Carmelo Anthony and the new-look Knicks were crushed by Cleveland 115-109 at Quicken Loans Arena Friday. The dreadful but diligent Cavaliers bested New York in Anthony’s second game since being traded from Denver. The Cavs won for just the 11th time this season behind five double digit scorers. Veteran forward, Antawn Jamison, led the way with 28 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Hickson scored 24 to go along with a game-high 15 boards in the win. Anthony tallied 27 points, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. New York’s A’mare Stoudemire led all scorers with 31 points and contributed five blocks. The 6’10” Stoudemire is still adjusting to life with Anthony on his side. Both players undeniably excel at succeeding individually, but are unfamiliar with playing together. It could take a while before the Knicks begin to mesh. Last night, New York took Cleveland too lightly and paid for it.
Baron Davis was sidelined during the second half for Cleveland, but the Cavs still scored 62 in his absence. Cleveland took advantage of New York’s confused defense and utilized their scrappy roster to put up 115 points overall. Anthony scored 14 first quarter points as the Knicks led 30-28 heading into the second stanza. The home team rebounded to post a 25 point second quarter that tied the game at the break. Jamison’s offensive rebounds proved the difference in the second half. Ramon Sessions added 12 buckets, including nine free throws for the Cavs, who shot 70% from the foul line. New York quickly fell behind, scoring just 22 to Cleveland’s 30 in the third quarter.
Chauncy Billips pocketed 20 fourth quarter points for the Knicks and finished the game with 26. Billips’ jumper with two minutes to play cut the Cavs’ edge to 103-101. The short-handed Cavs would not be denied. Instead, they canned the Knicks by working the shot clock down and relying on swift shooting Daniel Gibson to hit a late three. Gibson’s launch made it a five point Cleveland lead with thirty ticks and was the real dagger for New York’s comeback hopes. Anthony came through with a layup to trim the lead to three, but missed a free throw and was fouled out on the next play. Anthony notched just 11 points through the last three quarters and left with a numb elbow. Stoudemire ironically seemed to do his best scoring with Anthony on the bench. Cleveland held the edge on the boards 62-42 and was able to outwork New York for their second win against the Knicks this season.
Parting Points: Yankees’ Spring Training opener today!
Showing posts with label Cleveland Cavaliers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleveland Cavaliers. Show all posts
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Crippled Cavs
Questions frequently asked: Is Brett Favre really retired? Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame? Can the Cavs really win without LeBron James? The answer to all three should be a resounding YES. I believe Favre is done. I think Rose should be in the Hall no matter how many times he placed bets on the game. And, yes Cleveland can most certainly win a championship without James…it might just take an enormous effort and colossal changes. One man does not make a team. However, one man’s absence does impair one.
If Cleveland excels at anything, it’s losing. The crippled Cavs are on the verge of breaking a single season record for consecutive losses. Memphis handed the Cavs their 23rd straight loss in a Friday night 112-105 drubbing at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies turned a one point fourth quarter deficit into a 13-0 run to seal the deal. It seems only fitting that the Cavs lost 23 a year after #23 exited for sunny skies in Miami. Zach Randolph propelled the Grizzlies with 29 points and 13 rebounds against the league’s worst team. The Cavs are now just 8-42 on the season. Cleveland hasn’t won a game since beating the Knicks in overtime on December 19th. Friday’s win gave Memphis a season best five in a row and eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Grizzlies roared back after Cleveland controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. J.J. Hickson tied a career high with 31 points for the visiting team. Hickson had a hard time handling Memphis’ monster front line. The 6’9” Cavalier brought down nine defensive rebounds and finished with a total of 15, but his team failed to close it out in the end. The Cavs forced eight first quarter turnovers and held the Grizzlies in check for most of the half. Rudy Gay drained 26 points and Mike Conley added 21 in the win. Ramon Sessions had a big game, with 20 points, for Cleveland. Antwan Jamison tallied 19 in the loss, but made just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Cleveland took advantage of the Grizzlies’ 2-3 zone and the absence of Marc Gasol. Gasol sat out with three fouls as he watched his team fall behind by ten points midway through the first period.
The Cavs closed out half number one with a 6-2 run despite the Grizzlies hitting their first ten shots of the night. Cleveland led 59-52 at halftime and carried a 12 point advantage into the third quarter before allowing it to slip away. The Cavs committed 10 turnovers that proved costly and cost them the lead. Meanwhile, Memphis out-rebounded the visitors and dominated the free throw line. The Grizzlies shot 90% from the charity stripe. The home team rallied to take an 83-80 edge late in the third stanza. The Cavs fought back fiercely to maintain the lead and succeeded in re-taking it heading into the fourth quarter on Jamison’s layup. Cleveland crumbled from there, allowing the Grizzlies to put up 13 straight points. Randolph collected 11 fourth quarter buckets to help Memphis coast to their eighth win in nine tries.
Parting Points: Kevin Love is replacing Yao Ming on the All-star team. Wow, really? Ming can’t play?
Congrats to the NFL Rookies of the Year- Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh.
If Cleveland excels at anything, it’s losing. The crippled Cavs are on the verge of breaking a single season record for consecutive losses. Memphis handed the Cavs their 23rd straight loss in a Friday night 112-105 drubbing at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies turned a one point fourth quarter deficit into a 13-0 run to seal the deal. It seems only fitting that the Cavs lost 23 a year after #23 exited for sunny skies in Miami. Zach Randolph propelled the Grizzlies with 29 points and 13 rebounds against the league’s worst team. The Cavs are now just 8-42 on the season. Cleveland hasn’t won a game since beating the Knicks in overtime on December 19th. Friday’s win gave Memphis a season best five in a row and eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Grizzlies roared back after Cleveland controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. J.J. Hickson tied a career high with 31 points for the visiting team. Hickson had a hard time handling Memphis’ monster front line. The 6’9” Cavalier brought down nine defensive rebounds and finished with a total of 15, but his team failed to close it out in the end. The Cavs forced eight first quarter turnovers and held the Grizzlies in check for most of the half. Rudy Gay drained 26 points and Mike Conley added 21 in the win. Ramon Sessions had a big game, with 20 points, for Cleveland. Antwan Jamison tallied 19 in the loss, but made just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Cleveland took advantage of the Grizzlies’ 2-3 zone and the absence of Marc Gasol. Gasol sat out with three fouls as he watched his team fall behind by ten points midway through the first period.
