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Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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Do IT this week: Layering
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 12:26 a.m. EDT, May 27, 2009
ORLANDO, FLA.: LeBron James almost had one more miracle in him Tuesday night, but his last-second shot fell short and the Orlando Magic held on for a 116-114 overtime win and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The loss puts the Cavs into a do-or-die situation in Game 5 on Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
In the extra five minutes, Magic center Dwight Howard apparently found a phone booth, a rarity these days, and turned into Superman because he slammed the ball home on three easy dunks to establish the tone for the overtime.
Despite fighting back to put the game into OT, the Cavs found themselves behind by six points at 111-105 with 1:17 left in the game. A James layup cut that to four points and just seconds later, James connected on a two free throws to cut the Magic's lead to 111-109.
The Magic found Howard in the low post and although he missed the shot, he drew a foul on Cavs forward Ben Wallace. A 59 percent free-throw shooter in the regular season, Howard took his time before sinking the first shot. He then backed off, taking a couple of deep breaths before making the second, giving the Magic a 113-109 lead with a little over 21 seconds left.
Moments later, Zydrunas Ilgauskas made a couple of free throws to make the score 113-111. Rashard Lewis put the Magic ahead 115-111 with two free throws and James found one more miracle in his pocket, connecting on a 3-point shot with four seconds left. He tried for one more, but came up just short to end the game.
James led all scorers with 44 points, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists. Howard led the Magic with 27 points and 14 rebounds.
The game could have ended differently. The Cavs took a 58-50 lead and momentum into the locker room at halftime.
The operative words after they lost in Game 3 was that if they played ''Cavaliers basketball'' no one could beat them.
They showed it Tuesday night in the first two quarters with James' supporting cast that played so well throughout the season on their way to setting franchise records, returned. While James certainly got his share of shots and points, he wasn't doing it alone.
By the time the half ended, eight of the nine players that played in the first half scored points and point guard Mo Williams, though still struggling with his shot, began to connect on just enough of his shots to have an impact.
Williams had gone on record guaranteeing a win if his team played ''Cavaliers basketball.''
In the first half, they did.
That changed quickly, however, as Magic point guard Rafer Alston began the third quarter acting as a one-man scoring machine.
He scored the Magic's first seven points to cut the Cavs' lead to 58-57 before Cavs coach Mike Brown called a timeout to settle his team.
All of a sudden, ''Cavaliers basketball'' wasn't doing so well as the balance that the team brandished in the first half got lost in the third quarter.
Alston scored 15 points in the third quarter, partly because Brown took James off Alston and put him on Rashard Lewis, something that proved effective in nullifying Lewis, but allowed Alston to get his share of points.
He took advantage of it, helping his team nearly erase the Cavs' halftime lead
Going into the fourth quarter ahead 79-78, the Cavs needed some momentum. Instead the Magic opened the quarter with a 10-4 run to go ahead 88-83.
By that time, the Magic were smelling blood. Forward Hedo Turkoglu secured an offensive rebound off his own missed shot and found teammate Courtney Lee for a wide-open 3-point shot to make it 91-83.
The Cavs refused to go down, going on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 93-90. The Magic proved resilient, however as Lewis, awakened from what seemed like a game-long slumber, and made a 3-pointer to make it 96-90.
The Cavs battled back again and outscored the Magic to take the lead with just seconds left in the game. That's when Lewis made another big shot, a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds in the game to put the Magic back ahead.
James drove the ball toward the basket and was fouled by Mickael Pietrus with half a second left.
James swished the first shot. The second shot bounded around and hung on the rim before falling to send the game to overtime.
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
ORLANDO, FLA.: LeBron James almost had one more miracle in him Tuesday night, but his last-second shot fell short and the Orlando Magic held on for a 116-114 overtime win and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The loss puts the Cavs into a do-or-die situation in Game 5 on Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
In the extra five minutes, Magic center Dwight Howard apparently found a phone booth, a rarity these days, and turned into Superman because he slammed the ball home on three easy dunks to establish the tone for the overtime.
