Cleveland 1
Orlando 3
Lakers 3 
Denver 2
Well I guessed how much he'd score (wonder what TAB would have paid 
), but Cavs got up. James got heaps of support this time around, and he was doing his best to bring the other players into it rather than shouldering it all himself.
Sets it up for an interesting game 6..... Orlando will be practicing free throws like crazy between now and then I'd say
Level 3
And the thing is, everyone thinks that the Cavs weren't going to win three in a row. Now, in a way, I think they only need to win the next game to get the edge right back. Orlando don't want to go back to Cleveland for game 7 thinking about how they blew a 3-1 lead.
It's going to be a battle of wills against fatigue that will judge the next two games. LeBron James is a tired man, but he's had the luxury of rest throughout the playoffs. Orlando haven't had that luxury, they took Game 1 just two days after beating Boston in Game 7, so they've played every second night for the past 12 games, and it takes its toll. Cleveland are hungry now, they know they can beat them. I really hope for a Cavaliers victory, and I think that it's quite possible they can do it.
Haven't had much of a chance to see the Lakers play, but I wonder how the teams will match up.... Orlando are doing inside/outside to perfection atm.
Dissapointing for James...he had a quiet game so people will look at him in terms of blame, but anyone can have a quiet game....if I were him I'd trade out and get on a team with a better support cast.
Level 3
If James wants a better supporting cast he may have to command a reasonable superstar salary, as opposed to highest-paid player in the game. Otherwise he's only going to end up on another team like Cleveland.
If I were the Cavs front office I'd try hard to get a package for Tracy McGrady. They just need another star, someone who can turn it on. They aren't going to go anywhere if they keep relying on Mo Williams and Delonte West to fill in the gaps. They have to come up with a plan so that they have a team which is capable of beating Orlando if they run into them same time next year. I'm not sure what kind of price it would take to get McGrady. Possibly several draft picks and at least one decent sixth man, maybe Verajao or West. Free Agency will probably be a key factor.
LeBron's probably a frustrated man right now, he's going to need some time this summer to feel good about this team again. I don't think he will like all those passes he gave to other players to take a shot and they blow it, because that's something Orlando did very well. Everytime Lewis, Pietrus or Alston got left alone around the arc, you could almost guarantee it would drop. Money isn't going to be the driving factor for LeBron, I mean he gets paid a pitence from the Cavaliers compared to his contracts with Nike and whatever else he does. He'll want a ring, and if at the end of next year he doesn't believe Cleveland is the place he'll get one, he'll walk. But it begs the question, where does he go? New York is possible only if they make a strong signing before him, someone like Bosh, D-Wade, Carmello Anthony, but I get the feeling that those guys are relatively happy where they are.
I just think the Cleveland front office need to fully appreciate the asset they have in LeBron James. They can win a title, they just need to give him somebody else who can step up in big games and make the big plays when it counts. But they may have to sacrifice a lot and make some crazy decisions to get it that way. For some teams, trading away both your first round draft picks in consequetive years is suicide. Yet that may need to happen to secure the services of a guy like McGrady. If McGrady came to Cleveland next year and stayed healthy, I believe they can go all the way. I can tell you one thing though, if they have a conservative offseason and come back next year with exactly the same team and don't win a championship, if LeBron goes they'll be no better off than they were in 2003. They'll be back to the cellar again, wondering how they lost the best player of this generation.
Exactly. Jordan had Pippen... the kind of player that could hurt the opposition if you didn't guard him well. If you think about the Bulls even further...they had a pretty average team except for Jordan and Pippen.... Armstrong was lethal from outside (Cavs have this already), but only averaged around 14ppg... Longley... he averaged 7 rpg and even less points...Worthington was no better. Oakley admittedly was pretty decent, but hardly someone the opposition needed to think about shutting down. You're right about salary too... for the sake of a title, take a salary cut which like you said is small change to him anyway, and get that second weapon in.... someone with a bit of inside presence would be a pretty scary thought. Ilguaskas is here nor there...he has a decent jump shot, but he's hardly going to pound the paint, and he's just too slow. Varejao.... besides his soccer like antics what is he good for? West and Williams are actually pretty decent though so their outside game isn't too bad.... In a lot of ways this team really is like the Bulls.....
And you look at Orlando...they do ride Howard a bit.... when he's not on the court they lack the options inside for sure, but the thing with Orlando is you never know who's going to be shooting next when he is there. They fire it in, he'll draw the double team, kick it back out to the perimiter, then they'll pass around quickly till they get an open shot and take it. They seem to play ike a team.....
I guess I'm a fan of underdogs, but I love the way Orlando play....
Orlando Magic
Vs
LA Lakers
I feel so bad for LBJ23, they played so well all season. They got owned by the Magic though... This series could be a great series if Magic keep playin the way thay have been... Here is to hoping Magic can win in 7.
Jordan & Pippen had a great team around them, that new what they had to do & when they had to do it. MJ had the killer instinct. He knew what needed to be done & did it.
Rumor has it Big Ben is retiring as well, that will be a kick if he leaves. Such a great defensive presence.
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