There we were…my friend Aaron and I walking the national mall in search of our friend Abe with our heads hanging low and our spirits basically crushed. After a defeating loss, I didn’t know how to feel. The game on Friday as well as the rest of the games we have recently blown have all meant so much to us fans, but seemed to mean so little to the players themselves. Even if we make the playoffs, we might not go anywhere, but if we can't at least pull out the last two games, it would be the final punch to the team’s confidence and bring immense frustration to all in the offseason.
This season I have only attended two games since the Cavs don't like to travel to DC, so I really haven't been able to analyze them up close and personal. But Friday night was quite possibly the worst I have ever seen them play and to be honest probably just as bad as 3-4 years ago…the Ricky Davis era. I mean our defense was awful, we couldn’t pass the ball, and it took almost 4 quarters for someone besides the King to score in double digits. It was pathetic and I basically just sat in shock for most of the game. I mean the thing is we were really only down 10 at worst, but we barely chipped away at their lead throughout the night. We tied the game once towards the end, but then fell apart and the lead once again burst open. The Bullets weren’t even playing that well and we had every chance to come back. Their coach was even ejected in the third quarter..golden opportunity but no. It was awful…
Sitting next to us were two guys from Youngstown in their 30’s and at one point I asked how they survived this much heartache into their age and if this was just a rite of passage for a Cleveland fan. After re-affirming this is in fact part of the game and to stick with it, these two men, who both recently became fathers, commented that no matter what they will be raising their offspring Cleveland fans (they live in the DC area)…at that point, I once again realized this is just the way it is...
So we finally reached Abe after a cool 4 mile walk from the MCI Center only to realize this really isn’t the worst experience in our lives. Frustrating yes, but we have seen worse and to be really optimistic, we really do still have a shot at the postseason. Yes, I am stretching here, but if the goal is really to get into the playoffs then we still have a chance.
So why this immense weight on our shoulders to produce a playoff team. We all know Gilbert isn't gonna run away if we don't make the playoffs... Once again the problem falls on the media..shocker. As stated before, the media craves nothing more than the collapse of an up and coming team. Also, they haven't had a chance to sink their teeth into LeBron. I mean it's hard to criticize someone soo good given he has basically done no wrong for 2 years now. But they expect too much too fast and in their eyes, LeBron is failing. Now all this talk of oh..LeBron is definitely leaving..LeBron can’t lead his team to the promise land, LeBron this, LeBron that..screw that. Remember the Cavs were just a 17 win team 2 years ago…last year we had 35 and this year we should land around 40-42 wins. Not a great improvement, but still an improvement. Gilbert right now is taking a lot of blame, but he has only made one move in his 7 week tenure..the firing of Paul Silas. Only thing I didn’t like about that was the timing. Firing a coach mid season is really not a smart decision. Let Silas finish out the year..we don’t make the playoffs..fault falls on Silas thus he is gone..simply math. Now, Gilbert messed with system..we don’t play well…whose fault..not Malone, but Gilbert.
Personally, I just want it to be next season. I want to see if Gilbert is really that good and can make the moves to bring this team into contention. Let go of some folks, trade for a few, draft (oh wait we don’t have any draft picks), and let’s point fingers in a few months.
So please let’s just win out the season and hopefully make the playoffs. I really don’t want to hear analysis on LeBron’s failure to lead for the next 2-3 months. Our team is plain horrible right now, but all we can do is hope for the playoffs and more importantly look towards the future instead of reading about our failures..
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