Orlando, Fla. ? Mo Williams showed the emotion of a difficult end to a promising Cleveland Cavaliers season early in the morning Sunday.

Williams, who walked to the podium because LeBron James left the locker room quickly after the Cavs had been eliminated from the playoffs, went out of his way to thank the team’s fans.

“I think they deserve a lot of credit for what they have done for us throughout the season, packing the (Quicken Loans Arena), being as loud as they are, supporting us the way they do,” Williams said.

He talked more, and as he talked, his voice quivered, and with each word, his eyes got redder and redder.

There was some kind of special bond between the Cavs and the fans this season. A loss in the Eastern Conference finals does not change that.

It was so special, it’s hard to envision it being that strong again.

Which is where the other picture of the emotions of Saturday night comes in.

When the game ended, James took two quick looks around the court, then strode right to the locker room.

He shook no hands, greeted nobody except Oscar Robertson, standing in the tunnel so he could take part in the postgame ceremony.

The NBA prides itself on its sportsmanship, and one of the great sights for the league every year is when players shake hands and embrace after hard-fought series.

For the second year in a row, James walked off the court without shaking a single hand.

A year ago in Boston, he addressed the media.

On Saturday, he dressed quickly, donned his headphones and walked directly to the team bus. He talked to no one — until Sunday afternoon.

“I didn’t have much to say,” James said at the team’s practice facility. “Congratulations to the Orlando Magic. They played an unbelievable series and they deserved it. I didn’t have much to say.”

James said he sent an e-mail to Olympics teammate Dwight Howard to congratulate him. He said the post-series handshake is just not in his DNA.

“It’s hard for me to congratulate someone after you lose to them,” James said. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. But somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them on beating you up. That doesn’t make sense.”

James remains one of the league’s most accessible players, which is more than impressive, given his superstar status.

But James does carry the NBA banner, and win or lose, the NBA is proud that its players stand up and address questions.

Showing sportsmanship after a series can not only be a good example to others, but also can make an athlete into more of a winner. James, who respects the game and his opponents, will understand that the more he plays.

The Cavs had a lot of fun this season with their pregame photo shoots (mocked by the Magic after Game 6) and their handshakes. Shaking hands despite the anger and disappointment shows respect.

But part of what makes James great is his competitiveness, which is rare.

And every word James used and every body action he exuded as the series progressed indicated he expected to win — even when the Cavs fell behind, 3-1.

The Cavs simply could not cope with the Magic’s combination of inside power and outside shooting. Though three games were close, it always seemed like the Magic scored with little effort, while every Cavs possession was a struggle.

“This series was very interesting,” James said. “It could have been easily 4-2 Cavs or 4-0 Orlando.”

The hurt will linger for fans, especially because the loss will do nothing to quell the speculation and angst that James will depart in 2010 as a free agent.

James knows the Cavs will offer him an extension this offseason, but said he didn’t know whether he’d sign it until he had more time to think and reflect.

James has given strong indications during the playoffs that he intends to stay, but until he re-signs, the angst will flow.

He did make one statement that might stop a lot of local laments: Losing this series has not affected how he feels about playing in Cleveland long term.

“It doesn’t,” he said. “I’ve always expressed the simple fact that I love playing here. The fans are great, have always been great, like I said before, since I was an 18-year-old kid. Losing this series doesn’t affect the way I will continue to approach the game here in Cleveland.”