was annoyed by the Andy Petite analysis. “Andy Petite, with the eyes of a champion…” He then went on to blast Petite by saying, “Andy Petite, with the eyes of a goat…”

So there I am watching the game, and the time comes for the Kobe ego buff session and all I can do is not to laugh and wake the family up as the words, “Kobe, eyes of a goat, stare down Parker, he will not be de-neeighed!”

I did, however, find it funny how towards the end of the game, the Lakers switched up the defense and put Kobe on LeBron. When James spun around and saw Kobe on him, it had to make him smile inside. Dude, you are good when guarding guys shorter than you, but I am bigger, stronger, faster, and younger than you. You really need to call over your buddy Artest to handle this freight train.

Worthy notes (from ESPN.com):

• The Cavs have won five of their last six home games against the Lakers and swept the overall season series with Los Angeles.
• James has won seven of his last nine head-to-head meetings against Kobe Bryant.
• Kobe Bryant finished with 31 points and became the youngest player to reach 25,000 points for a career.

Congratulations Kobe. Please hold that honor until LeBron gets there to take that from you.

<- Wore Out! (Nice finger though…)

 

 

 

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