Now, the real fun begins. Two years ago, the Cavaliers and Celtics had a dramatic second round series that ended with a LeBron James-Paul Pierce duel that went to Pierce with the help of some key plays from Celtic role players down the stretch (P.J. Brown offensive rebound, anybody)? But, a lot has changed since then, and it is now the Cavaliers who are the favorite with the Celtics still trying to hold on with an aging core. This series will be an all-out war as most of the matchups between these two in the last three years have been.

Series Review (Teams tied 2-2)

Game 1 (in Cleveland): Celtics 95, Cavaliers 89

On opening night, the Cavaliers were anything but a cohesive unit after a trying preseason where injuries and illness gave little opportunity for Coach Mike Brown to find what lineups were going to work for him. Cleveland started out with a 13-2 spurt, and Shaq scored on Kendrick Perkins three times in the post. But, old habits hit the Cavs, including finishing quarters poorly as they trailed by six at the half. The Cavs started out poorly in the second half with a Boston 10-2 run as well. This was our first look at the Shaq and Z combo on the floor together (including preseason). LeBron was left to do heavy lifting alone with 38 points and 15 of the team's 24 fourth quarter points. The Celts hit nine threes and outscored the Cav bench 26-10.

Photo: The Photoshop Guru, Kyle Swartz

Joakim Noah can finally relax. His fishing trip on the beautiful, majestic Lake Erie can finally begin! While he's fishing for walleye, he can take in sights like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center, shop at Tower City, and maybe even take in a Cavaliers' game. Unfortunately, he won't be playing in the Cavaliers' next game, because the Chicago Bulls fired up their outboard and are Gone Fishin' for the offseason.

It wasn't the convincing type of victory that Game 4 was, but the Cleveland Cavaliers protected their homecourt and sent the Chicago Bulls home for the season, holding on for a two point victory. It was a game that Cleveland trailed for a decent amount of the second half, and one where LeBron James was incredibly passive, presumably because of his nagging elbow. LBJ did enough to help take over late in the game, and the Cavalier supporting cast made timely fourth quarter jumpers to take care of business, but it came at a price. LeBron shot his second of two last possession free throw left-handed and held his right elbow to his side for the defensive possession, and the whole city waits to see how ready to go LeBron is for Game 1 against Boston on Saturday night.

Photo: Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer

After a dismal, uninspired display in Game 3, the Cavaliers flashed their offensive firepower and smothering defense at the same time in an extended stretch late in the second quarter and to start the third quarter. A 43-21 run and two LeBron buzzer beaters in the second and third, the latter being a contested jumpshot from halfcourt KO'd the Bulls and sent the series back to Cleveland at 3-1 in the wine and gold's favor. LeBron was a one-man wrecking crew in this game, not to be denied a victory in what he called "the most important game of our season", and the Cavs would have won regardless of what everyone else did offensively. But, the supporting cast's strong showing was a reminder of what this team can do when it's focused and firing on all cylinders.

Sure, the Cavaliers just played all-around better in this game, with the kind of intensity that they'll need if they want thirteen more wins this season, but the team also tipped their cap to what Chicago was doing and adjusted accordingly. It meant less of the big guys and a greater deal of small ball with more athletic lineups. Zydrunas Ilgauskas didn't even get off the bench until the game's final minutes, and LeBron got his wish with J.J. Hickson getting significant time due to Shaquille O'Neal and Anderson Varejao foul trouble. Shaq got post feeds early in the game, but he managed just a couple buckets and his seemingly constant foul trouble in this series prevailed. It was to the point that Hickson played 11 seconds more than O'Neal, and the starting center played sparingly in the second half.