Despite fighting back to put the game into OT, the Cavs found themselves behind by six points at 111-105 with 1:17 left in the game. A James layup cut that to four points and just seconds later, James connected on a two free throws to cut the Magic's lead to 111-109.
The Magic found Howard in the low post and although he missed the shot, he drew a foul on Cavs forward Ben Wallace. A 59 percent free-throw shooter in the regular season, Howard took his time before sinking the first shot. He then backed off, taking a couple of deep breaths before making the second, giving the Magic a 113-109 lead with a little over 21 seconds left.
Moments later, Zydrunas Ilgauskas made a couple of free throws to make the score 113-111. Rashard Lewis put the Magic ahead 115-111 with two free throws and James found one more miracle in his pocket, connecting on a 3-point shot with four seconds left. He tried for one more, but came up just short to end the game.
James led all scorers with 44 points, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists. Howard led the Magic with 27 points and 14 rebounds.
The game could have ended differently. The Cavs took a 58-50 lead and momentum into the locker room at halftime.
The operative words after they lost in Game 3 was that if they played ''Cavaliers basketball'' no one could beat them.
They showed it Tuesday night in the first two quarters with James' supporting cast that played so well throughout the season on their way to setting franchise records, returned. While James certainly got his share of shots and points, he wasn't doing it alone.
By the time the half ended, eight of the nine players that played in the first half scored points and point guard Mo Williams, though still struggling with his shot, began to connect on just enough of his shots to have an impact.
Williams had gone on record guaranteeing a win if his team played ''Cavaliers basketball.''
In the first half, they did.
That changed quickly, however, as Magic point guard Rafer Alston began the third quarter acting as a one-man scoring machine.
He scored the Magic's first seven points to cut the Cavs' lead to 58-57 before Cavs coach Mike Brown called a timeout to settle his team.
All of a sudden, ''Cavaliers basketball'' wasn't doing so well as the balance that the team brandished in the first half got lost in the third quarter.
Alston scored 15 points in the third quarter, partly because Brown took James off Alston and put him on Rashard Lewis, something that proved effective in nullifying Lewis, but allowed Alston to get his share of points.
He took advantage of it, helping his team nearly erase the Cavs' halftime lead
Going into the fourth quarter ahead 79-78, the Cavs needed some momentum. Instead the Magic opened the quarter with a 10-4 run to go ahead 88-83.
By that time, the Magic were smelling blood. Forward Hedo Turkoglu secured an offensive rebound off his own missed shot and found teammate Courtney Lee for a wide-open 3-point shot to make it 91-83.
The Cavs refused to go down, going on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 93-90. The Magic proved resilient, however as Lewis, awakened from what seemed like a game-long slumber, and made a 3-pointer to make it 96-90.
The Cavs battled back again and outscored the Magic to take the lead with just seconds left in the game. That's when Lewis made another big shot, a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds in the game to put the Magic back ahead.
James drove the ball toward the basket and was fouled by Mickael Pietrus with half a second left.
James swished the first shot. The second shot bounded around and hung on the rim before falling to send the game to overtime.
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
Awww, wonderboy just can't pull it off when it matters. LAMO!
If the people of cleveland and the region had any sense at all, they'd sell the cadavers, clowns and indians to another city and have a party with the $300.
The sooner this region gets over it's obsession with teams that will never win, the better.
This is the 3rd time in 4 games that the Cavs had leads in the first half only to fold in the second. I blame a lot of it on the coach. Your team should NEVER lose a game when up by more than 20...unless you only dress 5 for the game and they get tired.
Cavs will lose game 5 now. They know they can't win the series. Losing game one killed them.
nice choke job cavs.
LeBron got ZERO rest in the 2nd half. Small wonder he was worn out and taking bad drives and shots at the end of regulation. They should win the next game at HOME, but I think the series is lost.
GO CAVS anyway !!!!
Ahhh listen .... is that the fat lady I hear singing? The Cavs ... just another thing made in China!
