I think the Cleveland Cavaliers have learned that lesson.

You wouldn't think that playing basketball would be all that difficult, right? You practice shooting...you learn endurance to run up and down the court...you learn how to drive the lane...block shots.

But, as the Western Conference has shown the Eastern Conference...there IS a big difference. And it wasn't just the Cavs that fell. I really do believe there wasn't ONE Eastern Conference team that could have overcome the Spurs this year.

I blame Mike Brown for the Cavaliers' short fall. He coached under Popovich. He knew the game plan. Popovich admitted it wasn't anything NEW!

Brown coached the Cavs to play just good enough to play where they were. He did not coach them good enough to have to face off with the Spurs in just such a scenario. He waited until the last, when they had to strain to try and remember everything too quickly. AND perhaps they all were feeling a bit too relaxed about the whole thing becuz, after all, they HAD beaten the Spurs twice earlier in the season. But, they should have remembered, the Spurs, just like themselves, had become stronger and better to get through the playoffs.

No sense crying over failed Finals. Tony Parker was definitely the stand out player of that series. He seriously overshadowed Tim Duncan...even though Duncan has quite a few inches on him. The guy was too fast, too good, too accurate. The Cavs were ALL lacking ALL that.

Let's hope the Cavs have learned something from the Spurs. Let's hope that Cleveland is kind to their team...after all, they at least GOT to the Finals. No one expected them to get there with LeBron quite so quickly. And now we have Gibson. I think next year, the match of Gibson and James will be awesome.

yes....next year...there's always next year (and I click the heels of my ruby slippers)

Not even ONE game.

I do not know who that was out there on the floor with the Spurs...but they did not play like the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Did Mike Brown not teach them anything? He, of all ppl, should have been able to teach them how to play against the Spurs. Pitiful.

I wish I had not watched ANY of these Finals games. I should have left it at the Eastern Conference Championship. They played then. They played hard, they played smart, they played well.

Well...as a good Cleveland sports fan...I must utter the words...

There's always next year.

Last night was just NOT a good night for Cleveland sports. Well, what's new, really? Although, the Cavaliers have, obviously, done us proud...up until the Finals. I think they are just trying too hard. Which, I know, sounds unbelievable if you have 'witnessed' their performance during the Finals...but, seriously, they look like they are thinking about it too much. The Spurs make it look so effortless becuz it IS to them. They are playing BALL. PLAYING ball. Last night's game should not have come down to Andy's bad shot/LeBron's bad decision. They started out the 1st quarter looking good...and the Spurs weren't firing well. But the Cavs lost it and the Spurs, sort of, found it. When the Cavs get behind in the 2nd quarter and start looking like they are scrambling I know what the outcome is going to be. I am used to the Cavs NOT playing the 3rd quarter...it's always been that way. They have to fight through the 2nd quarter to build up points on the board to cover their inability to play in the 3rd quarter then they pour it on in the 4th quarter. The Cavs have NOT played like their normal selves since they came up against the Spurs. And I really don't think it is the Spurs themselves that are doing it to the Cavs. I think it is the pressure they have placed on themselves. Their heads are not in the game. It is evident. And it looks like they are going to prove all the sports analysts right....4 and out. We aren't going to get even ONE game. Thursday night will be the last.

The Tribe has seemed to have lost their punch, too. After being so far out ahead of the Tiggers and keeping their place on top of the AL Central...they have now dropped to share top billing with the Tiggers after a string of losses to the Reds and last night's loss to the Marlins was the last nail in the coffin. The Tigers, on the other hand, have found a hot streak.

And thus is the way of Cleveland Sports. There are NO sports fans on earth as long suffering as the Cleveland Sports fan. Why do we hang on? Becuz. We are all delusional enuff to believe that NO sport team (football, basketball, baseball) could EVER go as long as ours have without finding their way to the top. There's ALWAYS next year. sigh.

SSSSOOOOO....TONIGHT! Let's see if the Cav's have game. I just wanna watch...and I just don't wanna see them fumbling around like the last game. Hope they look like their bad selves!

The Tribe has been falling down...and to none other than the REDS! The REDS wreak! AND I live in REDS' country that makes it worse for me! Well, sorry, Big Al...but we really need to win against the Marlins tonight cuz the Tiggers are gaining on us.

While it took the Tribe 11 innings yesterday to defeat the Reds, it took them 12 long, excruciatingly boring innings to lose to them today.

Tonight's NBA Finals game was, how shall I say? Like watching the Cleveland Browns play...anyone. They looked like a bunch of shell shocked HS basketball players running around the floor. They finally showed up the 4th quarter...to far behind for it to matter. The Spurs' Tony Parker can hit anything he shoots. Ginobli isn't far behind. 'King' James seemed to have vaseline on his hands...he couldn't hang on to the ball to save his life...until the 4th quarter. But like I said, by then, it just didn't matter.

I am REALLY hoping that they work out some kind of strategy before the next game. If they had anything worked out for this game...it sure didn't show. Or was the strategy to dazzle the Spurs with chit?

Someone needs to give them some fire.