Goodbye, 60-win Cinderella

There's no team more dangerous than Cleveland in Game 7 of a series they should have won in six.

Good morning. It's time for the conference finals. Let's basketball.

The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, eventually winning 125-94. It was somehow a bigger beatdown than what Detroit gave Cleveland in Game 6, which had us questioning whether the Cavaliers even wanted to be in the Eastern Conference Finals. But while the Pistons had some questions of fight and focus in Game 7, this was all about pure talent. Cleveland just has more.

The Cavaliers had the four best performers in this game, and over the course of the series might have had four of the best five performers overall.

Donovan Mitchell was in complete control from the opening tip, and took his place as a creator after deferring that work to James Harden most of the series. He finished with eight assists and zero turnovers, plus a reasonably efficient 26 points. Evan Mobley might have been better: he was dominant on defense and hit the right marks on offense, finishing plays and setting up his teammates with the correct pass almost every time. He finished with 21-12-6-2-2 and shot 7/10 from the floor. Jarrett Allen put on the sunglasses; the lights didn't seem all that bright. Twenty-three points in 25 minutes. And mighty Sam Merrill, who has been in a way a bellwether for the team all season, especially with heart-and-soul Max Strus limited until late, hit five threes en route to 23 points and showed guts on defense.

Hell no. Ain't no way I'm taking a charge from a Thompson twin. I don't care if it's Game 7. I value my life and health!