Right now, Orlando is getting ALL the breaks, except in game 2. With 40 seconds left in regulation, we have the ball and up 1. What do we do? We let Lebron stand out front and dribble off about 20 seconds of the clock and fire up an off balance three pointer. That's where this game was lost. In that particular sequence. Orlando comes down and misses the shot and Delonte has no chance to get the ball but sticks his hand out anyway to knock it out of bounds. Lewis hits the three seconds later. THEN, Lebron decides to drive it to the hoop! If he would have done that 25 seconds sooner, the Cavs would have won. I'm not taking anything away from Orlando because they are knocking down these threes like they're layups! No matter how good of defense you play, if they are hitting those shots, they are tough to beat. When they shoot about the NBA average of 30-35%, the Cavs can win. But they've only done that once in this series. I still think the Cavs can beat them 3 in a row. We need the shots to fall like Orlando for these three for that to happen. If it doesn't, oh well, it was still a great year to be a Cavs fan. Remember when Dallas had the best record and got knocked out in the first round. I do! We ARE a good team. We just don't have the scorers that the Magic has at this time. Varejo is fun to watch but can't shoot and Ilgauskas is too old! Orlando doesn't have any players like that in their first 67 players. They all can score if they need to. The Cavs only have about 3 and a half that can do that regularly. BUT, I still love em and will NOT give up until the Magic have 4 wins!
Plain and simple, Mike Brown is getting schooled by Van Gundy.His big game plan is let LeBron kill the clock at the top of the key and then power your way to the basket while 3 Magic are standing there waiting for him ? Looks just like the old days, LeBron all alone with no supporting cast.
Don't over analyze my friends, it's called a CHOKE. Mo, Delonte, Z, Gibson, Sasha, Varejao, and Coach..........CHOKE. Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, Mesa in 97', and now the 09' Choke Cavs. This latest garbage will fit nicely on the "Can't get it done in Cleveland" list. Thanks Cavs for the status quo!
Once again Cleveland fans can look forward to 'NEXT YEAR' for any hopes.
You can't let the Magic keep scoring three's and answer back with an attempted two pointer only to miss the shot.
This game along with game one in Cleveland would have been won by Cleveland had a few of the Cavs learned how to make a basket while standing at the line. Asking the Cavs to make a free throw is like trying to pee up a rope.
Mike Brown needs to tell his boyz there's no kickin it at the flats till they each practice a thousand foul shots per day and learn how to make that easy money.
As for the Cavs now, Stick a fork in them...THERE DONE!
Perhaps the only good thing to their season end will be that many of the team will now have the time to shop for a new tattoo so as to further titivate themselves with.
LMAO - well well where all the loosalier faithful now? Guess I was RIGHT again! Amazing what a week will do for the "true" fans - LOL.
We are all WITNESSES!
The cavs, the NBA, ESPN, and Nike can't stop the Magic.
Magic beat the cavs and the refs again.
like i said yesterday, maybe Lebron ought to quit worrying about the ref's calls and play some hoop. i have noticed this whole series all he does his cry and complain about calls, or calls he thinks should have been made. maybe if he (1) quits thinking he's the coach and becomes a player, (2) quit complaining and worrying about ref calls and play the game ... also see quit thinking your a coach.......
By far and away... OUTCOACHED
Queen James and his court have ripped the heart out of all the cleveland fans. You can't really do much when the other teams drains 17 3's on you. Oh wait you can, put a hand in someones face. I hate to say it but we might as well trade lebron this off season so we can at least get something in return before he goes to New York or New Jersey! Because he ain't winning no titles here in Cleveland!
Actually, I think you are right Common Sense Guy. He's leaving and the Knicks have nothing to give you in a sign-and-trade. So find somebody you want and go get him.
ANd seriously, who names their kid after one of the three stooges.
"Lets see Marge, should we call him Larry, Curly, Shemp? No let's go with Mo!
