UNSCRIPTED: The “LAND” has returned proving that there IS life AFTER Lebron

Unscripted
By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer

I’m sure that you’re aware of what’s going on in Cleveland this year right? No, not with the Browns, Indians, or Rock -n-Roll Hall of Fame candidates. It’s HOOPS that we’re talking about, and the Cavaliers are getting it done! They started this NBA season 15-0 (they currently stand at 17-1) after this weeks loss to NBA champ Boston Celtics. For a fan like myself, this is a team that is just fun to watch! They share the basketball and understand that if they are going to accomplish anything, they have to do it TOGETHER! “This group is locked in,” Cleveland’s first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. “I do think there’s (been) questions about this group, whether they can get to the next level, can they make the next step? “So, I think when you have that, you have that chip (on your shoulder), you focus even more. “There’s another level of concentration, another level of focus, another level of detail that these guys use to carry us to 17-1 so far.” Now we all know that when it comes to the Cavs, there is the team with LeBron James and all of the remarkable things he did for the franchise and the city and the team without. What LeBron did for the team cannot be discredited. His presence alone boosted Cleveland’s economy and the sense of community among Cavs fans. We all remember the year he brought home the championship trophy, and declaring in a loud voice “Cleveland, this is for you”! Although there was animosity toward LeBron and his decision to leave for Miami in 2010, he came back and delivered something the team arguably could not have won without him...

But now, we’ve turned the page to THIS group and their new leaders Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, a star in the making in Evan Mobley and some sage veteran leadership sprinkled in with Kevin Love (who played in Cleveland WITH LeBron). According to NBA history books they are just the 9th team in NBA HISTORY to start the season at 17-1 (the last team being the Golden State Warriors 18-0 in 2015-2016). On this journey they’ve beaten the Lakers, Knicks, and even the Warriors but they understand that there is still work to do! They have a rematch with defending NBA Champ Boston coming up in December and they understand that THIS is the team that they must defeat in the Eastern conference play-offs if they are to reach their goals.

Now I’m just going to say this, and I know that I’ll get some pushback, but I think that it’s GOOD that the Cavaliers are having the season that they’re having. The NBA has become so predictable in who’s going to have a great season (individually), and which teams will reach the finals. It’s so predictable that when we hear that there is an NBA game on ESPN, TNT or TBS we know it’s Boston, LA, New York, or Philadelphia and rightfully because of what those teams have accomplished, but I like a diversified portfolio in how I get my NBA entertainment and give me 2 scoops of the Cavs along with 1 single scoop of Grizzlies and Pacers every now and then! Now of course we have a lot of season left to play, and the Cavs aren’t going to win every game, but they sure have my interest as well as many others that follow the NBA. Let’s keep an eye on them and see where they are in late January! I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised. History means nothing without the Championship coming back to “THE LAND”!