This, honestly, is the type of game I will try to remember if LeBron leaves the Cavs to sign with another team after July 1st, 2010. Despite excellent shooting (12-17 overall), this was a LeBron decides to be a score-first player game, like we’ve seen in the past when he plays at the Garden.
The idea of Bron showing off for a bunch of celebrities, including CC Sabathia, who despite never winning a championship anywhere other than NYC said to Doris Burke on the ESPN telecast that there’s “nothing like winning a championship in this city” is a pathetic one to me, laced with so many old media ideas about who and what matters that it’s embarrassing. After all, Penny Marshall was showcased in the crowd. Really?
Some of you know this, but I went to NYU and have an affinity for New York City, but the continual emphasis on its importance in a world that is becoming increasingly diverse thanks to the digital realm - a kid in Amherst, Ohio for example, can now know just as much about indie rock music as a kid going to shows in the East Village - is garbage. Let’s not forget that globally New York City is less meaningful than it was even 10 years ago because of the growth in India, China, and South America.
Also, back to reality, JJ Hickson started in place of Andy. I’m lukewarm on this move because Hickson isn’t a stretch the floor PF - he’s basically playing in the same position as Andy would, but at least his placement in the starting lineup prevented the Twin Towers look from rearing its ugly head…
Plus, Jamario Moon got playing time. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much during his 14 minutes, but the coaches need to use him more as a slasher and find a way for him not to catch the ball on the perimeter where he’s prone to jacking up outside shots that are not 3 pointers. Instead, find ways for him to finish at the rim, where he’s excellent.
Not much more to say at the moment because it’s hard to measure much of anything against the Knicks who were shooting 20% points less than the Cavs at the end of the 1st half (37% versus 57%). This is the definition of how you lose ball games. Sadly, I would have preferred to see Bron help his team get better instead of taking the one-man-show route (7 TO’s is unacceptable), but this was the Garden and the Cavs will let Bron get away with murder, in general. On the other hand, I don’t know how a team even tests their offense against the Knicks defense, which was just horrible.
Orlando on Wednesday. I don’t have high hopes for this game, but if the Cavs can find a way to win we’ll forget a lot of the negative things we’ve been writing about over the past week and a half. See you guys then.
