Poll: Predict The Orlando Magic / Cleveland Cavaliers Series Outcome
by erivera7 on May 19, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
in Diversions
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PrintThe final obstacle in the way of an NBA Finals appearance for the Orlando Magic is the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by the regular season MVP, LeBron James. Not many experts are giving the Magic a chance against the Cavs (except for Charles Barkley, it seems) - you can check out all the predictions in Ben's Playoff Central post when it's unveiled. But then again, not many experts gave Orlando a chance against Boston in Game 7. Games aren't played on paper. Games are played on the court.
As was the case with the Philadelphia 76ers series and the Boston Celtics series, I'd like to gather series predictions from people in the community, today. You know the drill. Choose the series outcome in the poll and if you'd like, you can add your analysis and thoughts in the comments section below. It's as simple as that.
Free pizza given to those that participate.
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Magic in 6....
We take either Game 1 or Game 2 then come back to Orlando for Game 6 and close it out. I agree with Barkley on this…. Cleveland just can’t match-up against our starters and our bench is hot. We have the ability to slow their role-players and make it a one-man show. If we make LBJ shoot and he scores 35 a game, so be it. Dwight has to protect the paint (as if we expect anything less) and force LBJ to hold on to it.
I feel better about this series than I do Boston. The part that scares me….. the Quicken Loans (?) Arena. I guess it’s about as prestigious as Amway. They are going to be tough to beat there, but I don’t think its impossible for us to do so.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
Agree
Playoffs are lot about matchups (dont know which coach said that but i think its true) and we match up pretty good against the Cavs.
by Robin from Germany on May 19, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Playoffs are ALL about matchups.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Has to be Game 1 .. that's the prototypical "toss-up" game for road teams.
Can’t have LBJ score 35 points a game (I mean, you can, but it wouldn’t be wise). I’m going to point this out in my keys later today, but the Cavaliers are 27-3 when LeBron scores more than 32 points in a game.
Playing in the Q will be difficult, but not impossible.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Several factors in that...
one in many of their losses he scored 28, 29, 30, 31 points. Theres not much of a difference between 32 points and 29. I understand what you are saying in that he can’t be red-hot, but most of the time when he is scoring that much, he is getting in the paint. He would be hard-pressed to score 35 from 13 ft out. We agree that we have to keep him outside of the paint.
If he beats us by scoring 35 from 12-20 ft jumpers, so be it…..he did his work. Not only will that keep him working hard, but it will keep D12 out of foul trouble.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
Have to keep him out of the paint. Have to.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Here's the thing about the Q.
The one game we played there… if we can have that game back four times, I guarantee you we win it at least once, maybe more. The last minute alone could have played out so many ways. In the real world, we had LeBron making a desperation 3 and Dwight getting a questionable 3-second call. But after 47 minutes, that game was basically a coin flip.
Not saying this series will be the same. But if we can play in Cleveland as well (compared to the Cavs) as we did during the regular season, we can steal home court advantage at least once.
As tonight proved, difficult but not impossible.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
I agree our best shot is to steal the first game in Cleveland....
….perhaps we can capitalize on some 8-day layoff rust and get the jump on Cleveland like we did in Boston…only not give it back this time because i ABSOLUTELY do not want to back to Cleveland against Lebron and uhm…NBA Marketing…in a Game 7 on their home court. That spells disaster for us!! Magic in 6…if we spilt the first 2 in the “Q”
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I second the Magic in 6 call.
"Shoot first, ask questions last" Rafer Alston
by DieSlowKeyshawn on May 19, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions
3rd 's on that call...Magic in 6...celebration at Amway!!
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope UNFNOLE & DieSlowKeyshawn are right
That’s how I thought the Boston series would go so I am predicting Cleveland in 7 in the hopes of being consistent in being wrong. Our guys are more than capable of getting it done in fewer than 7 games I just hope they are able. Those post-season stats sure are interesting when you think about how many off games the good guys have had.
Just another Magic fan
Lori
Just confirmed tix for games 3, 4, & 6
So maybe the Magic will take care of business in 5
Just another Magic fan
Lori
Have fun at the games.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Thanks . . .but you are casting gloom on my happiness
Cleveland in six, really? I have done my part and promised my game 6 tickets to my brother just to make sure the Magic won’t lose that game. The odds of them losing a playoff game seem to go up when I’m inside Amway.
Just another Magic fan
Lori
Can't fool myself.
I picked the Magic to beat the Sixers and Celtics, but not against the Cavaliers, unfortunately.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Anything is possible
I really do believe this series is going to be a true toss-up. Both teams are fantastic and Orlando presents the most matchup problems for Cleveland. I have been telling all my friends, who are blinded by the LeBron machine, that the Magic can give them a series. To think this series will end in four or five in favor of either team is naive and just not smart.
THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FINALS!
