And now the fun really begins

What a night, eh?

Anyway, before I go off to figure out who’s going to win these next two series, let’s take a look at history.

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The repercussions from what we witnessed in Boston on Thursday night are going to be felt across the NBA for months to come, and I think you can make the case that that one single game could shape the league for its next era.

Overstatement? I don’t think so.

(I will preface everything to follow with this: I do not know what LeBron James is going to do as a free agent and neither does anyone else but when he talked about “his team” having a game plan, he was not referring to the Cleveland Cavaliers).

So let’s go on the premise that James is going to leave the Cavs after seven seasons and given the way things ended, and the fact he’s failed to deliver a title, I don’t think that’s a stretch.

His move, should he make it, is going to cause seismic shifts in the league and not only in Cleveland and wherever he next calls home.

For the Cavs, do you think they’ll be anything more than a run-of-the-mill franchise for years to come, even if they get 10 cents on the dollar in a James sign-and-trade. Gone, I bet, are the sellout crowds that gave them a decided home court advantage, gone is any kind of intimidation factor or swagger. They will be no better, or no worse, than, say, the Raptors.

Now, let’s say James throws everyone a curve and doesn’t go to New York (and why he’d want to join that sorry lot still mystifies me). What do the Knicks do with all the money they’ve hoarded? Give it Chris Bosh and hope he becomes a true leader in the biggest media market in the world and does he take it, knowing that he’ll be eaten alive at the first sign of weakness in his play? Do they go after Joe Johnson and let him shine in the regular season and disappear should they even make the playoffs.

And what happens to the team that wins the James sweepstakes? Do they automatically become good enough to challenge Orlando in the East or the Lakers in the West? And how do rivals of that team react when they have to make moves to match the addition of James?

I’m telling you, that elimination – and utter capitulation in the final two games of the series by Cleveland – is an era-shifting moment in NBA history.

And we won’t know for months the breadth and depth of what it’s done.

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Oh and wasn’t it fascinating when the Cavs all but quit on that game, standing around in utter bewilderment in the final two minutes or so, not fouling, looking askance at the bench, seemingly disinterested in even trying to mount some miracle comeback?

That was shocking in itself and an indictment of everyone connected with the team on the floor, the coaches and players alike.

Shocking in many regards.

Kinda looked like they didn’t even want to be there, didn’t’ it?

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Last kick at the mail can, folks. Send the queries here and we’ll take a look this afternoon and tomorrow.

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I’m on my traditional early-morning pilgrimage in search of the morning quad vente non-fat latte (Hi, Starbucks at Hurontario and Harbord!) when news comes on the radio that Sidney Crosby has eschewed an invitation to play for his country at the world hockey championships.

Who’s he think he is, Steve Nash?

I’m sure there’ll a huge hue and cry over that, right?

Right?

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There was a question, or a comment, during the in-game blog thingy last night (attendance well over 700, best of the post-season and thanks for that) about Doris Burke, who was doing the sideline stuff for ESPN.

To me, she’s the best new voice to come on the national basketball scene in years, insight, good questions and an intonation and delivery that makes it easy to listen to her.

And when I made that point, someone asked where she’d come from.

Well, she was a standout player at Providence and is a member of that school’s Hall of Fame and has been working in and around professional basketball on TV since she did WNBA games in New York in 1997.

It’s not real often that we get a relatively new face and voice on national broadcasts who aren’t former NBAers and maybe that’s why she stands out even more.

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What are you doing at noon?

Well, if you’re me, you’ll be here answering questions for an hour or so about the two conference finals and whatever Raptors stuff pops into your little minds.

Feel free to join in.

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May as well get this started now: The Mighty Yankees open spring training Sunday, we hope. I’m sure you’ll all be anxious to know what kind of squad we’ve got after the first workout.

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You know me and speculation about off-season free agency and moves the Raptors should or should not make and how I really don’t revel in it, right?

Well, here’s a change and it’s kind of out there and I don’t think it can happen but what the hell.

