- There have been three games in this series where things have bounced whole-heartedly in one team’s favor. Games 2, 4, and 5. Those games where everything goes right for one team and nothing goes right for the other. While people around the web are busy saying that the Magic are somehow shooting way too high, when in reality they’re shooting were only shooting 3% higher than what they shot against Cleveland in the regular season, Cleveland brought the heat tonight.
- Each of the games where things bounced either way went to the team it bounced to. The two that were tossups, the Magic are 2-0.
- Boobie Gibson is going to have to be what he was tonight for Cleveland to win this series. Mike Brown has to accept his defensive liabilities and trust in his total team defensive concept, which is great.
- Did JJ Redick pee on SVG’s pizza after the Boston series? Courtney Lee had a better box score than game. He forced several shots and his turnovers were at key moments.
- Just to review, the Cavs shot 50% from the field, 3.2% better than their season average. They shot 50% from the arc, 10.7% better than their season mark. Dwight Howard fouled out. Gibson had eleven points. The Cavs had a 23 point lead in the second quarter.
- So how in the hell was this even a game down the stretch?
- On the one hand, LeBron James could literally bend time and space, dunk, then pull an elephant out of his armpit and ride it around the stadium all the while raining one armed hook three pointers from the stands, and I would not be surprised. That’s how incredibly awesome he is.
- On the other, a late possession for the Cavs was literally, not literally like some people use when it’s for exaggeration so not actually literally, but literally, them standing around while James dribbled for 22 seconds then shot a pull up jumper from 17 feet. That he drained, of course. Well done on the shot, sir. But Jesus. Somebody move. If nothing else than just so I don’t think my DVR’s on the fritz.
- Turkoglu had a great game, so it was Lewis’ turn to struggle.
- Gortat was bad off the bench tonight. First time he’s struggled like that. Maybe SVG knows what he’s doing keeping him tethered to the bench after all.
- I made this comment on the Roundcast, but it bears repeating. I thought the Magic going up 3-1 would be horrible. This team plays terribly when it’s the favorite. It just doesn’t function well. Throw in the back-to-the-wall mentality, and you have a team shoot 50% from the floor AND the arc while everyone talks about the Magic just being hot in the OTHER 4 games. After Orlando won Game 4, I predicted they’d lose tonight AND lose Game 6. Can’t you see it?
- Game 7. Cleveland. The best home court in the league (regular season). The best player in the league (no doubt). The Orlando Magic are choke artists. This is LeBron’s legacy! This is history! This is vindication for Cleveland sports fans! This is…
- A twenty point blowout when the Magic “miraculously” shoot above 40% from the arc. That’s how I see it going down.
- It’ll be interesting to see if James has ANOTHER monster game in him. I mean, he’s young, so the exhaustion shouldn’t be a big deal. Then you realize he’s the absolute ONLY thing they had for the last seven minutes, and I mean, damn, even Achilles needed a nap now and then.
- Great game from Mo Williams. Too bad he’s shown himself to be a total toolbag in this series.
- Rafer obliged everyone and had an absolutely wretched game so we can all go back to saying how terrible he is. Thanks, Raf. Kind of you.
- The Cavs won by 10, the Magic shot terribly from the arc, and their bench still mauled Cleveland.
- I did like what Cleveland did for spots in this game defensively. They need to keep active hands, swipe at Howard on the inbounds pass, hedge and recover on the Turkoglu-Lewis pick and pop, and go after Rafer. It seems counterintuitive, but instead of just giving the terrible shot from their weakest players, force them into even worse decisions.
- Cleveland got their must win. We’ll see if Orlando can respond at home.
The Result Is All That Matters: Magic at Cavs, Game 5
If the Cavs win another game and force game 7, this could go down as one of the best non finals series ever. These have been come great playoffs.
Great post today talking about fans, playoff coaching and officiating: http://therookiecontract.com/
Why do you never breakdown West playoff games?
Well..the magic are missing jameer nelson.. bigtime.. He is rafer x2.. a 26 point game for him in the playoffs would NOT have been a surprise, and he would not have gone 1 of 11. Even when turk had his terrible 1 of 11 game, he scored 13 pts and had like a hundred assists.
Cavs seemed to now be willing to let Hedo come around those screens, give him space, and even get his if he's got it going, but don't give any space to Howard and the shooters. They didn't shoot that well for a reason.