No. 1, But the Cleveland Cavaliers are Still the Underdogs

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

66-15.

That is the Cleveland Cavaliers record when LeBron James is wearing a Cavalier jersey this year.

However, a regular season record doesn’t mean a thing. This is the post season. Cruising through the first round, the Cavaliers seem destined to be in the NBA Finals. All the talk has been about LeBron and Kobe to clash in the pinnacle of all that is basketball.

Now it is the Eastern Conference Finals the Cavaliers road to the NBA may have hit a crossroads.

In the first two rounds the Cavaliers were the heavy favorites and they did not disappoint. Now as they enter the best of seven series with the Orlando Magic, some see the Cavaliers as the underdogs. The stat that seems to pop up in numerous blogs and articles is that the Cavaliers were 3-6 when facing the elite teams in the Association.

People say that the Cavaliers cannot win big games. When it comes down to it, the MVP and his court will not make it to the promise land. The Magic have owned the Cavaliers in recent years in the regular season. Keyword: regular season.

It is a brand new season. A new season where LeBron James has averaged 32.5 ppg 9.8 rpg and 6.5 apg all while only averaging 32 minutes.

It should be a good series between the Magic and the Cavaliers, and there are a few keys to the game that will be necessary for the Cavaliers to win.

First, they cannot, cannot double-team Dwight Howard. Even if he scores 30 in the paint, so what. Don't allow the shooters to get wide-open looks. Even though the Cavaliers are still a better three-point shooting team by percentage, the Magic’s game plan is going to be to limit LeBron and hit those threes.

Second, Give the rock to the King. This is what he lives for. However when they double him, the Cavaliers shooters, William, West, and Z, are going to need to make sure they hit those open looks.

Lastly the Cavaliers are going to need to play Cavaliers basketball. Control the tempo and don't allow the Magic to score in transition.

Above all, the greatest asset that the Cavaliers have is their comrodery. The Magic do not have as tight of a club house as the Cavaliers. After game five the Magic's super star pointed fingers for their loss. You will never see this Cavaliers team do that to one another. They are a well-oiled machine who play well with one another.

I see the Cavaliers winning in five but possibly six. This Magic team will make it hard for the Cavaliers to blow them out and there should be some hard points for the Cavaliers.

With home-court on their side, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavalier should be well on their way to the NBA Finals.

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