Having said that, I agree that the Cavaliers seem to have kicked their game to another level. A level the Magic have not reached — or reached in quick spurts, but nothing sustainable. Orlando is going to have to play with the effort the team did in Games Six and Seven of the last series to compete in this one. I think the Magic are up to the challenge. But unlike Orlando, Cleveland has a talent that can take over a game and almost win one by himself.
I expect just about every game to be close in this series, but the analyst in me says Cavs in six (and a close game in Game Six).
The Magic though certainly have a chance to win this one and no one should be surprised if they do.
Philip,
The Curse of the Big Aristotle
http://bigaristotle.blogspot.com/
I don't think this is a toss-up series, but it's definitely going to be A series.
I have Cleveland winning in 6 as well, but Orlando is certainly capable of winning the series.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
I don't see the Cavs closing out the Magic in Game 6 at Amway .....
…this team has been through too much adversity already to do that…and this Cavs teams doesn’t have our number like the Pistons…we own them at Amway. I don’t see them winning a game here with the raucus crowd we will have cheering on the Magic as Dwight is dunking, Rafer, Courtney and Hedo are slashing, and Rashaard, Pietrus, and JJ are raining 3’s on them!!:)
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
With LeBron, anything is possible for Cleveland.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Offense Execution
LeBron has definitely been playing phenomenally in the past two series, but I think Dwight Howard’s inside presence alone would stop him from pouring out the same kind of numbers.
I think Magic’s offensive execution is the deciding factor of this series. Magics live and die on 3’s, and as the previous series have shown, is a very volatile thing. They needed it against Celtics because Perkins and Davis both did a good job defensively against Howard (can’t recall how many times I saw Howard do a hookshot from far), but they should definitely give Howard the ball more often against Cavs. Having good, consistent offensive execution is what Magic really needs right now.
Defensive is just as important, but I think Magic’s defense is more consistent than their offense. At least that’s the vibe I get from watching their games against Celtics and Sixers.
Magic in 6.
Magic don't live and die by threes.
.. if the team did, Orlando wouldn’t be in the ECF’s right now.
The Magic’s defense is more consistent than the offense, and better. Dwight Howard is the anchor for the team defensively, so he’s going to need to step up more on defense. All in all, good thoughts.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
I agree...
I believe Orlando is much better attacking the lane first…then only shooting 3 when they are wide open kick-outs as they did to perfection in Game 7 in Boston. This is exactly how they were playing before the All-Star break when they actually had the best record in the NBA…for a day i think..lol.
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
We may have to go all the way with this and do what we did in Boston.
LeBron is really going to be fired up in game 1. Look for him to take control early on. We have to blue print what we did last time in Cleveland and hope we can do it again. We beat them there before and we can do it again. Magic in 7.
The Surfdog
Either way, should be an entertaining series to watch.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
That's exactly how i see it having to go...
…if the Magic are going to win it….it can’t go 7…don’t like our odds there…don’t see us winning in anything less than 6….unless Lebron breaks a leg …then maybe we beat him in 5 one-legged..lol
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Opps...PTI
Well excuse me, ( a Cavs fan) but, aside from all the predictions and rah, rah, stuff, how exactly are the Magic going to beat LeBron and Cleveland in this series?
You can point to the regular season as proof if you want but a seven game series is much, much different. There will be plenty of in-game and game-to-game adjustments by both teams and there are no back to backs.
We have won eight playoff games in a row. You can say Detroit sucks and the Hawks were banged up but they were crushed plain and simple. They did, after all, have NBA level talent on their teams. Cleveland has been resting, watching and game planning.
The Cavs understand that the Magic are potent from three so I imagine they are going to guard the perimeter, let Howard take a bunch of shots and see what develops. Cleveland has had great success playing perimeter D and I bet they at least try to bother the Magic shooters.
Howard is a beast but his offensive weakness seems to be anything outside of 3 feet from the rim. Look for them to exploit it. Cleveland has plenty of big men to throw at him. If IZ is hitting open looks, DH is going to have to come out away from the basket opening up rebounds.
What are your answers for LeBron? His level of play has "risen" in the playoffs. If his jumper is on, he simply can’t be stopped. He’ll get his points anyway he wants,… anywhere he wants. If he’s off, he will drive to the rim for points or hit a cutting AV. If he’s doubled or you collapse on him, Williams and West can make you pay. Cleveland’s a slightly better 3 pt FG% than the Magic….they too can hit open shots. Also, despite a ridiculous comment from one post, LeBron is not "afraid" to drive on Howard or anyone and DH could get in foul trouble.
Can you beat the Cavs? Yes but, I think your going to have to get on a helluva roll to do it. It should be an interesting series. May the best team win. I have a lot of reasons to believe it will be Cleveland.
So I told her," I'll be nicer if you try to be smarter!'..That was a mistake.
Well ..
LBJ’s shots 83% of the time against Orlando were jumpers. Against everyone else, it goes down to 66%.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
That's a large disparity
How do you account for it?