The Cavs closed out half number one with a 6-2 run despite the Grizzlies hitting their first ten shots of the night. Cleveland led 59-52 at halftime and carried a 12 point advantage into the third quarter before allowing it to slip away. The Cavs committed 10 turnovers that proved costly and cost them the lead. Meanwhile, Memphis out-rebounded the visitors and dominated the free throw line. The Grizzlies shot 90% from the charity stripe. The home team rallied to take an 83-80 edge late in the third stanza. The Cavs fought back fiercely to maintain the lead and succeeded in re-taking it heading into the fourth quarter on Jamison’s layup. Cleveland crumbled from there, allowing the Grizzlies to put up 13 straight points. Randolph collected 11 fourth quarter buckets to help Memphis coast to their eighth win in nine tries.
Parting Points: Kevin Love is replacing Yao Ming on the All-star team. Wow, really? Ming can’t play?
Congrats to the NFL Rookies of the Year- Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Bowing in Boston
Kevin Garnett turned in 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics past the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Boston eliminated the number one seed 94-85 at TD Garden Thursday night to move on to the conference finals. Two-time MVP, LeBron James, recorded his sixth career playoff triple-double in what could be his final game as a Cavalier. James finished with a game high 27 points and added 19 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss. The Cavs were ultimately doomed by turnovers, including nine by James. Despite Cleveland’s bounce back effort from Tuesday’s trouncing and their aggressiveness, the Cavs’ season fell short of the finals for the second straight year. Boston staved off the top seed and will face the Orlando Magic for a chance to return to the championship game for the first time since 2008. The Magic will have home court advantage because they are seeded second.
Cleveland showed a credible spirit and James set the tone early in the contest. Still, the Celtics held the Cavs under 90 points for the third straight game. Mike Brown’s team shot just 38% and James was successful on 8-of-21 from the floor. The soon-to-be free agent, James, may have been crippled by an injured elbow, but he still resembled the25 year old league MVP with nifty dunks, leg pumping jumper and backdoor darts to the basket. Garnett was strong in the post for Boston as the previously injury-plagued Celtics delivered a post-season performance to remember. Boston’s Big Three tandem of Garnett, Paul Peirce and Ray Allen combined for 43 points. It was Rondo and Garnett sparking the Celtics after the intermission, in which Boston held a 51-49 edge. Garnett landed his third double-double of the series.
The Cavaliers stayed close for two quarters but the cohesive Celtics began pulling away in the third. Boston outscored Cleveland by seven in the pivotal third, charging the net with fast-break points. Cleveland’s 24 turnovers were too much to overcome and Boston capitalized with 27 points. Rondo snagged 12 rebounds and had 21 points, and Peirce plowed through Cleveland defenders for 13 points. Peirce’s 3-pointer with four minutes in the third put the Celtics up 65-58, giving the hosts some breathing room. Boston completed a 16-4 run before the start of the fourth quarter as the Cavs went to their bench for help. Boston’s bench was much deeper as Rasheed Wallace and Tony Allen combined for 23 points. Wallace knocked down a trey and Allen picked up a steal in the final five minutes of regulation with the Cavs trailing 88-74.
Mo Williams, who lifted the Cavs with 20 points during the first half, was ineffective in the second half. Shaquille O’Neal contributed 11 buckets in 24 minutes for visiting Cleveland and Anderson Varejao struggled offensively despite grabbing seven boards. It was the veteran Celtics’ forward stealing the show Thursday. Garnett was 11-of-19 from the field with key offensive rebounds. He was too tall and silky for the Cavaliers’ Antwan Jamison. Jamison went just 2-of-20 shooting against the clamped down Boston big men.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this offseason. It’s been another upsetting end for the Ohio native and city that hasn’t had a championship team since 1964. Boston gained the 4-2 series victory after reeling off three consecutive wins. The Cavs clearly allowed the Celtics back into the series. Credit Boston for shooting and distributing the ball well, and for playing outstanding defense.
Parting Points: Friday Firings Update- The Hawks dismissed Mike Woodson and the Royals let go of Trey Hillman.
Cleveland showed a credible spirit and James set the tone early in the contest. Still, the Celtics held the Cavs under 90 points for the third straight game. Mike Brown’s team shot just 38% and James was successful on 8-of-21 from the floor. The soon-to-be free agent, James, may have been crippled by an injured elbow, but he still resembled the25 year old league MVP with nifty dunks, leg pumping jumper and backdoor darts to the basket. Garnett was strong in the post for Boston as the previously injury-plagued Celtics delivered a post-season performance to remember. Boston’s Big Three tandem of Garnett, Paul Peirce and Ray Allen combined for 43 points. It was Rondo and Garnett sparking the Celtics after the intermission, in which Boston held a 51-49 edge. Garnett landed his third double-double of the series.
The Cavaliers stayed close for two quarters but the cohesive Celtics began pulling away in the third. Boston outscored Cleveland by seven in the pivotal third, charging the net with fast-break points. Cleveland’s 24 turnovers were too much to overcome and Boston capitalized with 27 points. Rondo snagged 12 rebounds and had 21 points, and Peirce plowed through Cleveland defenders for 13 points. Peirce’s 3-pointer with four minutes in the third put the Celtics up 65-58, giving the hosts some breathing room. Boston completed a 16-4 run before the start of the fourth quarter as the Cavs went to their bench for help. Boston’s bench was much deeper as Rasheed Wallace and Tony Allen combined for 23 points. Wallace knocked down a trey and Allen picked up a steal in the final five minutes of regulation with the Cavs trailing 88-74.
