Bleacher Report - Articles by Genevieve Whitbourne

Early Hook? Bill Belichick Pulls Patriots Starters with Five Minutes to Play

Genevieve Whitbourne — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:04:53 -0500

The New Orleans Saints played Tom Brady and the New England Patriots right off the field on Monday Night Football —literally.

With approximately five minutes to go, and the score 17-38 in favor of New Orleans, Bill Belichick effectively ran up the white flag.

Belichick pulled, among others, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker. It wouldn’t be a surprise if New England fans stopped watching then, because it seemed that the Patriots had stopped playing, or at least playing to win.

Arguably, victory was no longer an option for New England. They were down by three touchdowns, and putting together three touchdown drives in the closing minutes of a game is almost impossible.

Almost.

But if any team knows that it’s not completely impossible, it should be New England. After all, the other undefeated team this season, the Colts, did just that against the Pats in Week 10.

From the standpoint of someone who just wanted to see a good, close game, it was disappointing to see Belichick take out Brady and other starters.

If this NFL season has taught us anything, it is that wild finishes are possible. Kansas City came back in the second half and beat Pittsburgh—Kansas City! Matt Stafford turned a Hail Mary pass into a legendary touchdown with no time left on the clock.

In the waning minutes of the game, Tom Brady has been as good as any quarterback who has ever played the game. A touchdown drive can take as little as a minute to put together, and with a little over five minutes left, asking Brady and this usually potent Patriots offense to get back in the game doesn’t seem like an impossible task.

Obviously, Belichick thought otherwise. Maybe he was right; he does have three Super Bowl Rings and an undefeated regular season under his belt, so he does know something about football.

The only reason to take out Brady and his starting bunch for Belichick had to be that the game was over. It can’t be that he wanted to give his second string a shot or that he was worried about injury. After all, Belichick leaves his starters in the game when his team is winning by a large margin late.

Seeing a team defeated before the game is even over isn’t fun for a football fan, but it does happen.

But what should be more troubling for Patriots fans is not that their team was beaten with five to go in the fourth, but that their team looked beaten after Brady’s interception in the second quarter.

The interception, which led to a touchdown for the Saints, was the turning point in the game, and it happened in the second quarter. After that, it never seemed as though the Patriots were in the game.

To not recover from an interception in the first half is a problem for a team going into December. The Patriots have not been a good second half team this year, and it is allowing teams to come from behind and get a win. Or, in the Saints' case, it allowed them to pad their lead without much contention.

The Patriots will make the playoffs this year. Their division is down; the Dolphins, Jets, and Bills are not going to be able to overtake them.

Still, this Patriots team needs to play better. Their defense is struggling to stop anybody, and the only road game they won was over Tampa Bay in London.

To make a successful playoff run, a team needs to be able to win on the road and play a full 60 minutes. When Belichick pulled his starters, it felt as though the Patriots were not a team that was going to grind out all four quarters.

One loss to a good team doesn’t make the Patriots a bad team. They will make the playoffs, and once that happens, all regular season bets are off.

Still, New England is going to have to show more grit if they want to make another run at the Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning Wins It for Colts, NOT Bill Belichick

Genevieve Whitbourne — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:28:31 -0500

In a Football Night In America segment, former Patriot Rodney Harrison was asked what coach Bill Belichick would be telling his players as they suited up for this fierce rivalry.

The answer ran something like this; “He’s telling them to play all 60 minutes, to really finish the game.”

In the highly anticipated showdown between what may be the two best quarterbacks to ever run out onto the field, that’s exactly what the Patriots failed to do.

The meeting between Indianapolis and New England has been circled on every football fan’s calendar since September. As last year’s meeting was sans Brady, there may have been even more excitement leading up to the game as the rivalry was renewed.

And while many highly anticipated matches disappoint (remember that Giants vs. Saints “battle of the unbeatens?”) the Colts/Patriots clash managed to deliver.

It might not have been exactly the game we expected, but what looked like a rout early on turned into a down to the wire battle with a stunning finish.

Yet in this back and forth, intense game, a single call by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has stolen all the thunder from the Colt’s comeback win.

Brady and the Patriots began the game by putting up a lot of offense fast, scoring twenty four unanswered points over the first half.

As Brady’s 63-yard touchdown pass soared over the heads of Colts defenders and into the hands of Randy Moss, the Patriot offense looked as though they could score at will.

If the Colts couldn’t stop the Patriots offense, they would have to put up points of their own if they wanted to stay in the game.

With Peyton Manning at the helm, scoring wouldn’t seem like a problem. But while Brady missed last year’s game, at some points it looked as though Manning didn’t show up for this year’s showdown.

After scoring early, Manning and the Colts were uncharacteristically sloppy. Manning threw an unprecedented two interceptions as well as a few wobbly passes.

But there was a reason Harrison stressed finishing as a key to the Patriots victory.

There was also a reason why former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy said he would take Peyton Manning over Tom Brady with little time left on the clock and the game on the line.

Even though they were trailing by seventeen at the start of the fourth quarter, the Colts were never out of the game.

The Colts came alive on both sides of the ball in the second half. They finally got some pressure on Tom Brady, coming up with two sacks and a crucial interception in the red zone.

The Colts D also held New England to a field goal with roughly four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, keeping the game winning touchdown within reach for Manning.

Trailing by 13, Manning led the Colts down field with the cool efficacy we’ve come to expect from him. His scoring drives took roughly two minutes each.

Still, the Patriots had the lead, and the ball, with 2:23 to go in the fourth. If they converted on third down, the game would essentially be over. The Pats could run out the clock, or at least hand the ball back to Manning with too little time even for him to score.

But the Patriots failed on third down. Then came the decision that everyone has been picking apart. With a little more than two minutes to go, Bill Belichick went for it on fourth down.

This is the call that has become central to analyzing this game. The Patriots didn’t get the first down as Brady’s pass to Kevin Faulk was bobbled and he came up short.

That gave Peyton Manning the ball with two minutes to go and a short field. It seemed inevitable then that Manning would lead his team into the end zone. In a few seconds, the Colts went from holding their breath to not wanting to score too fast, purposely delaying their victory to burn down the clock.

After a bullet from Manning found Reggie Wayne in the end zone for the winning TD, there was approximately 13 seconds left for Brady to try to make a comeback. Even for a future hall of famer, that wasn’t enough time.

When the clock expired, the Colts were on top by one, winning the highly touted match 35-34.

Yet in the aftermath of the game, the call to go for it on fourth down has received much of the attention.

Granted, it was an important decision, and in retrospect it doesn’t seem to be a good gamble. It gave Manning a very short field to work with, and since he had gone 79 yards in two minutes, going 28 in the same amount of time would be easy for the reigning NFL MVP.

At the same time, Belichick’s decision seems to show a lack of confidence in his defense.

However, Belichick has a history of going for it on fourth down against the Colts, and in the past it has paid off.

In their regular season meetings, Belichick has done this 12 times, and eight times out of those 12 they have converted on fourth down.

In the postseason, Belichick has gone for it four times. All four times the Patriots have converted.

If it had worked this time, the Patriots most likely would have won the game. If it didn’t work, the New England defense would still have a chance to stop the Colts. It didn’t go his way this time, and exactly what he feared would happen did; Manning marched down the field and scored the game winning touchdown.

This one call has drawn most of the attention, but it should be remembered that outside of this fourth down decision, there were about 57 minutes of good football played, and the outcome of the game was largely a result of what transpired in that time.

Forget Belichick’s call. How about Peyton Manning having an off game (for him) but still being able to put together a win facing his arch rival?

The mental toughness of the Colts is coming through week after week as they are able to come from behind to win. Even though they haven’t all been playing together long, and they are under the leadership of a rookie coach, this Colts team has gelled together into a cohesive unit.

It is also clear that these Colts players believe if they can keep the score close, Peyton Manning will win it for them in the end. And Manning is delivering.

As for the Patriots, they played well enough to win this game. Tom Brady looks like he’s all the way back from his injury, and he and Randy Moss seem to have their old chemistry back.

The Patriots defense managed to get pressure on Peyton Manning and even picked him off twice.

But the Colts aren’t 9-0 because they are a bad team. The Colts have won 18 straight regular season games because they are a great team.

That is why this rivalry is what it is, that is why a meeting between the Colts and the Pats is so exciting. It is because these teams are so well matched, and a close game should be expected.

This time, Manning and the Colts had what it took to win out. They played well enough to put themselves in a position to win, and in the end they were able to do just that.

Home Wreckers: Poised Eli Manning and Giants Spoil Dallas' Stadium Debut

Genevieve Whitbourne — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:51:48 -0400

It’s been said that it’s better to be lucky than good. In the Sunday night opener of Jerry Jones' football coliseum in Dallas, the New York Giants were both lucky and good.

One of the biggest question marks going into this season was the Giants' receiving corps, and rightfully so. After the loss of Plaxico Burress toward the end of last season, the Giants seemingly fell apart. In the offseason, the Giants did not trade for a marquee receiver, and it was unclear who was going to be the security blanket that Burress had been for Eli Manning.

Manning has been marked as a “game manager” quarterback. He doesn’t light up the stat line with gaudy statistics; he does what he has to in order to win, which usually means relying on Big Blue’s running game.

That was not the Eli Manning who came to Cowboys Stadium last night.

