GAME 44 | Cavs @ Magic | Jan. 29, 2009 | 8 PM

[3in364]

As a Magic fan I'm thrilled we won, but I know you guys were missing 2 of your most valuable players. When the Cavs offense broke down in the second half West would have made a huge difference. Although Z would have hit some wide open jumpers, he has trouble containing Dwight when the Magic run their top of the key pick and roll, so I think for this game West was the more missed player. JJ is going to be a better than average player. He is totally raw yet still able to be productive on defense and offense. I hope Kinsey is ok - the few minutes I saw of him he was impressive. Where did that come from with Wally? Geez. Turk is a decent defender, above average at times because of his length and he looked like a pregnant mule out there in the first half. As for the officiating, it evened out for the game as both teams were called for 17 fouls and the Cavs actually shot more free throws. I think LeBron was hesitant to drive all the way on Dwight. A few times when Howard hedged on him from the pick and roll LeBron was isolated against Dwight. I thought for sure he would put his head down and drive but instead he passed the ball or took a jump shot. Lee played LeBron about as well as humanly possible. To the extent any human being can annoy LeBron, Lee did. His quickness stopped LeBron from driving a few times.

I empathize with you regarding the no calls however. Dwight has the same problem every game. Because he is bigger and stronger than just about everyone guarding him, the refs let the defender get away with almost anything. Two extended hands in the back, the knee to the back, and a variety of other supposedly foul worthy violations are all allowed when you are standing behind Dwight. I think the refs do the same thing with LeBron on the perimeter.

 

[GilbertForPres]

Yes there were a ton of no calls, but I think we really hurt ourselves by playing into them. We stopped going to the basket, and took too many jumpshots that just weren't falling. Tonight, for the 1st time all season we let the whistles get the best of us. I think we fix that tomorrow though.

 

[Clum-Z]

As a Magic fan I'm thrilled we won, but I know you guys were missing 2 of your most valuable players. When the Cavs offense broke down in the second half West would have made a huge difference. Although Z would have hit some wide open jumpers, he has trouble containing Dwight when the Magic run their top of the key pick and roll, so I think for this game West was the more missed player. JJ is going to be a better than average player. He is totally raw yet still able to be productive on defense and offense. I hope Kinsey is ok - the few minutes I saw of him he was impressive. Where did that come from with Wally? Geez. Turk is a decent defender, above average at times because of his length and he looked like a pregnant mule out there in the first half. As for the officiating, it evened out for the game as both teams were called for 17 fouls and the Cavs actually shot more free throws. I think LeBron was hesitant to drive all the way on Dwight. A few times when Howard hedged on him from the pick and roll LeBron was isolated against Dwight. I thought for sure he would put his head down and drive but instead he passed the ball or took a jump shot. Lee played LeBron about as well as humanly possible. To the extent any human being can annoy LeBron, Lee did. His quickness stopped LeBron from driving a few times.

I empathize with you regarding the no calls however. Dwight has the same problem every game. Because he is bigger and stronger than just about everyone guarding him, the refs let the defender get away with almost anything. Two extended hands in the back, the knee to the back, and a variety of other supposedly foul worthy violations are all allowed when you are standing behind Dwight. I think the refs do the same thing with LeBron on the perimeter.

The pregnant mule part made me laugh for probebly 5 min, but if you watch wally on a consistant basis you would find out that wally is the pregnant mule

 

[aaronbev79]

We couldn't handle the in and out game. And the Lebron ISO killed our offense...plain and simple.

 

[King J]

Why did they stop going to Wally?He only had 1 shot in the 2nd half.

 

[Radar]

i can see sunday being a big day for us

 

[Taki]

Has anyone noticed the lack of wine jerseys this year? I can't remember the last time I saw them wear them！

 

[aaronbev79]

Has anyone noticed the lack of wine jerseys this year? I can't remember the last time I saw them wear them！

*Add a lisp and a perky tone to this quote, and it may be one of the most unintentionally ghey comments ever written on this board. :chuckles:

 

[fishsticks]

Why did they stop going to Wally?He only had 1 shot in the 2nd half.

Bears repeating.

 

[Adam]

wow! i can't believe how this is being written up by the press. The underdog magic drubbing the cavs, no mention of the injuries. This has got to be the biggest compliment the cavs can receive. They were expected to compete and do it well. I guess the asociated press were suprised a team with 3 all stars could beat the cavs.

I feel sorry for the clips. I think after watching the game tape from today lebron might get angry

 

[samtheman67]

Our offense really stalls at times without Z giving us easy tipins and pick and pops.. Ben looked terrible. One highlight for me was wally with the stepback on hedo.. I dunno if lebron showed him the move but that was NASTY

 

[Sasha03]

Very sad game in the 2 half...

 

[The Oi]

I was at the game, which made it suck a little bit more. But this game puts me at like a 3 on the concern scale. We lost to a very good team, on the road after having beaten several really good teams on the road. Not to mention we're missing two of our best players.

Magic played better defense than us, were hitting their shots and were a better team last night. This game isn't a big deal. I get the vibe that some of the rest of you feel the same way.

As long as you don't let a game like this send you into a tailspin, it's easily forgettable.

 

[Green Lantern]

You can't make a complete judgment based on 1 regular season game. Cavs were off tonight, even in the 1st half when they built a lead. Other than Hickson and Wally no one played well and all were off their game tonight.

You hate to keep making the excuse of Z and Delonte being out but it does make a huge difference. There were so many plays tonight at both ends of the floor that would have ended differently if a healthy Z is out there. Rebounds, plays at the basket and pick and pops offensively that are no longer there with AV at C.

Orlando will be a formidable playoff opponent and tough for the Cavs to handle but playoff basketball is a different story and the Cavs team that shows up then won't be the one who showed up tonight.

Bad loss but the only thing to really get out of it is losing a game in the battle for homecourt.

I knew this was going to be a hard game..when we lost the big lead toward the half it really worried me..the Cavs allowed the no calls to rattle them..and in the third,their inside/outside game got going and the Cavs didn't defend it well..They shouldn't have worried about doubling down on Howard..keep the shooters under control..

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

We were minus our center and best perimeter defender against the team with the best center and best perimeter offense in the conference, at their place. And without the midrange shooting provided by Delonte and Z, Howard could stay down low and clog the lane. The LeISO was annoying, but then again, nobody else except Wally showed the ability to hit an outside shot.

As much as we miss Delonte, I think the loss of Z's midrange game to pull guys like Howard and Bynum away from the basket has been the biggest problem in those two losses.