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What They're Saying Before Game 5 Of The Eastern Conference Finals

The stage is set for the Orlando Magic to clinch a berth in the NBA Finals, which would be for the second time in franchise history, with a victory on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Q. A loss, and the destination will revert back to Orlando for a Game 6 - something coach Stan Van Gundy does not want happening

The Magic have a chance to wrap up another series on the road; the team was able to do so in Game 6 vs. Philadelphia and in Game 7 vs. Boston. Will it happen again?

After the jump, a look at what the local media is saying before the game.

Star-divide

  • Brian Schmitz reveals the mindset of the Orlando Magic, a team with the chance to close out the series, before Game 5 with the Cleveland Cavaliers:
    The Orlando Magic and their fans have experienced just about everything that extended-stay playoff basketball can offer.

    The Magic haven't gone this deep into the postseason since 1995, and it's as if they've taken a crash course for contenders.

    There have been big comebacks and lost leads, clutch shots and buzzer-beaters. A tiff between coach and star. Even angst over (Kobe and LeBron) puppets.

    There was the momentary loss of home court to Philadelphia. A Game 7 scrapbook win in Boston. LeBron's one-second miracle and Superman's shot-clock detonation. 


    And then there has been the world according to Stan Van Gundy, a wild trip onto itself. 
[...]

    Van Gundy doesn't want to hear about the percentages that favor his team. Immediately after the Magic's Game 4 win, he told his players they hadn't really done anything yet.

    "You would have thought we had lost," cracked forward Rashard Lewis.

    All Van Gundy can envision is a nightmare scenario — LeBron James reviving the Cavs to win three straight games.

    "This is a heckuva basketball team." Van Gundy said. "So it is going to be really difficult. I don't know how everybody else is. I don't feel like we've gotten anything done yet in this series.
  • Kyle Hightower states what's at stake for the Cavaliers in tonight's matchup:
    And so it's come to this for the Cleveland Cavaliers: Climb out of a hole only eight other teams in NBA playoff history have, or take a living room seat for the finale of a season that until now they have dominated.

    The only problem for the Cavs, who return home tonight toting a 3-1 Eastern Conference finals deficit against Orlando, is that the dominant team they've been all season has reverted back to being one star and 11 lemmings. [...]

    James has accounted for 41 percent of the Cavs' points in the first four games against the Magic as compared to him providing only 28 percent of their scoring in the regular season.
  • Josh Robbins asserts that the Magic don't have a problem finishing off a series on the road, given that's how Orlando has moved on in each round:
    Most teams struggle on the road during the NBA postseason.

    Not the Orlando Magic, who have compiled a 5-4 record away from Amway Arena in these playoffs. All other teams this postseason have gone 20-47 on the road through Tuesday.

    Now, the Magic are preparing to reap the benefits. A victory in tonight's fifth game of the Eastern Conference finals at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena would send the Magic to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995.

    "It's just like us against the world," Magic center Dwight Howard said. "Playing in a doghouse like Cleveland, the whole crowd is against you. You want to go into somebody's home court and quiet the crowd. Nothing feels better than beating a team on their home court."
  • UPDATE: Dwight Howard posts on his official blog and shares his thoughts before the game:
    Our guys are confident going into tonight and we know that we can close out the Cavs. We’re so close to reaching the NBA Finals, but we know there is still so much work to do.

    Cleveland is going to come at us really hard tonight and we have to withstand that first punch from them. Like I always says hit first before they punch you. Well, I can’t really punch them because of my tech thang, but ya’ll know what I mean.

    We haven’t played very good at the start of games up there, so it’s my job to help us get off to a good start tonight. We need to have a lot of energy, run and defend. We play that way, we really think we can close this baby out.

    We really want to do this now, so let’s go get us a win. It’s going to be hard, but we have the team to close this out. I know we’ll be ready to play, just like we have all playoffs and all season.
  • UPDATE 2: Schmitz states that, maybe, the Cavaliers were trying to play mind games with the Magic today:
    When the Magic arrived for their shootaround workout, the shot-clock at Quicken Loans Arena read: 1.0.

    The Cavs won their only game --- Game 2 -- on a 3-point shot by LeBron James with 1 second left on the clock.

    Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy joked that the Cavs were trying to "intimidate" his team.

    Van Gundy agreed that if there is anymore pressure at this point of the postseason, it's obviously on the Cavs, who must win to avoid elimination.

    "I don't think pressure is applicable at this point. But if you get down to it, the pressure is on them. If they don't win, they don't get another chance."

    Point guard Rafer Alston said he didn't read anything into the 1.0 second left on the shot-clock --- even as he walked past an area at the arena where the Cavs cater to their top season-ticket holders. All the Magic players must file by it to reach their team bus.

    The dining/bar area is all done up in a basketball motif with a scoreboard hanging overhead:

    That clock also read 1.0.

Make sure to check out this post every few hours for updates.

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Comments

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The team needs to play hard

They need to play like this is Game 7, not Game 5. Play like there is no tomorrow. Play like they did in the SF Game 7 in Boston.

AC/DC + Tampa Bay Rays = Big Balls on a Budget

by Orlando Rays on May 28, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Word. No doubt.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

amen

we need this to end tonight. no momentum builders for the lebrons, no possibility of a game 7. lets just wrap it up and bring on the west coast contender. this is the most important game of their lives right now. they need to treat it like its a life and death situation

by nowuseemenowudont on May 28, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm loving the way Dwight is thinking.....