Mo Williams, who lifted the Cavs with 20 points during the first half, was ineffective in the second half. Shaquille O’Neal contributed 11 buckets in 24 minutes for visiting Cleveland and Anderson Varejao struggled offensively despite grabbing seven boards. It was the veteran Celtics’ forward stealing the show Thursday. Garnett was 11-of-19 from the field with key offensive rebounds. He was too tall and silky for the Cavaliers’ Antwan Jamison. Jamison went just 2-of-20 shooting against the clamped down Boston big men.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this offseason. It’s been another upsetting end for the Ohio native and city that hasn’t had a championship team since 1964. Boston gained the 4-2 series victory after reeling off three consecutive wins. The Cavs clearly allowed the Celtics back into the series. Credit Boston for shooting and distributing the ball well, and for playing outstanding defense.
Parting Points: Friday Firings Update- The Hawks dismissed Mike Woodson and the Royals let go of Trey Hillman.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Beaten Boston
The good news for Boston area sports enthusiasts was that the idle Patriots didn’t lose. The bad news: the Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox all lost Friday night. The BoSox were clobbered at Fenway Park by their New York archrivals 10-3 and the Bruins dropped an overtime game on the road in Philadelphia. But perhaps the most emphatic trumping occurred at Boston’s TD Garden, where the hometown Celtics allowed LeBron James and the Cavaliers to blow them out of the arena in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. James recorded 38 points as Cleveland topped the Celtics 124-95. The trio of Beantown losses is certainly blistering for the city’s fans. Another certainty stemming from Friday is the Celtics’ worst home defeat in playoff history. The Cavs have control of the series with a 2-1 edge.
James jammed 21 points in the first quarter for the new franchise post-season record. The MVP added eight assists, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks to his Game 3 stat sheet. He showed little signs of an ailing elbow that dominated the talk of the three day Cleveland layoff. Instead, he finished with an historical night and helped to salvage a split at TD Garden for the Cavs. Antawn James contributed 20 points and 12 boards for Cleveland but it was the other James who engineered the victory. LeBron bucketed 8-of-10 shots in the pivotal first quarter as the Cavs outscored the Celtics 36-17. James’ statement scoring spree in the opening quarter was followed up by more soft jumpers and aggressive drives to close out the half. Boston’s Paul Pierce missed his first six shots and the Celtics’ offense was frozen from the tipoff. The former Kansas guard didn’t find the basket until midway through the second quarter. By that time, the Cavs led by as many as 24 points. Pierce finished with 11 points, shooting 4-for-15. James attacked the Boston defense early and the game never really was a close contest. He was the tone setter for the top seed Friday night. Five Cavs scored in double figures, energized by the best player on the court. James operated as the dynamic force paving the way for a pulverizing performance.
Kevin Garnett sparked the home team with 19 points in 31 minutes on the hardwood. Garnett tried to outhustle Jamison, but instead was frustrated and held to just one assist. Ray Allen was just 2-of-9 from the field with 7 points on the night. Boston’s Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) were a collective 2-for-10 in the first quarter as the Celtics fell into a 36-17 hole. Rajon Rondo lit a fuse on the floor for Boston with a solid 18 point effort. Rondo was still limited by the Cavs’ feisty defense, notably Anthony Parker. Parker applied full court pressure and stretched the floor as the Celtics often found themselves without open looks and whistled for fouls. Shaquille O’Neal drained 12 points and 9 rebounds and Delonte West knotted 14 points while going perfect from the line. Guard Mo Williams drilled 12 points in the win. The Celtics were just 4-of-17 from long range and managed 43% from the field. Even their size advantage wasn’t advantageous for a beaten Boston. They were overwhelmingly outrebounded 45-30 and had a hard time leaving an impression in the paint. Cleveland stampeded the paint, posting 50 points inside. The resilient Cavs never trailed by less than 20 points after halftime.
Parting Points: What a dreary and rainy Saturday…
James jammed 21 points in the first quarter for the new franchise post-season record. The MVP added eight assists, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks to his Game 3 stat sheet. He showed little signs of an ailing elbow that dominated the talk of the three day Cleveland layoff. Instead, he finished with an historical night and helped to salvage a split at TD Garden for the Cavs. Antawn James contributed 20 points and 12 boards for Cleveland but it was the other James who engineered the victory. LeBron bucketed 8-of-10 shots in the pivotal first quarter as the Cavs outscored the Celtics 36-17. James’ statement scoring spree in the opening quarter was followed up by more soft jumpers and aggressive drives to close out the half. Boston’s Paul Pierce missed his first six shots and the Celtics’ offense was frozen from the tipoff. The former Kansas guard didn’t find the basket until midway through the second quarter. By that time, the Cavs led by as many as 24 points. Pierce finished with 11 points, shooting 4-for-15. James attacked the Boston defense early and the game never really was a close contest. He was the tone setter for the top seed Friday night. Five Cavs scored in double figures, energized by the best player on the court. James operated as the dynamic force paving the way for a pulverizing performance.
Kevin Garnett sparked the home team with 19 points in 31 minutes on the hardwood. Garnett tried to outhustle Jamison, but instead was frustrated and held to just one assist. Ray Allen was just 2-of-9 from the field with 7 points on the night. Boston’s Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) were a collective 2-for-10 in the first quarter as the Celtics fell into a 36-17 hole. Rajon Rondo lit a fuse on the floor for Boston with a solid 18 point effort. Rondo was still limited by the Cavs’ feisty defense, notably Anthony Parker. Parker applied full court pressure and stretched the floor as the Celtics often found themselves without open looks and whistled for fouls. Shaquille O’Neal drained 12 points and 9 rebounds and Delonte West knotted 14 points while going perfect from the line. Guard Mo Williams drilled 12 points in the win. The Celtics were just 4-of-17 from long range and managed 43% from the field. Even their size advantage wasn’t advantageous for a beaten Boston. They were overwhelmingly outrebounded 45-30 and had a hard time leaving an impression in the paint. Cleveland stampeded the paint, posting 50 points inside. The resilient Cavs never trailed by less than 20 points after halftime.