On a night that set records for seating (105,121 screaming Dallas fans) and was all about the “new look” Cowboys (no TO, and on a lesser note, no Jessica Simpson) the Giants beat the Cowboys, 33-31.

Dallas was able to shut down the Giants' touted running game; they held Brandon Jacobs to 58 yards. While New York struggled to run the ball, Marion Barber rushed all over the Giants defense, ending the game with a total of 124 yards and one touchdown.

Stats like that would seem to indicate a favorable outcome for the Cowboys as they christened their new billion-dollar stadium.

However, this night was about a different debut: that of the Giants; passing game. The young receiving corps for New York weren’t the liability critics thought they were. On top of that, Manning has matured as a quarterback and cannot be relegated to mere “game manager” status.

When Dallas stopped the run, it was up to Manning’s arm to win the game, and that was just what he was able to accomplish. Despite missing several chances to put up seven points in the red zone, Manning did not show frustration, nor was he shaken by the screaming fans or the pressure of facing a division rival at their home stadium.

Manning consistently threw accurate deep passes, often into heavy coverage. One of his favorite targets was Mario Manningham. Manningham had 10 receptions for 150 yards and an amazing touchdown catch. But Manning spread out the offensive attack, finding, among others, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss on the night.

After the Cowboys took a one-point lead with 3:40 to go in the fourth, it was an extremely poised Manning that led his young receivers down the field. Though they only needed a field goal, the Giants were set back early on a penalty. Yet Manning never panicked and was able to take New York down the field and set up the game-winning kick.

When the pocket collapsed, Manning was able to keep plays going. One of these scrambles included a 360 spin to avoid a defender.

The Giants were good against the Cowboys, and perhaps it was this talent that brought on the luck they received. All night it seemed as though men in blue New York uniforms were in the exact right spot to pick off Tony Romo’s inaccurate passes. Romo had three interceptions in the debut of Cowboys Stadium.

The most unbelievable of these interceptions was a ball that bounced off the heel of Jason Witten and into the waiting hands of Kenny Phillips. This play was followed up by the incredibly skilled, but also very lucky, touchdown catch Manningham made on his back in the end zone.

Another lucky break came on that final Giants drive. Manning’s pass to Manningham on a 3rd-and-4 at the Dallas 41 was tipped by Cowboys defender Jay Ratliff but still landed in Manningham’s hands.

But luck can only take a team so far; talent and toughness have to do the rest. The New York Giants came to a stadium that was supposed to boast the best home field advantage in the league and hung tough for four quarters, ultimately leaving with the win. Dallas stopped their running game and prevented touchdowns, but Manning and the Giants just kept coming.

Praise must be given to Manning for proving that he can handle high-pressure situations and lead a team. Instead of falling apart in the final minutes of the game, Manning rose to the occasion and produced the drive his team needed.

Around the league, Eli Manning doesn’t get the respect or accolades as a quarterback that are heaped upon players like Jay Cutler or even Tony Romo. However, Manning does engineer game-winning drives in clutch situations, and he gets results.

With Burress gone, Manning is now the big name in the Giants offense and is going to be looked at as their primary leader. If Manning continues to turn out performances like this one against Dallas, he and the G-Men will be in good shape.

Of course, while the players make the wins happen on the field, the coaches also need to be examined in light of this Giants victory. The Giants’ staff knows who they are, and they know what kind of team they are trying to produce. They trusted their own system to produce the receivers they needed instead of trading away draft picks to attain a big name receiver.

Also, when Jacobs wasn’t getting anywhere with the running game, New York had the sense to call more pass plays and trust Manning to win the game.

Dallas' coaching staff, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be in touch with what is going on with their team. Clearly, their running game was running on all cylinders against New York. The Giants had no answer for Barber. However, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett still had Romo airing the ball out downfield, which resulted in multiple interceptions.

It seemed as though the Cowboys were trying to be a flashy, New Orleans/Drew Brees-style offense that puts up a lot of points off the passing game, but that wasn’t working. The three interceptions off of Romo’s wild passes really hurt them in their effort to secure a win in the debut of their new stadium.

Finally, although it’s a common practice, when Wade Phillips called a timeout to try to ice the Giants’ Lawrence Tynes before he kicked the game-winning field goal, it felt like a cheap tactic to try to pull off a win.

On a night where the football world was supposed to be shown the new and improved Cowboys in their new and improved home, what we really learned was that the New York Giants are going to do well under a more mature and poised Eli Manning and a promising group of receivers.

Super Bowl XLII: Where Are They Now? Giant Heros Now Gone

Genevieve Whitbourne — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:32:03 -0400

It is a play that will go down in history, that will be forever etched in the memories of football fans everywhere.

From amid a sea of defenders, Eli Manning launched a ball to David Tyree, who caught it—against his helmet.

This catch made Manning’s pass to Plaxico Burress for the game winning touchdown look easy.

In one of the most exciting Super Bowls to date, the Giants capped off an unprecedented and completely unexpected playoff run by beating the previously perfect Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Even before kickoff, the matchup between New York and New England presented compelling story lines as well as promising some great football.

On the one hand, there was the New England Patriots. They were coming off a historic, record breaking season in which they had gone 16-0, 18-0 after the playoff. They were (and still are) a team of marquee playmakers and proven winners.

On the other hand, and the opposite side of the spectrum, there was the New York Giants. They had struggled early on, losing their first two games in the regular season. The Giants were a workman’s team without flashy superstars.

The Patriots were led by Tom Brady, the proven champion with the winning smile and enviable lifestyle.

The Giants were led by Eli Manning, the goofy looking, tousle haired guy who was still overshadowed by his older brother.

New England was the heavy favorite to win Super Bowl XLII. New York hadn’t even been expected to win their first playoff game.

But the Giants shocked the world by pulling off a 17-14 win, largely in thanks to Tyree’s epic catch. Amid a shower of confetti, the 2007 New York Giants became instant heroes.

Yet flash forward about a season year. Look at the 2009-2010 roster and search for the names of the players that made the Super Championship possible.

You won’t find Michael Strahan, he retired after 2007. Nor will you find Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress, or David Tyree.

Tyree was cut from the Giants after a disappointing preseason. Tyree also missed most of last season due to an injury.

From an outsiders, or a fans, standpoint, the move to cut Tyree is disappointing. Tyree’s catch in the Super Bowl not only won the Giants the game, it also won the franchise validation as a strong NFL team. Before that, Eli Manning wasn’t considered a top tier quarterback, and coach Tom Coughlin was under pressure to produce results.

For that one catch, David Tyree earned a permanent spot in the history of the Giants franchise. Consequently, it would seem logical that he would earn a permanent spot on the roster.

But that is not the way of the NFL. Results are what counts, and as Tyree hasn’t been pinning footballs to his helmet lately, he has found himself without a job.

Everyone knows that football is a man’s game, that the NFL doesn’t have sympathy for players whose production is falling off, so Tyree’s release shouldn’t be a surprise.

However, when you consider the fact that the Giants are heading into the 2009-10 season with some questions at receiver, it seems that Big Blue might want to hang on to the guy who can haul in a ball thrown high over his head against his helmet if Domenik Hixon struggles like he did toward the end of last season.

Of course, the reason the Giants aren’t settled at wide receiver is because they released Plaxico Burress, another Super Bowl hero. Though Tyree’s catch is the one that has become legendary, Burress got the game winning reception.

Since then, Burress has suffered from the Prima Donna WR syndrome that has been going around the league (see TO-itis and Chad Ochosickness for more details.) He was suspended several times by the team, and then finally released by the Giants following the November incident in which Burress shot himself in the leg.

No lenience was shown to Burress by the Giants or by the New York City courts. Burress will not be a New York Giant, nor will he avoid jail time.

Overall, this is the way it should be in the NFL. The most talented players should get the spots on the roster, and superstars should be held accountable for their behavior.

Still, the way Burress’ career as a Giant ended was disappointing to say the least, and to see Tyree cut feels almost ungrateful.

Both moves needed to be made, but it is a shame to see that Super Bowl XLII team dismantled.

This brings up another question.

Was that amazing victory against the Patriots the beginning of an Eli Manning dynasty in New York, or simply a moment in time where the stars aligned for the Giants, never to be repeated?

The Giants struggled badly toward the end of last season after Burress left. Nobody in the receiving corps stepped up the way Tyree did in the Super Bowl as the Giants lost badly to the Eagles in the playoffs 23-11.

Only time will tell if the Giants can repeat the Super Bowl magic of 2007-08, or if they will continue to struggle at WR.

Defending the Cassel: With Matt Holding Down the Fort, It's Not All Bad for K.C.

Genevieve Whitbourne — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:55:20 -0400

There is no doubt that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. Marquee quarterbacks sell tickets, excite fans, and are given the most praise—and blame.

Consequently, the quarterback is one of the most analyzed and talked about positions in football. There are countless QB story lines unfolding this season in the NFL, and while many are being greeted with cautious optimism (Brett Favre is going to have a winning record, right?), there is one QB who just can’t shake off the uncertainty surrounding him.

That would be Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite his success in New England, the criticisms of Cassel are seemingly endless. They include the inability to throw an accurate deep pass, hanging on to the ball too long in the pocket, going through his progressions too slowly, having never started a game in college, remaining unproven as a starter in the pros...and the list goes on.

