2009-10 NBA Prediction: LeBron, Cavs Will Do Less Pregame Celebrating

LeBron and his Cavaliers gave us quite a show this season ―much of it before the game and on the sidelines.

The Cavs postured and paraded on their way to the league's best record.  We all remember them acting as if they were playing baseball before the game started.  Who could forget their "photo-op" before tip-off?

All of this, of course, was orchestrated by LeBron.  LeBron felt that with the addition of Mo Williams that he finally had the talent surrounding him to finally win it all.

For the Cavs, the games were just part of a necessary waiting period before the inevitable championship.

They felt invincible as they swept their way into the Eastern Conference finals.

Why wouldn't they?  They had King James.  The Chosen One. 

So what if others called them arrogant and borderline cocky.  It doesn't matter if you can back it up with a title, right?

Oops.

I think around Game Three or Four in the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron realized that his team was in trouble.  For yet another year, his teammates just weren't good enough.

Cleveland allowed just 91.4 points per game in the regular season.  That number jumped to 103.7 in six games against the Orlando Magic. 

They had no answer for Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu.  Even Rafer Alston and Mickael Pietrus gave the Cavs fits.

Offensively, Cleveland's lack of offensive efficiency ―meant that it was LeBron or bust for the Cavs.

Yeah, it was impressive that LeBron was involved in 31 straight points down the stretch in Game Five, but it was equally pathetic that he had to.

Mo Williams, who was supposed the be LeBron's Pippen, shot just 37 percent from the field against the Magic.  His scoring average only went up half a point per game despite a substantial increase in minutes.

What happened to the Cavalier bench that was a big part of Cleveland's regular season dominance?

They were completely out-played by Pietrus and Anthony Johnson.

Wally Szczerbiak was supposed to be one of the sharpshooters coming off the bench, but he was a miserable 21 percent (3-14) from the field against the Magic.

Cleveland may have had the best player on the court, but Orlando had the next best three or four players.

I think LeBron is a little less excited about his teammates' talents now than he was after sweeping the Atlanta Hawks.

LeBron's championship is now just imaginary, just like his pregame photo-op.