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Magic's Howard to present challenge in finals
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 09:46 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Jim Croce sang that you don't tug on Superman's cape in You Don't Mess Around with Jim, a popular song from the 1970s.
Forgive the Cavaliers should they do the exactly opposite when the NBA's version of the superhero swoops into Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday to play the first game of the Eastern Conference finals at 8:30.
Dwight Howard, the 6-foot-11 center for the Orlando Magic, will try to re-create recent ''super'' performances, such as the 23-point, 22-rebound performance that helped bring the Magic back from the dead against the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Magic eventually forced a Game 7 that they won on the Celtics' home court and, led by Howard, they are overflowing with confidence.
''Everybody is doubting us, but we know how to play and if we go play the way we played in Boston we can beat anybody,'' Howard said.
The Cavs aren't doubting the Magic and especially Howard, taking his presence very seriously. They had their own share of issues against the Magic this season, including a 29-point blowout in April. They've had nine days to await the winner of the Celtics-Magic series, and LeBron James sounds grateful that it's here at last.
''With these last four days, we've had a lot of time to prepare for this team and we're looking forward to the challenge,'' he said. ''It's going to be really good.
''One thing that can hurt you is that they've got a good inside-outside combination. Dwight and those guys they put around him, so you hate to let Dwight just go one-on-one, but at the same time you got to cover their shooters, so they create problems.''
It's easy to argue that without Howard's development from being the No. 1 selection in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Georgia, the Magic would not be where they are now.
He has gone from averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie season to 20.6 points and 13.8 rebounds in his fifth.
He has always been a defensive presence, but his offense is much improved.
''Before, he was just a shot blocker, someone who could just clog up the paint on the defensive end and dunk the ball on the offensive end,'' Cavs forward Joe Smith said. ''That was pretty much it, but now he's developing that low-post game that comes from working with Patrick Ewing and developing his footwork and that's only going to make him a tougher player to guard.''
Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who will spend a lot of time on Howard in the series, agreed and conceded that it's unlikely that the Cavs will be able to shut the Magic center down.
''His quickness, explosiveness along with his athleticism and power is just amazing, so you just have to make sure you limit his opportunities and don't give up too many dunks or just make him work for everything because you're not going to be able to stop him,'' Ilgauskas said.
The Cavs know that he can be effective offensively, but they know that Howard plies his trade on the defensive end of the court.
''He's huge,'' said James, who played with Howard on Team USA last summer. ''He was the defensive player of the year for a reason. He definitely changes shots — normal shots you would take. We've got to give Z some touches early and try to make him play one-on-one defense. You can't allow him to come around and roam on defense on the weak side and get blocked shots.''
Still, with those efforts on both ends of the court, Howard's greatest influence during the series against the Celtics might have been when he questioned the leadership of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy after the Magic fell behind 3-2 in the series.
Some thought Howard might have spoken out of frustration. Others thought it might have been his way of leading the team.
''It was a little bit of both,'' James said. ''I didn't look at it as bad. He's the leader of the team. He has the right to call out some things that are wrong. There's always ways to handle a situation like that. He didn't do it the right way, maybe, but they still won the series and they learned from that situation.''
Howard will bring a leadership attitude to Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday and is not in awe of the Cavs' 39-2 home record or the raucous people who fill the stands.
''We're starving too. I'm hungry,'' he said. ''The fans can't stop us from winning. They can only cheer.''
Lee back in lineup
After suffering a fractured sinus against the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee gave way to J.J. Redick in subsequent games, eventually coming off the bench in the Celtics series. Not any longer. Van Gundy announced today that Lee, who averaged 12.3 pointsagainst the Cavs this year, will start.
''For Delonte West, a guy who puts the ball on the floor more and attacks with the dribble, I think Courtney is the better matchup, so we are going to go that way,'' Van Gundy said.
High praise
In a widely aired interview, Jerry West, the model for the NBA logo, said that James has usurped Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as the best player in the league, something that flattered the Cavs' superstar.
''You can't play basketball without seeing Jerry West every single day, so for the man to say something like that, it's greatly appreciated and it's humbling ... just to know the career that he's had as a player, as a general manager and everything that he's done for the game of basketball. Thank you,'' James said.
Considering West traded for Bryant, bringing him to L.A., James should consider that the ultimate in flattery.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
INDEPENDENCE: Jim Croce sang that you don't tug on Superman's cape in You Don't Mess Around with Jim, a popular song from the 1970s.
Forgive the Cavaliers should they do the exactly opposite when the NBA's version of the superhero swoops into Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday to play the first game of the Eastern Conference finals at 8:30.