Parting Points: What a dreary and rainy Saturday…
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Collapse, Concern in Cleveland
The Detroit Lions, always a team of concern, are making a big splash in NFL free agency. The much-maligned and losing franchise signed WR Nate Burleson and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch at the midnight kickoff of the free agent signing period. Detroit hardwood fans are more concerned about the health of the Pistons. Point guard, Rodney Stuckey, was hospitalized Friday after collapsing on the bench during a third quarter timeout at Quicken Loans Arena. The 23 year old was immediately taken to the Cleveland Clinic with symptoms of dizziness. He remains in stable condition. The Pistons, meanwhile, couldn’t out-duel the hometown Cavaliers on the court. Detroit allowed a nine point halftime lead to vanish and later let a six point advantage slip away in the final two minutes to lose 99-92.
LeBron James hung 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cavs. James added six assists, two steals and three blocks as Cleveland rallied to overcome a 21 point deficit in the first half. The Pistons knocked down 70% from the free throw line and Stuckey collected 12 assists. Detroit built a substantial lead against a soft Cleveland defense but failed to uphold their edge in the final quarter. Antwan Jamison and Anderson Varejao punished the visiting team with 16 points apiece. Varejao snagged 10 rebounds off the Cleveland bench. Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points. Richard Hamilton netted 21 and Charlie Villanueva finished with 12 for the Pistons. Stuckey, the second year Eastern Washington guard, had eight points before exiting in the third quarter. The Detroit guard was walking over to give advice to rookie teammate, Jonas Jerebko when he started to feel dizzy. The Pistons struggled after Stuckey’s departure, scoring just one basket during the rest of the quarter. Jamison notched a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and give the Cavs their first lead of the game. The former UNC player scored the next five points for Cleveland as the Cavs seized control late. The Cavs capped off a 14-3 run to take a 75-70 lead with just over ten minutes in regulation. Cleveland clearly got busy in the final quarter after being scorched on defense in the first half. The Cavs plopped in 20 of the 26 points following Stuckey’s collapse to win their sixth straight game and fifth straight over rival Detroit. James made 16-of-27 shots from the field on another excellent night for the All-Star. Delonte West provided a second half spark from the bench with stellar defense for the Cavs. Jamison’s clutch offense really put the stamp on Detroit’s advantage. He bucketed eight points in the final quarter to hand the 21-41 Pistons their sixth consecutive defeat. Friday’s night victory improves the Cavs’ record to 49-14 on a night James broke the franchise’s all-time minutes played record.
Parting Points: A few good pick-ups for NY football teams. The Jets acquired CB, Antonio Cromartie, and the Giants roll out the free agent money for safety, Antrel Rolle.
Not so good for the Steelers- Ben Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault.
LeBron James hung 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cavs. James added six assists, two steals and three blocks as Cleveland rallied to overcome a 21 point deficit in the first half. The Pistons knocked down 70% from the free throw line and Stuckey collected 12 assists. Detroit built a substantial lead against a soft Cleveland defense but failed to uphold their edge in the final quarter. Antwan Jamison and Anderson Varejao punished the visiting team with 16 points apiece. Varejao snagged 10 rebounds off the Cleveland bench. Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points. Richard Hamilton netted 21 and Charlie Villanueva finished with 12 for the Pistons. Stuckey, the second year Eastern Washington guard, had eight points before exiting in the third quarter. The Detroit guard was walking over to give advice to rookie teammate, Jonas Jerebko when he started to feel dizzy. The Pistons struggled after Stuckey’s departure, scoring just one basket during the rest of the quarter. Jamison notched a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and give the Cavs their first lead of the game. The former UNC player scored the next five points for Cleveland as the Cavs seized control late. The Cavs capped off a 14-3 run to take a 75-70 lead with just over ten minutes in regulation. Cleveland clearly got busy in the final quarter after being scorched on defense in the first half. The Cavs plopped in 20 of the 26 points following Stuckey’s collapse to win their sixth straight game and fifth straight over rival Detroit. James made 16-of-27 shots from the field on another excellent night for the All-Star. Delonte West provided a second half spark from the bench with stellar defense for the Cavs. Jamison’s clutch offense really put the stamp on Detroit’s advantage. He bucketed eight points in the final quarter to hand the 21-41 Pistons their sixth consecutive defeat. Friday’s night victory improves the Cavs’ record to 49-14 on a night James broke the franchise’s all-time minutes played record.
Parting Points: A few good pick-ups for NY football teams. The Jets acquired CB, Antonio Cromartie, and the Giants roll out the free agent money for safety, Antrel Rolle.
Not so good for the Steelers- Ben Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Cavs Curtail Celts
Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers captured the spotlight in the Eastern conference rivalry with the Boston Celtics. James scored 36 points in the Cavs’ creaming of the Celtics at TD Garden. Cleveland’s 108-88 victory ties them with Boston for the best road record in the NBA. The Cavs improved to 20-10 away from Ohio despite defensive depression in the first half. The Cavs assembled one of the finest second halves of the season to overcome the malaise. Cleveland held Boston to 22% shooting after halftime and outscored them by 28 points without Shaquille O’Neal. The Cavs limited the Celts to 3-of-21 shooting in the final quarter to snap a nine game losing streak in Boston.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Brawny 'Bron
LeBron James could use a little help. The brawny game-breaking MVP of the NBA dropped 41 buckets in another shooting spree Saturday. But it was Dwight Howard who propelled the Orlando Magic to a Game 3 home win over LeBron‘s Cavs. Howard’s 24 points against Cleveland put Orlando up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Superman’s high-flying, feverish intensity breathed new life into Orlando. A game in which the Cavs were coming off their best win in franchise history, Cleveland was outplayed by a mentally tough Magic team. There was no game-ending “Le Shot”(as some are christening the basket from James), in Game 3. Instead, the fervent Magic downed Cleveland 99-89 in a physical battle from tip-off.