Whenever his name is mentioned, it stirs up doubts. To many NFL minds, Cassel is still an unproven ex-backup who doesn’t seem to fit into a starting position.

One of the biggest knocks against Cassel is his college résumé. As we’ve heard dozens of times, Cassel never started a game as quarterback at USC.

This is throwing up a red flag because it indicates that Cassel wasn’t good enough to play over Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. It also means he doesn’t have as much game-time experience under his belt.

Another major criticism is that Cassel only did well with the Patriots because New England has so many good players.

As dozens have pointed out, Cassel had it pretty easy slinging passes to Randy Moss. Anybody would look good lobbing screen passes to Wes Welker.

Overall, the consensus on Cassel seems to be that he is not really cut out to be a starter in the NFL—or, at least, that he lacks the talent to be a great quarterback. He’s been called overrated, unproven, and unqualified.

The way analysts tell it, Cassel is a no-talent player who’d never even seen a football until he had to take the field for Tom Brady. Cassel then closed his eyes and hoped for the best as he ran the New England offense last season. Then he hypnotized Scott Pioli and snagged a starting gig in Kansas City.

So how did Cassel get one of the coveted starting spots in the NFL despite lacking any skill at the game of football?

The answer—he’s not as bad as some would have you believe.

First of all, the importance placed on being a starter in college seems exaggerated. Athletes who were superstars in college regularly turn out to be NFL busts. Why is it so hard to believe that someone could go from a college nobody to a professional star?

Look at a few of Cassel’s former teammates. Matt Leinart was a god in college football. He produced perfect seasons at USC and won a Heisman Trophy. In the NFL, his play was mediocre, and he was eventually replaced by an aging Kurt Warner.

Matt Leinart—great in college, not so great in the NFL.

Meanwhile, another former teammate of Cassel’s was not a touted college player but has achieved great success in the NFL.

That quarterback’s name? Tom Brady.

Brady had to fight for two years before his Michigan coaches gave him the starting job. He was drafted late by New England, and the rest is history—three Super Bowls, one perfect regular season, and status as one of the all-time greats.

Tom Brady—college unknown, NFL legend.

We will never know how Cassel would have been in college, but we know he can play in the NFL, and that is what matters. Having experience as a starter in the NFL should count double against college experience.

Winning in the NFL is what matters. Cassel won 11 games last season, 10 as a starter.

Nobody would argue that the Patriots are a team lacking a talented group of receivers. This leads to the conclusion that life for a New England quarterback must be easy.

What seems to be forgotten is that the football doesn’t throw itself. Cassel still had to put the ball in the right place at the right time, and that’s not an easy task, no matter who's catching it. Randy Moss is an amazing receiver, but even he's not going to catch a ball that’s thrown 10 yards behind him.

Most of Cassel’s passes made their way to Moss and Welker, two of New England’s best playmakers. This should be considered a good thing, not more reason for criticism.

Many analysts will argue that Cassel was going into panic mode when he was dumping the ball off to Welker. In reality, Cassel was just getting the ball into the hands of the best players. Cassel would not have been doing his job if the ball wasn’t going to Moss and Welker on a regular basis.

The system Cassel was a part of in New England was strong, but it would be foolish to think that Bill Belichick, the most revered and respected coach in the NFL, would allow a mediocre player to run that offense.

Belichick is meticulous and demanding concerning every position, especially the backup to Brady. After a disappointing preseason, Belichick decided to release Kevin O’Connell, the backup behind Cassel last season. Coach Belichick is not going to settle for a subpar backup, just as he didn’t with Cassel.

Of course, now Cassel is in Kansas City, where his surrounding cast is not composed of tried and tested perennial winners. He has a young group of receivers and a first-time head coach.

How will he handle the pressure to win and the tough road ahead?

Whatever you say about the quarterback, you can’t argue that Cassel is a stranger to pressure-packed situations. Last season, he was regularly measured against the 2007 Patriots, who had one of the most amazing seasons in NFL history—a pretty difficult act to follow.

Cassel didn’t crack under that pressure last season, and he won’t this year in Kansas City.

His newest challenge will be returning from a sprained MCL. Cassel has said that he will be ready for the season opener, a difficult away game against the Ravens; however, anything is possible.

Cassel’s preseason wasn’t stellar, but it's not time to give up on the QB. He wasn’t amazing last preseason either, but he went on to win 11 games.

Despite all the doubts, Cassel’s got talent, and he can prove it.

Yanks Beat Sox 13-6, Are They the Best in Baseball?*

Genevieve Whitbourne — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:17:01 -0400

*No asterisk is required to expand on the rivalry between these two teams, or the implications of just one win.

It is the opposition of the ages—Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. The rivalry between these two teams reaches all the way back into the annals of baseball history, and it is loaded with enough drama to entice even the casual baseball fan.

Thursday night in Yankee Stadium saw the Bronx Bombers rack up home run on top of home run in a 13-6 victory over the Sox in the first of a four-game series.

This was the first win for the Yankees over the Sox this season and signified what was seemingly the last obstacle for the Yanks on their way to an AL East division win, as they move to 3.5 games ahead of Boston.

The win also gave the Yankees a 66-42 record, one of the best in baseball.

But does this beat down of their arch rival and most threatening competitor in the Al East, coupled with their shinning winning record, really mean that a division win and playoff spot are a cinch for the New York Yankees? And, does it make them the best team in baseball?

The Yanks were able to take advantage of Boston’s John Smoltz inability to pitch to left-handed hitters. Certainly the New York wind tunnel was on the Yankees’ side as balls flew out of the park with ease.

Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, and Jorge Posada all connected for home runs.

But the Yankees didn’t have to rely completely on home runs. They were able to build some runs off of aggressive base running and base hits, something they weren’t doing earlier in the season, when the Sox were beating the Yankees every time the two rivals met.

There is also the timing of this win to consider. It’s August now, when the games start to mean more than they did in April, May, or even June.

Winning in August means that the Yankees are gaining momentum at the right time for a playoff push.

Yet the Yankees weren’t perfect.

The Sox were able to take an early lead off of Joba Chamberlain’s woeful pitching.

Perhaps it was this component of the Yanks that was the most troubling.

More than once Chamberlain pitched himself into a hole against the Sox, giving up a career high seven walks on the night.

Chamberlain gave up six hits, four runs, and lasted five innings. Those stats aren’t too bad considering how nervous he made the Yankee faithful feel all night.

At the top of the third, Chamberlain gave up one homer followed by two walks.

Chamberlain started the fifth inning by throwing eight straight balls, walking Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis. After David Ortiz flied out to center, Chamberlain walked J.D. Drew to load the bases.

The Sox were not able to capitalize on the situation, however, and Chamberlain escaped the inning giving up only one run.

However, Yankees opponents won’t always be as offensively sluggish, and if they hope to pick up more wins down the final stretch of the season, Chamberlain can’t load the bases with walks, especially not against a dangerous team like the Red Sox.

A three and a half game lead is good, but it’s definitely not insurmountable.

As for being the best team in baseball, the Yankees have 66 wins. Only the LA Dodgers have more at 67. The Dodgers and the Yankees are tied at 42 losses each.

Certainly there are a lot of good teams in the Major Leagues this season, but in a sport that’s all about statistics, having 66 wins and 42 losses makes a good case for being the best.

If the Yankees' bats stay hot, the team can only gain momentum despite the inconsistent pitching on Chamberlain’s part.

Should the Bronx Bombers keep swinging for the fences, they could not only find themselves at the top of the AL East, but could also be the best team in baseball as well.

ESPN Isn't Cavalier About Where Its Allegiance Lies in the LeBron/Kobe Debate

Genevieve Whitbourne — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:58:04 -0400

The ESPY Awards are the sports world’s Oscars.

Movie stars and athletes get all decked up in floor length frocks and tailored suits to celebrate the best in sports.

The operative word here is best.

During this year’s ceremony, the award for Best NBA Player went to one "King" LeBron James.

Now, this is not a travesty. James does have a lot of talent and there are several awards he deserves without question.

They include:

Best Drives To The Basket

Best Dunks

Best Shot Blocker (sorry Dwight Howard)

Most Promising Future

Best Pre Game Ritual/Dancer

Best Looking As a Puppet in a Nike Commercial

But as for Best NBA Player, that award has to go to Kobe Bryant.

Bryant led his team to a Championship win this year, the fifteenth for the franchise, and the fourth (and possibly most important) ring for Bryant.

James is a bigger, stronger player so he can muscle his way up for more impressive dunks than Bryant can. On top of that, James’ outside shot has improved. He is, without a doubt, one of the most talented players in the NBA. James is great, and he has the potential to be the best.

But he is not a better ball handler or three-point shooter than Bryant. James is not as good from the free throw line either.

Yet the biggest difference between James and Bryant doesn’t jump off a stat sheet.

The truth is, the players who become the best, who go down in history as the best, have something you cannot really define. Call it the X-Factor, call it the killer instinct, call it whatever you want, Bryant has it, and James does not seem to be there yet.

This year, Bryant proved that he could still rise to the occasion and redeem his team after their loss in last year's Finals to the Celtics.

And while the eyes of the sports world were watching James, Bryant won games. Every game he had to win, Bryant led the Lakers to victory.

