Cavs vs Celts Game 6 Has Big Implications

I have definitely caught playoff fever, NHL Playoff Fever that is. After the Olympic break, I fully climbed aboard the San Jose Sharks Bandwagon and have thoroughly enjoyed the ebb and flow from the first two rounds. However, I have probably watched less than an hour combined of NBA Playoff basketball this year. That being said, I do know that tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics has huge ramifications throughout the world of basketball.

Let's try and connect the dots from Beantown to Cleveland, through Lexington and all the way to the Pacific Northwest and figure out what the game means to us on the West Coast. If "The King", Lebron James, fails to capture an NBA title after once again leading his team to the NBA's best record, he will be blamed almost single handedly. Mike Brown has shown himself to be nothing more than a glorified water boy in this series, getting obviously out coached by Doc Rivers. If LBJ elects to stay in Cleveland, it will almost undoubtedly be with a new coach (of his choosing) on the sidelines. Kentucky coach John Calipari, has been telling most in NBA circles that he can deliver "The King," to whichever city will hire him. Previously, Chicago was speculated, but now that the Cav's are having their issues, it seems like Cleveland could be the landing spot for Calipari.

If Calipari leaves, it will be a free-for-all at Kentucky. His current class of recruits will go elsewhere and thrive while Ashley Judd could be sitting on her hands this year. They may seriously have 5 scholarship players for next year. When you make a deal with the devil, be prepared to get burnt.

Now what does this have to do with the Pac-10, the much maligned league from this years 2009-2010 basketball season? Well, it could push us left coasters into the forefront of the spotlight. The West Coasts #1 player this year, 6'9 Terrance Jones of Portland, has still not signed his letter of intent yet.



He has been verbally committed to the University of Washington for over a week, but is still torn between UW and UK. If "Coach Cal" were to head to Cleveland, expect Terrance Jones in Seattle. With T Jones in Seattle, the Huskies would lose only one starter from last years Sweet 16 team, and add a Top 10 national recruit and likely one and done NBA prospect. UW would vault into many pre-season Top 10 lists, while Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford all return the meat of their line-ups. The Cal Bears would have to rebuild, but would do so with a fantastic coach and even USC looks like they are finally on the right path.

After a year of constant bashing by ESPN, the Pac-10 could be back to their rightful spot on the college basketball pecking order. While the ACC and Big East have the pedigree and will forever get the headlines, there may not be a better top to bottom league than the "versus conference."