May 20, 200916 yr Here are 2 keys, IMO, to this series for the Cavs: 1. Don't double team Howard. I don't think Dwight Howard is to the point where he can carry a team. Make him beat his guy solo rather than forcing a double team and kicking out to perimeter guys. He's a terrible FT shooter and the rotation, or lack there of, after he passes out of the double team allows him to get offensive rebounds. The reason the Cavs were so good this year was defense, especially preventing the 3. Orlando's strength is not Howard per se, but rather the team's 3 point shooting which is in part a strength because of other teams willingness to double Howard. 2. Penetrate. No one can stop LeBron from taking it to the hole and sometimes it seems he forgets this. He needs to focus on that part of his game this series. Furthermore, we need to see more drive and kicks from Mo/Delonte. We need to get Orlando into foul trouble. Drive, pass to Z inside. Drive, take a foul. Drive, dump it to Andy. Interior passing & getting fouls. Orlando's rotation is not as deep as the Cavs. Cavs need to take advantage of that. All in all, I can't wait! Thanks Coach shs96! he he he he
May 20, 200916 yr Short notice. but thanks HJG!!!! Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to host Cavaliers pep rally on the steps of City Hall this afternoon Posted by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter May 20, 2009 14:06PM Categories: Cleveland City Hall, Real Time News, Sports, Sports Impact The Cleveland Cavaliers championship march will make a stop this afternoon on the steps of City Hall. Mayor Frank Jackson has planned a pep rally for 3 p.m. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/mayor_frank_jackson_to_host_ca.html
May 20, 200916 yr I'm loving the coverage www.cleveland.com, PD, and all the local stations are giving to the Cavs. Orlando's Coverage is so bad and pales in comparision (referring mostly to http://www.orlandosentinel.com/) Also, to add to this feel good day. Current temperatures: CLEVELAND 81 ORLANDO 73 Wouldn't mind if that was the score either! haha
May 20, 200916 yr I'm loving the coverage www.cleveland.com, PD, and all the local stations are giving to the Cavs. Orlando's Coverage is so bad and pales in comparision (referring mostly to http://www.orlandosentinel.com/) Also, to add to this feel good day. Current temperatures: CLEVELAND 81 ORLANDO 73 Wouldn't mind if that was the score either! haha Well you should remember that anything outside of Disney, is 2nd rate in the Orlando area.
May 20, 200916 yr LIVE webcam of the Q... http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/05/get_ready_for_the_eastern_conf.html with telecast at 7.
May 20, 200916 yr http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/05/sicom_3.html LeBron James makes his ninth appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated by Starting Blocks/The Plain Dealer Tuesday May 19, 2009, 11:56 AM This week's May 25, 2009, issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, features LeBron James - his ninth appearance on the cover - with the billing Cleveland Rocks. SI special contributor (and Cleveland native) Joe Posnanski looks at the psychosis of losing that has plagued his hometown for the better part of four decades. But with James and the once-moribund Cavaliers playing otherworldly basketball, long-suffering fans are daring to imagine their first victory celebration since 1964 (page 54). Just got my Sports Illustrated in the mail today. LeBron and Cleveland on the cover - YEA! Sports Illustrated cover jinx - BOO! Anyway, the Joe Posnanski article was an entertaining read. Here's the link to it: Cleveland Rocks: It's been a rough few decades for Clevelanders—no mistake (by the lake) about it. But with LeBron James and the Cavaliers playing otherworldly basketball, long-suffering fans dare to imagine their first victory celebration since 1964
May 21, 200916 yr Well?? Nobody's is saying a word. They looked great, until the 3rd quarter. I'm as shocked as everyone else, and I hope this is the "wake up" call the Cavs needed. I didn't expect them to lose at home so I hope they use this as a motivator. ETA Where the aerial shots better? Did a certain someone behave themself, in your opinioin?