Dwight Howard, the 6-foot-11 center for the Orlando Magic, will try to re-create recent ''super'' performances, such as the 23-point, 22-rebound performance that helped bring the Magic back from the dead against the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Magic eventually forced a Game 7 that they won on the Celtics' home court and, led by Howard, they are overflowing with confidence.
''Everybody is doubting us, but we know how to play and if we go play the way we played in Boston we can beat anybody,'' Howard said.
The Cavs aren't doubting the Magic and especially Howard, taking his presence very seriously. They had their own share of issues against the Magic this season, including a 29-point blowout in April. They've had nine days to await the winner of the Celtics-Magic series, and LeBron James sounds grateful that it's here at last.
''With these last four days, we've had a lot of time to prepare for this team and we're looking forward to the challenge,'' he said. ''It's going to be really good.
''One thing that can hurt you is that they've got a good inside-outside combination. Dwight and those guys they put around him, so you hate to let Dwight just go one-on-one, but at the same time you got to cover their shooters, so they create problems.''
It's easy to argue that without Howard's development from being the No. 1 selection in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Georgia, the Magic would not be where they are now.
He has gone from averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie season to 20.6 points and 13.8 rebounds in his fifth.
He has always been a defensive presence, but his offense is much improved.
''Before, he was just a shot blocker, someone who could just clog up the paint on the defensive end and dunk the ball on the offensive end,'' Cavs forward Joe Smith said. ''That was pretty much it, but now he's developing that low-post game that comes from working with Patrick Ewing and developing his footwork and that's only going to make him a tougher player to guard.''
Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who will spend a lot of time on Howard in the series, agreed and conceded that it's unlikely that the Cavs will be able to shut the Magic center down.
''His quickness, explosiveness along with his athleticism and power is just amazing, so you just have to make sure you limit his opportunities and don't give up too many dunks or just make him work for everything because you're not going to be able to stop him,'' Ilgauskas said.
The Cavs know that he can be effective offensively, but they know that Howard plies his trade on the defensive end of the court.
''He's huge,'' said James, who played with Howard on Team USA last summer. ''He was the defensive player of the year for a reason. He definitely changes shots — normal shots you would take. We've got to give Z some touches early and try to make him play one-on-one defense. You can't allow him to come around and roam on defense on the weak side and get blocked shots.''
Still, with those efforts on both ends of the court, Howard's greatest influence during the series against the Celtics might have been when he questioned the leadership of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy after the Magic fell behind 3-2 in the series.
Some thought Howard might have spoken out of frustration. Others thought it might have been his way of leading the team.
''It was a little bit of both,'' James said. ''I didn't look at it as bad. He's the leader of the team. He has the right to call out some things that are wrong. There's always ways to handle a situation like that. He didn't do it the right way, maybe, but they still won the series and they learned from that situation.''
Howard will bring a leadership attitude to Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday and is not in awe of the Cavs' 39-2 home record or the raucous people who fill the stands.
''We're starving too. I'm hungry,'' he said. ''The fans can't stop us from winning. They can only cheer.''
Lee back in lineup
After suffering a fractured sinus against the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee gave way to J.J. Redick in subsequent games, eventually coming off the bench in the Celtics series. Not any longer. Van Gundy announced today that Lee, who averaged 12.3 pointsagainst the Cavs this year, will start.
''For Delonte West, a guy who puts the ball on the floor more and attacks with the dribble, I think Courtney is the better matchup, so we are going to go that way,'' Van Gundy said.
High praise
In a widely aired interview, Jerry West, the model for the NBA logo, said that James has usurped Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as the best player in the league, something that flattered the Cavs' superstar.
''You can't play basketball without seeing Jerry West every single day, so for the man to say something like that, it's greatly appreciated and it's humbling ... just to know the career that he's had as a player, as a general manager and everything that he's done for the game of basketball. Thank you,'' James said.
Considering West traded for Bryant, bringing him to L.A., James should consider that the ultimate in flattery.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Ellet, Oh
Posted 02:27 PM, 05/20/2009
LETS GO CAVS!!! Game 1 tonite and time to get the brooms ready again!! Its playoffs baby and superman aint got nothin on the Chosen One! Mr. MVP!! Lets go magic jordan!!
Posted 02:40 PM, 05/20/2009
It looks like you have some dirt on your back and shoulders in your avatar there, Hollywood. Maybe you should take a shower more often? Or at least wear a shirt in public?
Naples, FL
Posted 06:50 AM, 05/21/2009
Cavs need to put Big Ben on Superman and get physical with him. If he fouls out that's OK, come back with Darnell Jackson and keep banging him. Let Z keep pulling him outside (but he's got to make his shots) on offense. They can't double him because then they get the open 3's.