Not once during the Playoffs did the Lakers lose back to back games.

In James’ defense, Bryant does have more talent surrounding him in LA. But nobody thought anything of that before the Playoffs when the Cavaliers were heavy favorites to win in the Finals.

As for the argument that during the regular season James outplayed Bryant, there is some truth to that.

However, the Playoffs are when a team needs their star to play at their best, and that is what Bryant was able to do.

Bryant knows how to close out a game better than anyone else in the league, which basically means that he knows how to insure a win better than any other player.

Doesn’t that make him the best?

This past NBA season has been about Bryant vs. James. Everyone was (and still is) asking the question, “Who is better? Who will come out on top?”

James won the regular season MVP, and now he has the ESPY Award for Best NBA Player.

Bryant has his fourth Championship ring and was the Finals MVP.

There is no way to know for certain, but it’s doubtful that Bryant is missing any sleep over losing the ESPY to James.

As for who is the best, James can rack up all the awards and accolades in the world. Until he wins a Championship, Bryant should still be considered the better player.

Lamar Odom Leaving the Lakers? LA Rescinds Contract Extension

Genevieve Whitbourne — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:13:03 -0400

To quote the immortal words of Blazing Saddles’ Taggart, “What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here?”

ESPN is now reporting that the LA Lakers have retracted the three-year extension they had offered to forward Lamar Odom.

Odom became a free agent earlier this summer and was, of course, vital to the Lakers’ championship run. Odom has also been vocal about his desire to remain in Los Angeles, much like Trevor Ariza was before he shipped out to Houston to join the Rockets.

While Ariza may have felt disrespected by the amount of money the Lakers were offering him, Odom’s hang-up seems to be with the number of years his extension will guarantee him. The deal the Lakers are offering would be for three years, and the 29-year-old Odom is looking for five.

The three-year deal not being to Odom’s liking, he started talks with other NBA teams, including the Miami Heat. This move was apparently what angered the Lakers organization and caused them to rescind their three-year contract.

While contract negotiations have been known to go awry, it does leave one to wonder, who the heck is running these talks in the Lakers organization?

After the NBA Finals ended, Trevor Ariza was a Lakers loyalist. But it didn’t take long for the LA native to get frustrated with the Lakers' contract offers and eventually leave his championship team.

Fine. Lakers fans knew that money was tight, and Ariza is a brilliant young role player, but he is still just that—a role player.

LA could get someone else to fill his shoes: Ron Artest.

By letting Ariza go, the Lakers seemed to be sending the message that they were choosing Odom as their most important free agent to re-sign.

But now Odom could be slipping away.

Many have been wondering, do the Lakers need Odom back?

The answer: absolutely.

Andrew Bynum has potential and a great teacher in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but he is not ready to take on the kind of minutes he would see if Odom left LA. Bynum is also injury-prone, and there is no guarantee he can stay healthy all season.

Odom brings a lot of fire to the lineup. He is an aggressive and physical player inside, but he also has a good outside shot.

Odom averaged about 12 points per game during this year’s NBA Playoffs, but more important to the team was rhythm he found with Kobe Bryant.

The timing between these two was perfect during the Playoffs and the Finals.

Perhaps the most memorable plays between Bryant and Odom were when Bryant would drive in to the paint, jump like he was going to shoot, and then dump the ball off to Odom, who’d finish the play by dunking on whoever was under the hoop (including Chris “The Birdman” Andersen in Game Five of the playoffs against the Nuggets).

Obviously, the chemistry between Bryant and Odom is there, and that kind of rhythm is not something that can develop overnight.

Bryant will now have Artest to pass to, but there won’t be the same trust and timing between them as there is between Odom and Bryant.

Aside from the good dynamic with the team’s star, Odom is a good all-around player. As mentioned before, he can shoot. Kareem might be tutoring Bynum, but Odom has the sky hook down pretty well.

Odom is also a decent ballhandler and can bring the ball up the court.

Then there is his presence on defense. Odom averaged nine rebounds per game throughout the Playoffs.

And then there is the story the stats can’t tell.

When Odom played well, the Lakers did well.

That is the only thing you need to know about Odom and his worth to LA.

So why can’t these contract negotiators, who already chased away Ariza, at least keep Odom? Give the Candyman his payday—or in this case, what he’s asking for: another two years.

On the other hand, why is Odom apparently so eager to leave the Lakers? Did he get confused and think they were offering him three years with the LA Clippers?

This is a team that just won a championship. They will have Bryant and coach Phil Jackson back next season. Ariza will be gone, but most of Odom’s teammates, plus Artest (who Odom played with as a teenager), will return.

Basically, their chances to repeat as NBA Champions are good.

Why go to a worse team, even if they will guarantee you play (and possibly lose) for five years?

The bottom line for the Lakers franchise is this: Keeping Odom, with the addition of Artest, will make the 2009-2010 Lakers a better team.

If the Lakers lose Odom, after having already lost Ariza, they will not be a better team.

So all you Lakers fans out there, keep your fingers crossed that the Lakers’ baffling inability to keep their most talented players was just a fluke with Ariza, not a trend that sends Odom out of town.

King's Edict: Lebron James Gets Dunked On, Confiscates Video

Genevieve Whitbourne — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:40:56 -0400

There is more news from the LeBron James camp, actually from the basketball camp he is running; the LeBron James Skills Academy.

During a game of pickup, James was dunked on by college player Jordan Crawford.

Now, if you search “LeBron James dunks” on Youtube, you will find countless clips of James slamming the ball through the rim, but you won’t find any video of this particular dunk by Crawford.

Apparently, after James got dunked on, he spoke with Nike representative Lynn Merritt who proceeded to confiscate all video footage of the “incident.”

This means a couple of interesting things.

For starters, we can now talk about James and Richard Nixon in the same sentence.

Also, Nike is better at keeping video footage under wraps than the Iranian government.

It also marks another borderline unsportsmanlike incident for James.

Remember, last year after Boston eliminated Cleveland in the NBA Playoffs, James did not shake hands with the victorious Celtics.

This year, it was déjà vu all over again when Orlando beat Cleveland in a six game series and James snubbed the Magic by heading to the locker room without shaking hands.

Then, James refused to speak to the media, leaving his teammates to explain the unexpected loss to the Magic without him.

When James finally did appear on camera to speak to the media, he was sporting New York sports gear.

Add all that to this new tape hiding incident, and you get the idea that all the pressure or all the fame is getting to James.

This latest video confiscation news is particularly annoying.

These college kids that James is playing with look up to him as a role model. Dunking over James was probably one of the highlights in Crawford's basketball career and now he won’t be able to see it or show it to family and friends.

In my opinion, if you play hard enough to get to dunk on James, you deserve to show that to people.

Plus, it’s not as though Crawford Harlem Globetrottered him by throwing a bucket full water or shredded paper at him. This was a normal basketball play that happened during a game.

We all know it’s possible for James to get dunked on. We all saw Courtney Lee in that crazy looking face mask dunk over James during the Conference Finals.

No one doubts James’ talent, so why look like a prima donna by asking a Nike representative to confiscate tapes of this dunk?

Usually in interviews, James comes off as good natured and humorous, so the fact that he couldn’t laugh at this comes a something of a surprise.

His previous incidents, not shaking hands and not talking to the press, came after devastating losses. This was just a play in a skills camp that James is running.

If this is an indication of where James’ personality is going, how long will it be before those puppet commercials start to tick him off?

Lil’ Dez better watch out, James might be coming for footage of him next.

Despite this Tape-Gate mishap, James doesn’t seem like a bad guy.

He is young and has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and while these incidents are borderline, James hasn’t done anything truly awful yet.

It’s not time to vilify King James yet, but if he keeps this up, he might get a new nickname: Royal Pain.

Trevor Ariza out, Ron Artest in: What Will It Mean for the Lakers

Genevieve Whitbourne — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:20:31 -0400

Think back—way back—all the way to May.

It was the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, and animosity was growing between the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Rockets’ Ron Artest.

The two players had an incident whenever they were near each other.

In Game Two, Artest claimed that Bryant elbowed him in the throat, and when he didn’t get the call, he confronted Bryant and was tossed from the game.

In Game Six, Artest drew a personal and technical foul on Bryant after an apparent collision at the top of the key.

There was plenty of discussion after each physical game of the Rockets/Lakers series. One topic, however, that no one discussed was the possibility of Artest going to the Lakers and playoff hero Trevor Ariza signing with the Rockets.

This deal was shocking and, to some extent, disappointing for many reasons.

Losing Ariza was a blow to the Lakers despite Artest's potential contribution. Ariza is a talented, spirited young athlete who loved playing in L.A.

But the way it happened was even more surprising. Going into free agency, the two Lakers players to watch were Odom and Ariza.

Considering that the Lakers did win the NBA Finals, and Odom and Ariza were instrumental in that win, it seemed logical that Lakers would want to keep their championship team intact.

Odom and Ariza both expressed their desire to remain in L.A., even if that meant a pay cut. For Ariza, the ties to Los Angeles were even more obvious, as he grew up there and attended UCLA.

So, when news broke that Ariza was considering offers from other teams, offers similar to the Lakers' proposed contract, it came as a real shock.

How did this L.A. native become so frustrated with his championship team so fast?

