Col-lapses in heart

So whom should I rip apart first? The gutless Pens, who let a undermanned Cinderella beat you down at home to advance. Or the rest of the Cavs, for playing like the second tier players they are labeled as and coming up short in Game 5? Let's start off with Crosby's kids.

So I won't mention how the Habs have taken out the Caps and Penguins. (the two best teams in the regular season BTW) Instead, I will focus primarily on the pluses and minuses, so to speak, on why this outcome was inevitable. First off, the one thing the Pens should have taken from Montreal's first round triumph over Washington was how hard the Habs played the Caps. They were physical and unflinching. The Penguins came out soft, played harder in the middle games, and then thought talent alone would prevail over shear guts. Maybe in the financial sector, but this is hockey. I believe that after Crosby's blink and he's gone penalty that led off the game immediately threw him off of his game. This of course exasperated his frustration; an anger that pigeon-holed him into ending up with just one goal. In the series. Problem is Malkin could only match that total. Two goals from your premiere players will not, and did not get it done.
Now to the folks that earned the recognition and are still playing. I must say kudos to Montreal for becoming the first team since the new playoff system was put in place, to take out the President's trophy winner and defending Stanley Cup champs back to back. This is the equivalent of the Bobcats taking out the Cavs (well before the second round. More on that later) and the Lake Show consecutively. Amazing. High fives to Cammalleri and the netminder Halak for unbelievable playoff play so far. I love hearing about new players! And the fact that they completely upstaged Malkin and Crosby makes it even crazier. So here's to the Habs. Not only for shutting down the penguins, but doing it without their top defensive player. And here's to the Penguins for pulling a G-Men and losing with utter embarrassment in your stadiums swan song. The real kicker would be if the Flyers upset the Bruins tonight. Oh man, the Habs taking out both Penn squads. Sounds enticing.

Now to the other choker. No, not LeBron because bottom line, he is allowed to have an off game. I don't think he half-assed it. I just believe that this is what happens when an entire franchise is based on one player scoring in bunches. I, just as most, have no idea what caused LebBron to have such a piss poor game. My guess would be something completely unbasketball related. Bottom line is he had an off game and there was no one else to shoulder the load. Shaq is too old and out of shape. Jamison's shoulders are too hurt to carry a t-shirt, let alone a team. And we all know about Mo's playoff disappearing act. Mike had Scottie. Dream had Clyde. Shaq had Kobe. Duncan had Park...err Ginobili. Isiah had Joe. Magic had Kareem. Bird had McHale. LeBron....uhh..Z? Exactly. When your star has an off game, there has to be someone else to pick up the slack. Jamison has always been a dodger when it comes to the spotlight so he was a non-issue. So what happens now. Well simply, LBJ can't have another game like this. The critics say go harder, then go harder. If you don't, well ball game. The C's have been here before and I can't see them choking. All I've seen LBJ do these situations (beyond that historical night against Detroit), is come up short. What I do know is if this turns out to be another turnover laden, no help contest like last game, my next blog entry could very well be about where LeBron, and all these soon-to-be free agents, ends up this summer.