When will ESPN stop with their LeBron/Cavs blinded love?

[Drucci]

It made me mad during last season and last playoffs to see how ESPN was always putting the Cavs at the top when they didn't deserve their spot. I was glad to see that they calmed down after they were eliminated by Orlando. And I thought that this season ESPN would have learned the lesson... guess what? I was wrong.

I mean, how can they be so biased? Here are their predictions about the Eastern Conference standings of next season. The Cavs are first ; why not?

But what they use as "arguments" to justify their choices is just absurd. Here is what they say about the Cavs :

"Let's talk Shaq, the Big Caveat Emptor: He has won four titles, is on his fifth franchise and has been swept from the playoffs six times. Reborn in Phoenix, he led the Suns to exactly one playoff win in two seasons. So will he break up the Cavs with laughter or just break them up? Can't wait to find out. (Why only 61 wins? See note above.)"

And about the Celtics (2nd in standings) :

"Many think a healthy Kevin Garnett and a revitalized Rasheed Wallace will get the Celts back to the top. (See our East title picks on Thursday.) But KG's balky knee is unproven, and Sheed is a known coach killer who is coming off a lousy season and turns 35 this month. So some voters are still in wait-and-C mode"

OK. So Shaq will be in great shape (they don't even question his health when it's well known that Phoenix's medical staff is the greatest in the league...), is not old (37) but KG's knee is a concern and Sheed is too old at 35. Yeah... right.

I don't mean that their concerns about the Celtics aren't legitimate. But if you apply such questions about the health and the age of the Celtics key players, you have to do it with every other team that has the same concerns. Plain and simple. What about Ilgauskas and Shaq? They are both old and usually not in great shape.

Needless to say that ESPN doesn't even mention the concerns about Jameer Nelson's health after his return to the NBA the upcoming season...

Am I the only one irritated by this unconditional love for the Cavs?

[Rida]

I read that too. Why are you suprised, ESPN like all other media outlets need someone to fall in line behind. That guy is Lebron right now in the NBA. I love it I think it will just be sweeter when Orlando thats right not even us beat them in the conference semi finals

My East seedings are

1. Boston
2. Cleveland
3. Orlando
4. Atlanta
5. Washington
6. Bulls
7. Raptors
8. Miami

[Check_My_Stats]

The Cavs are the best team in the East.

[lon3lytoaster]

The Cavs are the best team in the East.

Cavs trolls aren't funny.

Actually, there is really no such thing as a Cleveland fan. You have LeBron fans, sure but no real fans of the Cavaliers

[nickagneta]

When he signs with another team and it becomes the Lebron/Other team blinded love!!

[indeedproceed]

The Cavs are the best team in the East.

Yeah man. Their finals appearance last season was epic. LeBron especially.

Magic are the best team in the East, until we prove otherwise.

[Chris]

The Cavs are the best team in the East.

Please elaborate.  Why are they better than the C's and Magic?  What sets them apart?

[Check_My_Stats]

Boston did nothing to get better. And Orlando traded for an aging quitter that relies on shooting jumpers now. I never said the Cavs would win the Finals (Lakers). But they are going to win the East.

[Check_My_Stats]

When he signs with another team and it becomes the Lebron/Other team blinded love!!

He is the best player to ever play the game. He could play for the Jazz and still get attention around the world.

[beantownboy171]

Boston did nothing to get better. And Orlando traded for an aging quitter that relies on shooting jumpers now. I never said the Cavs would win the Finals (Lakers). But they are going to win the East.

I'd say the additions of, kevin garnett, rasheed wallace, shelden williams, and marquis daniels from our playoff roster counts as somethin.

[Chris]

Boston did nothing to get better. And Orlando traded for an aging quitter that relies on shooting jumpers now. I never said the Cavs would win the Finals (Lakers). But they are going to win the East.

How do you figure Boston did nothing to get better?  They signed one of the top FA's (Wallace), who may be on the back nine...but no more than Shaq is.  And they also signed a wing in Daniels who may not be a superstar, but is light-years ahead of any backup wing they had on the roster last year.

That does not even take into account the return of a healthy KG, and Big Baby returning to a role where he can maintain the high energy and defense he showed early last year, while also adding the mid-range jumper to his repertoire.  

All they lost was Marbury (who was pretty terrible last year), and Powe (which is admittedly a blow offensively, although he was a defensive liability, and is nowhere near the player Wallace is).

So I understand if you want to argue that the C's did not improve as much as Cleveland (although I would disagree), but to say "Boston did nothing to get better" is downright wrong.

[beantownboy171]

When he signs with another team and it becomes the Lebron/Other team blinded love!!

He is the best player to ever play the game. He could play for the Jazz and still get attention around the world.

Until he wins a championship he's not even in the conversation as the greatest.

[Birdbrain]

Boston did nothing to get better. And Orlando traded for an aging quitter that relies on shooting jumpers now. I never said the Cavs would win the Finals (Lakers). But they are going to win the East.

Lebron fan .. 15 or so.

[Check_My_Stats]

Rasheed Wallace? When was the last time he was even good? Or even posted up lol? He is a broke down 6'11 three point specialist that has gotten destroyed by the Cavs the last two series they played.

[Chris]

Rasheed Wallace? When was the last time he was even good? Or even posted up lol? He is a broke down 6'11 three point specialist that has gotten destroyed by the Cavs the last two series they played.

He has averaged about 12 and 7 for the last 3 seasons, and remains one of the best defensive big men in the game.  Not a bad 6th man.  Remember, he is not replacing KG and Perkins, he is being added to them.