One of Bryan’s first calls this summer should be to Ray Allen and he should dangle a three-year, full mid-level contract in front of him.

Guy makes big shots, has been in big games and is precisely the kind of old head I think this team really needs.

Now, there are three rather significant problems with that idea so don’t think it’s going to happen for sure.

The first would be that, given his druthers, I’m sure Allen would prefer to remain in Boston and I have no idea if the Celtics feel the same.

The second would be that to eat up the mid-level exception on him – as opposed to a sign-and-trade deal for maybe a package of Antoine Wright and, say, Jarrett Jack or Reggie Evans – would cut into money available for Toronto to sign other bits and pieces, although there are always trades and draft picks to take into consideration.

And the third is whether, if there’s no real interest in Boston, Allen would have any interest in joining a less-than-glamourous team that’s been out of the playoffs for two years.

Anyway, something for you to think about.

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One last kick at the Cavs?

How’d that whole Shaquille O’Neal thing work out?

Not so well, eh?

Didn’t think it would.

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Comments

[Dallas]

"Kinda looked like they didn’t even want to be there, didn’t’ it?"

Zing.

[Joe T.]

Two things, Doug:

First, one good thing about LeBron James now being out of the playoffs is that Chris Bosh's tweets won't get any more media attention (outside of Toronto). It'll be James, James, James for a few months...

And second, do you think Shaq is done? Or is there another playoff team he can bog down next year? Utah, perhaps?...

[Blake Kennedy]

Trading Jarrett Jack and stuff for Ray Allen, leaving us a starting lineup of Calderon, Allen, Turkoglu, Bosh and Bargnani? What, Doug - we were the 21st worst defense of all time last year, that wasn't good enough for you? Shooting for #1?

[Peter]

Doug, if I could sum up my feelings on the Celts-Cavs series in just a few words, I'd say this: the Boston Celtics just whooped Lebron James and a bunch of other guys.

[Jerry]

Why would LeBron not join Wade in Miami? That woluld give him a real shot at a championship or two.

It is not his fault that they did not put a good supporting cast behind him. This proves once again that one great player cannot win a playoff series all by himself.

Whoever thought that Shaq was the answer did not take a very good look at Pheonix last year.

[Phil]

Maybe Cleveland should have played Lebron in that last Chicago game of the regular season after-all, to get him ready for the playoffs?
.
Now that we know empirically that Lebron, plus a pretty good supporting cast, cannot win the big prize, a possible next question might be, can Lebron win with only himself and whichever of the other superstars is willing to play second fiddle to Lebron -- half a Lebron -- surrounded only by low paid stooges?

[robguy]

DOug - thanks again for the great work in the post season.

Can you imagine the angst around here if the Raptors had self destructed that way even if they made the 2nd round of the playoffs - you would have been inundated with people saying the Raptors need a true superstar like LeBron to lead...

Good on the Cavs - looks like they should not have taken a few games off in the late season - especially with their roster changes. Perhaps they should have wished for the Raptors to get through as their opponent to provide a better tuneup in the playoffs. the karma was perfect and it did come around indeed...

Cavs did not look much better than the Raps in that ill-fated game against the Bulls. The Cavs layed down as well as the Bulls did against the Nets too - I absolutely love this!!!

[Stephen]

Chicago and Miami have an inside track on LeBron more than the Knicks. Miami because they can add him to Wade (who LeBron likes, and Wade's already used to sharing the spotlight with Shaq), and Chicago because LeBron / Rose / Noah is good enough to build around and they have an arena that isn't making as much money as it should be,

And no one's going to bug Crosby because he already played in the Olympics this year (and it's very rare for second-round eliminated players to play in the Worlds anyway; I'm actually surprised Messier even extended the invitation). Playing the Worlds during an Olympic year is the height of stupidity anyway.

[gdr]

I cannot believe the way the CAVS just quit at the end of the game. It was totally amazing too see a professional sports team just roll over and not even fight to the end. Says something about their "leader" and coach...

