Game 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8:00 PM (ET)

[djlofi]

The Starters

The Bench Bunch

Magic Starters

Magic Bench

<table cellpadding=5 border=1><Tr><td>Anthony Johnson</td><td>Mickael Pietrus</td><td>Jeremy Richardson</td><td>Tony Battie</td><td>Marcin Gortat</td></tr>
<tr><td>Adonal Foyle</td><td>Tyronn Lue</td><td>J.J. Reddick</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td></td></tr>
</table>

INJURIES

For the Cavs:
Ben Wallace
Eric Snow

For the Magic:
Jameer Nelson​

KEYS TO THE GAME

BACK TO BACK ATTACK: The most consecutive games the Cavs have lost this year: 2. Friday night is not the time to challenge that stat for the Cavs, especially with home court advantage on the line.

STATEMENT: The Cavs may have the best record in the league, but are 2-5 against the next three elite teams, the Celtics, Lakers and Magic, and are winless away from the Q against those teams. To be the best, you have to beat the elite, and a win on Friday would strengthen the Cavs' mostly stellar resume for the 2009 campaign.

BIG SHOW: Except for Darnell Jackson, the Cavs' bigmen did not show up to play against the Wizards. You know there's a problem when Darius Songalia outplays you. I almost puked watching the Cavs interior D tonight. Other than Howard, Gortat and Battie, Orlando's primary bigmen are more finesse/shooter types that really create matchup problems for the Cavs and spread the floor to let the Magic attack you with their shooters or with the inside presence of Howard.

SKIP TO MY PAIN: Rafer Alston has averaged 21.5 points, while shooting 59% against Cleveland in 2 games this year. Mo, Boobie and Delonte have a tough assignment tomorrow.

BENCH ISSUES: The Cavs bench has been wildly inconsistent lately, which is most likely due to Mike Brown shortening the rotation and with AV starting in place of Ben Wallace. A leader needs to emerge and for a while it was Joe Smith, but he played 8 minutes against Washington. Also, this is just my opinion, but against a team with bigger guards like Orlando or Washington, why can't my boy Tarence Kinsey get some pt? Kinsey has shown that he can play pesky defense and move without the ball. He's the only guard on the bench that can do both, and yet he doesn't get minutes when the situation requires it. I guess Mike Brown has a plan, but I find it hard to swallow when TK has the ability to provide a spark off the bench.

FOCUS: Obviously the Cavs were looking ahead to the matchup with Magic, because no one besides Darnell Jackson and Delonte showed up to play. Against a rejuvenated Wiz, the Cavs come close to pulling off the comeback, but the Cavs cannot sleepwalk in Orlando tonight. If LeBron is going to be happy hoisting long-range 3s instead of attacking Howard, the Cavs may be looking at another first this season with a tough game on Sunday against the Spurs looming: three consecutive losses.

JAM OF THE NIGHT
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Creepin' on the comeup

 

[breanna]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

I think Delonte showed up to play too. Not just DJ.

 

[Mr. Glass]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

Tomorrow night the Magic will be tied for a league leading only two strings of consecutive losses.

 

[djlofi]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

I think Delonte showed up to play too. Not just DJ.

You're right. I was just so disgusted with the way everyone played last night that I forgot about Brother Red. It's just I can't believe that the Cavs would sleepwalk through a game like that, especially when the Wiz were healthy and obviously gunning for them, bringing a playoff intensity to a game the Cavs were looking past. I just thought Mo, Z and LeBron did not show up and you could see it on the court. When they attacked the paint, there were opportunities, but it just seemed like Mo and LBJ were going to chuck their way to victory last night, and screw working inside. And the defense sucked last night. Four wide open layups in transition is not Cavalier basketball. That's rinky dink Memphis Grizzlies defense. AgH! I'm just steamed about last night.

But Brother Red did show up. DWest has been a warrior for the Cavs this year, but in situations like yesterday, I still think he could make his presence felt more when teams are ganging up on LeBron or when Mo is having a bad shooting night.

 

[MikeSwim07]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

I hope the Cavs come out with energy and actually play a whole 4 quarters worth of quality basketball.

The thing that annoys me most about the cavs is how they don't play hard against sub 500 teams. Then they think they can just get back a 10+ deficit in the 4th quarter; would they do that against an elite team? no. They need to be more consistent with there energy every game.

If they don't win this game, I am very worried about then getting home court over the lakers.

Also, has anyone else noticed Mo's very inconsistent game play? It seems like he is only good every other game.

 

[Green Lantern]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

I too hope the Cavs rebound well...Orlando is a tough matchup...we really need to win on their court and show them we can beat them anytime,anywhere.
But I'll take the loss to the Wizs if they beat the Magic..

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Re: GAME 76 | Cavs @ Magic | April 3, 2009 | 8 PM

This will be ugly

 

[Trill Cosby]

djlofi you did a very good job with this one, extra props of your musical selection because AZ is an underrated beast.

 

[djlofi]

djlofi you did a very good job with this one, extra props of your musical selection because AZ is an underrated beast.

Thanks man. I've been on a huge preemo kick since November and just came across AZ's solo stuff. The Come Up is my jam, but I'm also a big fan of this joint:

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[Powerslave]

We'll be pissed playing against the Magic tonight.

Go ahead punks, make our day.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Cavs 120 Magic 43 (at halftime). Book it.

 

[blank964]

Oh shit I didn't even realize this was the dude with Nas. I haven't heard much of his material but he is pretty good.

This game is going to be tough as hell because both teams were clowned in their last game and want to badly win. I hope we can pull it out.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

I feel confident about this game for some reason.

I shouldn't because ORL has had our number lately, but after getting embarrassed by the Wizards I see our guys coming out real focused.

I'm calling a 97-89 win.

 

[Typhoon]

i think were gonna win too but ima have to DVR the game. Going to the movies tonight

 

[dekethecreep]

Please win tonight,gotta keep the faith people!
lebron wont let us down!!