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When Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Cavaliers last summer his goal was simple: “Win a ring for the King.”

Things didn’t quite work out like Shaq planned.

O’Neal and the rest of the Cavaliers have already been bounced from the playoffs, while his former team, the Suns, are still fighting for a trip to the Finals. Although it wasn’t the storybook season the 38-year-old center was hoping for, he has no regrets, at least personally.

“Obviously everyone is disappointed,” O’Neal said after the Cavs’ Game 6 loss to the Celtics. “But as a person, as a professional, I think I did everything that they asked me to do. [I] got injured and came back in better shape.” (more…)

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Ever since the Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2003 they have attempted to upgrade their roster time-and-time again.

The team had some surprising success early on — reaching the 2007 Finals with an overachieving club — but that only lead to increased expectations, which the team has been unable to live up to. The Cavaliers have not made it past the Eastern Conference Finals the past two seasons, even though they have had the NBA’s best regular season record both years.

When time ticked away during the Cavaliers’ 94-85 loss in Game Six on Thursday night, the realization that LeBron James, who will be a free agent this summer, may never play another game in a Cleveland uniform seeped in to every Cavalier fan’s head.

Some in the media have claimed James’ chances of winning may be greater in Chicago or Miami. But let’s face it, the Cavaliers’ organization, namely Dan Gilbert, has done everything within their power to put a winning team on the court. (more…)

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Game 6 seemed like a likely elimination game before the Cavalier-Celtics began their current Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.

It just wasn’t supposed to be the Cavs in danger of heading home for the summer.

Cleveland has been on a short list of championship contenders all season, and the addition of Antawn Jamison at the trade deadline only increased the hype surrounding the team. Shaquille O’Neal, who has four NBA Titles to his name, has even claimed it may be the most talented team he has ever played with. It seemed like a lot to live up to, but for the longest time the Cavaliers did it.

They finished with the NBA’s best record during the regular season, winning 61 games, earning home-court advantage throughout the postseason.  They got a mild scare from the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs, but ultimately took care of business, winning the series 4-1.

Then came the Celtics and everything changed. (more…)