[N]

If you look at the teams of the top 3 (LBJ, Wade, Bosh), I think the Raptors will be in the best shape should all 3 teams leave. Not sure how you can say the Cavs are at the same level as the Raps, I think they will be MUCH worse off. Outside of Mo Williams, their team is like a retirement home with Shaq, A Parker, Big Z, Jamison. The Heat without Wade will just be a whole lot of cap space who will then overpay for 2nd or 3rd tier talent ala the Pistons. Bosh, Booze, and Amare won't think about the Heat without Wade. Raps actually have a young star ready to move into the 4 spot with Bargnani and Amir (probably resign). All we need to do is get a Defensive C, solve the PG issue and grab a SG who can creat their own shot, and we will be okay. I feel much worse for Cav and Heat fans, as they have much more to lose.

[Ted S.]

Doug,

Which situation would you prefer: Cleveland with LBJ walking and no S n' T or Toronto with Bosh walking and no S n' T? Or if you prefer, give both teams 10 cents on the dollar for talent lost.

[Mike]

Hey Doug,

So for the final 4 teams:
18 of the 20 players are Americans. Of the 2 remaining, 1 of course is Canada's Nash, a 2-time MVP who played 4 years in the NCAA.

Last year final 4 teams:
16 of the 20 players are Americans. 2 others are Brazilian.

So we're left with Pau Gasol and Pietrus as the only 2 Euro's who started the last 2 springs deep in the playoffs.

SO yeah, having 3 Euro starters on our team does seem like we're trying to go against the grain of what wins.

Blogger's note: My good God, can we give this crap a rest?

[Mr. Cook]

Doug, I'm a fan of the 'game' during the playoffs so I had no horse in that series other than an underlying, Toronto-esque dislike for the Celtics. However, the team that played better won and that's what the playoffs are for. The one disappointment for me was that I really, really hoped AP would win a ring--if there's one guy in the league that 'deserves one' for being a classy fellow I think you'd agree it's him (and Nash). That said, do you keep up with AP enough to ask him in a week or so how the emotional rollercoaster went, maybe garner some insight into the Cavs organization looking forward?

[Lawrence]

Shaq aside, we knew going in that having Parker, Moon and a former TJ Ford backup in your rotation is problematic.

We knew that, right?

The superstar could've been anybody - Chris Bosh even - and it wouldn't have been enough.

[graham]

well one thing we know for certain, nothing, nothing is going to happen until the first domino of free agency falls into place: step up LeBron.
Wade and LeBron wow. Worth remembering that Shaq in his prime and the best player on the planet at the time, Kobi, failed to beat the Detroit Piston no names and cast offs -- they only became intimidating after that win.
Message for the Raptors: let CB$ go, get the best sign and trade you can in a market that post LeBron will be suddenly inflated and build a group of no names and cast offs who actually want to play as a team both ends of the court and play every minute of every game at full passion -- that I can watch and live with. No more prima donnas and guys who can't play because they have a hang nail.

[Heath]

Great that you brought up Shaq. Failure in Phoenix. Failure in Cleveland. Think it's time to become a full time sherrif.

[Stavros]

A good point about the potential of a new era in the NBA, but what about the passing of an old one… was this Shaq’s last game?

[Kelsie]

Hey Doug, I don't think you should preclude LeBron from joining an Orlando or Dallas team. Playing with Howard would be a recipe for continued success and they have the big pieces to foster a trade like this unlike those teams that created all this cap room but have nothing to offer in a sign and trade to ensure these players get super max money.

As for Ray Allen, I agree he would be a GREAT pick-up but where is the attraction to come to a Raps team with no direction, no long term vision upstairs or team identity? If they lose CB they are a lower tier lottery team and Ray will able to get a sweeter deal (maybe for slightly less $) with a real contender.