Photo: Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer

In a best of seven series, the third game is always when the underdog has the best chance at winning the game. Down 2-0, it's also the last chance they have at making it a series. The Chicago Bulls played with an intensity not yet seen from them by the Cavaliers, and while Derrick Rose once again led the charge, it was the performances of Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng that allowed Chicago to take a big lead early and extend it to a 21 point lead in the third quarter. Cavalier fans were subjected to watching their team sleepwalk through nearly three whole quarters, until the late third quarter wake-up. The Cavaliers were able to cut the Bulls' lead to just one late in the ballgame, but some tough officiating breaks and missed free throws prevented them from pulling off a tremendous comeback and virtually deciding the outcome of this series. Instead, the Bulls have new life and have to like their position heading into Game 4.

There is almost always a nice start for the underdog in Game 3, but the Bulls' jump out of the gate was extraordinary. After missing their first five shots, Chicago sent in 13-of-18 shots to finish the first quarter. Kirk Hinrich, who shot just 6-of-18 for 13 points in two games in Cleveland, more than evened those figures out with 9-of-12 shooting and 27 points. Several have identified Hinrich as the true barometer of the Bulls, and I whole-heartedly agree with that sentiment. When he's hitting, the smaller Bull backcourt can be a handful, and when he's not,  they're manageable. Luol Deng picked things up too (12-of-30, 32 points in Cleveland) with 20 points on 9-of-16 from the field. Not only were these guys hitting their jumpshots, but the Cavaliers' defense was helping them out by giving them nice wide-open looks. Derrick Rose opened the game by absolutely slashing Mo Williams and then Delonte West to bits with 15 first quarter points and creating other open looks with his dribble drives. Mo had a rough start with no shot attempts, two silly and forced turnovers, and porous D on Rose in the first.

I am the first to admit that I'm not as knowledgeable about the NFL Draft (or the Browns... that's why I have J.V.), but part of that is I don't get as geared for the draft as other Browns' fans. I guess it's because I'm a games guy, and one who enjoys drafts (like the NBA) where you can put a more definite read on a guy, focusing on 1-2 players instead of 9-10 potential players. With that being said, it's still a fun day (or three days, now) that I do truly enjoy. Even though the Browns are a definitive third in my Cleveland sports hierarchy, I still want them so desperately to succeed, and I also understand the thought process of the typical Browns' fan, because I feel I fit into that category.

So, without further procrastinating, here's my thoughts on where the Browns are going to go in the draft over the next three days..

1st round - 7th pick - Eric Berry, safety, Tennessee

It took a little while; but the Indians team I had dreaded might show up this season, finally made an appearance.  Cleveland did everything short of gift wrapping their first game of the season against the division leading Minnesota Twins.  Through 4 innings pitched, Tribe starter Justin Masterson managed 5 walks and 5 runs (1 earned).  The 3rd inning was particularly brutal for the Tribe and Masterson.  With the score tied 1 to 1, Masterson allowed the first two runners to reach base before recovering to strike out Jason Kubel.  With runners on 1st and 2nd, Masterson induced a ground ball to usually sure handed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera for a would be inning ending double play.  But Cabrera let the ball go literally through his legs loading the bases.  Masterson then walked home the Twins' 2nd run of the game and followed that up with a wild pitch that scored not one, but two runs for the Twins.  When the dust settled, the Twins scored 4 runs; all of them unearned.

Photo: Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer

After feeling each other out in Game 1, the Bulls knew this was their opportunity to deliver a punch in the mouth to the Cavs if they wanted to make this series interesting. Chicago played really well, turning the ball over just four times, scoring 56 points in the paint, and getting three of their players to score 20+ points. The only problem is the Cavaliers had a spectacular fourth quarter led by Jamario Moon's clutch three point shooting up against the shot clock and LeBron's dazzling, dominant jumpshot clinic, and the wine and gold were able to overcome a mostly disappointing defensive effort. After the game, there were plenty of noteworthy quotes, giving us a preview of what remains an entertaining and intriguing series heading to Chicago for game three.

