Casey at the Bat

I try not to watch much SportsCenter these days – especially when they’re analyzing the upcoming NBA playoffs.

But it’s hard not to when you’re a Cleveland fan.

It’s hard not to sit right in front of the television and listen to every glowing report made about LeBron James and the Cavaliers. It’s hard not to put much stock in the team winning a franchise-record 60-plus games. It’s hard not to smile from ear to ear and wonder what could happen these next couple of months.

Then I remember why I’m so reluctant: I don’t want to jinx it.

Being from Northeast Ohio, you know not to expect things to go your teams way – even when it appears nothing can go wrong. I’m hoping this year’s team can be the exception to the rule, but I also know it can follow suit.

This is obviously the most special team in Cavs history. It has already surpassed Lenny Wilkens’ Mark Price-Craig Ehlo-Brad Daugherty-Larry Nance squads that twice posted 57 victories but never found championship glory because of a guy named Jordan.

With eight games still on the schedule, this year’s team could still top the 66 wins by last year’s reveled Boston Celtics.

The Cavs are the fourth Eastern Conference team to win 60 or more games since the 1997-98 season, the last year that guy named Jordan played for the Bulls.

They’ve had two winning streaks of 11 or more, including their current streak of 13 straight, and are an NBA-best 21-2 since the All-Star break.

And wins in their final four games at Quicken Loans Arena will make their home record at 40-1, something only the 1985-86 Celtics have done.

But those records and milestones aren’t what I’m concerned about as a Cavs fan.

I worry about centrifugal forces causing LeBron to break both legs and be out for the playoffs – and I’m talking really injured, not the occasional bang-up where he crashes to the floor dramatically and makes everyone think he’ll never play again.

I worry about Mo Williams, perhaps the greatest offseason acquisition in franchise history, being bound and gagged and not seen again until July when it’s too late.

I worry about Zydrunas Ilgasukas’ foot, Anderson Varejao’s hair and Mike Brown’s brain.

I worry even though this team rarely lacks killer instinct on either end of the floor. Even though this team, despite all the aforementioned stats, never seems to be overly confident and always seems to be hustling.

I just worry because something always happens.

So much of me wants to be able to sit back and enjoy this extremely enjoyable ride.

But until it’s all over, I’ll be knocking on wood.