• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Round 3, Game 3| Cavs @ Magic| Sun, May 24th @ 8:30 pm [et]

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Da_James_Gang

NBA Starter
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
5,659
Reaction score
4,200
Points
113
jzv48z.gif


cavsvsmag.gif

Cavs @ Magic
Game 3: Sun, May 24th @ 8:30pm [et]
Tv: TNT Radio: WTAM 1100

interior.jpg

Head Coach​

coaches.gif

Starters/Reserves​

CSplayoffscopy.png


CBPlayoffscopy.png


Magicstarterscopy.png


MagicBenchcopy.png

Injury Report

Pic-Services-FireAmbulance2.jpg


Cavs- None
Magic- Jameer Nelson(shoulder)​

A little eye candy​

uh.jpg


sexy_beach_models.jpg


:dunno:
ToughChicks1copy.png

Cavaliers-Magic Preview

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- As if once wasn't enough, the Orlando Magic were forced to watch LeBron James' amazing buzzer-beater all day Saturday.


The Magic were witnesses all right. Again. And again. And again.

James' stunning fadeaway 3-pointer in Game 2 that tied the Eastern Conference finals was replayed countless times on TV sets from Cleveland to Orlando. It was also a fixture in the minds of Cavaliers fans basking in the win, and in the thoughts of Magic players wondering what could have been.

"It's tough when you got to go home and watch it on TV over and over again," Magic center Dwight Howard said.

The shot saved the Cavaliers from a daunting 0-2 hole, and already was being talked about as one of the greatest moments in Cleveland sports history. There's just one downside for the Cavs.

"It is over and done with," James said.

For all the drama and emotion surrounding the riveting shot, the Cavaliers have plenty to fix if they want to reclaim home-court advantage when the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3 on Sunday night.

The Magic ripped their defense apart, exposed their lack of depth and roared back from a double-digit deficit for the second straight game. Now the NBA's top-seeded team heads to Orlando, where it lost both games this season, including a 29-point blowout in April in which it trailed by as many as 41.

But one shot made all of that seem like a distant memory.

"To go on the road, 1 second from being down 0-2, going to Orlando and from zero seconds the shot goes in to being 1-1 going on the road, it is a good feeling for us," James said. "We can carry this momentum."

It's an all too familiar feeling for Orlando.

The Magic have been last-second losers four times this postseason. Boston's Glen Davis hit a jumper as time expired in Game 4 of their second-round series. Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young each hit a shot in the final seconds for wins in the opening round, forcing the Magic to again watch another team celebrate as they walked slowly to the locker room in defeat.

Any carry-over seems unlikely.

Orlando responded well after each of the previous heartbreakers, winning the following games against Philadelphia and nearly taking Game 5 against the Celtics before blowing a big fourth-quarter lead.

"How many times have I been asked that in the postseason so far?" coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Game 1 in Philly we lose at the buzzer. Is there going to be carry-over? OK. Game 3 in Philly, they beat us at the buzzer. Is there going to be carry-over? Game 4 against Boston, is there going to be carry-over? I mean, you know, I've heard that the entire postseason."

The Magic, a streaky shooting team that can dazzle at times and disappear during some games, overcame a 23-point deficit in Game 2 as skittish Cleveland fans covered their mouths in disbelief, with Hedo Turkoglu hitting a 12-footer in the lane to put Orlando ahead by two with 1 second left.

Cleveland called timeout and drew up a play for James. The league's MVP darted toward the basket, cut back near the top of the circle, caught the ball and let loose a shot over Turkoglu that sent those same fans hugging and cheering in an all-too-good state of shock.

An encore won't be easy.

The Magic have been a matchup nightmare at times for the Cavs, who have lost nine of the last 13 games to Orlando. The Magic, with their bevy of 3-point shooters and Howard inside, have picked apart Cleveland's defense for long stretches.

Orlando has started slow in the first two games, and Cleveland likely won't be able to count on such a cushion Sunday at Amway Arena, where the Magic usually start fast.

But the Cavs did show some positive signs in the win.

Unlike Game 1, when Orlando emerged on a late 3-pointer by Rashard Lewis, it wasn't just the LeBron show. Mo Williams had 19 points and made some big shots late. Cleveland also got 12 points apiece from Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West.

Sasha Pavlovic scored nine points in 21 minutes but most of Cleveland's reserves again provided little support.

The Cavs know they'll have to win at least one in Orlando to earn a spot in the NBA finals, and they're hoping to take advantage if they get another break.

"You can't go through the playoffs without having some lucky bounces here and there," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "They got one, quote-unquote, lucky bounce in Game 1, if you want to say that with Rashard's shot. We got one in Game 2. Let's get ready for Game 3 now."
 
Good stuff DJG.

This game is huge. The Magic are just as difficult to beat at home as they are on the road, so I don't see their home crowd being as much as a factor as ours usually is for us.

I doubt we see the Cavs jump out to a big lead early on the road. This actually could prove to be a good thing as far as keeping up the intensity on both ends of the floor: one of the bigger flaws we've had so far.

