Hope the team just keeps fighting until the end.
In 2008 we didn't take the sub-.500 Hawks seriously and lost focus frequently. It resulted in the series going 7 games. The Cavs seem to have the same lapses of focus in this series. They seem to drift in and out of consciousness alternating between boredom and mild effort. Half the time they are napping, but it's a credit to their talent that they are able to keep a two possession lead buffer at all times. They never seem threatened by these Celtics. At no point has it felt like Boston was playing in a winnable game. When Boston has a little success, the Cavs just flip the switch and push that lead buffer back to two possessions. We've been kept at arms length this entire series.
One thing to watch out for... this is Cleveland's last preseason tune-up before the playoffs start for them. They aren't going to be able to beat Chicago with this same level of apathy. They might use part of this game to test their playoff legs and see what they can do with full effort. If they lock-in and go full throttle, we need to try not to get embarrassed in the process. Be prepared for a possible surge effort from LeBron and try to keep this one to a respectable single digit game as well.
Complete mischaracterization of what's actually happening, but OK.
I haven't seen LeBron break a sweat in this series. He's spending most of it strolling around with a smirk on his face. I feel like he's only participating, because of contractual obligation. Otherwise, maybe they would have rested him this entire series and saved him for when the playoffs start against the Bulls.
Semi-kidding. On the flip side, maybe Cleveland falls asleep during this entire game, we have some flukey 30 point performances from IT and Oly, and we steal a game. Not expecting that, though.
You're saying all that as if it weren't characteristic of LeBron James, that's how he pretty much plays by default.
Yet they've been playing him 42 minutes a game, took 26 shots in game 3 and 22 shots in game 2... something they needed him to do very badly, and ignores how aggressive he's began games after the first game.
So this whole LeBron is not engaged shtick you're trying to pass off is pure fantasy on your side because it's the easy answer.