Damnit....

I feel like the USA just lost to the USSR in the 1981 Winter Olympics Hockey.  Where's the miracle?  I'm pretty sure Rose's shot was supposed to go in.  Can we get another take on that?  Somebody messed up the score in that game.  Did that really happen?

Yes, sadly.  Yes it did.

It takes a big man to admit he was wrong... fortunately I wasn't technically wrong.  I was merely rooting for an outcome, not predicting or guaranteeing one.  Alright, I was wrong about the 7 game series.... there's still about a 4% chance that I'll be right, but for all intents and purposes, I was wrong about that.  It's a shame.. the NBA could have milked a couple million more dollars out of the networks.

Can we say it now?  Is it okay?  Can we finally admit this truth, because it is true, though nobody wants to admit it?  It's time to move on.  The first step of that... no.. let's say like the fifth step of that, or maybe the final step.. is admitting this one, devastating truth:

I'm Sorry.....

LeBron James, is the best player in the NBA, and will win a NBA championship this year... and probably for years to come.  And he will not be wearing a Cavs jersey while doing it.

It's sad.  It really is.  He still acts the same as he did on the Cavs.. his sh*t talking... his crying to the refs... his unnecessary celebrations... but I just don't like them anymore.  What is he doing now that he didn't do on the Cavs?  Taking over.  End to end.  He can't be stopped.  LeBron took it to the hole last night, finished with his left hand over Noah, and when he didn't get the "and one" foul call (though he wanted it), you could see him saying "I don't want your foul," or something like that.  Nasty.

Then, he shuts down the best young point guard in the game.  6'9" 280 lbs LeBron guarding 6'3" 190 lbs (soaking wet) Derrick Rose.  That's just stupid... in the complimentary way.  Do you know how hard it is to guard a point guard when you're not one?  Very hard.  At every level.  LeBron is the only player in the NBA now, and probably in history, that can guard, successfully, every position on the floor.  1 through 5, LeBron can do it.  It sucks.  He's really, really good.  He's the best.

Dan Gilbert's words are all but eaten.  The preseason victory party finally has it's reason.  The Heat are going to win the championship.  I might not watch the NBA for 5 years.  That's probably not entirely true, but I want it to be.  Just because they're winning, doesn't mean it's the "right way."  They still cheated the system.  They cheated the Matrix.  They chose the red pill... maybe it was the blue one.... either way, they broke the norm.  We don't like that.  That's why it's the norm.  Because that's what everyone is supposed to do.  They didn't.

The Celtics started it, but didn't completely cheat.  They may have tanked to get a lottery pick, the stole an aging star in Garnett, and stole (but gave up a lottery pick.. that turned into Jeff Green.. who ironically is on the Celtics now) Ray Allen.  But these were trades.  These are the off-season activities we as fans like.  Trades.  That's why there's an ESPN "Trade Machine," not an ESPN "Free Agent Superteam Machine."

The Knicks did it post-Heat, but still didn't completely cheat.  They signed Amare in the off-season, the first free agent signing, so not too much to feel bad about.  LeBron could have gone there, would still be hated, but  not as much as he is now.  Then the Knicks gutted their roster, gave it all to the Nuggets (who did better in the playoffs) for Carmelo.  Two pieces, and they'll have to wait another year for their third piece... and hope beyond hope that Amare's body doesn't fail him.


Let's hope that this is the "heartbreak" that every young team has to go through.  Like Jordan's Bulls, Isiah's Pistons, Kobe's Lakers, LeBron's Cavs (damn!)... they all went through that "close, but not good enough" phase.  Let's hope the Bulls and the Thunder are going through that right now.  They built their teams the "right way"- through the draft, and strategic signings.  They developed their own players, made some timely trades and signings, and created a deep, balanced team.  Unfortunately, they're just too young right now (I hope).

Let's just hope that Dirk continues to be unguardable.  He's going to have a 3 inch advantage over LeBron, and has the luxury of being an amazing jump-shooter.  I don't count on it.. I want the Mavericks to win, but I'm not getting my hopes up...