The (sort of) Morning After: Fighting Fire with Fire

by Turkmenbashi on May 29, 2009 11:26 AM CDT in The Morning After Comment 31 comments

Before I get into my spiel, I just need to get something off my chest:

I told you so. All of you. We got this.

Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at the Horsemen's glorious victory. Last night saw the fruition of a plan we've been executing well the past few games to unexpectedly poor results. No matter how much you'll hear about LeBron having been the only factor in this game, the truth is that what we've been doing all series long finally started working. We drove, kicked, shot, finished and swarmed on defense. We even pushed "Superman" to foul out of the game with more than two minutes to play. Though the Darlings again deleted a seemingly insurmountable lead, the Horsemen never backed down; we fought back until we emerged the clear victors.

How? Because we finally decided to fight fire with fire. Fortunately, we're always packing an industrial sized barrel of triple-double kerosene named LeBron.

The Barkleys of the world would have you concerned about LeBron's performance:

It's not sustainable!

I've never seen a man be able to do that three games in a row!

Well guess what, Mound, you're wrong. Of course it's sustainable. LBJ has been doing this for the past five games. He's not the MVP for nothing. Oh, and where were you dolts crying about how the Magic should be worried about Rafer Alston's unsustainable shooting streak?

On that note, some telling numbers:

3pt Field Goals

R. Lewis:	1-5	Mo:	6-9
H. Turkoglu	2-5	Boobie:	3-4
R. Alston	1-7	Delonte:	0-2

What does this tell us? Again, the plan worked. It wasn't all LeBron. Particularly striking is Alston's 1-7 from behind the arc. The past two games gave him the confidence to chuck up seven treys. The Cavs didn't bite and instead stuck to their plan, knowing those past numbers were unsustainable.

Though LeBron deserves immense credit for fueling the fire, this game was a showcase for the shooters.

via skreened.com

Mo torched the net with a sizzling 6-9 and Boobie added brushfire to the flames. Delonte was cold in limited attempts from behind the arc but had a decent shooting game, along with Big Z. Mo was all over the place on D as well, and Andy turned in his usual crazy effort, despite some egregious flopping and fouling out. It was a total team effort, regardless of what you'll hear.

The task ahead of us remains arduous, but things are clicking into place. Now we ride on, swords and torches in hand, to burn and raze the Magic Kingdom on our path to victory. And just in case you're worried about the probability of winning a road-home series or winning three in a row, here are a some more numbers to placate you Negative Nancies:

In 2009, number of times winning road-home games with one day or fewer in between games: 8

In 2009, winning streaks > or = 3, in descending order:

13
11
8, twice (once in playoffs)
6
5, twice
4, three times
3

So in case you haven't been listening, I'll say it again: we got this.

We *will* ride on.

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Congrats on your win last night Turk....

..I have always said that the Magic would win this in 6, no less, no more…so obviously Saturday’s home game for us should be considered Game 7 must win for us. Going back to Cleveland and putting our season in the hands of a Cleveland home “advantage” Gmae 7 is definitely not something i’m interested in!! Beating Lebron and the Cavs is hard enough let alone any other facts that could come into play.

That being said…i thought last night’s game was very well placed by both teams…and for the first time in the series…very well officiated…at least from a consistancy stand point. The caveat of that of course…is that were are unlikely to have that good fortune of having the same crew back to back for Game 6. Oh well..

Cavs role players finally stepped up….thought Boobie was especially big…Mo finally showed up…we’ll see if he can play as well on the road….I thought the Magic gave great effort in coming back…but probably wore themselves out taking the lead from such a big deficit and just couldn’t sustain it when the Cavs stepped up their D in the 4th. to be honest…i wish they had taken the lead a little later and not so quickly on the comeback…they peaked to early i think and allowed the Cavs to regroup…anyways…

The big news i will be interested in hearing about is Delonte’s hip-pointer. This will be huge if he can’t play because he was really effective i thought on posting up and on drives….if he can’t play Saturday or tries to play hurt…..it could be a huge plus for the Magic

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree that the officiating, for the first time all series, was not a part of the story. allow me to say, though, that it was a part of the story on each side for the first few games, not biased toward either.

i believe that mo will be able to carry a similar performance through with him to orlando, as his output to date in the ECF had as much to do w/ confidence as anything. as anyone who’s played basketball knows, being a shooter has a lot to do w/ confidence. now that he knows the 47% from the floor mo is still in that body, i think he rides on pretty consistently.

as to your point about the early comeback for the magic…it’s funny, i actually made the exact same point to the people i was watching with. the comeback happened before the half this time, as opposed to in the 3rd quarter, which gave the cavs a chance to regroup at the break, instead of continue reeling from the magic’s flurry throughout the second half.

i’m worried about west. he’s been great glue the last couple of games.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 29, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea...they came a little to easily a little too early for my likeing...

…a second quarter comeback doesn’t quite have the dizzying effect on an opponent or fans like a 4th quarter one does…lol

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone know Mo's road playoff shooting percentage's?? Or Boobie's..??

…i need some comforting….Game 6 is going to be a hairy one i’m sure.!!

