My Views

Monday, May 18, 2009

Cavs Vs. Magic 1-2

The Cleveland Cavaliers are no longer on vacation, since they are coming across the Orlando Magic who beat them in the regular season 2-1.

The Cavs even experienced a huge 29 point beat down from the Magic, but in the playoffs it is very easy to say that the Cavs are a totally different team.

In the regular season, the Cavs went 3-1 against the Hawks, winning by close margins. However, in the playoffs the Cavs won all games by double digits and picked up a sweep. This was a shocker for fans who expected a seven game series, obviously we don't know what to expect, because the Cavs have surprised me so far in the playoffs.

I certainly hope a surprise against the Orlando Magic getting even and beating them on their own home court.


Lets take a minute and preview the series of Cleveland Vs. Orlando.

PG - Mo Williams(Cavs) Vs. Rafer Alston(Magic) - Mo Williams is full of energy and has boosted Cleveland's record up from 45 to 66 wins. At 6''1 averaging 17-pts and 4.1 assist vs. Alston's 11-pts and 5.3 assist. On paper Williams obviously can put up numbers for Cleveland, besides he is also a 44 percent three point shooter. Alston on the other hand can shoot but he has been having off and on games. If Williams can remain consistent than he will certainly perform better then Alston in this seven game series, after all he is a higher percent shooter with 2.3, three pointers per game, Vs. Alston's 1.7. Edge: Cavaliers.

SG - Delonte West(Cavs) Vs. J.J. Reddick(Magic) - West is named the Cavs best insider defender with 1.5 steals per game. He will match up against J. J. Reddick he averages only 6.0 points per game while West averages 11.7 points per game. On paper, once again the Cavs are winning, and with out a doubt when West is having one of those, ''Good Games'' he is definitely a much better player then J.J. Reddick. Once in the paint, West can alter himself in the air switching from left to right to have a perfect finish. If West and J. J. Reddick both have good games, it is easy to say that West might rally over Reddick. Edge: Cavaliers.

SF - 6"8 The M.V.P, second best defender of the NBA, and a leading scorer LeBron James of the Cavs matches up with Hedo Turkoglu of the Magic. In the regular season James averages 28-pts, which is the NBA's second best and in the playoffs he is averaging 32 pts which is the best. Who knows what to expect from James? He has had many explosions of the playoffs and overall he has been performing excellent, also chipping in 9.8 rebounds almost capturing a double double. Without questioning James is ready to face Turkoglu's 14.8 points in the post season. On and off paper, LeBron is ready to take on the Magic and Turkoglu. Edge: Cavaliers.

PF - Anderson Varejao(Cavs) Vs. Rashad Lewis(Magic) - Varejao captured his starting position after F Ben Wallace went down with a strained knee. Ever since he captured his starting position, Varejao did not take it for granted. In the playoffs he is averaging 5.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Pretty good for someone who wasn't always a starter, but Rashad Lewis is pitching in 19 points per game. In addition, if Lewis is given the chance to knock down a 3 pointer he will take the chance, and most of the times he makes the shot. Varejao on the other hand, is not a shooter. If both players play at their high potential, Rashad Lewis might be a problem for Varejao. Edge: Magic.

C - Zydrunas Ilgauskas veteran center of the Cavs Vs. the young Dwight Howard. In the playoffs Ilguaskas is averaging 10 pts 6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks which is lower than how he performs in the regular season. Dwight Howard is killing Ilgauskas with 19 points and 16 rebounds per game. Dwight Howard is much stronger then Ilgauskas and can move around easier, the Cavs won't leave Ilgauskas to contain Howard alone, but I'm very sure that Mike Brown(Cavs Coach) has a strategy. The only edge Ilgauskas has over Howard is the ability to hit jump shots, 3 pointers, and a better free-throw shooter. On and off paper Howard wins, but the Cavs are great at assisting each other, Howard, don't think it will be that easy! Edge: Magic.

Cavs Bench - The Cavaliers have strong players and big men on the bench to help out with rebounds. The shooters: Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic. The Big men: Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Rookie Darnell Jackson. None of the previously mentioned big men, carry double figures in terms of rebounds or points, so obviously the Magic has an Edge over the Cavs in terms of bench players.

Mag Bench - The Magic has a powerful bench and very strong shooters such as Mickael Pietrus who is a 45-percent 3-pt shooter in the playoffs. Come on people we can't slack on this team, lets not forget that the Orlando Magic set an NBA record of most 3 pointers per game, if the shooters are left open then the Magic can be dangerous. Not to worry, the Cavs do a good job at holding teams to 40-percent field goal. Lets just wait to see the outcome of Game 1 on Wednesday May, 20 2009 at 8 P.m on TNT.

The Cavs have a lot more edges over the Magic but I really don't know. I am hoping for Cavs in 6. - Capture game 1 and we(the Cavs) capture the series, moving to the NBA finals. Don't Let the Magic take that "One Goal."

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