Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head?

It's easy to draw kneejerk conclusions from a blowout over the defending champs in the final week of the regular season. I'm not going to do that. I will give the Cavaliers this: The path to the Larry O'Brien Trophy goes through Cleveland this year, plain and simple.

It's hard to say whether the Celtics are flat-out playing second fiddle to the Cavs now, especially since everyone knows the Celts aren't at full strength and probably won't be until the sometime in their second-round playoff series. Kevin Garnett is expected to chip the rust off in Boston's regular season finale against the Washington Wizards. Even after that, it'll take some time for the Celtics to find the rhythm and cohesiveness that led them to banner No. 17 last June.

I understand there was a reason the Cavs were dancing, strumming air guitars, and mugging for the ABC cameras during a 107-76 evisceration of the Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Not only were they proclaiming their superiority in the East, the Cavs also were celebrating the stranglehold they have on homecourt advantage in the NBA Finals if and when they get there. With their 65th victory of the season, Cleveland would have to lose both of its remaining games and the Lakers would have to win both of theirs for the Cavs to lose their grasp on home court. (If somehow all that happened, the Lakers would get the nod because they were 2-0 against Cleveland this season.) The way the Cavs play at home -- 39-1, for goodness sake -- it would be hard to imagine a more confident team going into a Game 7 against the Lakers in mid-June.

But ... and this is a significant caveat ... the Cavs are better than this. How can you be better than 39-1 at home? For one, you can show class -- not crass. You can show sportsmanship -- not gamesmanship. You can act like you're auditioning for a championship, not "Dancing With The Stars." I want to get LeBron, Mo Williams, and Delonte West in front of Bruno Tonioli for five minutes. They'd never pull stunts like this again.

The Cavs sure looked better than the Celtics on Sunday. A lot better. You can argue that LeBron can do whatever he wants on the bench during the fourth quarter of a blowout he'd so expertly orchestrated. He is the MVP in the league, hands down. His drive to the basket for a 3-point play -- dragging two defenders with him and getting fouled three times -- was awe-inspiring. So was the way he chased down a play from 60 feet and swatted Ray Allen's layup attempt away from the rim. He is an awesome talent at both ends of the floor, and there may very well be no one who can stop him and no team that can stop the Cavs.

But you don't show up the defending champs the way the Cavs did Sunday. You just don't. You celebrate when the season is over and when you are holding the gold-plated trophy on your home court. Not on the last Sunday of the regular season, in the midst of an eminently meaningless regular season game.

The Celtics will remember this. As to whether they're good enough to do anything about it, only time will tell. But I don't like it one bit. One of these days, somebody is going to take that air guitar and smash it over LeBron's head.

Faulguy Reputation: 80 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 26, 2006	Posted on: April 12, 2009 6:41 pm Score: 35 Sounds like a bitter Celtics fan to me. nm. nm. [ Reply to Comment ]
sweetness88 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 25, 2006	Posted on: April 12, 2009 6:45 pm Score: 59 I completely agree The Cavs act like they have won something and all their lack of class is gonna haunt them when they get humiliated by the Lakers [ Reply to Comment ]
Maynard1121 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 21, 2009	Posted on: April 12, 2009 6:46 pm Score: 31 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? This is a team showing off their chemistry, letting the world know just how great they are together, whether on the court or riding the bench. ugh. so bitter. I don't know what you have against the Cavaliers, Berger... particularly LeBron... but you need to get a life. [ Reply to Comment ]
all4thecleve Reputation: 8 Level: Amateur Since: Dec 19, 2008	Posted on: April 12, 2009 6:47 pm Score: 100 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? There's some truth in what you're saying, that it seems like the Cavaliers were not taking the game seriously in the end. But this is a situation that you can see whenever a team is winning by a large margin. It is a bit juvenile, but don't get angry at James or any of the Cavaliers. They are genuinely enjoying the game, are playing incredibly well as a unit (despite injuries throughout the season), and are enjoying each other. Let James air guitar if he wants - when any team can rest all their starters during a rout of the reigning champions, it's ok to joke around a bit. They've earned that right. [ Reply to Comment ]
Bestbuck36 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 6, 2006	Posted on: April 12, 2009 6:52 pm Score: 116 GET OVER IT! The Cavs are having fun. How many Cleveland players have been in the news this year or the past 5 for that matter? Its sport. They are having fun. If your team cant win and have fun whats the sense in playing the game? Either way deal with it. Quit whining about "class" and "showing people up". They're doing what they do on a nightly basis against every opponent, not just Boston. You fracking crybabies in the NorthEast can jump off a bridge for all most of sports fans care. You spend more money, get more media time and undoubtedly get the most "favorable calls" in your sports games. I hope Cleveland, Orlando, Miami dance all over your teams for the next decade! [ Reply to Comment ]
Ken Berger Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 28, 2008	Posted on: April 12, 2009 7:10 pm Score: 71 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? I have nothing against the Cavs or LeBron. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a 2,000-word story about how great he is. But when he does dumb, unnecessary stuff, I have to write about that, too. [ Reply to Comment ]
PghBrownsFan Reputation: 91 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 21, 2007	Posted on: April 12, 2009 7:14 pm Score: 83 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? Dude it's the home of the Rock n Roll HOF. Get with the program these guys are gellin' like no other team in Cleveland History and this city is Lovin' it, no matter what you haters say. So Rock On CAVS. I hope to see these guys mugging for the cameras all the way to the Finals and then some. [ Reply to Comment ]
edwach Reputation: 57 Level: Pro Since: Apr 9, 2008	Posted on: April 12, 2009 7:15 pm Score: 29 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? Please jackazz, look at the tape of the celtics when they beat the crap out of the cavs in boston. Rondo was up Pearce's butt. NOW STFU! Do you know how badly cleveland needs a championship?? [ Reply to Comment ]
dantheman3625 Reputation: 19 Level: Amateur Since: Apr 12, 2009	Posted on: April 12, 2009 7:16 pm Score: 105 Deal with it Berger Don't take the acts of the Cavs so seriously-live and let live. LeBron and Co. can do as they please with the basketball they have been playing and if thats not enough then take into consideration how dull other players act on the bench when it is a GAME they are playing. This is meant to be entertainment and fun, not serious 100% of the time. You can downplay the intensity of the Cavs on the bench, you tear up their fun, but you can't disagree with the chemistry of this team and the pleasure they get out of eachother day in and day out. This is a championship-caliber team with the best team chemistry I have ever seen on the NBA basketball court. And if it displeases you then keep it to yourself because nobody else wants to hear your cries about immaturity. Be mature and let the Cavs enjoy the game. [ Reply to Comment ]
330fanvia412 Reputation: 75 Level: Pro Since: Feb 20, 2007	Posted on: April 12, 2009 7:22 pm Score: 35 Will someone smash the guitar over LeBron's head? Hey Berger...BL W ME!!! It's refreshing to se a real TEAM that has fun playing the game TOGETHER. It would have been different if they were on the road but they were representing at HOME!!! So get your panties out of the bunch that they are obviously in sit back and WITNESS!!! Word. [ Reply to Comment ]

Ken Berger

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