…it’s the best mindset to have going into hostile territory…it bodes well for our chances in Game 5….oh and EVERY game should be played like it’s a game 7 from here on out…i think thats the message SVG has always tried to convey….play every game like it’s an elimination game….yours!!!

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 28, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Eat that pizza Turk

Lebron, Dwight, Shard will get theirs. For us to win this game on the road, it’s going to take a big effort from the Michael Jordan of Turkey. Let’s get it done tonight!

"Shoot first, ask questions last" Rafer Alston

by DieSlowKeyshawn on May 28, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

What I think Lebron will try to do..

I think Lebron will try to get D12 in foul trouble early. They are going to pick and roll with his man, so Dwight has to step up. Once he steps up, we all know what happens next, Lebron will be jumping in to D12. I would like to see D12 in the low block early.

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on May 28, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That's a possibility.

I’m bracing for LeBron to post up more ..

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I have the same feeling.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

all i can say

I cant be more happy with how you guys are taking Lecrab out. Watching a team I hate lose is almost as good as seeing my Celtics win. All the pregame nonsense and cocky attitude have gone away with your title hopes. All the Kobe/Lebron commercials are for NOTHING and I laugh everytime I see them. I want to know why you guys don’t pose for imaginary pictures anymore or why your dominace at home is up in smoke? I remember Lebron saying after the game on Easter that if you dont like sideline celebrations that you need to do something about it. Well boston may have not been the team to “do something” about it, at least our new friends down south will. So here’s to another failure of a season for the Cavs and the rule book destroyer aka Lebron James. All that hustle and effort in the reg season didn’t really amount to a hill of beans now did it.

Now finsh this &^%$ and step on their throats.

by angryguy77 on May 28, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hah. Thanks for the kind words.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Spurs fan from Chicago here.

End it with Cleveland tonight. Put the Cavs out of their misery. If the Magic make it to the Finals, what would the home court advantage scenarios be?

Hi, my name is Ed, and I despise the Lakers.

by Ed (dfjmed) on May 28, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Apparently when they arrived at the Q for practice, the game clock was at :01.0

It should be noted, the Magic have led the game at the 47:59 mark every single game.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Apparently the staff at the Q hasn't learned the most significant lesson from the playoffs...

Don’t make the Magic angry. You wouldn’t like them when they’re angry.

"And this he knows if nothing more
That waiting in the dark like destiny
Are those who kissed the dogs of war
And there is no tomorrow."

by The Dark on May 28, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is true.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Let them build their bad karma

They better have our donuts

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on May 28, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Zing!

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And there's the motivation.

Go get ’em!

Check out some of my photos: My Flickr Account
LifeOfAGiant.com - My photo-life-blog is coming soon

by big aaron on May 28, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I LOVE this....

…they just keeping doing whatever they can to add motivation don’t they???? Thanks Cavs staff!!!

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 28, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Blazer fan here...

I just wanted to say that Orlando is becoming one of my favorite teams in the NBA (just behind my Blazers of course) from watching this playoff series. I love how they play. I hope they close this one out tonight in Cleveland because in reality, this series should be over, save for one ‘miracle’ shot by Lebron James. It’s gonna come down to an Orlando-LA final—I guess they should have made some Dwight/Kobe commercials— I’m sorry you will have to put up with those obnoxious Flaker fans. I hope your team does well in the future -except against the Blazers :)

by jenstcy on May 28, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Eh, it isn't over yet.

Magic still need to finish the job against the Cavaliers, but thanks for the support.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shame Dwight

Wears adidas, really.

by eltharion_doa on May 28, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because Dwight won’t be featuring in any big commericals with Kobe for shoes given they have different endorsement deals.

I suppose vitaminwater could jump on the Dwight bandwagon…

by eltharion_doa on May 28, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, vitaminwater could do something .. theoretically.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Im really curious to see if Mike Brown makes the adjustments that people have been screaming at him about

If not, I think Orlando can win this but I expect the Cavs to try to come out with some urgency and the Magic have to do the same. Lets see how our 3 point game works out

"My features are that of a god, its not a facade these rappers wanna be NaS"- Nasir Jones QB's Finest

Kristin Kreuk is teh love.

Still miss em: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvvgVn0gg1E

by Wasabi Steak on May 28, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

We'll see how it goes.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Closing out Cavs a level up from closing out crippled Boston on the road. imho

I agree with this quote (just not abandonly with the last sentence) in regard to the Magic

“They need to play like this is Game 7, not Game 5. Play like there is no tomorrow”.

Cavs will pull out all stops to win, but probably will not, but if they somehow do? They will be completely exhausted baring the “Magic” don’t do something stupid like allowing the momentum to turn by not playing smart, hard or perplexed by a potential Cavs ajustment like “LBJ playing as more of a Decoy and non doubling D.Howard on offense”.

SVG, must be smart and keep his guys fresher and keep allowing the reserves to play productive key minutes and hopefully the Magic are able to close out today, but if not definitely at home.. with the firm belief implanted in the Cavs mind in the event of a Magic loss tonight “I really don’t want to go back to Orlando” therefore I’m cleaning out my Cavs locker for the summer after tonights game, quietly after Mike Brown exits the building…
 

man up!

by exult463 on May 28, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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