With all those last-minute losses, the coach's point was clear. The difference between the Knick complementary players and the Cavaliers complementary players was not major. With King James aboard, the belief was the Knicks were at very least a top-four team in the Eastern Conference.

The developments of the past eight days has furthered that theory, given increasing hope James will consider coming to Broadway in 2010. His dream of winning a title in Cleveland could be crushed as soon as tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.

Shockingly, the Magic lead the Eastern Conference Finals 3-1 - a development that should thrill the Knicks brass descending upon Chicago for today's NBA Draft Combine. Since 1947, teams with a 3-1 lead have a 182-8 record in winning the series.

As the Cavaliers steamrolled through the season with a league-high 66 wins and waltzed through the first two rounds unbeaten, there didn't seem a doubt James was headed to the finals. And the imminent James' first championship would derail thoughts of leaving his northeast Ohio throne.

But on the way to a Cleveland dynasty, Orlando happened and it's no fluke. The Cavaliers' supporting cast has let James down just like the past few years.

Following Orlando's 116-114 overtime victory Tuesday night, James didn't sound confident his teammates would be able to help the Cavaliers climb out of the 3-1 hole.

"We are looking forward to the challenge," James said. "I know I am. So I will be ready and I think our guys will be ready also."

Not exactly unwavering support for his mates. In a series in which James has averaged 42 points and made a miracle game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer, the Cavs are getting exposed again as a one-man band.

Following the Knicks' cap-clearing trades on Nov. 21, rare was the day a Knicks fan wouldn't ask me about the chances of landing James in 2010.

My stock answer was it looked bleak, that James was all about winning championships, and the Cavaliers may have built themselves a championship team. Why would he want to leave a place where he can start a dynasty?

At closer inspection, this "dynasty" is a collection of veterans - other than James - who probably aren't getting better in the future. Mo Williams, the supposed starry sidekick, has made more noise for his series guarantee than with big, clutch shots. Williams went scoreless in the fourth quarter and overtime Tuesday, very Knicks -like.

The Cavaliers have aging players past their primes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and so forth. Their two young vets, Anderson Varejao and Delonte West, are already in their fifth seasons and are who they are.

In comparison, Knicks building blocks, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari - and possibly either Nate Robinson or Stephen Curry - don't look so bad.

In this series, Orlando simply looks to be the better team, better coached and with perimeter forces Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, even Mickael Pietrus aiding Dwight Howard's inside dominance. James is carrying too heavy a load. Despite his brilliance Tuesday, he committed eight turnovers because of fatigue.

A conference-final knockout in what was once hailed the greatest year in Cavaliers history will become a monumental disappointment for James. His glowing remarks about not looking to leave, being thrilled with the franchise's future will look empty. A July 1 contract extension? Can't see it happening.

As reported here last week, the Knicks sold almost as many new season tickets (950) in the last month as they did all last offseason because of the prospect of James. There still are skeptics who ask, "Why would LeBron come to the Knicks ?" and who criticize the media's endless speculation.

This series is why!

Game 5 Tonight 8:30 TNT; WEPN (1050 AM)