Wednesday night’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic may have appeared to be the perfect recipe for a tight, competitive game of basketball. In reality, fans everywhere were about to watch Lebron James and his Cavs run over a Magic team caught like a deer in the headlights as Cleveland steam rolled their way to a 102-93 victory.
It was a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference final. There were huge NBA stars in uniform and everyone in attendance was anticipating a toe-to-toe slugfest, but this game may have been over in the first three minutes.
One of Cleveland’s off-season acquisitions, veteran Shaquille O’neal, was able to draw two early fouls on Dwight Howard, which seemed to almost paralyze the Magic from the get go. Dwight was subbed out with 9:41 remaining in the first quarter to save him from further foul trouble. It was the beginning of the end.
Shaquille O’neal has been a villain to many Orlando fans ever since his move to L.A. early in his career and they booed him every chance they got. Many in the press may have been selling the game as “Superman vs. Superman” or “Dwight and the Diesel”, but in actuality neither player had a great game. One could argue Shaq outwitted Dwight by getting him in foul trouble early on, which in turn made it an easy night for the Cavs, but you won’t see any flashy numbers in the stat book for either of these giants.
On the other hand, if you came Wednesday night to see Mo Williams light up the basket with threes or King James make ridiculous fade aways, then you must have been in heaven. Mo was a perfect nine for nine in the first half on his way to a 28 point game and the King didn’t do too shabby either ending his night with 36.
Vince Carter’s shooting was keeping the Magic in the game early on, but it just wasn’t enough. Vinsanity racked up 29 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort, but nine total assists for Orlando told the story. They had no ball movement and that wasn’t the only thing missing.
The Magic went into half down by 14 even though they had 51 points on the board. There was no defense whatsoever. The Cavs were able to do something they weren’t able to do against the Magic in last year’s playoffs – get to the rim. The Cavs were attacking the hoop early and often and they kept it up all game long.
The third quarter wasn’t much better than the first two. By the end of it, the Magic were down 20 and many fans had lost interest. There were still a few hoping for a miraculous comeback, which Orlando fans have come to expect. In last year’s playoffs it happened time and time again, but not last night.
In the fourth quarter, the Cavs gave the Magic every chance to do it again, but the shots just weren’t falling. The Magic shot one for nine to open up the final period and somehow didn’t worsen their situation. The comeback didn’t really take effect until the three minute mark. It was too little too late. Lebron and the Cavs were able to hold on for the win.
The Magic definitely didn’t look like a title contender. They were missing two of their biggest weapons from outside, Rashard Lewis and newly acquired Ryan Anderson, but Vince Carter summed it up after the game by saying, “We have to want it.”
Wednesday night, the Cavs wanted it and they played like it. The Magic didn’t rise to the occasion, but the good news is that it was just one game. The Magic will get another chance this season against the Cavs and everyone in the basketball world knows they have enough talented guys to put forth a better effort. With everyone healthy and in uniform they probably have the deepest team in the league and they’ve shown they can win. Magic fans will see better days sooner than later. It was just one game.
By: David Burleson, reporting for West Orlando News
chemistry between howard and carter needs to improve on the court as we know it is good off the couurt. carter must use his driving ability and constant three point threat to get howard more shots early and howard needs to avod fould trouble. the return of lewis is gonna show good this team realy is