Does anyone want to change their mind about the Cleveland series yet?

[Tektonik]

I still think Cleveland will win the series because the Magic shooters can become dormant easily, but today's game shows that Cleveland is in the fight of their lives.

If Cleveland doesn't win something these next couple of years, Lebron may actually jet for New York

[cboy4]

1. On a related note, this kinda sucks for people who can't afford

cable/satellite TV.

Cavaliers fans upset free television stations not showing NBA Eastern Conference playoff games

Posted by John Caniglia/Plain Dealer Reporter May 21, 2009 04:00AM

Christine Kis would have loved to have watched the Cavs on Wednesday night, but she was working at her second job.

Even with two paychecks, cable television still doesn't fit into her budget. And having cable is the only way to see the team's most important series of the year -- the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs against Orlando.

As the economy continues to slide in one of the poorest cities in America, scores of people like Kis are steamed they can't see the team's games.

"We helped build their stadium with taxes; everyone should get a chance to see them," Kis said.

To see this series, many fans across Northeast Ohio who lack cable or satellite packages are scrambling to watch the games with friends, at sports bars and on little-known Internet sites.

If the Cavs advance to the NBA Finals, the games will be televised on ABC.

"I gave up all my frills, and cable was a frill," said Eric Smith of the University Circle neighborhood. "It is absolutely wrong that the Cavs aren't on TV. You can't afford to go to the games, and you can't afford to see them on TV. It is getting to the point that some people are being shut out of sports."

Across the country and in Greater Cleveland, one in 10 homes lacks cable or satellite television, according to estimates. Some packages in Northeast Ohio run from $45 to $80 a month, depending on what channels are added.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/cavaliers_fans_upset_free_tele.html#more

[HughBeaumont]

2. LeBraun of the Dead to teammates: "FEEL FREE TO STEP IN ANYTIME!!!"

DAMN man. You are NOT going to defeat the Magic playing one-on-five "let's stand around and wait for LeBron to do something" basketball . . . the same kind they played in 2003-07.

Plus they simply need to concentrate on the perimeter and FOCUS. Perimeter defense has doomed the Cavs for I don't know HOW long and taking their eye off the ball did them in last night.

[ellacott]

4. Actually their perimeter defense has been strong

They are #1 in defending the 3pt. shot. Last night they were terrible in their perimeter defense in the 2nd half. The first half they shut down their perimeter game. Their weakness is dribble penetration. Z and Ben are getting old and are not as quick.

Our problem last night is that our team deferred to Lebron too much. Mo and Delonte shot poorly. Hopefully they can step it up.

[HughBeaumont]

6. Most of the second half was Cavs, circa 2003-07.

No perimeter defense.

Complacency with a big lead.

Wide open looks for Magic players that are above average at best.

Settling for bad shots.

Standing around and waiting for LeBron to bail them out.

Why would you just not attack, attack, ATTACK Howard? He isn't going to get all ball every time and the foul-out last night proved it. Neutralize him and concentrate on Lewis and Turkeyglue; their constant 3-jacking will get more erratic when some pressure is actually applied to them.

Plus, Mo Williams has been a straight BUST throughout the playoffs. The playoffs are no time to lose your shot; he's just not up to par and not putting out the scoring that's desperately needed from him. Opportune threes aside, it's as if he left his regular season greatness . . . in the regular season. Delonte just had a bad game yesterday, no complaints about him overall.

[ellacott]

7. Yes, this looked like 2 different games.

It definately did remind you of circa 2003-07.

I think Mo has a combination of nerves and an injured shoulder that affecting his game. He mentioned in the pre-game interview that he couldn't sleep the night before and finally went to sleep at 5am. He needs to calm down.

I also think his shoulder is bothering him more than he's letting on. His release was shaking and most of shots were wide.

That standing around was driving me crazy. They had to use one time out just to let Lebron rest.

[Upton]

3. Cleveland should still win the series

but the Cavs look like Lebron James and a bunch of no names, plus they're badly overmatched at center. Still, David Stern and his minions are going to do everything they can to make sure we have a Lebron/Kobe finals.

[Forkboy]

5. Nope

:)