Howard was dominant, but got himself into early foul trouble. He sat out for a majority of the first half, seeing only 28 minutes of court time. The Magic moved the ball around and got out to a fast start, regardless of Howard’s benching. Howard was 14-19 from the line after being criticized as an eminently poor free throw shooter. Orlando beat Cleveland from the line and in 3 point shooting. As a team, the Magic shot 35% from long range compared to the Cavs’ contemptible 19%. James was only 1-8 from the 3 point range and 18-24 from the charity stripe. LeBron missed an uncharacteristic five key free throws in the fourth quarter. The Cavs are relying too much on 3 point shots as their main ingredient. They need more production from Lebron’s teammates if they are going to stop the energetic, confident Magic. Cleveland continues to play cautiously, clank jumpers and turn the ball over carelessly. Too many needless free passes were called last night, in my opinion. There were 86 free throws combined between both teams.
Cleveland and Orlando did their best to decimate each other, leading to 58 personal fouls, two technicals and one personal foul being called. The Cavs did not get extensive aid from Mo Williams, Delonte West or Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilhauskas fouled out of the game for Cleveland and went an inexcusable 0-3 from the arc. Williams had 15 points, 7 boards and 3 assists, and West added 12 buckets with a rebound and 3 assists. The three walking wounded (Williams was hit in the eye in a sordid squirmish with Anthony Johnson) shot an unsightly 13 of 37 combined, and Williams was 5 of 16 alone.
After last April’s thumping, the Cavs have lost six of their last seven in Orlando. The Cavalier’s bench has been exposed this entire series. The crisp Magic create mucho match up problems for Cleveland’s defense. In Game 1, the Cavalier defense allowed Orlando to shoot 61% from the floor in the second half. They couldn’t get a good grasp on the Magic big men last night either. Rafer Alston posted 18 points for the marauding Magic. He also had 3 assists and 3 steals. Mickael Pietrus piled in 16 shots, grabbed 6 rebounds and 2 steals, and pummeled the Cavs with 2 blocked shots. Hedo Turkoglu gave Cleveland all they could handle with 10 rebounds and 7 assists in an Orlando team high 41 minutes on the hardwood.
The Cavs are still having trouble covering Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. The Magic double-whammy can shoot and defend the perimeter. Even Cleveland’s league-best defense cannot prevent the pounding from Orlando’s role players. Hedo went an entire quarter without registering a field goal, and the Magic still held the lead Sunday. Howard controlled the paint and made his free throws last night. When Dwight is doing that, his team is pretty unstoppable. The three put Cleveland at a disadvantage in the backcourt. The Orlando bottom-feeders are also bothering and smothering the Cavaliers. Cleveland will have to quickly respond with a solution to salvage the seven game series. In the first two quarters, Cleveland outscored Orlando by 28 points. It seems they get off to early leads, only to crumble and slow down in later quarters. The Magic have come back in all three games because of horrid starts.
James keeps Cleveland within striking distance by simply suiting up each day. He is the foundation of the team and inspires confidence. LeBron put on a clinic shooting the ball in Game 1, finishing with 49 points. His Game 2 classic clutch captured Cleveland’s heart for sure. And last night he took charge, but there is little more he can honestly do to carry the Cavs. The Cavs pulled within 4 points in the fourth quarter after Howard picked up his fifth foul with 2:34 on the clock. Pietrus came off the bench to pluck a pair of free throws, and the Magic appeared to be in control of the game with a 94-86 lead. But in stormed Superman. LeBron’s three point attempt was blocked by Howard. The referees issued Dwight another foul, this one for three shots. James was perfect from the line with little time remaining in the game. Williams missed an open 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining. Orlando simply outplayed their opponents to secure the ten point win.
If not for LeBron’s unbelievable game-winner Friday night, the Magic might be up 3-0 in this series, with hopes of closing it out in Game 4. Even after the devastating, gut-wrenching loss, the Magic had the momentum headed home for a third match. The Cavaliers failed to invade Orlando and win two in a row. The Magic are successful when doubling James at the 3-point line with Pietrus and Turkolglu. James’ team unravels around him as he seems to get better and better. Cleveland is successful (see Game 2) when they do not allow Howard to touch the ball. Orlando shipped the ball to Howard on five of their first six offensive possessions last night. His six noxious points rang for a 9-2 Orlando lead. When he was off the court, the Magic had to cling to a one point lead by intermission. The Cavs also play well when executing the pick-and-roll, freeing Williams for jump shots and creating opportunities at the corner. The All-star guard Williams has been missing in action this series. It is a problem that has plagued the Cavs. His shooting inefficiency mirrors many of his teammates, leaving James alone to defend the Magic and carry the Cavs. The results for Mike Brown’s team are not there. The defensive side of the floor has no mojo and the coach isn’t getting gritty games from his guards. Williams is an excellent shooter and Cleveland needs him to perform. If not, the one-man LeBron show is going to come to a grotesque end for the best team in the East.
Parting points: Happy Memorial Day. It’s unofficially SUMMER! Things that I love about summer include reading on the beach, listening to baseball games, the smell of suntan lotion, watching lightning bugs in my backyard, Hemingway novels and REM’s Reveal album.
Howard was dominant, but got himself into early foul trouble. He sat out for a majority of the first half, seeing only 28 minutes of court time. The Magic moved the ball around and got out to a fast start, regardless of Howard’s benching. Howard was 14-19 from the line after being criticized as an eminently poor free throw shooter. Orlando beat Cleveland from the line and in 3 point shooting. As a team, the Magic shot 35% from long range compared to the Cavs’ contemptible 19%. James was only 1-8 from the 3 point range and 18-24 from the charity stripe. LeBron missed an uncharacteristic five key free throws in the fourth quarter. The Cavs are relying too much on 3 point shots as their main ingredient. They need more production from Lebron’s teammates if they are going to stop the energetic, confident Magic. Cleveland continues to play cautiously, clank jumpers and turn the ball over carelessly. Too many needless free passes were called last night, in my opinion. There were 86 free throws combined between both teams.