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is exciting! On Thursday, I just didn’t want the Cavs to lose at home.

by Ilamuku on May 29, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can appreciate the though...i feel the same way about the Magic..lol:P

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now i know why no one steppted up with the data..lol

…Mo shoots 6% points lower on the road in FG and 3’s….Boobie 10% points lower on FG, 5 on 3’s…i’ll take that..:) I’ll need that to counter act Turk’s bad showing at home…lol

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another interesting stat(s)

…Thurs is apparently Boobie’s best shooting night of the week…Saturday only his 4th best….

Also Sat. is Turk’s best shooting night of the week…by far…i guess we’ll see in both cases.

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boobie shoots 46% on threes against the Magic for his career. And if Delonte is out, and Boobie starts, watch out — he’s a career 51% three-point shooter when he’s starting.

Fun with stats!

by Chemo on May 29, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about Saturday nights..?? lol

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 30, 2009 3:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's Sasha time

if Delonte is hurt, Sasha’s gotta start and if Sasha starts he will be focused. A focused Sasha is a Sasha stroking treys and going to his left hard at the hole.

A focused Sasha may be that ‘X-factor’ we need early for a road win.

I have to admit, it does feel like things are ‘falling’ into place.

Just get this thing back to The Q, Horseman! You worked your asses off all year to get that right, the right to have your season decided in a final game at home where you are nearly unbeatable. Get it back to the King’s Court and let a city lift you to victory.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on May 29, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Deja Vu for the Orlando Magic?

Against Cleveland, the Orlando Magic have won Game 1, lost Game 2, and won Games 3-4 with Games 1-2 on the road and Games 3-4 at home. In the 2003 NBA Conference Quarterfinals, Orlando also won Game 1, lost Game 2, and won Games 3-4 with Games 1-2 on the road and Games 3-4 at home, only to lose Games 5-7 and the series to the Detroit Pistons.

by BrownsCavaliersIndiansForev on May 29, 2009 12:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is not 2003

Please please don’t hang your hat on the magic’s failure in 2003.
facts in 2003
Magic #8 vs Pistons #1
Magic – T-mac and no one else
pistons – Ben W, R Hamilton, C Billups
Magic – Lotto next 5 years
Pistons Eastern Conf finals 6 yrs in a row
Magic Played me mac ball

Magic 2009
All stars – DH, RL and JN
Most improved 2008 – HT
Top 5 rookie – C Lee
Play Team Ball
Deep bench

by CityByTheMouse # on May 29, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, in case it’s not entirely clear from the post I’m calling LeBron “Kerosene” from now on.

Ride on ye fearsome Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse. We got this.

by Turkmenbashi on May 29, 2009 12:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope this catches on.

by Chief WaDrew on May 30, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Make it happen!

Ride on ye fearsome Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse. We got this.

by Turkmenbashi on May 30, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But can they win it all?

Sure, LeBron’s hot, but he can’t maintain that level of play for 2 more games, and not in Orlando.

Check out this debate: http://thesportsdebates.wordpress.com/

These guys are arguing if the Cavs will win it all or the Magic. After reading this, it sure seems like the Magic winning is more possible.

I've told you a million times never to exaggerate!!

by pscrblazer on May 29, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You sed:

Sure, LeBron’s hot, but he can’t maintain that level of play for 2 more games, and not in Orlando.

Turk sed:

Of course it’s sustainable. LBJ has been doing this for the past five games. He’s not the MVP for nothing.

Ride on ye fearsome Horsemen of the Basketball Apocalypse. We got this.

by Turkmenbashi on May 29, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What possible reason do you have for thinking LeBron can’t keep playing like this? As Turk said, he’s been doing it the whole series. He’s not playing over his head or anything like that, he’s just that good!

And, you’re right, of course the Magic is more likely to win it all than the Cavs. The Cavs need to win two more games to win this series while the Magic need only one win, so the Magic still have to be the favorites. But the Cavs certainly can win the series.

by Buckeye Brad on May 29, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And wasn’t Lebron’s ability to “play like this” the biggest reason the Cavs were the favorites coming into the Playoffs? He’s been “playing like this” (more or less) since Game 1 of the Detroit series.

by SanD on May 29, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course “it sure seems like the Magic winning is more possible.” This is an obvious point. They only need to win once, while the Cavs need to win twice. And the next game is at the court. I do not think anyone here would argue that the odds are more in favor of an Orlando win in the series than a Cleveland win (this changes dramatically if the Cavs win Game 6, obviously).

And I’ll have to agree with the disgust over saying “LeBron can’t maintain that level of play for x games.” Look at what he has done his entire career in the playoffs, and specifically this year. He is showing no signs of slowing down. Has he appeared tired at times? Sure. He still puts up 40/7/7+ every game. He’s just that good. Sorry.

by DisplacedBuckeye on May 29, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lol...i don't care if he sustains it for the rest of his life!!.......

…all i want is ONE game Lebron…THIS game….. to have a bad one..lol..just one….:)

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 29, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oooh you big, bad mother SHUT YOʻ MOUTH! We do not want this. LBJ all the way. I hope that even if he does get into a funk in Orlando (shooting), that he remains aggressive and gets to the stripe while perhaps getting Dwight to have an early sat.

by Ilamuku on May 29, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Biorhythms Say Dwight Howard Will Have Bad Game on Saturday!

Biorhythms indicated a “Triple Critical” for Dwight Howard on Saturday, so if anyone is going to have a bad Game 6, it will most likely be DH, not LBJ!

by BrownsCavaliersIndiansForev on May 29, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs