Eastern Conference Finals Match-up: (1) Cavs vs. (3) Magic

[Modifly]

Varejao can contain Howard with his excellent defense ( flopping )

That was so true..

[The X]

Magic in 7....Magic will barely hold on to series & send it back to a 7th game, & from there, their 3pt shooting prowess will break Lebron's heart

[NovU]

Cleveland doesn't have anyone who can stop Howard (please don't say Varejao or Wallace)

I beg to differ. Howard on offense is easily stoppable with Varejao or Wallace. Howard scores mostly on put backs and dunks. Even though he developed hook shots, he's still far from being a creative scorer. His freakish physical allowed him to average 20+ points, but it's tough to say Howard will be an unstoppable force in the paint against the best defensive and one of the best rebounding team. It will be up to Lewis and others to create open looks and chances on offensive end.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Cleveland doesn't have anyone who can stop Howard (please don't say Varejao or Wallace)

But like I said, Varejao can flop with the best of them. If he can do that and get a couple of calls on Howard early on, he takes an early seat and the Magic can't exploit that advantage. It's not shutting someone down in the traditional sense but I'd be surprised if they couldn't get it to work at least once in the series.

I highly doubt that Varejao's flopping will work to his advantage during this series. The refs haven't been too fair with the Magic to begin with (and I am truly not saying this as a Magic fan), but Dwight is usually allowed a lot of contact in the post. A lot of fouls aren't called on the defense, and at the same time Dwight is allowed to push around. I haven't really seen many offensive fouls called on Dwight these playoffs. He's too smart to fall for Varejao's flops.
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This could work both ways. If Hedo and Lewis keep on driving on James and get him in foul trouble Cleveland is next to helpless.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Cleveland doesn't have anyone who can stop Howard (please don't say Varejao or Wallace)

I beg to differ. Howard on offense is easily stoppable with Varejao or Wallace. Howard scores mostly on put backs and dunks. Even though he developed hook shots, he's still far from being a creative scorer. His freakish physical allowed him to average 20+ points, but it's tough to say Howard will be an unstoppable force in the paint against the best defensive and one of the best rebounding team. It will be up to Lewis and others to create open looks and chances on offensive end.

You didn't really say anything with that post... but still... Howard is extremely creative. One can argue that the hook shot is more of a weakness than a strength on his off nights.

Howard is capable of pulling off spin moves in the paint, of switching hands, of backing down defenders, and most importantly of establishing position over the defenders and establishing a lane for the easy pass.

Of course he gets most of his points on dunks (not necessarily put backs). What do you expect him to do? Shoot 20 footers?

[Lamrock]

SVG will make Turkoglu be the first option on offense, and that is why the Cavs will win in 5.

[NovU]

You didn't really say anything with that post...

[MikeMan™]

Cleveland doesn't have anyone who can stop Howard (please don't say Varejao or Wallace)

I beg to differ. Howard on offense is easily stoppable with Varejao or Wallace. Howard scores mostly on put backs and dunks. Even though he developed hook shots, he's still far from being a creative scorer. His freakish physical allowed him to average 20+ points, but it's tough to say Howard will be an unstoppable force in the paint against the best defensive and one of the best rebounding team. It will be up to Lewis and others to create open looks and chances on offensive end.

You didn't really say anything with that post... but still... Howard is extremely creative. One can argue that the hook shot is more of a weakness than a strength on his off nights.

Howard is capable of pulling off spin moves in the paint, of switching hands, of backing down defenders, and most importantly of establishing position over the defenders and establishing a lane for the easy pass.

Of course he gets most of his points on dunks (not necessarily put backs). What do you expect him to do? Shoot 20 footers?

What is Patrick Chewing doing !? Dwight should've have a 20 ft. Jumpshot right now and a Duncan like moves in the paint .
He's still not a good post-player . He still got limited post moves . He's relying on his athleticism and strength a lot .

[shadowgrin]

SVG will make Turkoglu be the first option on offense, and that is why the Cavs will win in 5.

+1 on this.

[Andrew]

I highly doubt that Varejao's flopping will work to his advantage during this series. The refs haven't been too fair with the Magic to begin with (and I am truly not saying this as a Magic fan), but Dwight is usually allowed a lot of contact in the post. A lot of fouls aren't called on the defense, and at the same time Dwight is allowed to push around. I haven't really seen many offensive fouls called on Dwight these playoffs. He's too smart to fall for Varejao's flops.

I don't mean to say that he'll be fouling him out with flops throughout the series but Howard's already being whistled for an average of 4 fouls per game so far in the Playoffs. A couple of well-timed flops here or there could have him sitting at inopportune times. If I were the Cavs I wouldn't stake the whole series on it but with Varejao's flopping prowess it could work a few times at the right time.

[Oakrhum]

The whole Cleveland Cavaliers team is so irritating to watch. Players with headbands, tattoos, sleeves in both arms, non-graceful dribbling,gangstas…Magic, please knock them out.

[WickedNite]

damn. howard brought the shotclock down. lol.

[Oakrhum]

damn. howard brought the shotclock down. lol.

He shaqed the clock.

I like this particular angle. The camera is falling alongside the shot clock.



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LeBron James is still not graceful even when flopping.

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Whoa. What a game. LeBron got 49 of their 106 and yet they lose. Nice fight from the Orlando Magic.

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No need for extra-curricular activities, LeBron. That's just a cramp.

[Andrew]

The whole Cleveland Cavaliers team is so irritating to watch. Players with headbands, tattoos, sleeves in both arms, non-graceful dribbling,gangstas…Magic, please knock them out.

But players on the Lakers who have tattoos and wear headbands or sleeves are OK?

[WickedNite]

orlando won in the Q, 107 - 106. game winning shot from lewis (well a not buzzer beater lol).

[Lamrock]

Wow. What a great game. Like an inverse of the Nuggets/Lakers game.

[puttincomputers]

lebron was not cramping. he injured his ankle on the shot when he lost the ball on the way up.

[Oakrhum]

The whole Cleveland Cavaliers team is so irritating to watch. Players with headbands, tattoos, sleeves in both arms, non-graceful dribbling,gangstas…Magic, please knock them out.

But players on the Lakers who have tattoos and wear headbands or sleeves are OK?

Except for the tattoos, yes. I admit Iwas biased there. No one from the Lakers are wearing sleeves in both arms.

[tee-pane]

Wow, what a shocker!

[Oakrhum]

lebron was not cramping. he injured his ankle on the shot when he lost the ball on the way up.

That's worse if it's indeed true. I saw some blood. That's just a gash.

[Andrew]

The whole Cleveland Cavaliers team is so irritating to watch. Players with headbands, tattoos, sleeves in both arms, non-graceful dribbling,gangstas…Magic, please knock them out.

But players on the Lakers who have tattoos and wear headbands or sleeves are OK?

Except for the tattoos, yes. I admit Iwas biased there. No one from the Lakers are wearing sleeves in both arms.

I have to admit I did a bit of a double take when I saw a couple of players doing that, Ray Allen and Josh Smith are a couple of others who've taken to wearing two sleeves. It doesn't really bother me but it does seem like overkill unless a medical condition in both elbows makes them both necessary. Whatever works I suppose, players would probably still be wearing the tights if the NBA didn't outlaw them.

[Modifly]

Orlando pulled off game 1. I didn't get to see the game live but I had it recorded and will watch it later when I get home. Should be worth the harddisk space, by the way, did Dwight brought down the shot clock?

[Oakrhum]

Yes, he did brought down the shot clock.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Now that was a beautiful win.

Man, that first quarter had me all depressed.

But then, in completely uncharacteristic fashion... the Magic exploded.

Most critics of the NBA (College ball fans) say that the NBA is way too superstar oriented. The Magic proved that a team game surpasses a single superstar performance.

We deserved the win, and we got it. We were the better TEAM.

I don't know if we'll win on Friday... all the signs point against it, but still... damn.

The calls were going against the Magic all the way, especially in the first half, yet we surpassed. I'm sure that 99% of the people watching were expecting the Magic to fall apart.

Props to Stan for not letting that happen.

Props to Lewis for an amazing clutch shooting.

Props to the bench which dominated the Cleveland bench.

That was one of the most beautifully executed second halves I've ever seen the Magic play.

All in all... I've been watching the Magic religiously for the last four years, and I'm honestly impressed.

[Bruce]

Now it starts to get interesting. Since the LAL-DEN game was a really close fight and the CAV-ORL game proved to be a shocker, I think everyone who are still in the playoffs has a solid chance of taking home the championship trophy.