LeBron James has done just about everything he can in this series—except hitting a running 35-footer to win Game 4 last night—but since he seems to be doing it all on his own, that's not quite enough. After steamrolling the league's regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, the dream championship year destined to end his city's long and painful drought of winners is about to go up in smoke.

The problem is not with Mo Williams' guarantee, but with the assumption that it was based upon—that Cleveland was simply the better team and time would reveal that. Even after losing two games, blowing giant leads at home, and coming within one miracle three of a sweep, Williams and his team refused to believe that the Magic might be outplaying them; that they might have to adjust, find a new approach, or simply play harder. Because they had not been seriously challenged this season, they never understood how much trouble they were in—and now it's too late. NBA teams with a 3-1 lead in a series are 182-8 since the league was formed.

Meanwhile, if Dwight Howard can manage to not get thrown out of the series he's the one looking like the big superstar in this conference. His ten points in overtime were the difference in Game 4 and the Magic need just one more big performance from him to reach the Finals and crush on a city's dreams. Again.

Go to your happy place, Cleveland. And no, I don't mean Cedar Point.

Cavaliers' fans still faithful — but it's not easy [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Mo guarantee: Cavs guard fails to deliver late [AP]
LeBron's big night undone by key turnovers, Magic [ESPN]
Howard's determination lifts Magic over Cavs [Fox Sports]
Add 'The Choke' to Cleveland's cursed sports lore [CBS Sports]

Yes, freshman guard Elliot Williams managed to move back about six feet without actually bouncing the basketball he was carrying, but that doesn't mean there is some sort of national conspiracy to favor the Blue Devils in every aspect of the game. Frankly, I thought traveling rules had taken off the books years ago, but apparently all those mindless Duke haters see the fact that no whistle was called here as some sort of "unfair advantage" that violates the "spirit of the game" and "spits on the grave of Pete Maravich."

That's just basketball the Coach K way!

Duke's Elliot Williams Needs A Passport For This Travel [Brahsome]
In Durham, the Refs Let Dookies Take Many Steps [The Big Lead]
Gimme 12 Steps [850 The Buzz]

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Saturday that there was no signing bonus, but Williams' salary in 2009 could increase significantly over this year's base of $730,000.

The Miami tailback can increase his 2008 compensation with easily achievable incentives, the source said. Williams, 31, was scheduled to be a free agent in '09.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said Sunday that the team wanted to keep the 31-year-old running back so "he didn't become a free agent" after this season.

Williams hasn't played a complete NFL season since 2003, but has somehow won over Bill Parcells, the new czar of Dolphins football operations, so much that incumbent starter Ronnie Brown has been rumored to be shipped out of town. One could argue that Parcells has needed to mellow out for quite some time. Who in the league, then, would be better suited for the job?

Miami signs Williams to 1-year contract extension [ESPN]