5 On Your Side Sports Blog

The kid made an amazing play. But it never should have happened.

With 3.6 seconds left in overtime, LeBron James found himself in surprisingly good position to take a game-winner. Brendan Haywood covered Larry Hughes on the inbounds. Antawn Jamison was looking for help corralling LeBron in the left corner. It never arrived.

The baseline was LeBron's for the taking. So was Game 5. And, after the Cavs squandered two chances to secure a 3-2 playoff lead over the Washington Wizards, the third time was not about to fall by the wayside. Not on LeBron's watch.

But somewhere, amidst all the chest-thumping and falling confetti (save some for the victory parade, please) the thought had to cross at least one mind: the Pistons will sweep either one of these teams.

A game winning shot is celebrated as dramatic when, more likely, it's a band-aid. That was the case last night. With 1:18 remaining, the Cavs guarded a 7 point lead like Mr. Magoo on the nightwatch. They allowed the Wizards to drive right by them and force overtime.

By no means will Cleveland's 121-120 win in Game 5 make it's way into the league's "instant classic" file. It should, however, find it's way onto the desk of the NBA officiating committee; at the very least, the 61 fouls called should warrant new whistles for last night's crew of overzealous officials. I can't imagine the refereeing disaster that would have unfolded had Commissioner David Stern not been in attendance.

If you want foul, forget the refs. The Cavs frontcourt starters (Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden) combined for 12 points, 10 fouls, and 4 turnovers. Now that's foul.

In the lockerroom, Donyell Marshall acknowledged that this Cavs team had it's share of problems with Washington. They are better than the Wizards--but not by much. The Wizards big three: Gilbert Arenas (44 pts), Antawn Jamison (32 pts), and Caron Butler (20 pts) love to run. But Marshall made it a point to remind us that in the playoffs, winning is winning. "Squeaking by," as he put it, is simply a matter of surviving in the postseason.

That's true. And it's a necessary experience for the playoff naive Cavs. But I'm guessing the Detroit Pistons aren't buying into it. And should the Cavs close out this first round series, the Defending Champs are waiting. Now that's a measuring stick.

Cleveland, your thoughts are always welcome. Sound off to us at 5sports@newsnet5.com