Cavaliers 105 Magic 92

[Karma]

Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21) VS Orlando Magic (19-32)

Tuesday, February 21st, 2006
7:00pm ET
Radio : WTAM 1100
Television: FSN Ohio
Quicken Loans Arena

Head Coaches

Mike Brown / Brian Hill

Probable Staters

Eric Snow / Steve Francis

Sasha Pavlovic / DeShawn Stevenson

LeBron James / Hidayet Turkoglu

Drew Gooden / Dwight Howard

Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Tony Battie

Cleveland Cavaliers Bench

Damon Jones/Stephen Graham/Anderson Varejao/Donyell Marshall/Alan Henderson

Orlando Magic Bench

Carlos Arroyo/Keyon Dooling/Grant Hill/Pat Garrity/Mario Kasun​

Game Notes

* First game out of the allstar break where only Dwight Howard and LeBron James participated for both team despite Damon Jones vein attempts to be involved.

* This game will be the debut for 2004 No.2 pick Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo for the Magic.

* Orlando sit 5 1/2 games outide of a playoff spot, whilst the Cavaliers sit in fourth seed with a 3 1/2 game break on Indiana.

Karma's Keys

* Keeping a body on the NBA's best rebounder, Dwight Howard is the key. Howard plays with much aggression in which needs to be matched by the at times energetic Gooden.

* Francis has been struggling of late, but will still be dangerous. Snow matches up well here. The Magic can rotate Francis with new boy Arroyo, the tall Dooling and the sweet shooting Diener.

* The Cavalier's have been going away for Ilgauskas lately but the break and a weak front court opponent should see the cavaliers back inside. Kasun, Augmon and Milicic man the paint.

* Ever injured forward Grant Hill is back and will lok to spark the Magic from the bench. He and garrity on the perimeter will need to be matched. The same can be said for veterans Marshall and Jones who again bomb away beyond the arc.

Overview

A re-focussed Cavalier side lead by Allstar MVP LeBron James should have too much for the struggling Magic. Coming out of a break like this though can lead to some interesting results, but the Cavs have a home playoffs spot to seal whilst the Magic are all but gone to water for the season.

Cavaliers with a double figures victory.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Gosh - Dwight Howard needs a new picture - NOW!!!!!

I look for the Cavs to come out strong, especially over the next couple weeks. We need to play with a sense of urgency - Brown will instill it.

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

I'll be keeping an eye out to see if Darko plays. If we can wrap this game up in due time, we could have a Marty sighting. Marty vs. Darko, imagine that!

 

[cavincali]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Whenever my girl comes over when the Cavs play a crappy team at home we have allways lost. Well she is coming over tomorrow so dont expect a double digit win.

 

[The One]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

I would like to see Darko play good minutes. If he does I think well win.Important that we beat the sides we are suppose to. Dont play down to their level.

 

[Maximus]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Whenever my girl comes over when the Cavs play a crappy team at home we have allways lost. Well she is coming over tomorrow so dont expect a double digit win.

Come on, Cali! Take one for the team.....send her out shopping for 2 hours. :chuckles:



Newble/Graham update -

Newble returns
Three weeks after going into the hospital with a facial infection, swingman Ira Newble returned to practice. After the illness zapped his energy and he was in a hospital bed for eight nights, it is going to take awhile for him to get back into playing shape.
Brown said he hoped to give Newble three or four full practices before activating him, which hints he won't be available for this weekend's road-and-home series with the Pistons.

Graham re-signed
In an expected move, the Cavs signed rookie swingman Stephen Graham to a second 10-day contract on Monday. In four games with the Cavs, Graham is averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes.
The Cavs will have six more games to look at him to decide whether to sign him for the rest of the season or let him go.
``I'm just going to pick up where I left off,''Graham said. ``I'm trying to show the coaches what a good player I am.''

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Time to start the playoff stretch run. Every game is important, gotta hold onto the 4th spot. Of the 5 games left in Feb, this is the easiest. Gotta beat these inferior teams! Cavs better knock them out!!! Hopefully we can get a big lead and rest the starters, @ Philly tomorrow.

 

[The George]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

for some reason im worried about this game....i cant explain why

 

[Cleveland56]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

for some reason im worried about this game....i cant explain why

probably the debut of darko in a magic uniform.

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Things look okay early on. I have to say, since Francis picked up his 2nd foul and went to the bench, Howard has been looking better out there.

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

At the end of the first quarter, Cleveland leads by six (25-19).

 

[Cleveland56]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Cavs up 25-19 after 1.

LBJ and Z for the Cavaliers, and Howard for the Magic. Howard is turning into a hell of a player...

 

[Cleveland56]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Damon Jones is killing them on defense...

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Usher sighting! What's he doing at The Q?

 

[West Remy]

Re: Cavaliers vs Magic

Z with the move of the night. OMG!