Hopefully we start seeing signs of the guys getting back into better shape physically after two games since the long layoff. I really do agree with Austin's thinking that the 2nd half seems so sluggish because our guys are a little out of shape.

Finally, Mo and Delonte must penetrate as often as possible. This creates so many more scoring opportunities for our team which in turn also prevents the Magic from running and getting easy transition threes.

Let's also hope that we adjusted to the Hedo/Shard/Lee pick and roll/pop plays that have been killing us, and that Sasha doesn't pull a Jekyll and Hyde on us.

If we can come out and steal this game I feel that the series will go 6 games at the most. I really believe that we are just one elusive adjustment away from putting the lock down on these guys and the ECF in general.

Go Cavs!
 
Lovin' it DJG. The SVG M.O.P. shifting gif is love at first sight for me, good work :thumbup:

untitled.jpg
 
My sig is dedicated to the shot...but I don't want us to be in that situation ever again.

New drinking game: take a shot every time Mike Brown makes a positive adjustment from the previous game.
 
I just can't see the Cavs winning this series if they don't steal one of the next two games.
I think tonight is a great oppurtunity too, as the Magic should still be reeling from Friday's defeat.

Cavs 99-87 Magic

GO CAVS!!!

Great Preview BTW.
 
Last edited:
Excellent preview! I'm sure you even made the Magic fans happy with that luscious shot of D12

If you overlook that blowout in April and go back to the game at the end of January, the Cavs were in it but fizzled away in the second half.

Team 1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers 32 24 16 16 88
Magic 25 30 24 20 99

LeBron also had an off night going 10-27 and 3-6 from the line. The Magic were 11-31 from 3-point range. The only person who salvaged their shooting was Jameer Nelson. Howard/Turkoglu/Lewis had a balanced night of 22/19/19 respectively.

It will be a tough game, but it definitely is winnable.
 
My sig is dedicated to the shot...but I don't want us to be in that situation ever again.

New drinking game: take a shot every time Mike Brown makes a positive adjustment from the previous game.

i'll bet you we as fans won't notice more than 1/4 of the adjustmants that are made.
 
Haha I love the preview.

Even though LeBrons shot was amazing I dont want it to come down to that again. We need to keep our leads!!!!
 
Im getting really worried...again.

How good are the Magic going to be at home? If the magic are any better then they were in Cleveland I have no idea how we are going to win. Our guards are going t o have hit open shots. Mo and Delonte have been non-existent so far. Mo should be killing Alston he isnt a good defender. I have a feeling Delonte is just really tired. He has played the most playoff minutes and I believe thats the reason why isnt hitting shots and not playing great d. Our rotations are getting ****ed up, Magic live and die by the three. So far they have lived. Whatever it takes we have to limit there 3-point shoot opportunities. I hope we win but I'm expecting another down to the wire game.

Please win. :fingersx: :pray:
 
Excellent preview! I'm sure you even made the Magic fans happy with that luscious shot of D12

If you overlook that blowout in April and go back to the game at the end of January, the Cavs were in it but fizzled away in the second half.

Team 1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers 32 24 16 16 88
Magic 25 30 24 20 99

LeBron also had an off night going 10-27 and 3-6 from the line. The Magic were 11-31 from 3-point range. The only person who salvaged their shooting was Jameer Nelson. Howard/Turkoglu/Lewis had a balanced night of 22/19/19 respectively.

It will be a tough game, but it definitely is winnable.

Wow that box score is definitely reminiscent of the first two games...we get outscored in the 3rd and 4th quarters...these next two games are going to decide the series so it's huge...I'm prayin we get the W in game 3...
 
We're not losing this series.

LeBron's not going to let it happen.

Tonight is going to be an interesting game, I doubt we open up a 15 point lead in the first quarter, so we'll see how the game goes when the Cavs are playing with fire(fire is essentially a lead less than 10 against the Magic), or playing with a deficit. Who knows, we could see Orlando blow a 15 point lead today.
 
Supporting cast has to make shots to win. The Magic are focusing all defensive energy on LeBron and its still not working, although it is wearing him down a bit. If Williams and West can get their 40+% stroke from deep back then the Cavs will win this one. These guys need to make buckets. 19 points is fine but not on 7/21 shooting.
 
I'll admit it. I'm scared as hell right now. Orlando is the one team in the league that is so hard to guard and a team we cannot matchup with. They are beatable when they go cold from three, but we can't rely on that. Everyone's hitting, even the bench players. We can't keep Delonte on Hedo because Lee is capable of going off for 20 on Mo. Mike Brown needs to change it up on defense, we need to go the traditional way of LeBron on Hedo and Delonte on Lee. The entire game. We shut Hedo down, we can win. Do NOT let him get anymore double digit assist games like that.
 
Cavs win by 3. 93-90.

Game is close all the way up until the end. Closest thing to a big lead is Orlando up by 7 at the half.
 
Still feeling good from friday night night
getting nervous as the game approaches tonight
Dont know if i can watch :D
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top