On Confusion

To my Readers --

Many of you -- in no uncertain terms -- have expressed your frustration with me for claiming Cleveland was going to win it all unless the Lakers gave Shannon Brown more playing time. Let me assure you: it wasn't a claim.

In addition to being considered exceedingly handsome in the future (where people are much, much better-looking), I also have an airtight memory. There is no way the Cavs didn't win the 2009 title. I'm sure of it. Which brings us to an interesting question: who changed the future?

I considered whether there are others out there like me, whether I am now in a different universe -- similar but parallel. For my own reasons, I have not sought out family members, and so I don't know if everything's the same as I remember it. I certainly haven't sought out myself. But what I have done is read the news, check the scores, and follow the stock market, and what I find is consistent with what I remember. So, after all this, I came to the only logical conclusion: I had changed the future.

If you saw Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, you know Shannon Brown got crucial minutes and took his team from a seven-point deficit to an 11-point lead before leaving to a standing ovation. You also know his dunk over the Birdman was one of the great moments in Laker history. I can't say I'm amazed my blog has caught on so quickly that NBA head coaches are already taking strategy tips from it, but I am surprised. Whichever way you cut it, I changed the future.

Now, when one thing changes in the present, everything in the future is altered. I can't be sure why Shannon Brown getting playing time would suddenly prevent the Cavs from overcoming the Magic, but I can guess. LeBron obviously watched Game 5. He saw Shannon's dunk. Shannon's a former Cavalier. The Cavs wings had been struggling mightily in the playoffs. Especially on defense. And if you saw Shannon's defense against Chauncey Billups in the late-3rd, early-4th quarter, then you know Brown has the potential to be an All-NBA defender. And you know LeBron saw it, too. And it made him angry. And that anger had the slightest effect on his emotional outlook in Game 6. And that's why he had his worst game of the playoffs.

I resolve from here on out to be much more careful about what I reveal. I now see the power of the Law of Unintended Consequences, and it scares me.