Cavs' state of dejection: Florida
By Bob Finnan
RFinnan@News-Herald.com
ORLANDO, Fla. — LeBron James is returning to the scene of one of his darkest moments in the NBA.
When the Cavaliers were eliminated by the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference finals last May 30, 103-90, James showered and simply walked to the team bus.
He didn't shake hands and congratulate the Magic. He didn't address the hundreds of media, many from national outlets, waiting in the postgame news conference.
The revamped Cavs (4-3) will face the Magic (6-2) at 8 tonight at Amway Arena.
It's a clash of two of the East's titans.
It's also a chance for James to redeem himself after the Cavs were unceremoniously ousted from the playoffs far sooner than almost anyone expected.
James was fined $25,000 by NBA commissioner David Stern for not talking to the media.
He refuses to say he did anything wrong by not shaking hands with the Magic.
James' numbers were off the charts in the six-game series against the Magic last spring: 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. But the only numbers that mattered to him were 4-2 — the Magic's series advantage.
The Cavs' players went out of their way trying to convince the media tonight's encounter is just another game.
Everyone involved knows it isn't.
"It should be a fun game," James said. "We're going into a hostile environment where we haven't been successful in a long time.
"We look forward to going down there and continuing to get better and help our chances of becoming the team we want to be later in the season."
The Cavs have lost three in a row in the regular season at Amway Arena and six straight counting the 2009 playoffs. They haven't won there since Feb. 11, 2008.
James said it's too soon in the season to pinpoint certain matchups on the schedule.
"It's too early for that, honestly, to circle any games," he said. "This isn't one of those games where I'm trying to make a statement. I will go down there and try to dominate like I usually do."
In the East finals last year, Cavs guard Mo Williams guaranteed his team would win.
But the Cavs were unable to carry out his bold prediction.
Williams averaged 18 points a game in the series but didn't shoot the ball as well as he's capable.
"Obviously, (there was) disappointment," Williams said. "That was the last game we played. It's not something I think about. It hasn't crossed my mind.
"I gained experience and a lot of confidence from that series."
The Cavs have yet to beat a good team on the road this season. The Magic are expected to present a severe test for the Cavs.
"They knocked us out of the playoffs last year," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "They presented a lot of problems for us last year.
"It will be interesting to see how we respond. I'm looking forward to it."