The reason the Magic are hitting 3 pointers is their ball movement has been outstanding. The Cavs meanwhile don't get the same looks because the offense is simply Lebron dribbling around and trying to make the play. I'm not sure why they regressed to this in the playoffs, but Orlando is clearly the best team in the East from what it looks like.
The one that is choking is Mike Brown he appears to be shell shocked. Plat Wally 20 minutes, 2 points. Does not play Sasha at all.
Orlando was the first team that has given them any real competition and the Cavs true colors have shown. Considering the other professional teams Cleveland has, maybe Cleveland shouldn't have professional sports. There is nothing to look forward to the rest of the year.
I believe...still. I am with you CAVS not as an arm chair coach but as someone who couldn't do what you've done for 4 minutes much less 45. I believe the CAVS can still overcome...I hope I'm not alone.
Can't blame all on the SI cover--if that is the case, then why do you still have winning teams? get over it lebron is gone after next year so do you want some sheese with that "WHINE"?
Save for LeBron, the Cavs are getting outplayed and outcoached. I expected the Cavs to lose two out of three in Orlando in this series. It was the game 1 loss at home that was a shocker.
you must be a blind witness wildflower,i love the cavs but i can't hide what i've seen. I hope and pray the cavs come back to win this series. But with queen james turning the ball over in crucial moments and the bench not being able to hit the side of a huge barn.
What a shame. Go MAGIC. Knock out the King and his jokes.
3 of the 4 games were within one basket. Hardly a blow out. Two great teams, no doubt! All you haters show your ignorance when posting your diatribe. You think the team with the best record and the MVP is not any good? Yeah, ignorance rules lol
Best record and the Mvp doesn't mean anything when you get bounced before the Nba Finals!
Well, none of my buddies who were bragging heavily on the Cavs are picking up their phones today. Am I shocked? NO!! Funny thing is, Clevaland fans should handle losing with a little more dignity considering they always experience it:)
d
Mo, Delonte, Z, have struggled all series. I love Z but Orlando is exploiting him constantly. Mo and delonte have apparently forgotten how to shoot( a combined 37% for the series). Pavlovich played quality minutes in one game and guess what we won that one. I do agree with most commentors the Cavs are being outcoached in every facet of the game. We had the lead last night and about half way through the third quarter our ball rotation and movement on offense died; and we were relegated to watching Lebron take on all 5 Magic players while noone in a Cavs jersey dared to get in the way. No wonder he is tired. He has been carrying this team and deserves better from his teammates and coaches. I just hope facing elimination is enough to get Mo, and Delonte into the game. Lets Go Cavs.
Told You. Magic in 5.
I bet hardly any of you are actually Magic fans....just disgruntled because the Cavs whipped whatever team you actually rooted for in the regular season lol. Losers!
Hello any Cavs fans woke today after the continual choking job by the cavs and all cleveland teams I dont think cleveland fans will ever be able to catch their breathe. All the bragging all the best player in the world hype all that to have to explain what happen this time. Not a magic fan just like team more than player. Who can guard superman, turk, or lewis, ya'll cant even guard rafar alston. I can hear cleveland fans GASPING for aaaaaiiiiiiirrrrrrrr. breathe again next year. because what is a cleveland fans favorite phrase.(maybe next year)
The 3rd period has been a consistent thorn in the side for this team. I don't know what the problem is, but my take is that it has something to do with attitude coming out for the locker room after the half. They just don't seem fired up and ready to play when they hit the court for the 2nd half. And I'm not going to hate on LeBron here, but I will say that he sure came unglued there at the end of regulation. Sure he was tired, but this team has had more playoff rest than any other, and the bottom line is that a true superstar fights through the fatigue. I remember seeing MJ so wrung out at the end of playoff games that he could barely walk during a timeout, yet he always found a way to get it done. Granted, he did have a much better supporting cast. IMO, the Cavs failure in this series basically boiled down to three things: a) totally uncontested open looks for the Magic on the perimeter b) offensive rebounding - very, very few second-chance shots on offense and c) extremely poor shot selection by most of the team, and particularly by the guards. Coaching was certainly another factor, but I'm gonna leave that one alone. It's a shame, as this really was "the year" for them to collect "the whole sausage", so to speak. LeBron knows that, and is probably already making plans for a future elsewhere. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it's deja vu all over again, in Cleveland.