Cleveland and Orlando did their best to decimate each other, leading to 58 personal fouls, two technicals and one personal foul being called. The Cavs did not get extensive aid from Mo Williams, Delonte West or Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilhauskas fouled out of the game for Cleveland and went an inexcusable 0-3 from the arc. Williams had 15 points, 7 boards and 3 assists, and West added 12 buckets with a rebound and 3 assists. The three walking wounded (Williams was hit in the eye in a sordid squirmish with Anthony Johnson) shot an unsightly 13 of 37 combined, and Williams was 5 of 16 alone.
After last April’s thumping, the Cavs have lost six of their last seven in Orlando. The Cavalier’s bench has been exposed this entire series. The crisp Magic create mucho match up problems for Cleveland’s defense. In Game 1, the Cavalier defense allowed Orlando to shoot 61% from the floor in the second half. They couldn’t get a good grasp on the Magic big men last night either. Rafer Alston posted 18 points for the marauding Magic. He also had 3 assists and 3 steals. Mickael Pietrus piled in 16 shots, grabbed 6 rebounds and 2 steals, and pummeled the Cavs with 2 blocked shots. Hedo Turkoglu gave Cleveland all they could handle with 10 rebounds and 7 assists in an Orlando team high 41 minutes on the hardwood.
The Cavs are still having trouble covering Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. The Magic double-whammy can shoot and defend the perimeter. Even Cleveland’s league-best defense cannot prevent the pounding from Orlando’s role players. Hedo went an entire quarter without registering a field goal, and the Magic still held the lead Sunday. Howard controlled the paint and made his free throws last night. When Dwight is doing that, his team is pretty unstoppable. The three put Cleveland at a disadvantage in the backcourt. The Orlando bottom-feeders are also bothering and smothering the Cavaliers. Cleveland will have to quickly respond with a solution to salvage the seven game series. In the first two quarters, Cleveland outscored Orlando by 28 points. It seems they get off to early leads, only to crumble and slow down in later quarters. The Magic have come back in all three games because of horrid starts.
James keeps Cleveland within striking distance by simply suiting up each day. He is the foundation of the team and inspires confidence. LeBron put on a clinic shooting the ball in Game 1, finishing with 49 points. His Game 2 classic clutch captured Cleveland’s heart for sure. And last night he took charge, but there is little more he can honestly do to carry the Cavs. The Cavs pulled within 4 points in the fourth quarter after Howard picked up his fifth foul with 2:34 on the clock. Pietrus came off the bench to pluck a pair of free throws, and the Magic appeared to be in control of the game with a 94-86 lead. But in stormed Superman. LeBron’s three point attempt was blocked by Howard. The referees issued Dwight another foul, this one for three shots. James was perfect from the line with little time remaining in the game. Williams missed an open 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining. Orlando simply outplayed their opponents to secure the ten point win.
If not for LeBron’s unbelievable game-winner Friday night, the Magic might be up 3-0 in this series, with hopes of closing it out in Game 4. Even after the devastating, gut-wrenching loss, the Magic had the momentum headed home for a third match. The Cavaliers failed to invade Orlando and win two in a row. The Magic are successful when doubling James at the 3-point line with Pietrus and Turkolglu. James’ team unravels around him as he seems to get better and better. Cleveland is successful (see Game 2) when they do not allow Howard to touch the ball. Orlando shipped the ball to Howard on five of their first six offensive possessions last night. His six noxious points rang for a 9-2 Orlando lead. When he was off the court, the Magic had to cling to a one point lead by intermission. The Cavs also play well when executing the pick-and-roll, freeing Williams for jump shots and creating opportunities at the corner. The All-star guard Williams has been missing in action this series. It is a problem that has plagued the Cavs. His shooting inefficiency mirrors many of his teammates, leaving James alone to defend the Magic and carry the Cavs. The results for Mike Brown’s team are not there. The defensive side of the floor has no mojo and the coach isn’t getting gritty games from his guards. Williams is an excellent shooter and Cleveland needs him to perform. If not, the one-man LeBron show is going to come to a grotesque end for the best team in the East.
Parting points: Happy Memorial Day. It’s unofficially SUMMER! Things that I love about summer include reading on the beach, listening to baseball games, the smell of suntan lotion, watching lightning bugs in my backyard, Hemingway novels and REM’s Reveal album.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Magic Miracle
Before the NBA season began, I predicted the Magic winning the Eastern conference. I was adamant about NOT choosing the defending champion Boston Celtics, and I thought if any team could take down LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, it would be Orlando. The two teams tip-off for the Eastern finals on Wednesday. The Cavs come into the game boasting the fact they are the first NBA team in history to win each of their first seven postseason games by double-digits. They steamrolled through the first and second rounds against inferior and injured teams in Detroit and Atlanta. The Cleveland Cavalier club is comprised of contact and connected contributors. Orlando has little chance of beating them, but I am still holding out hope for a Magic miracle.
The Orlando Magic enter Game 1 in Cleveland after a resounding Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics Sunday night. The Magic’s demonstrative defeat Sunday was the first time in 33 tries a team has overcome a 3-2 deficit against Boston. They dethroned the most storied NBA franchise and somehow have managed to survive some setbacks this post-season. Orlando handed the Cavs their worst loss of the regular season in April and hold a 2-1 series lead. It’s the first time since 1996 Orlando has advanced this far into the postseason. The Cleveland loss on April 3rd signaled the last time the Cavaliers were really challenged as a team. The Magic defeated them 116-87 in Orlando. Although the Cavs were not a well-rested bunch at the time, they were coming off a 13 game winning streak. Orlando snapped the streak, shooting better than 50 percent from the field and going ahead of the Cavs by an insurmountable margin. Wednesday marks the first ever playoff meeting between the teams. Orlando has dominated in recent seasons, winning eight of the past eleven. If the Magic are to whittle out wins in this series, they are going to need to a strong defense. The Orlando defense has stepped up and are going to have to contain show-stopping MVP, James.
