The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business quickly and coldly in the first round of the NBA playoffs, dismissing the Detroit Pistons in four straight, with only one game really in doubt going into the fourth quarter. It was simply a case of a very good team beating one that has seen better days. Don’t read anything more into the sweep than that.
The next round should and will be a little tougher as the wine and gold will take on either the Miami Heat or the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat has Dwayne Wade, so you know it will be a more difficult series because he’s as competitive as LeBron James. The Hawks gained a lot of experience last season when they took the Celtics to seven games in an opening round series. Both these teams are hungry, unlike the Pistons.
Let’s face it; the fight is gone from the Piston veterans, particularly after a disappointing season for them. Tayshaun Prince is hurting, Chauncey Billups is in Denver, and if the Cavs were interested in signing Rasheed Wallace as a free agent this summer, they may not be now after his disappearing act in the series.
Don’t read much more into the Cavs’ sweep than this…The Pistons are a below .500 team, and a team with the best regular season in the league should sweep them. Detroit got a lot of credit because of their past success, but really, the Detroit Pistons are not a real good basketball team.
The Cavs will have to continue to play better as the playoffs continue if they want to reach their ultimate goal, which is hoisting the Lawrence O’Brien Trophy. Mo Williams has to do a better job in stopping the penetration of opposing point guards. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varajao have to be better on the defensive end, although to be fair, Detroit’s big men took a lot of perimeter jumpers. There is room for improvement for the wine and gold.
The good news is that this team isn’t satisfied, and we know that because of their leader, LeBron James. James has made a title his goal from the beginning of the season, and his teammates have all bought in. He isn’t about to take his foot off of the pedal at this point. I’m sure that the Cavs will have some tough practices to keep their edge in the week or so layoff before the next series.
By the way, the time off is a good thing. Even if the Hawks-Heat series goes seven games, which seems like a good possibility, the NBA will start the next round probably with one day off for the winner. Therefore, the fatigue and emotional factor of a seventh game will far outweigh the rustiness the Cavaliers will have. Also, the time off for the Cavs will be an advantage as the playoffs continue.
My feeling is Game 1 will be next Tuesday night at the Q.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 