This was disappointing. Ariza played extremely well throughout the playoffs, and he made plays at pivotal moments in games. He is the type of player that you want keep.

On top of that, Ariza was a popular player amongst Laker fans and his teammates, and team chemistry is not something that should be overlooked.

This point, above all the rest, has the Lakers’ faithful scratching their heads.

The Lakers are losing Ariza to add Artest, who is known for his temper and for antagonizing Bryant in the playoffs.

Speculation about Artest's and Bryant's ability to play together has been a hot topic since the trade was announced.

After Artest claimed that Bryant threw an elbow in Game Two of the series, he pleaded his case to the referees and then confronted Bryant on court. When asked why he came over to Bryant, Artest stated that he wanted to let him know that he couldn’t push him around because he was Ron Artest.

Remember, he was talking about his new teammate. And any kind of tension between your star player and a new teammate is a bad thing.

The other problem with Artest’s temper is that a player can’t help a team from the locker room or the bench. If his rough style of play and confrontational nature leads to multiple ejections or suspensions, he will not be an asset to the team.

However, even though this deal has a downside, it is not time to panic.

As for the issues Bryant and Artest have had, they were playing in a high-stakes, high-emotion series where tempers often run high.

Moreover, even when they were at each other’s throats (literally), there was still plenty of respect between them.

If Bryant appreciates one thing in a teammate, it’s a competitive nature.

If Artest knows one thing about Bryant, it’s that he will not back down or back off.

And if there is one person who can manage these two egos, it’s the Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who recently announced that he will return next season.

Maybe Jackson can use some of that Zen magic on Artest, enabling him to calm down just enough to fit into the team.

The reason L.A. let Ariza go and brought in Artest was so that he could add toughness to what most people view as a long, athletic, but not very physical team.

Teams that would pose a threat to a repeat Lakers’ championship next year are tough inside. The Celtics will have Kevin Garnett back; the Magic will still have Dwight Howard; and the Cavaliers will have Shaq.

The Lakers will need a strong guard to be able to drive to the hoop against them.

Additionally, during the Denver series this year, Bryant admitted that Carmelo Anthony was bigger and stronger than him.

Adding Artest to the team will help the Lakers in such matchups.

So, while this deal is a surprise, and it is hard to see Ariza leave L.A., acquiring Artest does have a positive side.

Now L.A. just has to hope that Artest can stay positive and out of trouble and maybe gain a little Zen.

L.A. Lakers: Why L.A. Needs Ariza as Much as Ariza needs L.A.

Genevieve Whitbourne — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:09:40 -0400

It has been all smiles and parties for Lakers fans and players since the team won their 15^thchampionship.

But now, 18 days later, the party is coming to a halt, and for a few key Lakers, the party might be over altogether.

There are some big question marks on this particular L.A. team, namely Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Phil Jackson.

Obviously, Bryant’s name looms large on that list. Bryant had the opportunity to opt out of his contract at the end of this season.

However, Lakers fans everywhere can now breathe easy about Bryant. ESPN has recently reported that Bryant would not opt out of his contract and was expected to sign a three-year extension, which would keep him with the Lakers for the next five years.

So that's one big name down; three more to go.

Phil Jackson is as responsible for the Lakers' success as any player perhaps more so. His Zen master techniques may not be orthodox (Kobe Bryant has stated that Jackson told the team before a game to be like frogs on a lily pad), but they work for L.A.

Still, Jackson has been plagued with health issues, and if he decides to retire, there is not much the rest of the Lakers organization can do.

This is not the case for Ariza and "Candyman" Odom.

Both players were vital to the Lakers' success in the playoffs, and both had contracts that expired at the end of this season.

Now ESPN is reporting that, while the Lakers are actively trying to resign Odom, they may let Ariza go.

This would be a huge mistake for both Ariza and the Lakers.

Ariza has played elsewhere, with the Magic and the Knicks, and was considered a "dude" in both places.

Meanwhile, he has thrived in L.A.

During the playoffs, Ariza played a key role on offense as someone who could shoot threes and drive to the hoop. But even more important to the team was his scrappy defense.

The Lakers benefited from Ariza’s aggression and speed, particularly his ability to create turnovers by stepping into passing lanes.

Sometimes, it looked as though the opposing teams were passing the ball to right to him.

More than any other, the Ariza play that is burned in the memory of every Lakers fan (and Nuggets fan) occurred in Game One against Denver.

With time winding down in the close game, Ariza stole the inbounds pass from Chauncey Billups, insuring Lakers’ victory. A steal at any time during a game is good, but doing it in the closing minutes of a Conference Finals game is great.

So why aren’t the Lakers acknowledging Ariza’s value?

That seems to be how the small forward feels.

Sources say that the Lakers are refusing to offer Ariza more than the mid-level exception—$5.6 million.

Economic times are tough, but since Ariza is apparently considering offers from other teams that would pay him similarly, the hang up seems to be more about respect than dollar signs.

It is hard to know exactly what is going on in the minds and bank accounts of the Lakers organization and Ariza, but one thing is certain.

The Lakers need Ariza back.

Currently, the Lakers do not have another quick, young forward like Ariza that could fill his role if he leaves the team.

The other forwards on the 2008-09 Lakers roster include Josh Powell and Luke Walton. Both players saw time during the playoffs, but neither had the impact that Ariza did.

Odom is closest to Ariza in style of play and ability, which could explain why the Lakers think they can keep one and not the other.

However, there are problems with Odom. He will turn 30 this November, and he does not have Ariza's speed and agility. Keeping Odom over Ariza also seems strange when you consider that Odom was benched in favor of Andrew Bynum earlier in the 2008-09 season.

Point guard Derek Fisher stated in an interview that he would like to see the Lakers keep both men; losing just one player can dramatically change the chemistry of a team.

The Lakers won the NBA Finals because they played well together as a team. L.A. is not the Kobe Bryant Show—every player has an important role on the team. Disrupting this team chemistry could damage L.A.’s ability to win games.

Maybe it’s just not in the cards for Ariza to stay in L.A., maybe there just isn’t enough money.

But it does seem strange that this deal is not getting done.

Ariza has said that he would love to remain in L.A.; he also said that money is important but not the only thing he would take in to consideration. Ariza is a California native who went to college at UCLA and has been extremely pleased with the opportunity to play in his home state.

In addition to forming close bonds with the coaching staff and his teammates, Ariza has become a fan favorite.

All this considered, it seems strange that the Lakers cannot find a way to keep the promising player.

The Lakers are not a team who needs to free up money in order to gain missing pieces.

They have veterans and young guards like Bryant, Fisher, Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic.

They also have the veteran forward/center Pau Gasol and an up-and-coming center in Bynum.

This means they have talent as well as insurance for the future.

Ariza is 24, which means he has a long career ahead of him and could play a big role in the future of the franchise. Keeping him would mean that the Lakers would not only have a championship-caliber team for next season but also for years to come.

Losing Ariza will not destroy the Lakers, but it will certainly hurt. Throughout the regular season and postseason, Ariza proved he can make shots and play clutch defense. He is also well-liked in L.A. by fans and players.

The Lakers should think twice before they say good-bye to Trevor Ariza.

On the other hand, considering the team he would get to be a part of and how he has thrived in L.A. while struggling elsewhere, Ariza should be cautious before he leaves L.A.

LA Are Champs Again: Reliving The Road To Victory

Genevieve Whitbourne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:02:10 -0400

A week has passed now since the LA Lakers became this year’s NBA Champions, but judging by the exuberant victory parade in the streets of LA and Disneyland, not to mention the beaming smile that has replaced Kobe Bryant’s Game Face, Lakers Nation is still celebrating.

Now, Lakers fans can bask in the glow of victory and sport purple and gold like it’s going out of style.

But it hasn’t been an easy road to the Championship for fans, just as it wasn’t a breeze for our Lakers themselves to achieve their goal. The trials and tribulations of this year’s Lakers team caused anger, frustration, panic, wonder, mass hysteria, and possibly ulcers.

From the height of victory, the long journey here for fans and for the team can be assessed and relieved with calm, Phil Jackson Zen Master Like Perspective…well, for the most part.

Of course, Lakers Nation suffered its first blow around this time last year. After advancing to the Finals to face arch rivals the Boston Celtics, LA was the heavy favorite to win the series.

This was supposed to be their year.

The Lakers cruised through the Western Conference; first sweeping the Denver Nuggets, then taking out the Utah Jazz four games to two, and the San Antonio Spurs four games to one.

It didn’t look as though anyone could stop the Lakers, not even their enemies of old, the Celtics.

I for one was running around proudly supporting my team by donning a Lakers hat in the city where I was working at the time…Boston.

For anyone who has come up against a Boston sports fan, you know they are ruthlessly dedicated to their teams. I was booed, cursed at, glared at…I think at one point I might have been hexed.

But none of that mattered, because the LA Lakers were going to win…right?

Wrong.

They lost the final game of the series by a humiliating thirty nine points.

Suddenly everything was wrong. Pau Gasol was too soft, Kobe Bryant was too old, and perhaps the worst criticism: The Lakers hadn’t wanted it enough.

After the Finals ended, the team mentality was bent on redemption, and as the 2008-2009 NBA Season began, there was no doubt that if the LA Lakers did anything short of winning a Championship, it would be a disappointment.