May 21, 200916 yr I think this series will simply come down to who's hitting their outside shots. When Orlando wasn't, it made our defense look good. When they started hitting, and we couldn't (Mo, Delonte, and Z were all bad, and Wally shouldn't have seen the floor), it spelled trouble. The only reason it was even close was because Lebron was amazing.
May 21, 200916 yr Bench has to step it up. Also, Delonte and Mo went 10 for 30. They're in a dog fight now.
May 21, 200916 yr Bench has to step it up. Also, Delonte and Mo went 10 for 30. They're in a dog fight now. As we said yesterday, Mo/Delonte and the Bench must step up. Joe played a decent game.
May 21, 200916 yr Also, the aerial shots were very nice. I started watching an hour into the game on Tivo delay, so I fast forwarded all the extra commentary. Still caught up by the start of the 4th quarter thanks to the shot clock delay.
May 21, 200916 yr Im not feeling too good. I wont feel good again until we get control of the series again. This team has scared me from the get go...its like they know exactly how to beat us. We have lost...what 8 of 11 to them? I dont understand why everyone thought we would cruise in this series. I still think we can win, but gotta play perimeter defense. The first half we dominated because we gave Dwight his and shut down the outside shooters.
May 21, 200916 yr We didn't exactly shut down the outside shooters in the first half, they were just missing their shots. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between good defense and bad offense, and vice versa. I thought we played decent defense the whole game. They just didn't make much the first half and were unconscious the second half.
May 21, 200916 yr Also, the aerial shots were very nice. I started watching an hour into the game on Tivo delay, so I fast forwarded all the extra commentary. Still caught up by the start of the 4th quarter thanks to the shot clock delay. Good. The commentary was "reserved", uncle MTS knows how to play hard ball and hit'em where it hurts $$$$$$$$. Im not feeling too good. I wont feel good again until we get control of the series again. This team has scared me from the get go...its like they know exactly how to beat us. We have lost...what 8 of 11 to them? I dont understand why everyone thought we would cruise in this series. I still think we can win, but gotta play perimeter defense. The first half we dominated because we gave Dwight his and shut down the outside shooters. Oh child, it was one game of seven. Relax. Don't get all upset. Im going to have to enroll you and Punch into group therapy. You two get way to emotional. :wink:
May 21, 200916 yr We have to take 2 of the next 3, with 2 of those games being played in Orlando. I think we can do it, but it's going to be very tough.
May 21, 200916 yr I take these things really hard. I didnt talk to anyone for like atwo week after the indians collapsed in '07. Please dont tell me its just sports, Im not in the mood for that today.
May 21, 200916 yr It's not "just sports", but it's also not a one game series. :) Did anyone watch the commentary by magic after the lakers game the other night? He talked about how Mike Brown was bringing in referees and trying to simulate games with scrimmages during all the off time, etc. etc. etc. And then he went on to say that Pat Riley did the exact same thing when the Lakers won their first 8 playoff games one year... and they got SMOKED in game 1 of the WCF. Why, magic says... Because there is simply no way to replicate being in game shape. And they were simply became exhausted as the game went on. He then went on to say whether the magic win one game in this series or four... if they win any, it will be game 1. Anyone else notice the huffing and puffing in the second half last night? A step slow on closeouts? We ran out of gas. Some of the looks Orlando was getting in the second half was ridiculous. Take care of business in game 2... go from there.
May 21, 200916 yr ^Well said. I'm sure our players will step up on Friday. It was good to see Jim Brown get props yesterday during the game.
May 21, 200916 yr I take these things really hard. I didnt talk to anyone for like atwo week after the indians collapsed in '07. Please dont tell me its just sports, Im not in the mood for that today. It's just a game sweetie! :P You will live. I expect that out of my 13 year old nephew and 9 year old neice. She is livid! Trust me, I made thru, "the drive" and "the fumble", you can make thru a game 1 loss. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! MAN UP, DAMNIT!! My brother said they sat in silence on the way home as did most people on the train.
