| Business As Usual Authored by Chris Kreider - April 23, 2009 - 8:22 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
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“It’s time for business,” Mo responded when asked why he was rocking the formal accessory.
The Cavs have indeed been getting down to business over the course of the 2008-09 season, setting a franchise record for wins and coming within an eyelash of tying the unthinkable 40-1 home mark set by Larry Bird’s World Champion Boston Celtics about 20 years ago. This team is focused. Don’t be fooled by the pregame photo shoot, the sideline dancing or the infinite number of handshake routines the Cavs perform during the course of a game. LeBron and his crew have their eyes on the prize and are proving it early in the playoffs. To keep pace, however, the Cavaliers will need to continue to overlook several potential distractions – distractions that are inevitable come playoff time.
The first potential distraction facing the Cavaliers is themselves. To put it simpler, the Cavs are the mullet of the NBA. If you aren’t familiar with this hillbilly hairdo, refer to David Spade’s locks in the movie Joe Dirt and you’ll completely understand. They’re “business in the front” and “party in the back”. Anyone who’s paid some attention to LeBron and the Cavs this season has already been witness to the numerous pregame routines. Chest bumps, multifaceted handshakes and high-fives, dance routines, chanting, hugging and finally, LeBron’s dust toss all occur prior to the opening tip. This is the party. Once the ball is tipped, however, the Cavs usually put aside the antics and handle their business. In order to stay focused en route to the NBA Finals, LeBron and the Cavs will have to ensure that they continue to refrain from letting the “party” affect their “business”. Thus far, it has not been a problem.
Another potential distraction to the Cavs is the Celtics’ loss of Kevin Garnett. After Doc Rivers, revealed that it is highly unlikely KG will suit up for the rest of the playoffs due to his knee injury, the media has all but handed the Cleveland Cavaliers the Eastern Conference Champion trophy. The reigning NBA champs are indeed shorthanded without Garnett – and now without forward Leon Powe – and will have a much more difficult task ahead of them if they intend to repeat. However, the Cavs must stay the course and not listen to outsiders who believe the Celtics can already be written off.
If the Cavs believe they can continue to take care of business, they also will need to ignore the media. With LeBron being the inevitable MVP, Mike Brown claiming the Coach of the Year and the franchise having a historic year altogether, James and the Cavs have heard much praise upon entering the playoffs. It is important that Cleveland recognizes their ultimate goal and does not become too occupied with what ESPN has to say. After such a record-setting year in Northeast Ohio, it might be easy to be overconfident.
A final concern that is on the horizon deals with Stan Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic. With LeBron and the reigning champion Celtics claiming most of the Eastern Conference attention thus far, the Magic have been somewhat under the radar. Not only have the Cavaliers had a tough time with the Magic this season, but the Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, is probably the best candidate in the league to defend the basket from LeBron’s relentless attacks. In addition, Rafer Alston has stepped in seamlessly for Jameer Nelson since his shoulder injury in February. After Delonte West’s St. Joe’s teammate went down and Rafer took over in Orlando, many thought that was the end for the Magic. Meanwhile Orlando is tied 1-1 with the Sixers and could easily be up 2-0 if it weren’t for Andre Iguodala’s last second heroics in Game 1.
Necktie or not, Cleveland has gotten down to business this season. To successfully continue their destruction path toward the Larry O’Brien trophy, the Cavs need to remain focused at a very difficult time to do so – the playoffs. While the media is already predicting what will happen in June, the Cavaliers are focused solely on April. So don’t worry about the handshakes, the hi-fives, the chest-bumps and the dancing. After all, LeBron and the Cavs are all business. |