By any other teams’ standards, the 08'-09' season the Lakers had would have been outstanding. LA ended the regular season with sixty-five wins and were the number one seed in the Western Conference.

But for the Lakers, it was only when the Playoffs began that their season truly started. Strong regular season performances were good, but it was all irrelevant if it didn’t lead to a Championship.

For fans, there is where the roller coaster ride of emotions would begin. For the Lakers, this is where their true mission would start.

The first round of the Playoffs had the LA Lakers playing the Utah Jazz. The Lakers won the series four to one, and all of their victories were by at least a ten point margin, but no one in Lakers Nation was ready to breathe easy.

The LA Lakers knew that the true test of their talent still lay ahead. Nor were fans allowed to jump for joy and claim Lakers superiority.

Generally the consensuses was that though the Lakers were playing well, the Cleveland Cavaliers, heavy favorites to meet LA in the Finals, were playing better.

In the next round, the Huston Rockets beat the LA Lakers in Game One at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The final score was Huston one hundred, LA ninety two.

This was unthinkable. A loss at home in Game One was unimaginable for the Finals-Bent Lakers. Suddenly every NBA Analyst with a microphone was talking about the fact that over fifty percent of the time, the team that wins game one wins the series.

Lakers’ toughness was being questioned again as it looked as though the Rockets and Ron Artest were out-muscling the Lakers big men, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

But Kobe Bryant had a different message for his team and for Lakers’ fans everywhere, and it wasn’t one of panic.

Kobe Bryant said that this year, he wanted his team to be tested in the Playoffs, to be battle hardened and ready for when they made it to the Finals.

This Houston series was going to be that test.

Los Angeles was able to win the next two games, one in LA and one in Huston. But the emotional series was far from over.

The Huston Rockets came roaring back in Game Four to take a twelve point victory. Now the series was tied at two games each.

Lakers’ inconsistency was an issue, and their hunger was being called in to question. I still remember the moment when commentator Jeff Van Gundy said he was giving up on the Lakers and picking the Denver Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals.

I know, it’s only Jeff, but still…

To make matters worse, Kobe Bryant was in Technical Foul trouble. The Lakers/Rockets series was turning very physical, and both teams were jawing at each other from Game One.

After Kobe Bryant was dealt a Technical Foul for the most PG trash talk you’ve ever heard in the NBA Playoffs (he said “you can’t guard me” to a defender…why penalize a guy for telling the truth?) Bryant received another Technical Foul after a slight collision with Ron Artest.

This call and the play leading up to it were pretty bizarre. On a Lakers possession, Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest appeared to bump into each other, and then Artest threw his head back and ran away: off the court and into the stands.

This was initially called a personal foul against Kobe Bryant, but after Bryant tried to plead his case, he was whistled for the Technical Foul.

Ultimately it didn’t matter because the Technical Foul was rescinded by the NBA, but it reflected the level of physicality and the tension between the two teams.

Remember, this is the series where Ron Artest was actually thrown out of a game, and where the 6'1", 34 year old Derek Fisher laid out the 6'9", 29 year old Luis Scola with an elbow.

In a series this rough, victory for either team was impossible to guarantee. And with abundant trash talk and Technical Fouls, there was plenty for fans of both teams to be angry and happy about.

But of the two, the LA Lakers were the franchise with more to prove, and the road ahead did not look promising for redemption in the NBA Finals.

While the Lakers struggled to get past the Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers had swept another series and the Denver Nuggets were making quick work of the Dallas Mavericks. It seemed more likely that these two teams would meet in the Finals.

The LA Lakers finally finished off the Huston Rockets in Game Seven, eighty nine to seventy. Afterward, Kobe Bryant said that it should not have gotten that far.

Lakers fans had to agree.

That was the series in which LA truly was the closest to elimination.

But the back and forth nature and sheer physicality of the Huston series seemed to be what taught the Lakers what was necessary to win a Championship.

This was the lesion in toughness that Kobe Bryant was looking for.

But if winning the series against the Rockets gave the Lakers confidence in themselves, it did not do the same for the general sports world.

Instead, the strong playoff performances from Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets had NBA fans and analysts picking Denver to win and advance to the Finals.

Meanwhile, ESPN was airing footage of a shirtless and impossibly muscular LeBron James playing HORSE with his teammates, kind of like that old Larry Bird/Michael Jordan McDonald’s commercial—off the floor, off the score board, off the backboard, no rim…

LeBron and the Cavs looked unbeatable.

LA was going to have to face stiff competition in order to achieve their Championship goal.

This time the Lakers came out with a win to start the series, beating the Denver Nuggets 105-103. After that win, it just felt as though the Los Angeles Lakers were going to take the series.

The next two games were close, but then LA suffered an embarrassing nineteen point loss in Denver.

Yet rather than deflating the Lakers, this loss served to fire them up. LA responded with a nine point victory at home in the Staples Center, and then finally finished off the Nuggets in a way that surprised every Lakers critic; Los Angeles beat Denver 119-92 on the Nuggets’ home court.

The Lakers were going to the Finals.

But the team that would meet them there was not the one everybody was expecting.

As it turned out, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers would not have to figure out a way to stop LeBron James and the Cavaliers, because they stopped themselves, losing their series to the Orlando Magic.

LeBron James may have won this season’s MVP Award, but Kobe Bryant remained the best closer in the game.

Even with the Lakers in the Finals, they were not a lock to win the Championship. Both times the teams had met in the regular season, Orlando had come away with the win.

On top of that, Dwight Howard was coming off the strongest performance of his career in Game Six against the Cavaliers where he put up forty points and had fourteen rebounds.

But now that they were in the Finals for the second year in a row, LA was not going to leave empty handed.

The Lakers set the tone in Game One, blowing out the Magic one hundred to seventy five.

However Games Two, Three, and Four were closer.

Game Two and Four were overtime thrillers, and in both cases, Orlando’s Magic just ran out.

And while Orlando looked deflated, the Lakers looked like a team of destiny.

When Courtney Lee’s alley-oop sailed over the rim in Game Two to allow an overtime that would lead to a Lakers victory, it just felt as though this was the Lakers’ series to win.

When Derek Fisher made a three point shot to force Game Four in to overtime, momentum and fate were on the Lakers’ side.

And in Game Five, the Lakers came away with the Championship they had been hungry for since about this time last year.

Afterward, Kobe Bryant talked about how satisfying it was to achieve this long held goal.

For the fans and for the LA Lakers themselves, this Championship was truly something to celebrate.

This year’s NBA Playoffs were the most competitive and compelling contests that we have seen in years. To come away as the best of these extremely talented teams is something to be very proud of.

So well done Lakers, we’ll see you again next year, same time, same place.

Orlando Wins Game 6: Howard and Magic Advance to Finals

Genevieve Whitbourne — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:02:24 -0400

During Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Magic head coach Stand Van Gundy said, in a sideline interview, that he was proud of his team’s resilience and ability to come from behind, but he thought they had proven their never-say-die spirit enough.

He didn’t want his team to have to erase a 20 point lead in the second quarter every night.

And in Game 6, Van Gundy got his wish.

At their home court, Orlando took the first lead of the game off of a strong dunk from Dwight Howard, and they never looked back.

The Cavs kept the game reasonably close in the first quarter with LeBron James, Mo Williams, and even Wally Szczerbiak creating some offensive production.

But the Magic three-point-sharp-shooters were out in full force, and they scored too often and too fast for the Cavaliers to keep up.

Lee, Lewis, Alston, and Turkoglu all turned in strong performances. While Lee would finish the game with eight points, Lewis, Alston, and Turkoglu all finished in double figures, scoring 18, 13, and 10 respectively.

But the Magic sharp-shooters were not the X-factor in this game. That title belongs to Superman Dwight Howard.

Though he has turned in solid efforts this season, he never dominated inside the way he did in Game 6. He played aggressively on the offensive and defensive boards, ending the game with 14 rebounds and 40 points.

In the past, Dwight Howard’s desire to win and “killer instinct” have been questioned, but he answered those questions in Game 6 with rim rattling dunks and smart defense. Howard has been plagued by foul trouble throughout this series, but this time he would enter the second half with only one personal foul.

With Dwight Howard elevating his game to a whole new level, the Magic had the Cavaliers on the ropes early on in the second quarter, and they knew it.

Smelling blood in the water, the Magic put on a burst of energy and orchestrated a 16-5 run, pushing their lead to 13 with a little over three minutes to go in the half.

The Magic scoring spurt could not have come at a worse time for the struggling Cavaliers, whose main offensive weapon LeBron James went the entire second quarter without scoring a single basket.

In the second half, Cleveland managed to cut the lead down to ten, but they never came close to overtaking Orlando.

The Magic were simply too good, possessing multiple players that could score at will from anywhere on the court. In an effort to contain Howard and Lewis, the Cavaliers left Pietrus, who finished with 14 points, with wide open looks.

Orlando had too many hot hands, and the Cavaliers simply could not put out all the flames.

With six minutes left in the game, desperation began to set in for the Cavaliers as they saw their amazing season coming to an end.

LeBron James continued to throw up shots, but most of them clanged off the rim or backboard and into the hands of a Magic player.

With three minutes left to go, the Magic victory was imminent, the score reading 98-79 in favor of Orlando.

It was a somber Cleveland team that played out the final minutes as the former favorites for the NBA Championship were serenaded by the Orlando fans, who sang “Na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye!”

