Team of the Future

An unlikely city stole NBA headlines this season. It was home to the league's best regular season record, the Coach of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. And no, it wasn't Boston, Chicago or Los Angeles. It was Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were the only team in the league to win eighty percent of their games this season. They led the NBA in point differential. Their defense was unbreakable. They defended their home floor, going an astonishing 39-2. They were the greatest team in the NBA.

The media, as well as fans nationwide, praised the Cavs for their care-free, laid-back approach this season. But as fun as it was to watch LeBron and his loosey-goosey teammates dominate the standings, the Cavs playoff run was over sooner than you can say: O-VER-RAT-ED!

In fact, the most surprising part of their shocking playoff exit was how lopsided it was. The Orlando Magic upset the Cavs because they had more athletic, more aggressive big men. And this dominance -- led by Dwight Howard -- was the greatest factor in Orlando's 4-2 series victory in the Eastern Conference Finals. This result may have come as a surprise - but should it have?

The truth is, the Cleveland Cavaliers struggled against the league's best all season. Including the Eastern Conference Finals the Cavs were a combined 5-10 this season against the Lakers, Celtics and Magic - the teams that finished two through four in the regular season standings.

LeBron and Co. particularly struggled against the Magic. In four games at Cleveland (where the home team won three of four) the Cavs' average margin of victory was a mere three-and-a-half points. In five games at Orlando (where the home team was undefeated) the Magic's average margin of victory was thirteen, including four double-digit wins.

The scary thing for Cleveland fans, something that became quite evident after Game 1 of the Conference Finals, is that the Magic were no fluke this year. They have an All-Star point guard and the best center in the league. And they're only going to get better.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were supposed to be the Team of the Future in the Eastern Conference. Instead, it looks as though the Magic have claimed that title. If you thought, last fall, that LeBron had a tough decision to make next summer, that decision has only become more complicated.

As for the Orlando Magic, the sky's the limit. Their coach is proven, their roster is young and talented, and they now have championship experience.

Plus, if you were a free agent this offseason, where would you rather sign: Cleveland or Orlando? Better team, better weather, bigger market. What's not to like?