May 21, 200916 yr Well, Im heading down there to the game tomorrow...so I guess I will actually have a chance to "do something about it"...im going to lose my voice. I forget that Lebron is on a mission, the more time goes by, the more I feel better about last night.
May 21, 200916 yr Well, Im heading down there to the game tomorrow...so I guess I will actually have a chance to "do something about it"...im going to lose my voice. I forget that Lebron is on a mission, the more time goes by, the more I feel better about last night. I said PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER
May 21, 200916 yr I saw the score this morning when I woke up. So everyone hasn't slit their wrists back there in Cleveland?? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 22, 200916 yr ^ I was standing on the 480 bridge perched in jump position for about 3 hours yesterday, but the rescue squad talked me down.
May 22, 200916 yr I expect a much better game from Delonte and Mo. I don't see Orlando shooting 45% from beyond of the arc. As a team, I think they were just under 40% for the season.
May 23, 200916 yr That was one of the most amazing games I have ever witnessed. I think that shot should take Cleveland to the finals.
May 23, 200916 yr Thanks goodness my mother is recording it (hopefully!) while I'm away. But outplayed twice in the second half? That's not players. That's coaching. So much for coach of the year. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 23, 200916 yr The game was ridiculous. It was like watching the Kardiak Kids all over again. The crowd went bananas when he made that shot, EVERYONE in the Q was holding their breath. People were hugging each other after it went in.. We must win one in Orlando. They play so well in the first half, but the third quarter has been bad in both games. I knew this was not going to be easy, but blowing HUGE leads is unacceptable. Mo is choking big time. We need him to step up, not just say it but DO IT.
May 23, 200916 yr For the most part I thought Mo played just awful, turning the ball over and missing shots he hit all season long. But he did hit some clutch shots down the stretch that kept Orlando from pulling away. Maybe that will get him going.
May 23, 200916 yr For the most part I thought Mo played just awful, turning the ball over and missing shots he hit all season long. But he did hit some clutch shots down the stretch that kept Orlando from pulling away. Maybe that will get him going. In the first game he went 6/19 or something like that? It appears that he mentally is not in the game.
May 23, 200916 yr We have to pray that Orlando cant keep hitting these shots. Its unreal to watch these huge leads just dwiddle away. I think the cavs have upside. Orlando is playing nearly unstoppable basketball in the second half. The cavs have more room for improvement and need to do it ASAP. Mike Brown must shut down the perimeter for the next games.
May 23, 200916 yr We have to pray that Orlando cant keep hitting these shots. Its unreal to watch these huge leads just dwiddle away. I think the cavs have upside. Orlando is playing nearly unstoppable basketball in the second half. The cavs have more room for improvement and need to do it ASAP. Mike Brown must shut down the perimeter for the next games. I'm glad you're posting, I thought for sure, you would have slit your wrists by now. Your nerves are probably shot. lol lol
May 23, 200916 yr :-o:cry: :clap: I didn't realize they had a timeout with 1.0 seconds to go so I walked away from the tv to cry in a corner...I then heard the most surreal roar at biermarkt/bar cento, turned around to see the mayhem... where will amazing happen this year?... Yes, it's already the new commercial.
May 23, 200916 yr even tho the cavs bench looked a lot better the magic bench still outscored the cavs bench 26-14. we need more scoring from our bench guys. as for the d, first of all obviously they have to not allow any wide open threes. easier said than done over the course of the game, right? but thats not the biggest issue. i think coach b should substitute more at some points in the 3rd/4th qtrs just like they do in the 2nd qtr. mix it up, let big ben have a few cracks in the second half too. if you look at how the 2nd qtr subs do, well that appears to rattle orlando, at least temporarily. so why turn away from that subbing in the second half? orlando seems to do a better job using their bench. aww man, what a series. in the meantime.... :-o :clap:!
