While We’re Waiting…Cavs Tired?, Tense Tribe-Rays Series, OSU Baseball learns its fate
May 25, 2009While We’re Waiting… Eric Wedge Wins, Dwight Howard Gets “Techy”, and Josh Cribbs Practices
May 26, 2009Ken Hornack is a native Clevelander who was the Magic beat writer for the Daytona Beach News-Journal from 1989 to 2008. He writes free lance pieces for the News-Herald these days, and will be covering the series from Orlando. He gives us his take on the series.
“It wasn’t a pretty sight.”
LeBron James, the last person to appear at the podium in a succession of press conferences following Game 3, made that comment about an hour after the Cavaliers’ 99-89 loss to the Orlando Magic.
He was referring to Mo Williams’ face after the Cavs’ second-leading scorer was bloodied during the second quarter by an elbow from backup Magic point guard Anthony Johnson. But James might as well have been referring to the game itself.
The Cavs shot only 37.2 percent from the floor, including a horrid 5-of-26 performance from 3-point range. (A lot of those were desperation 3s during the final four minutes, so perhaps their 3-of-14 figure in that category through three quarters is a more accurate and discouraging stat.) They were whistled for 34 fouls that resulted in 51 Magic free-throw attempts — matching the number of foul shots that both teams combined to take in Game 2.
Heck, James even had not one but two shots of his blocked in the first half by Marcin Gortat, who might look like a younger and slightly shorter Zydrunas Ilgauskas but has provided more of a boost to the Magic than Z has to a team that won 66 games in the regular season.
It wasn’t a pretty sight.
After a pair of unbelievable finishes at the Q, asking for a third down-to-the-wire thriller was probably bordering on greedy. Besides, the Cavs would have gladly surrendered style points in exchange for a fifth consecutive road playoff victory.
And this was by no means a game in which the Magic did everything right. Hedo Turkoglu didn’t hit a field-goal attempt until there was only 3:39 remaining. Rashard Lewis was largely invisible during the second half (four points, one rebound, no assists). Dwight Howard played less than 28 minutes because of foul trouble and failed to block a shot.
They didn’t even need to erase a 16-point first-half deficit like in Game 1 or dig themselves out of a 23-point hole like in Game 2.
But aside from when the Cavs went on an 11-0 run after Howard went to the bench with his third foul, there was never a time when the Magic appeared in serious danger of relinquishing homecourt advantage. Two possessions early in the third quarter summed up the frustrations of the Cavs and their fans who ventured into semi-hostile territory to cheer them on: James’ potential game-tying 3-pointer pops out, and the Magic counter with a 3 from Courtney Lee to take a 54-48 lead.
Make no mistake, a considerable number of Cavs fans were on hand. That was evident by the booing that accompanied the shot on the video screen of Carlos Boozer being in attendance. But the Cavs will need more than the vocal support of a few well-wishers to avoid falling behind 3-1 in the series and avoid what would be their seventh loss in eight trips to Orlando dating back to March 2006.
Williams is now shooting a woeful 32.1 percent (18 of 56) through three games, while Ilgauskas hoisted up three 3-point attempts that could be charitably described as ill-advised. At least one sign-wielding Magic fan suggested that the best display of accuracy shown by Williams all series came when he drilled Howard with the basketball after a whistle during the first quarter of Game 2.
If the Cavs continue to come up short even with James scoring 49 and 41 points, the rhetorical question he posed to end his press conference might take on additional meaning:
“Is that it?”
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
24 Comments
We looked really really bad. My finger is on the panic button..
Mo and Delonte have to shoot better. If they do, the Cavs will win relatively easily. If they do not, the Cavs will lose. It’s that simple.
Can we please get DH out of the lane for one second, please!!! It’s like there should be a rule that dominant big men aren’t allowed to spend more than, say, 3 seconds in the lane at any one time…..
Losing because of poor shooting is better than what happened in game #1 and game #2. We were a mess, but we came back in game 3 with a plan. The plan worked, but Howard got lucky at the line.. not to mention that we couldn’t make a shot to save our lives.
So if the Cavs come out and get game 4 the series is 2-2 coming back to Cleveland. We have to protect homecourt from here on out and only get 1 of 3 in Orlando to win this series.
People are freaking out and not looking at the big picture. If LBJ shoots 45% from outside last night we probably win that game. We do have to get some other scoring though. But, who really thinks that isn’t going to come? Tell me you don’t have faith, if you don’t then you don’t deserve to to join in our celebration when we get that title. If your one of these people who “supported” the Cavs all season then is going to back out now, when they need us most, then you never were a real Cleveland fan anyway.
S-Dub speaks the truth.
Uhhh 45% from 3 is pretty high for anybody not to mention LBJ (obviously his thats not his strong suit)
No 45% from outside the paint. I never said from 3. He was like 2 of 17 from outside the PAINT, not 3 but the PAINT. That’s unacceptable.
People are freaking out and not looking at the big picture.
I disagree. If you don’t think the Cavs are in serious trouble, you’re kidding yourself. It’s not just that they’re not shooting well… some of that should be attributed to what Orlando is doing, which is also causing Mike Brown to shorten his bench. Some of the guys look exhausted.
I’m looking at the big picture: three straight games that the Cavs *should* have lost, save for one simply amazing shot by James. If THAT doesn’t make you “freak out” a bit about their prospects, I think you’re kidding yourself.
Just MHO.
great. just heard that Mo guaranteed a win in the series. Love the swagger Mo, but actions need to match words from here on out
Don’t care what you say. I’ve been freaking out the whole series. That doesn’t mean I’m not a real Cleveland fan. Come on now dude. I have my doubts, hunches, moments and are entitled to them. That’s what makes a fan.
was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor?
@D-Train. It wasn’t over when the Japanese invaded Poland, either… because neither ever happened. I like the optimism, but take out a history book or at least watch a bad Hollywood movie relating to your subject of choice.
Go Cavs!
Someone please tell Mo to shut up. Unless he’s suddenly going to start making his shots, the Cavs are a long way from winning this series.
hey phil, relax.
it’s a classic line from a classic movie.
just trying to lift people’s spirits.
@D-Train. I’m relaxed, just not up on my classic movies, apparently. 🙂
if you haven’t seen animal house, you may have to turn in your man card.
Animal House.. thats on Animal Planet, right?
This conversation is getting a little far afield….
I saw Animal House when it was released. Not a chance I could have remembered any of the lines. I tip my toga to you, D-Train.
Way to add insult to suckitude, MoRod.
@D-Train:
– “Germans?”
– “Forget it, he’s rolling.”
Mo doesn’t exactly excel in PR work.
I’d prefer that he promise to make a few more shots; forget about all the stuff he can’t control.
Hate to break it to you D-Train but knowing Animal House lines does not make you manly… in the least
Animal House debates aside, I think the Magic are in the Cavs’ heads. As evidenced by Mo’s comments, the Cavs are well aware of the match-up problems the Magic present, and I think they’re spending so much time thinking about how they’re going to play that they’re being taken out of their game mentally (except for LeBron).
Ever get in your car to go someplace and then 15 minutes later end up there and not remember a thing about the drive (and you were completely sober…)? It’s because your instincts just took over and you didn’t need to think about doing everything to operate the car. The Cavs need to get in that zone where they don’t over think everything – just play!
D-Train,
Good quote. I chuckled. Go Cavs.