[doug]

some people on this blog to me still don't get it...LeBron operates within his own framework on the court, a system which works for him....until he is willing to be coached and truly learn the game his career is going to be defined by playoff conclusions such as this one, so for him to match-up with Wade would not work out, as Wade could handle it, LeBron would be lost....unless he allowed Wade to "coach" him like Garnett does to his teammates...LeBron in baseball parlance is a thrower, he needs to learn to be a pitcher

interesting post-game interview with Garnett, he touched on what I have been saying about Rondo all year long...that there was a problem with chemistry with him, but they have been working on it and getting results ...it showed all season long, as the Celts to me weren't getting old they were operating as a few different entities and Rondo was to blame...again a example, talent is one thing, to mesh and play as a team is another and the biggest step for guys to take...kudos to Rondo as in this series he was getting his mates involved in the game in scoring position..

[Rob.V]

Completely disagree!!

Mike Borwn will be fired (as I believe he should be), Lebron will stay in Cleveland... and life in the NBA will go on. 2010 free agency will be the same as Y2K... a complete bust.

The C's we're the better team in this series, that's it... nothing more!!!

Antoine Jamieson, Moon, and even though we love him (Anthony Parker) looked liek a deer caught in the headlights last night. Shaq, is well, um over!.. and Mike Brown shouldn't have gotten away from JJ Hickson and more Varejao.

When LBJ put's up 27 points, 19 boards and 10 assists... there is NOTHING wrong with his game. The turnovers don't bother me because he touches the ball on every freakin possession so when it's 1 player vs 5 Celtics on the floor it's bound to happen.

It's crazy! to hear everyone go on about LBJ's performance in this series because "championship" teams pick eachother up. Where were the rest of the Cav's in game 5 at home when LBJ stumbled? Sure, Mo Williams arrived in the first half last night... 3 games too late!!

Clevelands role players were simply not good enough. If a team cannot win when your star gives you 27-19-and 10 bloody assists... the rest of that team is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!

Boston has 3 HOFamers, along with the best PG in the league when he's right, and a cast of others who have won the championship before. They simply know how to win big games.

Going into the season (with the addition of Sheed) I had Boston as the NBA champs (as did many others), this is actually not that surprising.

I said this last season, had Garnett not gotten injured the C's would arguably would have repeated as NBA champs, yeah.. he's that good! Garnett looks about as healthy as we've seen him the past 2 season and that team is starting to believe once again.

All I can say is that Vince Carter better be ready because he (like the Jamieson's and Parkers of the NBA) will be treading into unchartered waters and Boston will not be shy about roughing him up (which is how to defend Vince 101). HWSNBN simply cannot revert to wince! Carter at ANY point in that series. If he does, Orlando will lose too!

The next series should be great!!!

[John]

I obviously do not understand how the salary cap works... I keep reading that if Bosh walks away, and Raps get nothing, the Raps are over the cap. But their salary would be around 46 million wihtout CB's salary and the cap is projected at around 56 million. Doesnt that give them around 9 million to spend? What am I missing?

[joe]

Great points this morning Doug. Couldn't agree more that the manner in which Cleveland just quit the last two games leaves the door wide open for a Lebron departure. The landscape of the NBA will be completely different come September. I also like your suggestion regarding Ray Allen. I've always enjoyed him as a player and he'd perfect to help tutor/mentor Demar.

Now on to more important things. Orlando or Boston. Can the Celtics contain Orlando's torrid 3 point shooters?

[Mkut]

Why would Ray Allen sign with the Raps now, he still has something left in the tank. The Raps will obviously go after him in two years when he is injury riddled and about to retire.

[Jacques]

Doug, do you know who's going to sit in for the Raps on Tuesday night? if not, who would you throw in there for good luck?

Blogger's note: I don't and I'd probably make the rookie go and sit on the stage

[Juan]

I'm surprised at the level and enthusiasm of the piling on that is happening with LeBron right now. I for one don't believe that arguably the best player in the game suddenly "choked" or "lost his competitive fire".
I think there is way more to the injury than he has been letting on that will one day come to light. I will not be surprised when we find out he's been playing with a severely damaged elbow. You can't tell me that he all of a sudden turned into a guy who can't dirbble or hit a free throw. Not possible. Period.
And by the way last I checked Mo Williams is not Scotty Pippen and Anderson Verajao is not Dennis Rodman.