Cavs Disappear Magically
The Orlando Magic finished the third act of what is turning out to be their four part show in the NBA playoffs. The Magic made the Cleveland Cavaliers disappear over the weekend.
Orlando beat Cleveland, 103-90, Saturday to win the Eastern Conference title and advance to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Orlando’s 4-2 series victory over LeBron James and the Cavs was a nifty trick. The Cavs came in as favorites, holding home court advantage earned by posting the league’s best regular season record (66-16).
The Cavs breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping both series 4-0, first against Detroit, then against Atlanta.
Orlando on the other hand, needed six games to eliminate Philadelphia in the first round and went the distance against Boston before winning the series, 4-3.
But Dwight Howard and the Magic proved to be too much for Cleveland, on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
Howard had what might have been the best game of his career Saturday to secure the conference title and eliminate Cleveland. The powerful 6-11, 268 pound Howard scored 40 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Orlando’s balanced scoring was too much for Cleveland throughout the series and in the last game it was no different. In addition to Howard, Rashard Lewis hit 18, Michael Pietrus 14, Rafer Alston 13 and Hedo Turkoglu 10.
While LeBron scored more than 35 points in all but the last game of the series, he was not the beast he was in the first two rounds. Howard’s muscular presence in the paint is why.
Howard showed why he was voted the defensive player of the year. LeBron’s was not able to have his way in the paint and Orlando did not have to leave Cleveland’s perimeter shooters open to stop LeBron inside.
Cleveland also did not have a supporting cast strong enough to defeat the balanced Orlando attack.
That balanced strength gives Orlando a good shot to defeat the Lakers in the finals. Kobe Bryant may have a bigger bag of tricks for getting open for shots.
But Howard’s presence underneath will keep Kobe from getting inside for driving layups and close range shots.
The Lakers have more talent and power underneath to combat Howard than Cleveland did, though.
For power, the Lakers have 7-foot, 285 pound Andrew Bynum and 6-10, 230 pound Lamar Odom. For agility and talent under the basket LA has 7-foot Pau Gasol, who can shoot with both his left and right hands.
Orlando’s Lewis is 6-10 and can handle the ball and drive like a guard. Teammate Turkoglu is also 6-10 and is a fantastic 3-point and mid-range jump shooter.
The Lakers have the home court advantage in this series, which begins Thursday. Orlando has a real shot at winning the title but I will pick LA because of Kobe’s strengths, LA’s ability to wear down Howard and the home court advantage.
The series goes the distance, though, I think. I pick LA in seven.
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