Also rising from the stands at Amway Arena were chants of MVP, but for Dwight Howard, not the actual league MVP LeBron James.

Overall, the Orlando Magic outplayed the Cleveland Cavaliers in this series, and they deserved the 103-90 win they got in Game 6.

Now they will have to try and work their magic in The City of Angels as they travel to Staples Center to take on the LA Lakers, who are hungry to redeem themselves after last year’s loss in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tip off in LA on Thursday, June 4^th. Both teams possess multiple players that can score from outside, play at a fast pace, and come on strong defensively. While the Magic beat the Lakers twice in the regular season, this is the NBA Finals and LA has taken their game to a higher level.

Whatever the outcome, it’s going to be an exciting Game 1.

Cavaliers-Magic: Cleveland Still Alive After 112-102 Win Over Orlando

Genevieve Whitbourne — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:19:37 -0400

TNT analyst Ernie Johnson summed up the first half of Game Five between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers best when he said, “We’ve seen this movie before.”

The 22-point lead the Cavs jumped out to early in the game was so reminiscent of Games One and Two that it almost felt irrelevant. There was no doubt that the Magic would be able to overcome the large deficit, and Cavs fans in the stands looked more anxious than assured.

But there was one thing Cleveland could certainly feel good about—Williams, West, and Gibson were all making shots. If the Cavaliers were getting points out of more than just LeBron James, their chances of hanging on in Game Five vastly improved.

As the first quarter wore on, the early Cavaliers offensive onslaught began to wear out. A three from Pietrus, and slashing drives from Turkoglu and Johnson kick started the Magic offense. To open the second quarter, Orlando when on a 9-1 run to cut the lead to twelve, and the Magic just kept coming.

Turkoglu was able to make shots from the outside as well as by cutting to the rim. Lewis had an off night from thee point land, but he was able to drive to the basket and get foul calls.

The Orlando defense also tightened up, creating two straight turnovers for LeBron James. As the second quarter drew to a close, Howard slammed the ball into the hoop to cut the Cleveland lead to four.

By halftime, a layup and a three from Lewis had nearly evened the score with the Cavaliers ahead by only one point.

To open the second half, Orlando came out strong and built up an eight point lead.

But closing out a team in the NBA Playoffs is never easy, especially when that team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Anyone who has been watching the Magic-Cavaliers series awake knows that the game is not won in the first, or the second, or even the third quarter. Winning the fourth is what wins the game.

This considered it is no surprise what unfolded in this pivotal quarter.

Even though the Magic had the lead in the third quarter, there were looming problems. Dwight Howard already had his fourth personal foul and the shot makers for Orlando; Lewis, Alston, and Lee, could not get into any real rhythm. In fact, Alston, who had been such an offensive threat in Game Four finished with only three points.

The pressure for the Cavaliers to come out with a win in this game was enormous. If they lost, they would be eliminated from the Playoffs, and their strong regular season would have been tainted by an inability to show up and win when it mattered most.

Facing the possibility of a devastating loss, Cleveland coach Mike Brown decided to set up a new kind of game plan. Brown put King James at the top of the key and gave him free reign with the offense.

This new strategy allowed James to play almost like an NFL Quarterback. His main job would be to distribute the ball. By putting James out there at the top of the key, he could draw defensive players who would try to defend him if LeBron decided to drive into the lane. This allowed James’ teammates to have open looks at the basket.

This new approach paid off for the Cavaliers as Williams, West, and Gibson were able to make their shots and provide much needed offensive production. All three would finish in double figures—with 24, 13, and 11, respectively.

On his way to a thirty-seven-point triple double, LeBron James took over the game management by assisting on 29 Cleveland points in the final minutes of the third and opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

With roughly two minutes left in the game the score was 102-96 in favor of the Cavaliers, and an Orlando Magic comeback did not seem impossible.

But in stifling a Magic comeback LeBron James would receive some more help, this time from the twenty thousand plus fans who had packed in to the Quicken Loans Arena. For the final minutes of the game the crowd was on their feet, waving towels wildly in the air, shaking signs, shouting at the top of their lungs, and willing their team to stay alive in the playoffs.

In the closing minutes of the game the Cavs were able to pull away, sealing a 112-102 victory and keeping their quest for the Finals alive.

But a high hurdle still awaits the Cavs in Orlando. While it would have been shocking if Cleveland had not been able to put together a must win at home, they still haven’t proven that they can beat the Magic in Orlando.

Now the pressure will be on the Magic to take advantage of home court as they try to finish off the Cavaliers in Game Six.

Blue Streak: Alston, Howard Take Over Game Four

Genevieve Whitbourne — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:09:24 -0400

The Orlando Magic knocked the Cleveland Cavaliers into a 3-1 hole by taking game four by a score of 116-114 in a thrilling overtime win.

Orlando struck early with Rafer Alston setting the tone, hitting a three just a few minutes into the game. Howard powered up with a rim shaking dunk to put the Magic ahead 5-1. Howard also found his defensive rhythm, blocking shots from Mo Williams and LeBron James.

The only problem is, the Magic have been a streaky team all season and postseason. When there are on, everybody seems to be able to make shots from anywhere on the court. Then they go dry and can’t buy a layup.

It wasn’t any different for the Magic in game four as their offense suddenly evaporated with two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Cavs have had issues this season with their absent bench. And, after Mo Williams supposedly “guaranteed” a win, there was no doubt in my mind that he would come out determined to get into a shooting rhythm.

Williams struggled early on getting his outside shots or even his layups to fall, but he played aggressive ball and got his foul calls. Williams was able to get his foul shots in the basket, and between his success from the line and James’ efforts, the Cavs went on a 13-2 run and were able to take the lead.

However, all it took to get the Magic back in the game was a three from Hedo Turkoglu, which set the Orlando offense in motion again. Mikael Pietrus followed up with another three, and the Magic were back on top and in control of the game. Anthony Johnson showed up as well, hitting a three and then getting a defensive steal that led to a layup and a foul.

With the Magic poised to pull away, Cleveland dug deep into their bench and came up with Wally Szczerbiak, who made a baseline drive and got the foul, putting the Cavs within two points of the Magic.

Delonte West also came up big for the Cavs, providing help on both sides of the court. With West and Williams providing the help James has been looking for since game one, the Cavs went on a 12-0 run with two minutes left in the half.

Daniel Gibson also came off the Cavs' bench to add to the offensive effort, helping to push their lead to eight at halftime.

Just when it seemed the momentum had turned in favor of Cleveland, Alston came out to start the second half by hitting three consecutive shots for seven straight points. The Magic were right back in the game.

From that point on, it was anybody’s game. The lead swung back and forth as fast as the players could move down the court.

Alston was an offensive powerhouse for the Magic, looking at times as though he could score at will. Pietrus was just as explosive on the Orlando end.

It wasn’t all bad for the Cavs, either. Not only did they get production from Williams, West, and James, but Varejao also had what was easily his best game of the series.

Not only did Varejao manage to score underneath, he also provoked Dwight Howard into committing a technical foul. That was Howard's sixth technical in the postseason. If he gets one more, he will be automatically suspended for one playoff game.

With emotions running high, it was clear that this game was going to come down to the wire. After West tied the score 97-97, James drew a foul and went one of two, putting the Cavs ahead 98-97 with less than a minute left in regulation.

Now the Magic needed to respond. Lewis had been absent all night, but he came up big on the next play, scoring the three that put the Magic up 100-98 with just 4.1 seconds left in regulation.

LeBron James wasn’t ready to quit yet and he drew another foul. With a half of a second left on the clock, James hit both free throws, defining the meaning of "clutch".

On the ensuing inbound, Orlando could not get a shot off, and the game went into overtime with the score tied 100-100.

After the Cavs' last second comeback, it felt as though LeBron James was ready to take control. But Dwight Howard proved himself to be Mr. Overtime, powering up three strong dunks in a row to put the Magic ahead 106-105.

Alston, Pietrus, and a resurgent Lewis also hit important shots down the stretch, increasing their lead to six over the Cavs.

However, James wasn’t finished yet, and he got a shot off over the Magic double team and got the foul call. With less than a minute left in overtime, James hit a three that cut the Magic lead to one.

On the ensuing play, Lewis was fouled. Despite his lack of offensive production early on, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wanted the ball in Lewis’ hands and trusted him to win the game for Orlando.

With 3.2 seconds left in the game, Lewis stepped up to the foul line. Magic fans were on their feet, some cheering wildly and waving signs, some watching nervously and pressing their hands to their heads in anticipation.

If Lewis made both throws, it would give the Magic a three point lead, meaning the Cavs would need a three point shot to tie the game.

If he made one, the Cavs could beat them with a three, and with memories of LeBron James’ epic shot at the end of game two still fresh in both Magic players' and fans' minds, that was not a desirable outcome.

If he made neither, then Cleveland could beat them with any made shot from the paint or the field.

With the weight of the game on his shoulders, Lewis took his first shot. He’d already made two clutch free throws in OT, but this last, most pivotal shot fell short and bounced off the front of the rim. This left the door open for another James’ game winning three.

However, last night, that end of game magic was on Orlando’s side.

Lewis sank his second shot, making the score 114-116 in favor of the Magic.