James led the team in most offensive categories for the Cavs, but Mo Williams adds a final piece to Cleveland’s championship puzzle. Mo is an unselfish player and an All-star point guard. His three point shots can carry the offense when James does not get the ball. Delonte West, battling back from injury, can also help on defense. The former St. Joseph’s player does not contribute points offensively for the Cavs, but handles the ball well enough on the floor. The Orlando defense will have a difficult time trapping Cleveland with James, Williams and West as a tenacious trio. Rafer Alston was acquired from Houston in February and displays quirky shooting and quickness for Orlando. His penetration up front creates havoc and he is tough to defend when he isn’t turning the ball over. The rookie, Courtney Lee, may have found his form for the Magic as a mediocre shooting guard. His athleticism and speed make things happen. Duke product, J.J. Redick, was a terrific college player but his one-dimensional style is a bad match against the defensively-minded Cavs. He probably won’t get many splendid three points off. During the regular season, Cleveland held opponents to a league high 32 percent 3 point shooting. I give the Cavs the backcourt advantage because of Alston’s recent struggles and Redick’s inconsistency.
Head Coach for the Cavs, Mike Brown, will probably center defenders around Redick and All-star, Dwight Howard. During the April loss, Cleveland’s main problem was defending the outside shot. Brown’s game plan will focus on limiting Orlando’s looks. Look for the Cavs to attack Howard early and often. Howard has blossomed as an offensive juggernaut under the tutelage pf assistant coach, Patrick Ewing. Dwight has fantastic footwork and is a tough player to guard. Howard is prone to shaky free throw shooting but he finished the year leading the league in rebounding and blocked shots. The Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight has dominated, averaging 16 rebounds and three blocks each game of the postseason so far. He led Orlando with 12 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in the finale of the Boston series. Howard has to emerge as a leader if Orlando is going to have a chance. He was suspended in game one of the Philadelphia series for elbowing Samuel Dalembert. All eyes will be on Howard and James in this showdown series. The superstars have each elevated their games and carried their teams to new heights all year. James has been the game’s MVP this season by a wide margin. He also finished second in scoring with 28.4 points per game. LeBron lacks a consistent jump shot but his stunning style and unprecedented ability to carry his team make him a superlative star. LeBron’s presence practically outweighs any Orlando advantages. He renders it difficult to play on both sides of the ball with his spectral shooting and swatting slapdowns. James is a triple-double threat each and every time Cleveland hits the hardwood, especially at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs are an astonishing 43-2 at home.
Hedo Turkoglu, the Turkish shooter, has struggled this postseason. Orlando head coach, Stan Van Gundy, liked the intensity he saw from Turkoglu during the rout in Game 7 in Boston. Turkoglu put up 25 points and 12 assists in the game. Ten points were scored in the fourth quarter, setting a playoff career high. Van Gundy will call on Hedo late in the game if Orlando needs free throws because of Howard’s horrible history at the line. The big, versatile Turkoglu is no slouch but needs to play more explosively for Orlando in the next round. His 42 percent shooting won’t cut it against the best Eastern team. Seven foot Lituanian center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, is a deft passer with fine touch for the Cavs. His quiet contributions and consistency should make things more difficult for Howard on low blocks. He does lack quickness but his size and strength make up for the shortcoming.
The Cavs have a power forward in Anderson Varejao. His solid inside defense is his best attribute and he uses his energy to rebound shots down low. Howard presents a big problem for Cleveland, but with Varejao starting and Ben Wallace coming off the bench, the Cavs are equipped to handle him. Orlando counters with All-star, Rashard Lewis. Lewis has a solid offensive game, averaging 17 points during the regular season. Lewis’ specialty is the outside bucket and he has one of the game’s best strokes from the three point line. Lewis is also an excellent blocking defender and rebounded and averaged over 15 points against Cleveland during the regular season.
Both benches feature firepower but the Cavs may have more depth. Joe Smith, Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak are all capable of clutch plays. Brown signed Smith late in the season and he has been splendid ever since arriving alongside Lebron. The 14 year veteran forward is a quality reserve who plays well, flirting with finesse on the interior defensively. The big men of the bench for the Magic don’t stack up against Smith and Wallace. The Magic do not have the variety Cleveland enjoys in pine riders, Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus and Tony Battie. Johnson is a veteran point guard and Pietrus can rebound well. But, the Magic face a stern test against backcourt reserves Daniel Gibson and Szczerbiak. Both can fill in when hot and Wallace boosts the defense whenever he takes to court.
The Cavs are a team poised to win now. It will be an incredible miracle if the Magic win the series. I do not expect a Cleveland sweep this round. I believe Orlando has the guns to shoot their way to at least one win. It’s a credit to coach Van Gundy his team has already advanced this far. I know he took the blame for Game 4 in Boston, and Howard criticized him for Game 5, but Van Gundy did win 59 games. Howard knocked his head coach for not getting many touches late in the game and remarked about Van Gundy’s substitution patterns. Still, Orlando proved, with their effort in the deciding game, they wanted the series more than Boston. It would be tremendous if the Orlando effort paid off again against the Cavaliers. Brown is probably the more competent coach and his team won’t be suffering from fatigue after two easy sweeps. Orlando wrapped up a seven-game war in Boston Sunday but if they limit their mistakes and come out strong in Game 1, they may plug into the championship.
Parting points: Does anybody really like Theory of a Deadman’s song, “Hate My Life”?
