MAGIC ONE STEP AWAY

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

 

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs and Magic looked ready for an interesting rumble. Thing is, in the early stages, things got a little too interesting for the Cavs. The Magic mugged the number 1 seed in Game 1 in Cleveland, taking homecourt advantage. The Cavs then won Game 2, which turned it into a five gamer, but they were still in trouble. For Game 3, the series switched to Orlando, and the Magic held on to grabthe edge. The series stayed in Orlando for Game 4, and now they Cavs really needed to step it up. If they lost this won, they could almost certainly forget about making it to the Finals this season. Definate shades of the '05 Heat.

Well the Cavs opened the scoring but the Magic replied with a three pointer and went on to make the first surge of the game. The Cavs replied but looked uable to overhaul the home side, who went on to lead 19-12 with 6:18 left in the first quarter. The next few minutes were very low scoring, and it's largely the Cavs defence that can take the credit for that. The Magic were held scoreless for over three minutes and that was enough time for the Cavs to turn the game around. In the end, the Magic drought lasted nearly five minutes, and that was enough for the Cavs to end the quarter with a 25-21 lead. Delonte Williams led the scoring with 8 points.

The Magic's three point shooting meant that they were able to turn the game around relatively early in the 2nd quarter. The Cavs tried to keep pace, but the Magic were able to extend their lead with their defence now coming on song. With 4:49 left in the half, the Magic led 43-35 but the Cavs finally ended their long drought and gave the Magic a taste of their own medicine, turning the game back around with over three minutes to spare. After that, the Magic only offered token resistance before the half time buzzer. Cavs led 58-50 at half time, LeBron led his team with 17 points. So far so good for the Cavs though there were still two quarters to play.

Again the Magic came out strong at the start of the third quarter with the Cavs held scoreless for the first two minutes though theirir lead remained intact. If anything the Cavs extended their lead mid quarter, had they managed to kill off the Magic? Well the home side did keep coming close but ultimately the answer looked like it would be yes, the number 1 seed having seemingly found an extra gear, enough to give themselves a cushion. The Magic rallied again, and cut the deficit down to one. The Cavs still held on though, leading 79-78 at the end of three. LeBron led the way with 24 points, Mo Williams backing him up on 18. Could the Cavs continue to hold on?

The first minute of the 4th quarter was completely scoreless and it was the Magic that broke the drought as they went on to build up a solid lead. That lead became 91-83 with 7:49 left in the game but the Cavs then took a nibble into that lead. Though the number 1 seed pulled in closer, the Magic always seemed to have an answer, having come back from the dead after all. The Cavs needed to find yet another gear with the clock running down. Well they found it and led 98-97 with 1:05 on the clock. The Magic replied with a three pointer. You can't quite keep Lebron down though and he hit two free throws to tie the game at 100, leading his team with 32 points, Williams still on 18, West on 17 and Zydraunas Illgauskas providing further back up with 10. For the Magic, Rafer Alston led the way on 26. We had overtime.

Well the Cavs had the opening word in overtime, leading 102-100 with 4:34 on the clock only for the Magic to tie the game again. The Magic then turned the game around, Cavs replied with a three pointer, before the Magic came up with a jumper to regain the edge. The next minute or so was more or less scoreless, other than a Magic three pointer which they used to extend their lead. The Cavs were looking like they were on the ropes. Late on, the Cavs made a last desperate rally. By desperate, I mean that their MVP tried to beat the buzzer with a prayer shot. The Magic still won though, 116-114, Dwight Howard leading his team with 27 points. Now the Cavs really will be praying.

Out West, the Lakers faced the Nuggets in Denver. Well the Lakers opened the scoring 1-0 but even before the end of the first quarter the Nuggets had taken the edge. The Lakers were then held scoreless for the first three minutes of the 2nd quarter, this didn't look like it would be Phil Jackson's night. The Lakers tried to cut the deficit in the third quarter but had really ceased being a threat to the home side who built up a double digit lead with a quarter to go. Things just got worse for the Lakers in the 4th quarter, Nuggets won 120-101, Chauncey Billups led the way with 24 points and 3 rebounds. It's the Nuggets best playoff run since 1978 and we now have a three gamer.

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