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It is hard to imagine that at this point, even as undeniably cool as New York City is, that Lebron James is New York Knicks bound, all things considered. That doesn’t stop the drumbeat of “oh please” articles from New York. Today’s entrant is the note that the Knicks hope to increase their appeal to James this summer by getting back in the Marcus Camby business. Or, at the least, improve their interior defense regardless. It’s good to have goals.

The NBA is understandably sensitive about gun violence, given that two of its players recently brandished guns in a locker room. But they’re losing perspective, and coming across as unreasonable hypocrites. Months ago, Nike did a LeBron-Kobe print ad where Kobe says, “I’ll do whatever it takes to win games. I don’t leave anything in the chamber.”

The ad has been released, and the NBA is offended, releasing this statement: “We had no prior notice of this ad. We think it is inappropriate.”

Really? I mean, really? Are you even remotely serious? Because, if you are serious, you’re either a blind idiot (which we know Stern is not) or a massive hypocritical bully. You operate a sport where the entire dialect revolves around the word “shoot” and its variants. Shoot. Shot. Shot clock. Blocked shot. Shooting percentage. Three-point shot. Sharpshooter. Sniper. Rifleman. And you’re going to take offense at a shooting reference?

And don’t try to tell me Kobe agreed, so the NBA is correct. Of course Kobe agreed. He’s corporate. He knows this isn’t a battle worth wasting breath on, because he understands Stern is just doing this for PR. Something Kobe understands completely. But this is beyond stupid, and it should be called out as such. It’s Stern’s obsession over the public image of the league run amok.

If this is how you want to play it, Stern, then be consistent. Rename every aspect of the game. Change all of the NBA’s historical records. Take down the NBA.com website now until you can reconstruct it without any reference to shooting. Stop selling all books that use the term. Re-write them. Stop selling all DVDs. Re-dub them. Never replay any game on the NBA Network where any variation of the term is stated by an announcer or displayed on the screen.

And maybe, just maybe, start being consistent. As the AP article points out, just yesterday, Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said: “We did not have enough bullets in our gun to make games of it.” Stern, are you going to fine him? Call it inappropriate? Or is your paternalistic hypocrisy reserved for young black men?

After they realize just how harmless they were.

…maybe I should fine Lebron James for his breaking NBA rules.

$25,000.00 for blowing off the post-game press conference after the end of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Belatedly.

Uber-belatedly. Weird that it took five days for Stern to realize that the rules are supposed to apply the same to everyone. Actually, given how his refs operate with respect to the NBA’s elite stars, not that weird. Stern’s most recent bullshit ass-covering:

“Certainly as it related to the media, we have a rule, you guys know that we’ve had some interesting issues over the years with some of our coaches and the like, and it was inappropriate for me to give someone a pass here,” Stern said.

Yathink?

Tool.

Things we know:

1. Lebron is a sore loser at this point in his career. E-mailing congrats isn’t acceptable, nor a replacement for a post-game handshake. Skipping the press conference afterwards was immature as well.

2. All of that in number one doesn’t mean shite and no one really cares (outside of Mike Bianchi and Magic fans, I would guess).

3. Lebron was sporting a NY Yankees cap on Sunday!

4. Lebron can sign a contract extension with Cleveland this summer! If he doesn’t…

5. What James said about his general future won’t make people in Cleveland feel great as their off-season kicks in:

“I don’t know,” James said Sunday in Cleveland. “I haven’t thought about it just yet. I’m just going to take time off from basketball and not think about contracts or the game, period. I’ll relax with my family; we’ll figure out once it comes from them.”

6. James may average 40/10/10 (or thereabouts) in a Mike Dantoni system. Just sayin’.

What fixes choking away a 23-point first half lead? A miraculous shot-for-the-ages to win the game from Lebron James. At the height of its arc, the ball had to have been 25 feet or more in the air. Impossible to defend. He’s just better.

Cleveland 96. Orlando 95. A series tilting toward classic. Series heads to Orlando tied at one game a piece.

Orlando 107. Cleveland 106.

Lebron James was his usual dominant self, but pretty much the rest of his teammates took a pass on providing any help. That’s how 49/8/6 isn’t enough.

And, as Stan Van Gundy helpfully points out, you look a smarter as a coach when shots are falling. So Van Gundy looks brilliant as Rashard Lewis drains the three to put Orlando up, and Mike Brown looks brain dead for Cleveland’s last shot not being taken by James. Then again, James set up a wide-open Mo Williams, who simply bricked the shot.

At any rate, we have a series in this one. Orlando plays Cleveland tough normally (that’s 9 wins in their last 12 meetings for Orlando), and matches up well with them. And appears comfortable with letting Lebron get his, while they try and limit the damage elsewhere. That’s not the worst approach ever to dealing with the Cleveland James’.

At this point, the one thing that the NBA playoffs have become is a journey to see just how frickin’ great Lebron James is. That’s a motley crew of NBA journeyman around him, and James has them postioned as the best team in the NBA. Because of James. How much better is the worst team in the NBA if Lebron James were dropped onto it? Do the Sacramento Kings make the playoffs if Lebron James plays for them this year? The Clippers? How many games do the Cavs win this year without James?

Cleveland 84. Atlanta 74.

And the Cavs go back into waiting mode. Again.

(thanks to long-time swamper bobp for posting that pic in the Swamp…)

Um, not really. But Lebron James claimed they did in his post-game interview. I guess 65-64 halfway through the third counts as a tight game given how well the Cavs are playing. I guess.

By the way, if “pushed” (in Lebron’s mind) prompts him to a 47 point 12 rebound 8 assist line in another ho hum 15-point win, I wonder what really getting tested is going to bring out of him.

I don’t know if you are watching the NBA playoffs or not, but if you are not, I urge you to consider tuning in to catch a Cavs game or three. We are seeing the birth of something remarkable as James finishes growing into his outsized promise. It could be that the expectations for what he could turn into were too low…

I must say, after going to watch Lebron James live and in person as he toyed with the Grizzlies this year, it is comforting to see him do the same thing to playoff teams. The Grizzlies are not good, but, perhaps it doesn’t matter if you are good or not, when Lebron steps on the court. The best way to describe what he did in the Memphis/Cleveland game? Like watching a Div. I college player walk on to a YMCA pick-up game. He was entire worlds of talent above everyone else on the floor, his own team included.

So, yeah, the Cavs are good. Because Lebron James is otherworldly. 105 – 85. Cleveland yet again toying with an overmatched opponent. The opponent overmatched because they don’t retain a human who has the remotest chance of hanging with Lebron James.