May 23, 200916 yr Apparently we're a "godforsaken, moribund sports town". I hate you too, ESPN. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What in the world are we witnessing (no pun intended)? Honestly, isn't this starting to get just a little bit creepy? A dying franchise in the most godforsaken sports town there is drafts a kid from nearby Akron. He grows into the greatest player alive, turns the team into a contender, builds an impeccable public image, develops something of a love affair with the fans, boosts the city's dwindling economy, and now this? A 25-foot game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that defies all reason? One that no more than two dozen people on earth could've thought he'd hit? One that saved the Cavaliers' dream season, as well as Cleveland's collective sports psyche, from plunging into the abyss? It's really beginning to seem like "The Chosen One'' is more than just a cool nickname. Full story at http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=broussard_chris&page=MagicCavs-Game2-090523
May 23, 200916 yr speaking of that kind of remark -- did anyone else catch the announcers talk about the rock hall and one of them said, "well, there's nothing else to do in this town!" it was probably barkley wasn't it? :whip:
May 23, 200916 yr If he had not made that shot, moribund would surely have defined the city of Cleveland. : being in the state of dying : approaching death
May 23, 200916 yr WOW!!!! Q was nuts, roller coaster of emotions. I could barely sleep last night! GO CAVS
May 23, 200916 yr Ive watched the replay of the shot about 100 times on ESPN and Im not sick of it yet
May 23, 200916 yr Thanks goodness my mother is recording it (hopefully!) while I'm away. But outplayed twice in the second half? That's not players. That's coaching. So much for coach of the year. It's not coaching dude. It's fatigue. To defend Orlando, you have to maintain your defensive intensity and keep that bounce in your step. The first half of both games we have swarmed the ball and rotated with intensity. During the second half, it seem like the Cavs have not played as aggressive and the Magic have successfully swung the ball to the open man. I think the layoff has a lot to do with the Cavs not maintaining their intensity on that end of the court. It also does not help that no one from the supporting cast... Mo, Delonte, Z, Andy, etc.... has really stepped up with a big game. Brian Windhorst was on Sportscenter this morning and I thought he put it well - he said that the Magic might not be built to win a championship but they are built to beat the Cavs. They are just a terrible matchup for us. The good news is that Orlando has not yet had one of their games that they don't shoot so well. Our goal should be to split the two games down in Orlando to steal home court back.
May 23, 200916 yr Doc Broc-actually Chris Broussard grew up in Cleveland. He went to High school in Parma and College at Oberlin. He loves Cleveland and loves the cavs. He is a national writer who has been writing positive things and exposing them nationally the whole year. I thought it was actually a pretty good article. I love the line: "When the ball did reach the rim, it fell through the net as the horn sounded. Then chaos ensued, as fear, frustration and joy all collided at once." Being at the game, thats exactly what it was...an explosion of disappointment and joy. Any sane Cleveland fan would not expect that to go in.
May 23, 200916 yr My girlfriend was at the game. She said she'd never seen anything like it from the crowd after the shot went through...the arena was the loudest she'd ever heard, people were crying, people were hugging each other, people were bowing down. Hell she said she even hit the floor cuz she didn't know what to do. Wow, what a memory last night was.
May 23, 200916 yr I was there... never seen anything like it. I may have been the only person in the entire place not cheering or going bonkers. I just stood and stared in disbelief, and then finally had to sit down and laugh. un. be. liev. able.
May 23, 200916 yr I was there... never seen anything like it. I may have been the only person in the entire place not cheering or going bonkers. I just stood and stared in disbelief, and then finally had to sit down and laugh. un. be. liev. able. thats what most people did. There was gasp on the inbound...everone held their breath...silence (people clutching seat mates)...then a rupture of euphoria! Most people were just standing their with their mouths open, then a wave of cheers, screams, hugs, ensued. It was 10 times better than the '07 EC championship game.
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