\jeff{krimmel}

LeBron and the Cavs Hanging Tough

Who would have thought after four games that the Cavaliers would be putting up a better fight against the Pistons than the Spurs are against the Mavericks? I sure wouldn’t have.

The Cavaliers almost definitely won’t beat the Pistons two out of the next three games, but it is quite impressive that they could rebound from two pretty sound road defeats to successfully defend their home court. When a non-championship caliber team gets whooped by a championship-caliber team twice away from home to open a series, it almost always means a sweep, or at best a five game exit. The Cavs had other plans, though, and are making the Pistons work to get their rematch with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

But the Spurs…wow. It’s pretty clear that the Mavericks are the superior team at this point. The Spurs have had their day, though, so they have nothing to hang their heads about. The Mavs have been knocking on this door for the past five years or more, and they finally might be breaking through.

I would be more than a little surprised if it’s not the Mavericks and Pistons in the Finals. I just don’t see either the Suns or Clippers being able to touch the Mavs, especially given how feeble a shot the Spurs have given them. And Miami is looking good, but when Gary Payton, Udonis Haslem, and Antoine Walker aren’t contributing, it’s just too difficult for Dwayne Wade and a very obviously aging Shaquille O’Neal to carry the Heat past the Pistons.

If it is the Mavericks and Pistons in the Finals, I think I would have to give the Pistons the edge. The Mavericks definitely have the deeper bench and at least a comparable level of overall talent, but Chauncey Billups is just a difference maker. I think Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace could keep Dirk more or less in check, and Billups and Rip Hamilton would be tough guards for the Dallas D.

But, I’m getting way ahead of myself, because the second round isn’t even over yet. And there could still be surprises here, not to mention what may happen in the conference finals. The NBA playoffs are definitely compelling, I have to give them that.