So I told her," I'll be nicer if you try to be smarter!'..That was a mistake.
Dwight Howard's presence in the lane.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Obviously the playoffs and regular season are different animals
But what the regular season games did do is show how well Orlando matches up with Cleveland. Obviously even slowing James down will be tough but defensively we have the backcourt to contain Mo and West.
The Cavs have a greater quantity of big men than the Celtics did, but the Cavs don’t have anyone as capable as Perkins of body-ing up Howard. Their best bet is for the Great Flopping Varejao to draw a couple of charges.
Rashard Lewis is going to cause as many mismatches for Cleveland as he did Boston and if he continues to exploit that with similar success, Orlando will be a tough out.
Obviously the great equalizer is Lebron James. The Magic don’t have anybody that can take over a game quite like LBJ. Hopefully they can turn him into a jumpshooter and stay at home on everyone else. I don’t think the Magic will be able to slow him down, the difference will be can we keep the rest of the players quiet. If they do, Orlando is plenty capable of winning this series.
by Lee for three on May 19, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Some good thoughts.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Can you cite your source for that?
I have never seen a stat line for “jumpers” against an opponent
So I told her," I'll be nicer if you try to be smarter!'..That was a mistake.
Here.
I’ll have my own visuals later today in a post on the site.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Just a note on Cleveland fans.....
…i have spent quite a bit of time over at the Cleveland “Fear the Sword” blog engaging is some great and mostly intelligent debate with them…i highly recommend any of you do so as well….quite refreshingly pleasant group…unlike some if met elsewhere in “other” series, that have since gone to summer vacation happily:) They are a very enthusiastic and loyal group. Sometime their views are very one-sided….but i have not problems with any fans who wear rose colored glasses if they are intelligent and not A-holes…which i can say this group is definitely not!! Some of them will even make you laugh at their blind faith..lol…but definitely a very pleasant experience so far!!
"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"
by MagikFanatic on May 19, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Just got 2 tix to game 4, Sec 207 Row C Seats 3-4!
Can’t f’n wait! We better be up 2-1 by that point!
Orlando Magic ECF-bound!
LET'S GO MAGIC! LET'S GO!!!
Enjoy the game, man.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Hey, a bit off topic, but I was curious if there is a possibility...
to have a Game Discussion thread for the Nuggets/Lakers series for those of us watching the other series that would like to discuss the games?
Orlando Magic ECF-bound!
LET'S GO MAGIC! LET'S GO!!!
I can start doing that for Game 2 and beyond.
Good idea.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Cool!
In the interim, I’m over at Pickaxe and Roll chatting it up with Nuggets fan while rooting against the Lakers! lol
Orlando Magic ECF-bound!
LET'S GO MAGIC! LET'S GO!!!
Nice.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
48 minutes
The Magic can win this series if the team plays 48 minutes every game (more with overtime games, of course.) I was clock watching all of Game 7 versus Boston. I didn’t feel safe until Doc Rivers removed his starters towards the end of the 4th quarter. I couldn’t have handled another double digit reversal of fortune like we had in Game 4 and Game 5. It’s sad to say, but sometimes no lead is safe with the Magic. Hopefully, the team learned a lesson from the Boston series and doesn’t get into the habit of losing large leads. I live in Orange County, California, and hope Orlando makes it through Cleveland so I can watch the Magic destroy the Lakers. Lakers fans are so obnoxious out here, and I would give almost anything to watch a victorious Magic Finals game in the Staples Center.
Even if, theoretically, Orlando beats Cleveland .. the team wouldn't destroy Denver or Los Angeles.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Destroying the Lakers
Allow me to clarify the comment I made in regards to the Magic destroying the Lakers (or the Nuggets) in the NBA Finals. I wasn’t saying the Magic WOULD destroy the Lakers as a statement of fact ; I was merely opining my desire to see that as the final outcome. If the Magic continues to play inspired basketball similar to the last three games (Boston Game 6&7 and Cleveland Game 1), I believe the odds of bringing home the trophy and title to Orlando could be considered very favorable. The Finals will be difficult regardless of whether the Magic plays the Lakers or Nuggets. I would rather see the Magic play the Lakers since I live in the other Orange County (CA) so I could get tickets to watch at least one of the games out here. If the Magic does make the Finals versus LA, hopefully, the team can clinch their Finals spot before the Lakers. That way I can camp out for Staples Center single game tickets with the knowledge the Magic, and NOT the Cavs will be playing the Lakers. I will also scope out StubHub for tickets, but I already know the courtside tickets will be extremely overpriced. I usually only get to watch the Magic play (out here) twice every year, once versus the Clippers and the other versus the Lakers. Through StubHub I am able to get great floor seats by the basket next to the Magic bench. Lakers regular game tickets run almost DOUBLE the amount as Clippers regular game tickets. However, I guess it’s that old saying, “You get what they pay for”.
Word. Thanks for the clarification.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
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