As Slideshow's cousin reminds us here, we have to slow down a bit on the LeBron as Yahweh references. He might well be the second coming of his Airness, but he's not winning this year's Final. BDW made some great points on his earlier post, but I can't see LeBron willing his team to a championship over the Lakers. Thoughts:
1. The Eastern Conference is a poor barometer of dominance. Props to Bron-Bron for steering his boys to their record, but there is no way the Cavs only lose 2 homes games playing in the West. Take the last LA-Houston and Atl-Cavs games: The Lakers and Cavs each scored chump-change totals in the 1st quarter registering 15 and 16 points, respectively. The Lakers could never recover against a grinding Houston D, while the Cavs shrugged it off, recovered, and reminded the Hawks who was running the show.
2. I should be giving more credit to the Cavs for their consecutive series sweeps, but Detroit and Atlanta were glorified garbage this year. Detroit finished with a losing record and Atlanta finished with a high .500's winning percentage. On the flip side, the #8 seed Jazz out West, barring injuries, could have made a serious run on the conference and not be relegated to playing LA. Heck, the trade the Suns with any of the 5-8 seeds in the East and they're right up there with Orlando and not sitting at home waiting for 2010.
3. The Cavs can't match the Lakers in depth. Bron-Bron factors more into his team's play than Kobe because of his versatility, but the supporting cast will determine the outcome. I would be worried if my top subs are Wally Sczxvserwejuerkeiak and Joe Williams.
4. Lakers-Cavs comparison:
PG-Fisher vs. Williams: Williams
SG-Kobe vs. West: C'mon.....
SF- Ariza vs. LeBron: See note above, x3
PF-Odom vs. Varejao: Odom
C-Illgauskas vs. Gasol: Gasol
Bench: Lakers-When you can have 7 guys get at least 20 minutes and 2 get at least 18, playoff fatigue will not be a factor. The Cavs are a young and engergetic team, but in a tough game, benches are always a factor. The Cavs' starters got the lion's share of the minutes against the Hawks. That doesn't bode well for against a team that will actually play back.
5. Kobe shot 7-17 during the last game for a mortal-like 17 points. My dime says he scores 50 this game...
I was thinking along the same lines, the Cavs havent really been challenged yet, which isnt to say they arent good. We just cant really gauge exactly how good. I will say this though, as good and deep as the Lakers are, they are very underwhelming when it comes to being physical. I was really stoked in that game with Houston where they started getting bloody but it turned oot to be more of a tease than anything, they havent matched that intensity since.
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