I'm trying to figure out how people are doubting Cleveland. Last year's team was not nearly as good as this team yet that Cavs team came very, very close to beating the Celtics in the playoffs. Now Boston is older, KG is hurt and Posey is gone. So a Cleveland team that was just a few bounces of the ball away from beating Boston has gotten noticeably better while Boston got noticeably worse and people still don't think Cleveland is the better team? I think Cleveland going to the Finals is almost inevitable.
I think it's the officiating controversies that hold people back (especially me) from believeing Cleveland is a legit team. Our game against them on road showed, with the disgusting and pathetic calls on Yao. Once they finally let Yao step on the court for more than a minute in the fourth quarter, we went on a run. Though the referees stepped in again and obviously our run was stopped. There is also the fact that Cleveland plays in the east. For me, I see Cleveland as the Utah Jazz of the east, though with much more respectable players. I'm not only pointing at cleveland however, I'm pointing at almost all homecourt (which includes ours once in a while). It wasn;t coincidence that Celtics went on to 7 games against the likes of Hawks and Cleveland last season, nor was it coincidence that the Jazz were receiving phantom calls in game 4 and 6. It's a shame really, if Stern had done a better job, things would've turned out different. Now I just see referees as the main ingredient for a team's success. What's worse is they're still allowing flopping, which is arguably the best situation for a cheating ref and player. Since the player doesn't get fined, he can flop and get a call from the ref. For the ref, he is free to call fouls even though he is aware it was a flop, and simply blame it on the flopping player. Win-Win situation for cheating ref and player. No one gets fined.
I think they will do it...but the Rockets should have won that game played there.....the Refs screwed us. DD
Boston down...1 more to go. Cavs have virtually cinched home court advantage for the playoffs. They would have to lose their last 2 games at Indiana and at home to Philadelphia and the Lakers would have to win their last 2 hosting Memphis and Utah. It would be interesting to see what happens during the last game of the season when they face the 76ers if they have home court advantage locked up. The record would be the only thing to shoot for, but you don't want anybody getting injured in a meaningless regular season game either. Philly on the other hand could still be fighting for a better seed in the playoffs.
