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News » Howard's determination lifts Magic over Cavs


Howard's determination lifts Magic over Cavs


Howard's determination lifts Magic over Cavs

Game Time: Magic 116, Cavs 114 (OT)

For sure, the game was a squeaker that was theoretically up for grabs even as the buzzer sounded with the last shot in the air. But in the final accounting, Orlando won, Cleveland lost and this particular pressure-packed contest finally revealed some truths and some lies about both teams.

  • Marcin Gortat is a clean-up center who will never be more than a quality backup. But given Howard's immaturity and penchant for collecting fouls, Marcin — who collected four rebounds and two points in his four minutes of daylight — is a quality and necessary cog.

  • The Magic's only interior scoring threat is Howard, whose effectiveness is limited in a bump-and-grind game. Essentially this is an inside-out, or even an outside-out ball club. Indeed, in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, Alston, Turkoglu and Pietrus took turns trying to hit triples that would put the Cavs to sleep. Only rarely did one of them try to turn the corner on a high screen-and-roll, nor could Howard be trusted with the ball in the low post. But Lewis finally hit the big bopper that gave the Magic the lead and enabled them to withstand a pair of free throws by James — and then proceed to win the game in OT.

  • Teams that live by the long-distance jumper usually die, but the Magic are so persistent and so accurate that it appears as though they'll survive into the Finals.

  • Stan Van Gundy makes plenty of mistakes, as witnessed by his failure to adequately harass the inbounds pass and two-time James in the closing seconds of Game 2. And why didn't he double James at the end of regulation in Game 4?

  • In addition, Van Gundy's courtside manner is over-the-top demonstrative. Watch how the majority of his players avoid looking at him the whole time he's exhorting them in timeouts. Still, he does maximize the talents of his players.

  • And the best aspect of this team is their never-give-up attitude.

    CAVALIERS

  • The several truths as revealed in Game 4 by the Cavs must necessarily begin with LeBron. He's strong, quick, creative, basically unselfish and an ultra-exceptional finisher. But his jumper is erratic — 5-for-13 including an airball in overtime — and when he was matched up against Alston, he gave too much ground. Indeed, it was under LeBron's watch that Alston went off in the second half. And he missed only two free throws in the fourth quarter.

    2009 NBA playoffs


    Tuesday's game -- East finals

    • Magic 116, Cavs 114 (OT) (Magic 3-1)

    Monday's game -- West finals

    • Nuggets 120, Lakers 101 (Tied 2-2)

    FOXSports.com analysis

    • Playoff results, schedule
    • 2009 NBA Playoff Central
    • Rosen: How Magic won Game 4
    • Tomasson: Lakers coach cries foul
    • Hench: Kroenke should fight back

    Video

    • Hill: Cavs-Magic, Game 4 preview
    • Postgame: Nuggets-Lakers, Game 4

    Photos

    • Eastern Conference finals, Game 4
    • Western Conference finals, Game 4

  • James made several costly mistakes in the end, mostly throwing foolish passes in the second half. For the game, his eight turnovers were more weighty than his seven assists.

  • Mo Williams shoots too much and plays inadequate defense.

  • Ilguaskas is a 7-foot-3 one-hand push shooter with minimal lateral quickness.

  • Anderson Varejao played terrific defense on Turkoglu and has incredibly quick hands and feet. Unfortunately, he's really a part-time player whose weaknesses get exposed the more he plays.

  • Delonte West is bulldog tough. His defense against the much bigger Turkoglu was outstanding, and — next to James — he's the most dangerous post-up scorer on the team. The guy is easily the second-best player on the team.

  • Ben Wallace made the most of his limited time, which is all he deserves on the down-side of his career.

  • Daniel Gibson hit a pair of treys, but a young player like him needs to be in his team's regular rotation to keep his game sharp.

  • As always, Wally Szczerbiak played good positional defense versus Lewis but was helpless when he was forced to move his feet.

  • Mike Brown didn't exactly coach a terrific game. He didn't play Joe Smith enough (only four minutes). He bears the onus for the Cavs' lack of ball movement for most of the game. And why on earth did he have Wallace guarding Lewis with the game on the line? Did he really expect Big Ben to play adhesive defense that far from the hoop?

  • In Game 4, the Cavs outran the runners but couldn't out-gun the gunners.

    The lies

  • LeBron is as good as Michael Jordan.

  • LeBron is as good as Kobe Bryant.

  • LeBron has become an extraordinary defender because he blocks breakaway layups from behind.

  • The Cavs are the best team in the NBA.

  • Mike Brown is the best coach in the NBA.

  • Dwight Howard is Superman. Captain Marvel, perhaps, but certainly not the Man of Steel.

  • Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the NBA.

  • The referees have been advised to rig the games so that Kobe and LeBron will meet in the Finals. In fact, everybody who subscribes to this — and other — conspiracy theories is only doing so because their favorite team turned out to be losers.


    Author: Fox Sports
    Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
    Added: May 27, 2009
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