The End.

Everything has changed.

Long-time Cleveland fans know that the only real way to deal with the series of miserable sucker punches that comprises our area’s sports history is to be pessimistic. Last night, a new generation of Cleveland fans learned the same thing. The jerseys of our Chosen One were set afire; watching the wine, gold, and white burn on SportsCenter seemed to be a fitting metaphor for… something. For everything we thought we understood, even within the reference frame of a city sport scene that hasn’t seen a professional title in decades.

We had to know he was leaving. But we thought he would stay. How could he leave? He was King of Cleveland.

LeBron James to the Chicago Bulls. And how.

Since we have spent the last year or so wading through the murky waters of free agency, don’t you think it’s about time we started drawing some conclusions?

But before we come to any real conclusions, a little role play. Imagine yourself as Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant. In just your second week on the job you are faced with the prospect of having to trade away the best player in franchise history in a do or die sign and trade, or watch the two time and defending league MVP simply leave town as an unrestricted free agent. Of course, there is also the possibility of resigning him, but I think the chances of that are very small.

Glad I’m not that guy.

Conclusion #1: The only one that really matters.

Chunky Monkey

The most important observation of the night was made by the Champ and confirmed by the Octagon: Glen Davis resembles Chunky Kong (see: above). I’m not sure of the racial implications or the actual intent of the comparison, but it is what it is.

From the Clouds

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

With rumblings about LeBron’s future and the impact and exact meaning of Dan Gilbert offering Michigan State god Tom Izzo a contract near $6 million per, the Lakers and Celtics officially do not care. For now, neither do I.

It Always Goes In

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Who is the hero? Is it Ray or is it Rajon? Or do they split it? Does it matter? Not for Boston. Not after they were able to split the first two games on the road with the Lakers.

Ignore It Like Kobe

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

That game got physical real fast. I didn’t expect Paul Pierce to be the initiator, but whatever works (or doesn’t, in this case). Boston looked to try to duplicate past successes against Los Angeles by being tougher, both physically and mentally. They proved neither in last night’s game, but by all rights still may in the approaching games.

Set and Carved

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

For me, these playoffs have been about cementing legacies.

Queensbridge

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

All of that, and Ron Artest is the hero? I guess that makes sense in a strange, fate-driven way.

Let’s Cut a Groove

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Settle, everybody settle. Slow the talk of outcoaching and confusion. So far, nothing has happened but was designed to happen by the playoff format. Believe me, I hope this is a trend that will continue for the Suns, but I just can’t see it, not for game 5 at least.

Comfort and Coaching

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Believe me, I really want the Suns to win. But, one game doesn’t shift this series. The same things that were said about the Lakers are still true, even if not for one night. Can the Suns win game 4? Yes. Game 5? Maybe. I just don’t know. The Lakers were still well in this game despite Amar’e going into that mode that makes you think he deserves a Max deal.

Mission Statement

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The key thing to remember is that all hope is not lost. Hey, this game was tied 90-90 going into the fourth quarter. The Suns were riding a tidal wave of momentum with Grant Hill routinely draining the very mid-range jumpshot while Kobe or any of his backups relaxed their defense on the senior citizen of the NBA world.

My Machines are Oiled

Harry How/Getty Images

With about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, backup guard Shannon Brown for the Los Angeles Lakers jogged up the court, saw a partially open lane, and took off. He leapt with the intent to do harm. He was trying to suck the gravity out of the building.

He nearly jumped over a cowering Jason Richardson who was called for a block. He missed the dunk, his fingers just edging the rim/net. However, he made everybody stand up out of his or her seats in amazement. That was the kind of night the Lakers were having, even their misses were spectacular.

The White Mamba?

check it out:

http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2010/05/kobe-white-hot.html

Huge Sigh of Belief

So, wait a minute. The Lakers aren’t dead?

I Love This Stuff

How can you not love playoff basketball, especially this season’s version of postseason antics? It has at once been exhilarating and boring, expected and surprising, heroic and deflating. What is left is right, up is down, yet it all is normal in the same prism that previous playoffs have been seen in.