Oh, no! The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost three games in a row! Surely, this will ruin their chances in the playoffs because they have lost momentum going into the post-season.
That reaction has been heard throughout Cleveland in the last few days.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the last three games show how strong this roster is.
First, LeBron James, the sport’s best player didn’t play in any of these games, all close losses to the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic. The fact that the games could have gone either way right down to the end shows how talented the Cavs roster is.
The Bulls were playing for their playoffs lives, yet won because for some reason, Anderson Varajao thought he was a jump shooter at the end of the game. Oh, and by the way, the wine and gold’s second leading scorer, Antawn Jamison missed most of the fourth quarter with a bruised foot.
Still, Cleveland almost, and you could argue, should have won that game.
Against Indiana, Mike Brown decided to sit Jamison and Mo Williams in addition to James, and once again the Cavs were in the game to the end with little used Sebastian Telfair scoring 21 points and looking good doing it.
The likely MVP sat out again yesterday against Orlando along with Anthony Parker, and again the game wasn’t decided until the final few minutes. And Brown decided not to put Mo Williams and Jamison back into the game in the fourth quarter, when they obviously would have provided an impact.
All were close games, even though several key pieces of this team were missing. And don’t forget Shaquille O’Neal is still out with his thumb injury.
Also, the coaching staff learned something in these games, which may be even more important.
Mo Williams looked like the player he was in the 2008-09 regular season. He didn’t settle for jump shots. He took the ball to the basket, and when he did shoot from outside, his shot look much better than it did following his return from his shoulder injury.
Jamario Moon got a chance to play, and showed that he can be a contributor. And no offense to Jawad Williams, but if Mike Brown thought he was a better player than Moon, he is crazy.
Telfair looks like he can be a contributor next season if he is here. He looks like a player who can handle the ball and get to the basket to create things. He could take the minutes of Daniel Gibson next season because of his ability to initiate the offense.
Varajao should not be taking anything besides the layups he gets by slipping behind the defense when opponents double and triple team LeBron James.
When the playoffs start, Delonte West will become more and more important to this team the deeper it gets in the post-season. West can create his own shot, can handle the ball, and most of all, he can defend out on the perimeter.
Relax, Cavs’ fans! Just one more regular season game, and the playoffs start this weekend. Finally! The quest for a title is at hand.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 