The ensuing inbound lob went to James, who took the ball across half court and heaved a three that looked on track for the rim. This time, however, even King James couldn’t save his team, and his shot went wide.

Now, to reach the NBA Finals, the Cavs will have to do what only eight teams have accomplished before and climb out of a 3-1 hole.

Meanwhile, the Magic played their best game of the season. While it is true that they haven’t exactly blown out the Cavs, they are getting the close wins. And let’s face it, in the playoffs, a win is still a win.

Rest up Cavs and Magic fans, this next game could be a dagger.

Magic-Cavaliers: Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis Get Orlando Game Three

Genevieve Whitbourne — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:59:47 -0400

Just when you thought it was safe to crown the LeBron James the best finisher in the league and the Cavs champions, Orlando responded with a strong win in Game Three.

Taking the floor at their home court, the Magic came out firing and piled up an early 10-point lead.

Rashard Lewis continued his outstanding offensive performance and buoyed that Magic lead by racking up five quick points. Alston aided the Magic charge as well with seven points early on.

Now it would be the Cavs' turn to pull off a comeback.

With Turkoglu missing shots he usually makes and Howard watching from the bench in foul trouble, a Cavs comeback seemed more than possible.

James came up with one of his-momentum changing chase-down blocks, swiping Lee’s layup out of the air. But Cleveland couldn’t seem to get anything going offensively, and the first quarter ended with the Cavs down 17-24.

It didn’t look like it would go any better for Cleveland at the start of the second quarter when Orlando forced two straight turnovers. But in this seesaw series, momentum can change in a tenth of a second.

The Magic couldn’t capitalize on their defensive stops and the Cavs climbed back into the game, going up 30-29. Still, it didn’t feel as though the Cavs were winning, but rather that the Magic were losing. Orlando went dry at the start of the second quarter and a Flagrant One sent Williams to the line, where he sank both shots.

Cleveland was on a 9-0 run and had taken the lead 34-31 with 5:13 to go in the half. But the Magic weren’t about to let them run away with the game. Orlando came up with a steal, leading to a Pietrus layup.

By halftime the Magic had regained the lead. That dry offensive spell that had captured the Magic's offense at the start of the second quarter was over and they took a 54-48 lead over the Cavs.

Orlando’s offense was firing on all cylinders, and Lee showed he had learned a lesson from LeBron James. Earlier in the first, Lee’s layup was swatted down by James. But in the second, Lee took it to the hoop—despite LeBron.

Howard showed up as well. In spite of foul trouble, he provided a momentous dunk off a one-handed pass from Alston, giving the Magic a 58-50 lead.

Meanwhile, Cleveland’s defense suffered, giving up 13 turnovers before the end of the third quarter. Varejao committed a stupid foul, giving him his fourth personal foul and pushing the team over the foul limit. Ilgauskas was also in foul trouble, meaning both Cavs big men would be seeing less playing time down the stretch.

The Cavs, offense did not fare much better. Their shooting game had been struggling all night—but by the third quarter it started to look like a blooper reel, with shot after shot from the field clanging of the rim or the backboard.

James was doing his best to keep his team in the game. But the most help he received didn’t come from the Cavs bench, but rather the referees.

With under 2:00 to go in the game, James pulled up for a three. Howard came from behind and pulled off an amazing, clean, block, but was astonishingly called for a foul. This was his last to give and it sent him to the bench.

James sunk all three of his foul shots with a disbelieving Howard looking on from the side lines.

Still it was too little too late for the Cavs as the Magic’s Pietrus and Turkoglu both went 2-for-2 on their foul shots in the closing minutes of the game to seal the 89-99 Magic win.

Game Three became a foul-shot drill early on, and the Magic did a better job of capitalizing on free throws. Their defense was able to poke holes in Cleveland all night, coming up with steal after steal.

If the Magic can continue their offensive and defensive assault, it could mean real trouble for Cleveland.

James Will See Your Jump Shot and Raise You a Three: Cavs Take Game 2

Genevieve Whitbourne — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:11:16 -0400

After the tough loss in Game One, there could have been no doubt that the Cavaliers would be looking to prove themselves in the face of their first post season adversity.

At first, it seemed as though their plan would come off without a hitch as the Cavs jumped out to an early 23-point lead.

Yet the initial pounding the Cavs unleashed served more to remind fans of Game One’s amazing second quarter comeback than assure Cleveland’s supremacy.

And as the minutes ticked by, it was déjà vu all over again. The Magic managed to climb back into the game and by the fourth quarter they were down only four points.

Lewis and Turkoglu lead the offensive charge while Howard provided much needed defensive stops.

Just as with Game One, the real excitement came in the fourth quarter. As the Magic and Cavs traded baskets neither team was able to pull away. This was the kind of game basketball fans live for. This was a down to the wire, anything can happen, don’t blink or you might miss it kind of game.

With less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 93, it felt as though the Magic just might pull out another miraculous win.

When LeBron James was actually called for traveling with 30 seconds left in the game, it seemed as though anything was possible.

The tie score and the imminent Magic inbound with time winding down brought the crowd to their feet and no doubt had home viewers literally on the edge of their seat.

With emotions running high, Turkoglu took the inbound pass. From the moment he got the ball in his hands, he was determined to score. As the 6-foot-10 guard dribbled the ball from side to side, it was obvious that this was his play, this was his shot, this was his game.

In control, Turkoglu took the ball into the paint and hit a jump shot, leaving just :01 left on the clock. This meant that the Cavs would have almost no time to orchestrate a game winning play.

An unfamiliar hush came over the Quicken Loans Arena as Cavs fans faced reality: their once indestructible team was teetering on the edge of falling into a 2-0 hole.

But the game wasn’t over yet.

The Cavs had time for one more play, and no one doubted that it would have to be a catch and shoot, and it would have to come from LeBron James. In Game One, he passed up taking the last shot and potential game winner. Instead he had kicked the ball out to Williams.

Not this time.

James took the inbound from Williams and hardly seemed to pause before he shot off the game winning three. The arena exploded as James was buried in a rush of teammates. Also buried was talk of James’ inability to finish a game.

With the series tied, Game Three is sure to bring out just as much energy and emotion from both teams. Both games have been decided by only one point, and it’s still anybody's series.

Will the Cavs be able to stay on track for the NBA Finals, or can the Magic pull another win out of their hat? Either way, it will be fun to watch.

Magic Act: Howard, Lewis Rally To Take Game One

Genevieve Whitbourne — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:38:21 -0400

When Mo Williams hit that unbelievable shot from the three point line on the opposite side of the court, it looked as though the Magic just did not have enough tricks in their bag to stop the Cavs.

But Stan Van Gundy, who has been heralded as the purveyor of panic, had a different message for his team. Of the Unstoppable Cavs, the Series Sweepers, Van Gundy said: they have not been here before. They have not been tested.

His team was going to provide that postseason test.

Despite the early lead, the Magic never lost that energy that can propel a team to victory. Even when they were down, they never played as though the game was over. Their steady pace was the factor in tipping the game their way.

The Magic never went on a clear run, but as Rashard Lewis’ shots started to fall, that once insurmountable Cavs lead began to lessen. You almost did not notice, because every time LeBron James got his hands on the ball he scored, either by a rainbow three or a hard drive. Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard did his best to stop James under the basket, but it seemed every time James stepped into the paint he got a foul call and was sent to the line.

Yet by the fourth quarter, the large lead was gone and for the first time in the Playoffs, Cavs fans had to wonder if their team could hang on and gut out a win. James dominated the game from start to finish and this did not change down the final stretch. He was ready to carry his team on his back to a win, but this time there was too much dead weight.

Other than his miraculous court-and-a-half shot, Mo Williams had an off night. He ended up with a respectable 17 points, but he did not appear his usual scoring self. Varejao, West, and Ilgauskas also contributed to the Cavaliers 106 total, but with no extra help from the bench, it just was not enough.

On three consecutive plays, the Magic found a wide open Lewis who knocked down three after three. Turkoglu and Howard also came alive in the fourth quarter, pushing the Magic ahead of the Cavs.

Cracks even began to appear in King James as he missed a key foul shot and several threes.

But in the final seconds of the game, the Cavaliers had the ball, and more dangerously, the ball was in the hands of LeBron James. Like we have seen him do countless times before, James drove to the hoop. He looked ready to slam the ball through the net and get another foul call when—curiously—he kicked the ball out to Williams, who whipped off a quick pass to West. West’s shot would not fall and the Magic took Game One.

This leaves one to wonder, why did James not take that last shot? LeBron James knows best, but the question has been asked: does James really want the ball when the game is on the line?

The answer to this question is probably yes. He is a special player and talent like his does not come along every year. He saw an open Williams and he made a call. If West’s shot had gone in, all would have been forgotten.

What we really learned from Game One is that with James doing all the work, his team can come within one point of a win. With just a little more help from his supporting cast, there is no doubt that the Cavs can take Game Two and still have a great shot at winning the series and advancing.

Yet, we learned a lot about the Magic as well. This team showed great heart and guts down the stretch. They did not allow the Cavs to run all over them as they had done to their previous opponents. They showed their mental toughness and proved that they can beat this Cavs team.

As Cavs fans gear up for the next game and Magic fans gloat in their moment, fans of basketball can be sure of something else; this is going to be a great show, and this was only act one.