In case you did not see it last night, the Orlando Magic became one step closer to the NBA Finals. They took a commanding 3-1 lead against the NBA's "best team".
Right, the same best team that would be home right now, short of a miraculous shot from Lebron James in Game 2.
Cavs guard Mo Williams decided to go Matt Hasselbeck and predict his team would win Tuesday's game 4, and furthermore the series.
Right, the same best team that would be home right now, short of a miraculous shot from Lebron James in Game 2.
Cavs guard Mo Williams decided to go Matt Hasselbeck and predict his team would win Tuesday's game 4, and furthermore the series.
Probably not a good idea, Mo. You are down 2-1, on the road, and decide to give the "underdogs" prime bulletin board material.
His predictions on Monday followed comments he made after Game 3 Sunday in which he claimed that his team were "giving them (Magic) too much respect".
What? Fortunate to not be facing an 0-3 hole, that is your analysis? Genius.
If that is your approach to this series, it is no wonder you are the only point guard in this series who hasn't stepped up for his team.
Let's compare Williams' series to that of Magic point guard Rafer Alston.
(per game averages)
Williams Alston
Points- 17.3 14.8
FG Pct.- 32% 45%
3 Pt. Pct.-22% 44%
Assist/TO- 3.8/2.5 4.3/2.0
Steals- 1.0 1.8
......and Mo has averaged 10 more minutes a game.
Bottom line, if the Cavs believe that Mo Williams is Lebron's "Robin", if you will, then they are in serious trouble.
Well, I think down 3-1, they are in serious trouble.
Mo Williams was not an All-Star in Milwaukee, and was only an All-Star this season because he happens to be the second best player on one of the NBA's best teams (and through a flurry of other injuries to players named to the team).
His mouth regarding his initial exclusion from the Eastern Conference All-Star team helped him gain personal glory for one weekend.
It isn't helping now when his team needs him the most.
It's not like the guy was great in the regular season. He averaged 18 points and just 4 assists a game.
Those are not All-Star numbers for a point guard, sorry.
When you play with the most physically-dominant player in the NBA, you are naturally going to get a lot of good looks. He does, and he is not automatic.
This Cavs team looks an awful lot like the Cavs we saw in the NBA Finals two years ago. They are a one-trick pony.
Lebron is human, he needs help. Mo Williams would be a great 3rd or 4th scoring option for a Championship-calibre team, but that's it.
Lebron James is a better facilitator than he is a scorer. It typically does not bode well for the Cavs when Lebron has to score 40 points or more.
Cavs GM Danny Ferry has to be extremely worried that Lebron is starting to doubt the cast around him, meaning Lebron will hit the free-agent market in 2010.
Lebron's comments after Game 4 seem to suggest he has little no confidence in them. Here is what he said, "We are looking forward to the challenge. I know I am. I'm up for the challenge, and I think my play, my leadership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also."
How can you blame him?
It's not all on Mo Williams. There other "shooters" have been horribly inconsistent.
Given Mike Brown's substitution patterns, it is hard to imagine a Pavlovic, a Szczerbiak, or Daniel Gibson really coming up big. Charles Barkley alluded to this last night. This is not the series to sit a guy one night, and then stick him in there for 20 minutes the next.
Unless the Cavs make an unlikely comeback in this series, Mike Brown will probably get the axe.
And let's not forget, Lebron missed crucial free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and Game 3, that were ultimately the difference in both games.
Series could be 3-1 the other way.
But let's be honest, Lebron James is not the reason the Cavs are down 3-1.
Sports' radio in Cleveland are ripping Mo to shreds this week, and for good reason.
Unless he shows that he is a legit sidekick to the game's most dominant player, the "mistake by the lake" will continue to mire in futility.
What? Fortunate to not be facing an 0-3 hole, that is your analysis? Genius.
If that is your approach to this series, it is no wonder you are the only point guard in this series who hasn't stepped up for his team.
Let's compare Williams' series to that of Magic point guard Rafer Alston.
(per game averages)
Williams Alston
Points- 17.3 14.8
FG Pct.- 32% 45%
3 Pt. Pct.-22% 44%
Assist/TO- 3.8/2.5 4.3/2.0
Steals- 1.0 1.8
......and Mo has averaged 10 more minutes a game.
Bottom line, if the Cavs believe that Mo Williams is Lebron's "Robin", if you will, then they are in serious trouble.
Well, I think down 3-1, they are in serious trouble.
Mo Williams was not an All-Star in Milwaukee, and was only an All-Star this season because he happens to be the second best player on one of the NBA's best teams (and through a flurry of other injuries to players named to the team).
His mouth regarding his initial exclusion from the Eastern Conference All-Star team helped him gain personal glory for one weekend.
It isn't helping now when his team needs him the most.
It's not like the guy was great in the regular season. He averaged 18 points and just 4 assists a game.
Those are not All-Star numbers for a point guard, sorry.
When you play with the most physically-dominant player in the NBA, you are naturally going to get a lot of good looks. He does, and he is not automatic.
This Cavs team looks an awful lot like the Cavs we saw in the NBA Finals two years ago. They are a one-trick pony.
Lebron is human, he needs help. Mo Williams would be a great 3rd or 4th scoring option for a Championship-calibre team, but that's it.
Lebron James is a better facilitator than he is a scorer. It typically does not bode well for the Cavs when Lebron has to score 40 points or more.
Cavs GM Danny Ferry has to be extremely worried that Lebron is starting to doubt the cast around him, meaning Lebron will hit the free-agent market in 2010.
Lebron's comments after Game 4 seem to suggest he has little no confidence in them. Here is what he said, "We are looking forward to the challenge. I know I am. I'm up for the challenge, and I think my play, my leadership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also."
How can you blame him?
It's not all on Mo Williams. There other "shooters" have been horribly inconsistent.
Given Mike Brown's substitution patterns, it is hard to imagine a Pavlovic, a Szczerbiak, or Daniel Gibson really coming up big. Charles Barkley alluded to this last night. This is not the series to sit a guy one night, and then stick him in there for 20 minutes the next.
Unless the Cavs make an unlikely comeback in this series, Mike Brown will probably get the axe.
And let's not forget, Lebron missed crucial free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and Game 3, that were ultimately the difference in both games.
Series could be 3-1 the other way.
But let's be honest, Lebron James is not the reason the Cavs are down 3-1.
Sports' radio in Cleveland are ripping Mo to shreds this week, and for good reason.
Unless he shows that he is a legit sidekick to the game's most dominant player, the "mistake by the lake" will continue to mire in futility.
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