Cavs-Celtics; and Please, Mr. Stockton...

Weird Game 1 between the Cavs and the Celtics Tuesday night. LeBron James never found a rhythm. Give credit to the Celtics defense, but, as the crew said on TNT, the offensive scheme ("Here, LeBron, do everything") was a puzzle. Charles Barkley couldn't contain himself, declaring emphatically that the Cavs run a "crappy offense." Kenny Smith and guest commentator Chris Webber agreed. As for the outcome, it's more troubling that Boston was able to win while Ray Allen was scoreless and Paul Pierce only had four points, than it is cause for optimism that Cleveland barely lost on a night when LeBron had only 12 points. The chickens may well come home to roost in this series for the Cavs' offense.

Meanwhile...

I'm a big fan of Dick Stockton, who called the game for TNT. A real pro, and one of the best in the business. His voice and pro basketball are synonymous for an entire generation of fans.

But what was up on Tuesday? It was odd to hear him repeat, time after time after time, "LeBron James has only one basket" -- not because I'm partial to the Cavaliers, but because there's so much more going on in any game than one person's highs or lows. It seemed like every time the Cavs had the ball in the fourth quarter, Stockton repeated that James was struggling, James was unable to get in a rhythm, James had "only one basket." It was as if no one else was on the floor for Cleveland. When LeBron finally scored another field goal, it became "James has only two baskets." While it was true, it was also a case of overstating the obvious. Barely registering on his radar were the struggles of Allen and Pierce. A former Beantown broadcaster with the Red Sox, Stockton seemed to allow his allegiences to show through during the evening, particularly when he gushed about all the former Celtics in attendance who he remembered from those years.

A small thing, perhaps, but strange for being so noticeable. Not his finest moment.

And finally...

No problem with Kobe Bryant being the MVP, although it's amazing how much his stock rose once Pau Gasol arrived in L.A. But if James isn't motivated by being fourth -- fourth! -- in the MVP voting, then he needs a pulse. First things first, meaning the playoffs, but one suspects he'll have all the incentive he needs to elevate his game during the offseason. To improve on a single-season stat line that only Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan achieved before him could be a downright scary prospect for the rest of the NBA.