11/05/24
May 21, 2009
Cavaliers No Longer Undefeated in Playoffs: The underdog Orlando Magic opened up the Eastern Conference Finals with a 107-106 victory over Cleveland Cavaliers, despite LeBron James' 49 points. "This is one of the best games I've ever seen played by an individual," wrote Cavs the Blog of James' playoff-record performance, in a roundup of online responses to the game. "But for all history cares, he might've well gone 0-for-30."
posted by rcade to basketball at 11:34 AM - 11 comments
This sort of thing occasionally happened to his Lakers in Game 1s after long layoffs as well.
I don't know that I would attribute it to the long layoff. They certainly weren't rusty at the beginning of the game. At the end of the game, you would expect the more rested team to be the stronger one. That was definitely not the case here.
posted by bperk at 12:12 PM on May 21, 2009
It still was just a 1-point loss, wasn't it? I mean, a win is a win and a loss is a loss but it wasn't as if the Cavs were blown out. It was just a great game that the Magic won.
posted by BornIcon at 12:24 PM on May 21, 2009
How can you attribute this loss to rust when the Cavs led by 15 points at the half? I think a more likely explanation is that the Cavs so thoroughly outmatched their opponents in the last two rounds that they weren't ready for a tough opponent, a mistake they're not likely to repeat.
I expect the Magic to win this series, though it'll go 6 or 7.
posted by rcade at 12:30 PM on May 21, 2009
I expect the Magic to win this series, though it'll go 6 or 7.
I'm making no predictions because mine are always wrong. But, I can't figure out why so many people were predicting that the Magic couldn't hang with the Cavs at all. The Magic aren't exactly scrubs, and the Cavs regular season record against the strongest East teams wasn't great.
posted by bperk at 12:42 PM on May 21, 2009
I can't figure out why so many people were predicting that the Magic couldn't hang with the Cavs at all.
Probably because the powers that be (Stern, Disney/ABC, a good portion of the Sports Media™ and stakeholders in the corporate sponsors) were so busy having a massive circle-jerk thinking about the ratings bump and profit-spike a Kobe v. LeBron series would bring that they forgot that there actual games to be played before they can cash in.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:20 PM on May 21, 2009
I don't believe the Cavs were rusty either, they started strong and finished poorly. Even though I think that the big 1st half lead was fools gold, because Orlando was missing the shots in the 1st half that they made in the 2nd half. But the main error the Cavs made was the fact that LeBron was not guarding Hedo Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis all game.
I understand the idea of having LeBron play help defense and not get fatigued, so he can score more. But there are 2 major problems with that theory. One, Cleveland is a defense first team, they need to play to that strength and remain true to their identity. That is the way they've played all season and is what has made them successful. Two, Orlando gives Cleveland's frontcourt severe matchup problems. Turkoglu and Lewis can play away from the basket and take Anderson Varejao or Joe Smith out of their comfort zone. This just forces LeBron to double and help against Lewis, Turkoglu and Howard - which is is why he was so gassed and cramping at the finish.
Couch Brown needs to put LeBron on Lewis to start the game. I would try to limit his touches and keep him from getting off early and gaining confidence. Cleveland is pretty much conceding Howard his points anyway, but I would only double him when he faces up Ilgauskas and puts the ball on the floor. Then at the end of close games, I'd put LeBron on Turkoglu. Orlando runs their offense through him at the end of the game, so pressuring him could disrupt their sets and make it tougher to get open looks.
I still think Cleveland will win the series, but tactically they need to make changes - they can't win this series if every game is played between 100 - 110 points.
posted by MrNix67 at 04:50 PM on May 21, 2009
Everyone talks about how unstoppable LeBron and Dwight Howard are (with good reason), but who is going to lock down Rashard Lewis and Hedo? LeBron can't guard three people. I think this will be a tougher series than most predicted.
posted by brainofdtrain at 04:57 PM on May 21, 2009
Couch Brown
While he coached the game, as if he was sleeping on his couch, he really is Coach Brown. Sorry about that....
posted by MrNix67 at 05:04 PM on May 21, 2009
I can't figure out why so many people were predicting that the Magic couldn't hang with the Cavs at all.
The Cavaliers have appeared to be the best team in the East by a large margin and nothing the Cavs have done in the postseason has changed anyone's mind. The Magic look like a good team that has some big flaws and has had two tough series against depleted teams just to get this far. I'm not surprised that people overlooked the fact that this is a tough matchup for the Cavaliers.
Prediction: Fo-Fo-Six
posted by tron7 at 10:38 AM on May 22, 2009
They certainly weren't rusty at the beginning of the game. At the end of the game, you would expect the more rested team to be the stronger one.
yea, but if you watched after the end, LBJ looked like he as cramping something fierce. It could also be that the reverse is true- while rested, the players also get out of relative "game shape"
posted by jmd82 at 12:57 PM on May 22, 2009
Magic Johnson was saying on some show yesterday that if the Magic were going to win a game in the series, this was their best chance, given the long layoff the Cavs had. This sort of thing occasionally happened to his Lakers in Game 1s after long layoffs as well. And of course, they would generally go on to win the series. I expect the same sort of thing to happen here.