The Orlando Magic head to The Q to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a battle between two of the league's elite teams who put varying levels of importance on today's game. The Cavs will rest likely MVP winner LeBron James for the third straight game, as they've clinched the league's best record for the second consecutive season and will own homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs; former All-Stars Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison, who sat out Cleveland's last game, will play today, and shooting guard Anthony Parker will get his first day off this season. In other words, they're treating this game almost like Spring Training. The Magic, on the other hand, are still gunning for the league's second-best overall record, which they share with the L.A. Lakers, so coach Stan Van Gundy will play his starters their usual minutes, and perhaps more, if it means securing a win.
| 2009/2010 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | @ |  |
| 56-23 (23-16 away) Won 3 | 61-19 (35-5 home) Lost 2 | |
| April 11th, 2010 | ||
| Quicken Loans Arena | ||
| 1:00 PM | ||
| ABC | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| Jameer Nelson | PG | Mo Williams |
| Vince Carter | SG | Jamario Moon |
| Matt Barnes | SF | Jawad Williams |
| Rashard Lewis | PF | Antawn Jamison |
| Dwight Howard | C | J.J. Hickson |
| Previous Meetings | ||
| November 11th: Cavaliers 102, Magic 93 | ||
| February 11th: Cavaliers 115, Magic 106 | ||
| February 21st: Magic 101, Cavaliers 95 | ||
| Advanced Stats | ||
| 91.9 (18th) | Pace | 91.3 (25th) |
| 111.0 (6th) | ORtg | 111.6 (4th) |
| 103.1 (3rd) | DRtg | 104.0 (6th) |
| Game Officials | ||
| Tom Washington | ||
| Derrick Collins | ||
| Jason Phillips | ||
I'm not sure what we can take away from a game between these two teams when only one side is treating it like it matters, but I guess that's why they play, right? Cavs beat writer Brian Windhorst will pay attention to the Jamison/Rashard Lewis and Mo Williams/Jameer Nelson battles, which makes sense, but I'm not sure if they mean anything without James, around whom the Cavs' offense is based. Will anything either player does today have any bearing on a potential Conference Finals matchup, when James will dominate the ball? I have my doubts.
Loading comments...