Might be Mike Brown. But Danny Ferry needs to go back to work in the offseason because Z WILL NEVER get it done. This season is OVER !!! Seven foot 3 and can't make a lay up??? Can't move his feet?? Can't cover a guy shorter than him?? Can't catch a no look pass from LJ (BECAUSE Z IS A BIG WHITE DORK). HE'S A BIG WHITE DORK !!! Instead of spending cash on foot surgery, the Cavs should have bought Dwight Howard. Or someone like him. LJ has done ALL he can. His supporting cast has left the building. Where is the rest of the team that won all those games this season??? THIS ONE IS OVER !!! Another Cleveland team giving us the same results year after year. Why should any of us expected more??
Cavs....Cavs....Cavs....another ctown heart break. doens't it get old!!!!!!!!!!!
AtownupyerA*S..I'm guessing you are Pittsburger or from michigan. Shut yer piehole and go back to michigan. Another loser living amongst a great state and loyal fans. Something you know nothing about. Get a life LOSER !!!
These negative people are ALL LOSERS!!! Why live here a**holes ?!?! Go back to your "wonderful" state.
A in atown means akron meaning I am from akron. Plz take your depression to a counselor not out on a person who actually enjoys watching your feelings get hurt lebron's no king just a jester
Next year we will win it all!
If you watched the game last night, you saw the most pitiful center in the NBA. Can't guard anyone, can't shoot a bunny, can't block a shot, can't move. Watching him and Wally make me sick.
His name is Maurice, not Mo you moron.
yeah "A" like in crAckron and someone who OBVIOUSLY does not give 2 sh*ts about sports. Like the LOYAL fan I mentioned earlier. So go back to your methlab and leave the keyboard alone CRACKHEAD !!!
How many games need to be played before Brown comes up with a strategy to defend the 3, seriously defend the 3. I still have hope, its been done before 8 times, lets make it 9. But, could we please defend the 3
Browns fans are loyal fans. But for you Cavs fans, you're the opposite of loyal. Most of you didn't exist until the Cavs won the lottery and got Lebron.
You know what I hate more than one of my favorite sports teams losing? Idiots like Question Authority who like to take shots at people who follow sports. If you don't like it too bad. Why don't you go follow the ballet or orchestra.
As far as this game and the series, the Cavs are being out played most of the time. And out coached as well. The supporting cast isn't getting it done. In game 3 when Howard sat with foul trouble and Turkoglu couldn't make a shot, the Cavs missed their opportunity for a road win. Now they've got the daunting task of coming back from a 3-1 deficit. It can happen, but isn't likely. One game at a time. Don't let them finish it off on your court, have some pride.
we had a 15 point lead, a 14 point lead, and an 8 point lead and couldn't win any of those games after halftime....
why?
that's the coaching.
The scoffers and naysayers are being too harsh. With one exception, these games are being decided by two points or less in the last microseconds of the game. They're not blowouts.
On the other hand, the faithful aren't being realistic. The Cavs have blown too many leads, they aren't making shots, and they're gernally giving the games away.
The Cavs can beat the Magic. Just not four out of seven. At least not this year.
Bye Bye Labron MVP stands for
M mommys boy
V isible
P eck**
GO MAGIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is the coach Mike Brown, or that guy who sits beside him? We were definately out coached last nite. They saw we had Wallace on Lewis. We should have readjusted.. That's where the coach comes in. Oh well, we always have next year.. but after that.......
All you Magic lovers need to learn what rooting for the hometeam is all about....move to Orlando, traitors!
I don't know. This is starting to look doubtful. I don't think the Cavs can win 3 against Orlando.
The Cadavers are belly up. . .GO BROWNS. . .