The Orlando Magic enter Game 1 in Cleveland after a resounding Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics Sunday night. The Magic’s demonstrative defeat Sunday was the first time in 33 tries a team has overcome a 3-2 deficit against Boston. They dethroned the most storied NBA franchise and somehow have managed to survive some setbacks this post-season. Orlando handed the Cavs their worst loss of the regular season in April and hold a 2-1 series lead. It’s the first time since 1996 Orlando has advanced this far into the postseason. The Cleveland loss on April 3rd signaled the last time the Cavaliers were really challenged as a team. The Magic defeated them 116-87 in Orlando. Although the Cavs were not a well-rested bunch at the time, they were coming off a 13 game winning streak. Orlando snapped the streak, shooting better than 50 percent from the field and going ahead of the Cavs by an insurmountable margin. Wednesday marks the first ever playoff meeting between the teams. Orlando has dominated in recent seasons, winning eight of the past eleven. If the Magic are to whittle out wins in this series, they are going to need to a strong defense. The Orlando defense has stepped up and are going to have to contain show-stopping MVP, James.
James led the team in most offensive categories for the Cavs, but Mo Williams adds a final piece to Cleveland’s championship puzzle. Mo is an unselfish player and an All-star point guard. His three point shots can carry the offense when James does not get the ball. Delonte West, battling back from injury, can also help on defense. The former St. Joseph’s player does not contribute points offensively for the Cavs, but handles the ball well enough on the floor. The Orlando defense will have a difficult time trapping Cleveland with James, Williams and West as a tenacious trio. Rafer Alston was acquired from Houston in February and displays quirky shooting and quickness for Orlando. His penetration up front creates havoc and he is tough to defend when he isn’t turning the ball over. The rookie, Courtney Lee, may have found his form for the Magic as a mediocre shooting guard. His athleticism and speed make things happen. Duke product, J.J. Redick, was a terrific college player but his one-dimensional style is a bad match against the defensively-minded Cavs. He probably won’t get many splendid three points off. During the regular season, Cleveland held opponents to a league high 32 percent 3 point shooting. I give the Cavs the backcourt advantage because of Alston’s recent struggles and Redick’s inconsistency.
Head Coach for the Cavs, Mike Brown, will probably center defenders around Redick and All-star, Dwight Howard. During the April loss, Cleveland’s main problem was defending the outside shot. Brown’s game plan will focus on limiting Orlando’s looks. Look for the Cavs to attack Howard early and often. Howard has blossomed as an offensive juggernaut under the tutelage pf assistant coach, Patrick Ewing. Dwight has fantastic footwork and is a tough player to guard. Howard is prone to shaky free throw shooting but he finished the year leading the league in rebounding and blocked shots. The Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight has dominated, averaging 16 rebounds and three blocks each game of the postseason so far. He led Orlando with 12 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in the finale of the Boston series. Howard has to emerge as a leader if Orlando is going to have a chance. He was suspended in game one of the Philadelphia series for elbowing Samuel Dalembert. All eyes will be on Howard and James in this showdown series. The superstars have each elevated their games and carried their teams to new heights all year. James has been the game’s MVP this season by a wide margin. He also finished second in scoring with 28.4 points per game. LeBron lacks a consistent jump shot but his stunning style and unprecedented ability to carry his team make him a superlative star. LeBron’s presence practically outweighs any Orlando advantages. He renders it difficult to play on both sides of the ball with his spectral shooting and swatting slapdowns. James is a triple-double threat each and every time Cleveland hits the hardwood, especially at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs are an astonishing 43-2 at home.
Hedo Turkoglu, the Turkish shooter, has struggled this postseason. Orlando head coach, Stan Van Gundy, liked the intensity he saw from Turkoglu during the rout in Game 7 in Boston. Turkoglu put up 25 points and 12 assists in the game. Ten points were scored in the fourth quarter, setting a playoff career high. Van Gundy will call on Hedo late in the game if Orlando needs free throws because of Howard’s horrible history at the line. The big, versatile Turkoglu is no slouch but needs to play more explosively for Orlando in the next round. His 42 percent shooting won’t cut it against the best Eastern team. Seven foot Lituanian center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, is a deft passer with fine touch for the Cavs. His quiet contributions and consistency should make things more difficult for Howard on low blocks. He does lack quickness but his size and strength make up for the shortcoming.
The Cavs have a power forward in Anderson Varejao. His solid inside defense is his best attribute and he uses his energy to rebound shots down low. Howard presents a big problem for Cleveland, but with Varejao starting and Ben Wallace coming off the bench, the Cavs are equipped to handle him. Orlando counters with All-star, Rashard Lewis. Lewis has a solid offensive game, averaging 17 points during the regular season. Lewis’ specialty is the outside bucket and he has one of the game’s best strokes from the three point line. Lewis is also an excellent blocking defender and rebounded and averaged over 15 points against Cleveland during the regular season.
Both benches feature firepower but the Cavs may have more depth. Joe Smith, Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak are all capable of clutch plays. Brown signed Smith late in the season and he has been splendid ever since arriving alongside Lebron. The 14 year veteran forward is a quality reserve who plays well, flirting with finesse on the interior defensively. The big men of the bench for the Magic don’t stack up against Smith and Wallace. The Magic do not have the variety Cleveland enjoys in pine riders, Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus and Tony Battie. Johnson is a veteran point guard and Pietrus can rebound well. But, the Magic face a stern test against backcourt reserves Daniel Gibson and Szczerbiak. Both can fill in when hot and Wallace boosts the defense whenever he takes to court.
The Cavs are a team poised to win now. It will be an incredible miracle if the Magic win the series. I do not expect a Cleveland sweep this round. I believe Orlando has the guns to shoot their way to at least one win. It’s a credit to coach Van Gundy his team has already advanced this far. I know he took the blame for Game 4 in Boston, and Howard criticized him for Game 5, but Van Gundy did win 59 games. Howard knocked his head coach for not getting many touches late in the game and remarked about Van Gundy’s substitution patterns. Still, Orlando proved, with their effort in the deciding game, they wanted the series more than Boston. It would be tremendous if the Orlando effort paid off again against the Cavaliers. Brown is probably the more competent coach and his team won’t be suffering from fatigue after two easy sweeps. Orlando wrapped up a seven-game war in Boston Sunday but if they limit their mistakes and come out strong in Game 1, they may plug into the championship.
Parting points: Does anybody really like Theory of a Deadman’s song, “Hate My Life”?
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