Starting out, the Cavaliers were 10-of-19 in the first quarter, but they led by just six because despite Chicago's 9-for-26 effort, they showed they were not going to be dominated on the boards once again. LeBron had a strong first quarter, capped off by one of his most powerful playoff slams ever. The victim, rookie James Johnson, did not play much in Game 1, but Coach Vinny Del Negro went to him early in Game 2. Johnson played LeBron tight, even when James was 35 feet from the basket, and the end result was LeBron getting mad and taking it to Johnson by swooping a reverse layup in, converting said dunk, and drawing a foul on him and sinking both freebies. Johnson isn't the first and won't be the last victim of LeBron's grueling game.

In what I'm going to try and make a weekly or twice weekly occurrence, "Broken Bat Singles" will take a look at some trends from recent Tribe games and deliver my observations.

• The Tribe won their fourth straight on Sunday by getting out the brooms and sweeping the Chicago White Sox with a 7-4 effort. The win was led by Fausto Carmona's third straight solid outing to start the season and the continued smashing that Shin-Soo Choo has been doing. It was also Cleveland's fifth win against the ChiSox in six games, accounting for all but one Tribe victory on the season.

• Carmona isn't all the way back to the 19-game winner from 2007 that could not be hit, but he's taking steps in the right direction. His walks have diminished from six to four to two in his three starts this season, and he's only given up 12 hits in those 3 starts (20 innings), two of those resulting in wins. Some of the credit for Fausto's early success should go to his new personal catcher, Mike Redmond, who seems to be doing a nice job of calling a smart game and keeping Carmona calm on the pitching rubber, a feat that is easier said than done.

Photo: John Kuntz/Cleveland.com

There were several questions surrounding the Cavaliers and their self-imposed limp into the playoffs. To their credit, though, they smoothed out some rough spots, and Shaquille O'Neal re-inserted himself into the starting lineup almost seamlessly as the wine and gold held serve in game one. In addition to Shaq's strong effort, the team used balanced scoring, dominant rebounding, and tough defense on nearly everybody to get the job done. I say nearly everybody because Chicago's Derrick Rose had a nice effort with 28 points, but it was not even close to enough for the underdog Bulls.

In the first meeting between these two teams at full strength, it was clear that the Cavaliers don't have much to worry about if they play their game. The Cavs used a strong first quarter as they often do to flex their muscles and gets a raucous Q crowd into the game. Wasting no time, the top seed got their pivot back into the fold with looks underneath, and he responded well. Shaq had 7 first quarter points and 3 rebounds, making 3 of his 4 shot attempts. The Witness Protector showed off his newfound trim frame by running the floor well and beating Joakim Noah down the floor for a dunk after a Noah missed shot. Shaq also altered multiple shots as he had some wiggle room on physical play. On the other hand, he drew multiple fouls and had a part in creating the Bulls' frontcourt foul trouble, with Noah, Gibson, and Miller all picking up three first half fouls. In fact, all the Cavaliers' main scoring options were doing work in the first quarter with LeBron playing primarily a distribution role and Shaq, Jamison, and Mo all having at least 7 points.

Season statistics in four game series (series tied 2-2).

Cavaliers

LeBron James - 3 games, 25.7 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 47.3% FG
Mo Williams - 4 games, 19.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 45% FG, 45% 3PT
Antawn Jamison - 2 games, 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 48% FG
Shaquille O'Neal - 2 games, 11 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3 blocks
Anthony Parker - 4 games, 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 50% 3PT
Delonte West - 3 games, 4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Anderson Varejao - 4 games, 8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 3 games, 6.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
J.J. Hickson - 4 games, 4.5 points, 2.8 rebounds
Jamario Moon - 2 games, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Jawad Williams - 2 games, 6.5 points, 4 rebounds
Leon Powe - 1 game, 7 points, 8 rebounds
Daniel Gibson -  2 games, 11.5 points, 77% FG, 60% 3PT
Danny Green - 2 games, 1.5 points
Sebastian Telfair -  1 game, 8 points, 3 assists