2009 NBA Playoffs

[HD MM]

Notable Stat

With a 7 game series tied at 1 game a piece in the NBA Playoffs, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series 75% of the time......

With that said, Go Cavs!!!!

 

[HD MM]

What I find interesting is how everyone talked negatively about Orlando blowing two big leads, one at home (which they won) and one on the road which they lost on a last second shot....hhmmmm), and EVERYONE in here questioned their heart and whether they were good enough to be even be on the same court of the depleted Celtics. NOW, we have the Cavs blowing two huge leads in the 2nd half....and the Cavs have the momentum??!!

Two things for sure so far, match-ups are killing the Cavs...and the ONLY player scoring and defending with consistency is Lebron. And the other thing, the Cavs cannot hold the lead.

Oh poppycock. This is how I look at it....

After 2 games, either team could very easily be 2-0 or 0-2. Instead, the teams split the game at 1 a piece. Now, it's a best of 5 to determine who advances.

I also think the Magic are playing their best basketball of the season right now. Their potential is maxed out. The Cavs on the other hand, well I don't think we're playing as good as we're capable right now. Call it what you will. Rust vs. rest, or whatever. This is the point where teams make adjustments. If the Cavs roll players can step up and we can figure out how to keep a double digit lead, then this team will roll on through Orlando.

With that said, I will be happy if we win 1 of 2 in this trip to Orlando.

 

[BillD1984]

Sunday's Playoff Schedule

Cleveland at Orlando- ECF Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)- 8:30pm ET [TNT (HD)]

 

[HD MM]

Sunday's Playoff Schedule

Cleveland at Orlando- ECF Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)- 8:30pm ET [TNT (HD)]

I'd be lying if I said I'm not giddy as hell about this game!

It's gonna be a helluva day leading up to it! An all-day out-door BBQ with family and friends followed by a night-cap Game 3. It doesn't get much better than this!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to one and all!!! :

 

[salsadancer7]

Oh poppycock. This is how I look at it....

After 2 games, either team could very easily be 2-0 or 0-2. Instead, the teams split the game at 1 a piece. Now, it's a best of 5 to determine who advances.

I also think the Magic are playing their best basketball of the season right now. Their potential is maxed out. The Cavs on the other hand, well I don't think we're playing as good as we're capable right now. Call it what you will. Rust vs. rest, or whatever. This is the point where teams make adjustments. If the Cavs roll players can step up and we can figure out how to keep a double digit lead, then this team will roll on through Orlando.

With that said, I will be happy if we win 1 of 2 in this trip to Orlando.

Ah....Homer speak at it's best. How do you know that Cavs have not 'blown their wad' in the 1st two series? Have you seen ENOUGH Orlando games to KNOW for sure they have peaked "their potential"?

Like I have said over and over and over again...playoff success is about having the better match-ups....and so far, the match-ups have not favored the Cavs. And blowing TWO huge leads in the 2nd half has shown it. Orlando blew a couple of leads against the Celtics....but they should WHY they have had the 2nd best road record in the league.

All I am saying is that last win was amazing! Will go go down as one of the greatest playoff games in NBA history...and that will go down as one of the greatest shots in NBA history....but REALITY IS, the Cavs should have EASILY been up 2-zip...and they were LUCKY to be tied 1-1. If ANYONE has momentum, it's Orlando....they have show twice now....that you have to PLAY the games before you crowning teams in advance.

 

[SabresRule]

Is it too early for HD to panic? Yes- don't jump to conclusions!

I am VERY surprised at what happened in game 3.

Orlando was not shooting lights out from downtown like they were in recent games.

What happened was plain and simple- Cleveland did not do a good job of knocking some of their shots down, whether field goals or free-throws.

(It boggles my mind that a team with Marcin Gortat, Anthony Johnson, Rafer Alston, Michael Pietrus and Courtney Lee is two wins away from the NBA Finals. It's amazing what that game 6 win against Boston did for their confidence- they seem like a new team)

I'm not obviously a Cleveland-heavy guy (Buffalo sports guy first and foremost), but after getting to know HD on this site, as well as the history of that city's sports difficulties, I want the Cavs to try and pull through- I like Matt so much and I don't think his heart can take another painful close-but-no-cigar season.

I don't have anything against Orlando- I DID have them going to the conference Finals, have been praising them most of the season, and always speak positively about their ability to hit threes- but I can't imagine how crushed HD would be if they didn't win this series.

Obviously, this is a long series, but that sinking feeling of "uh-oh... is this happening again" will loom.

Finally, I have this to say- whenever I see a team in trouble in a series, I always break out the Animal House speech on nothing being over until it's official:

HD...

Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Was it over when the Celtics trailed the Lakers 2-1 in the 1984 NBA Finals?

Was it over when the Pistons trailed Chicago 2-1 in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals?

Was it over when the Bulls trailed the Knicks 2-1 in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals?

Was it over when the 76ers trailed the Bucks 2-1 in the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals?

Was it over when the Nets trailed the Celtics 2-1 in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals?

Was it over when the Lakers trailed the Kings 2-1 in the 2002 Western Conference Finals?

Was it over when the Pistons trailed the Heat 2-1 in the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals?

Was it over when the Heat trailed the Mavericks 2-1 in the 2006 NBA Finals?

Was it over when your Cavs trailed Detroit 2-1 in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals?

Oh, and was it over when the 1995 Indians trailed the Mariners 2-1 in the ALCS?

Hell No!

It ain't over now. 'Cause when the going gets tough... the tough get going!

 

[pro96]

99-89 Orlando wins

Lead series 2-1 (could of easily been 3-0)

 

[The Insider]

Yep Aside from a lucky Shot from James (Ok skilled shot) the Magic should be 3 and 0

 

[SabresRule]

Is it just me, or do you think David Stern is getting a little nervous right now?

 

[SabresRule]

Got a personal example of a 2-1 lead:

2006- my Sabres were up 2-1 on Carolina in the East Finals- lost 3 of the next 4 to lose the series in seven.

In other words- I know what it's like to fritter a 2-1 lead. These can be overcome.

Salsa, you covered the Bulls when they overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Knicks in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals.

What's it like to cover a team that falls behind 2-1 and eventually overcomes it?

 

[SabresRule]

We have two 2-1 series leads in the Conference Finals.

Will one team or both crawl back from these holes?

 

[Ramy]

The past means nothing. I really hate when people think the past somehow influences the present, especially when it has nothing to do with the teams playing.

 

[SabresRule]

Ramy, why haven't you been a frequent contributor to this thread?

After all, you did have a Lakers avatar at one point, so I'd assume they're your team.

 

[Skyhi]

Ouch. I'm too mad to even talk about it now. That was a game for the Cavs taking and they blew it. Orlando was off and we still lost by 10! Game 4 is pretty much a must win...I hope the Cavs remember how to shoot a jumper before then.

 

[Skyhi]

WTF is going on with Mo Williams? Is the stage too big for him? He looks like a completely different player than what he was during the regular season.

 

[SabresRule]

IIRC, this may have been the first time in these playoffs Orlando won a game in which they shot poorly from downtown.

 

[pro96]

With a 7 game series tied at 1 game a piece in the NBA Playoffs, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series 75% of the time......

With that said, Go Cavs!!!!

So what you are trying to say now is that the cavs only have a 25% chances to win the series?

 

[vurbano]

Cleveland = CHOKE, The regular season team would be up 3-0

 

[salsadancer7]

I am VERY surprised at what happened in game 3.

Orlando was not shooting lights out from downtown like they were in recent games.

What happened was plain and simple- Cleveland did not do a good job of knocking some of their shots down, whether field goals or free-throws.

I am not....just about everyone, ESPECIALLY Lebron's PR machine, ESPN, crown the Cavs NBA champs before getting into the Finals to begin with. I know it's cliche as all heel, but the games are NOT played on paper nor Playstation 3...but on the court. From day one, just about everyone clearly saw that there would be match-up issues for the Cavs.....but EVERYONE assumed, 'as long as we have Lebron.....we will be fine.....' Well, what Orlando has done is basically let Lebron do his thing and keep EVERYONE ELSE in check.....it has been more or less the same game every game. Cleveland plays well the 1st half then their match-up problems rear their ugly head and catches up to them. The Cavs are VERY LUCKY they are not down 3-0!

With that said, there is STILL alot of series left. We shall see HOW GOOD the "Coach of the Year" really is because he has made no adjustments what so ever.
And Van Gundy has stuck to what got them there....

 

[salsadancer7]

Salsa, you covered the Bulls when they overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Knicks in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals.

What's it like to cover a team that falls behind 2-1 and eventually overcomes it?

But there is such a huge difference between these Cavs and THOSE Bulls teams....1st and foremost, Michael Jordan was much more mature and seasoned than Lebron was. Also...and people sometimes make light of this point, Scotty Pippen was the BEST side-kick since Batman and Robin. So it was like having Michael and and Michael LITE on the court at the same time. Lebron does NOT have the command of his team the way Michael did......yet. Jackson was and is a much better coach than Mike Brown is. The Bulls also had this swagger that I had not seen on ANY PROFESSIONAL team in a VERY long time. They didn't THINK they were gonna win...they KNEW they were gonna win.