Somewhere, after the Cleveland Cavaliers lost for the last time to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, David Stern was quietly weeping. The league’s new superman, Dwight Howard, with the help of his sharpshooting teammates, had thwarted David Stern’s dream matchup between Kobe and Lebron in the NBA Finals. It was stunning. The Cavaliers had the league’s best record and easily swept their first two round opponents yet they couldn’t stop Orlando’s onslaught of threes and the explosive play of Dwight Howard. What makes things worse was that around midseason, most of the NBA’s fans, players, coaches, water boys, you name it, felt that the finals were already predetermined: LA versus Cleveland. Even Nike felt so sure that the two poster Childs of their basketball division would go head to head on the NBA’s grandest stage that they released a commercial series of Lebron and Kobe as puppets living together and going through the trials of both of them having a huge competitive spirit. However, Lebron is at home and the rumor mill is churning once again. Was this the last straw for Lebron? Will 2010 be more realistic for teams in the hunt for Lebron than was once thought? It’s tough to say now, Bron-Bron still has another year in a Cavs jersey but Lebon’s deflating loss in the eastern Conference Finals is disappointing.
Stern should dry his eyes however. The NBA is looking grand. Why, with so many young stars making amazing things happen on the hard-court, there is no need to fret. This is a breath of fresh air about five years in the making. The league has just been getting better and better and the youth talent keeps flying in. Carmelo, Lebron, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwanye Wade, Rajon Rondo and many more have dazzled NBA fans with great displays of talent and on a consistent basis as well. Stern probably did dry his eyes, cracked open a beer, and smiled. I love this game and this year was magnificent. Classic even. I mean the first round series between the Bulls and Celtics had me biting my nails for sure, and I’m a Knicks fan! Speaking of the Knicks, how about the Lebron-Kobe MSG invasion. Those were two games for the ages. The whole season was just grand.
So, all you NBA fans out there pouting about Lebron being at home on the couch now, be quiet and enjoy the Finals. The Magic earned their spot in the finals and they do not deserve to be written off automatically.
The Above the Clouds Official Prediction: Magic win 4-3.
Analysis after each game will be done. Can’t Wait!
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