THE SPORTS DIVA MAGAZINE

My Apologies To The City Of Cleveland

After watching the Cleveland Cavaliers lose to the Boston Celtics tonight 76-72, all I came away from this was frustration. And I'm not a big Cleveland Cavaliers fan at all. I root for them in the playoffs to show my Ohio pride but that's about it. And if I'm frustrated, God help the actual Cleveland fan right now. Is this what you've had to endure all these years?

I'm from Cincinnati. A Reds fan, they suck now but won a World Series in 1990. A Bengals fan, I can't even explain them now but I did get to watch them in the Super Bowl in 1989. And a Buckeye fan who watched the football team win a title in the 2002 season and the basketball team make the FINAL FOUR  twice (sorry NCAA, still not letting you take that away from me) and become NIT champs this past year. I guess you could say I've had it good compared to a Cleveland fan.

I have to admit that I just thought the Cleveland fans were just whiny, complainers and bad tippers (I worked in a sports bar and that held true there. Even with Cleveland fans who worked with me. Cincy fans were great tippers.) But now I think I understand a little bit. You're watching something that just seems to be within your grasp and then BAM! It's gone. The name of the site WaitingForNextYear.com fits so well with the city of Cleveland and their love of their sports. And wait they will.

Tonight I'm rooting for you Cleveland and I'll continue to root for the Cavs however long they're in this post season. I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy the frustrations I felt after watching the Cavs lose tonight. Now I may not root for you in the future but you can always point back to this post and remind me that I rooted for you once. I'll try not to deny it.

About Saturday's NBA Playoffs

Yesterday made me love the NBA more than I didn't know I could. The drama. The passion. The heartbreak. It was amazing. 4 great games. I just hope today's games will be just as good.

We had Lebron James vs. Gilbert Arenas when the Wizards went into Cleveland for game 1 of their series and the opening game of the NBA playoffs. Lebron couldn't get anything early as the Wizards pounded on him and Gilbert seemed to knock down everything as he was 4-4 from the 3 point line in the 1st half. But who in DeShawn Stevenson's camp didn't tell him to not call Lebron "overrated"? Do people like doing stupid things? The trash talking just fuels Lebron. He went off with 32 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assist in the Cavs 93-86 win over the Wizards. Congratulations Lebron James. You've made this anti-Cleveland sports fan root for the Cavs 3 years in a row in the playoffs. Not just anyone can do that. So don't even think about leaving Cleveland. Trust that you won't get showed more love than you do now playing in Cleveland. 

And then the Suns @ Spurs happened. I have to admit that at the beginning of the game, because I got so hyped from the Cavs vs. Wizards game, I was a little bored. The Suns had gotten up to a 16 point lead. But of course the defending champs are never worried. They fought back and conquered. It did take 2 overtimes but they did what they needed to do. They broke the Suns. A game the Suns should have won became heartbreaking for them. Now they have to go back there on Tuesday and face what could have been. Spurs won in double OT 117-115.

The night games seemed to have been a blur for me. I was a little burnt out but I watched anyway. The New Orleans Hornets were down to the Dallas Mavericks. It seemed like the trend of the day. The road team being up early and then crashing back down to earth. That's when Chris Paul showed Dallas they were in his town. The MVP candidate had 35 points, 10 assist, and 4 steals in a 104 -92 win over the Mavericks.

The game that stopped the trend of the day was the Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets. Utah was up early like the other road teams but they never crumbled. Houston did get close but close was never enough. With Deron Williams and 10 assist, we found out home court advantage doesn't matter to everyone. The Jazz won 93 - 82.  

NBA Playoffs Preview

Since I had fun doing my MLB previews and finding some great sites for your favorite team, I thought I'd do the same for the NBA playoffs. So let's get into it.

Eastern Conference

1.  Boston Celtics (Celtics Blog)
2.  Detroit Pistons (Need4Sheed.com)
3.  Orlando Magic (Orlando Magic Blog)
4.  Cleveland Cavaliers (Cavs News and And One) (had to shout out my girl too)
5.  Washington Wizards (D.C. Sports Bog)
6.  Toronto Raptors (Cuzoogle)
7.  Philadelphia 76ers (Depressed Fan)
8.  Atlanta Hawks (Hawks Basketblog)

Western Conference

1.  LA Lakers (Forum Blue and Gold)
2.  New Orleans Hornets (Hornets 24/7 and Chicks In The Huddle) (can not stop shouting out to my girls)
3.  San Antonio Spurs (Project Spurs)
4.  Utah Jazz (My Utah Jazz)
5.  Houston Rockets (The Dream Shake)
6.  Phoenix Suns (AZ Sports Hub)
7.  Dallas Mavericks (Mavs Moneyball)
8.  Denver Nuggets (The Nugg Doctor)

And of course other sites like Ball Don't Lie, Le Basketbawl, True Hoop, and FreeDarko.com. Happy Reading!  

Night Before NBA Playoffs

I feel happy today. It's Friday! (TGIF) and tomorrow is the beginning of the NBA playoffs. YAY! I haven't written that much on the NBA this season but I did what I could (hey, there's only one me). But I plan on going INSANE with post during the playoffs. I heart the NBA and I heart their playoffs. Now I don't have to miss college basketball that much. If you don't already know, here is the roundup for what games will be on this weekend.

SATURDAY
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers 12:30 pm (ESPN)

Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs 3:00 pm (ABC)

Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Hornets 7:00 pm (ESPN)

Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets 9:30 pm (ESPN)

SUNDAY
Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic 12:30 pm (TNT)

Denver Nuggets @ LA Lakers 3:00 pm (ABC)

Philadephia 76ers @ Detroit Pistons 6:00 pm (TNT)

Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics 8:30 pm (TNT)

So enjoy the NBA this weekend. I know I will. And how bout Isiah Thomas getting fired! Who didn't see that one coming? I'm just surprised it took that long. I wonder what his next move will be. How bout a behind the scenes book about the Knicks while he coached and what the players were up to and what he had on James Dolan to let him stay coach for that long. Reasons why I need to be an editor. I'd publish that book.