By Tom Enlund
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(MCT)
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS MATCHUPS
ORLANDO MAGIC VS. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
POINT GUARD
Mo Williams vs. Rafer Alston: Williams fell into a dream situation playing alongside LeBron James after he was traded by the Bucks to Cleveland last summer. Williams, who played in his first all-star game this season, is averaging 14.8 points and 4.5 assists in the playoffs. Alston was obtained by Orlando in a mid-season trade with Houston after Jameer Nelson went down with an injury. Alston is averaging 12.8 points and 4.7 assists in the playoffs. It should be an interesting matchup.
Edge: Cavaliers.
SHOOTING GUARD
Delonte West vs. J.J. Redick/Courtney Lee: West is playing some of the best basketball of his career and his baseline drive and emphatic windmill dunk in Game 4 against Atlanta is one of the Cavaliers most vivid memories from that series. He had a solid regular-season, has improved in the playoffs, and plays well alongside Williams. James says West is the team’s glue. “He’s been great,” said Cleveland coach Mike Brown. “He’s athletic, long and he’s fearless.” Redick and Lee will have their hands full.
Edge: Cavaliers.
SMALL FORWARD
LeBron James vs. Hedo Turkoglu: What a season it’s been for James who was named the league’s most valuable player and a unanimous selection to the first all-NBA team. James has improved from averaging 28.4 points on 48.9 percent shooting and 7.6 rebounds in the regular season to 32.9 points on 53.2 percent shooting and 9.8 rebounds in the playoffs. Turkoglu came up big in Orlando’s Game 7 victory over Boston, finishing with 25 points and 12 assists, and Cleveland will have to honor his three-point shooting (36.4 percent in the playoffs).
Edge: Cavaliers.
POWER FORWARD
Anderson Varejao vs. Rashard Lewis: Like Turkoglu, Lewis can be a deadly three-point shooter and will help spread the Cleveland defense. Lewis is averaging a team-high 19.8 points and is shooting 34.4 percent from three-point range during the playoffs. “They’re going to make a lot of shots from the perimeter,” said James. “But you can’t let that get you down. They’ve got guys who surround Dwight (Howard) and can really shoot the ball.” Varejao brings a physical presence to the Cavaliers and is averaging 5.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in the playoffs.
Edge: Magic.
CENTER
Zydrunas Ilgauskas vs. Dwight Howard: Ilgauskas, bothered by a sore ankle and shoulder, benefited as much as anyone from the long layoff the Cavaliers had after sweeping Atlanta. Ilgauskas has watched a lot of film of Howard and said that coach Mike Brown hadn’t ruled out giving him double-team help at times. To Ilgauskas, the key against Howard is to limit his opportunities. “You don’t give up a lot of dunks,” said Ilgauskas. “Make him work for everything because we’re not being to be able to stop him.” Howard is averaging 19.6 points, 16.6 rebounds, and 2.75 blocks in the playoffs.
Edge: Magic
BENCH
The Cleveland reserves scored only 15 points in the final two games against Atlanta. Even so, the Cavaliers liked the activity that the reserves provided and weren’t concerned about the lack of scoring. “We don’t need them to do anything but what they need to do to help us win the game,” said James. “The scoring is extra.” Veteran Joe Smith is one of the Cavaliers key reserves, averaging 7.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in the playoffs. Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, Marcin Gortat and Lee have given Orlando some solid minutes off the bench
Edge: Magic
COACHES
Mike Brown vs. Stan Van Gundy: Brown will be judged by how well he used the time off his team earned after sweeping Atlanta series. “If we go in and win, people are going to say we did a nice job during that time,” he said. “If we go in and lose, people are going to say we had too much time on our hands.” Van Gundy was criticized by Howard for not giving him the ball enough after Orlando’s Game 5 loss to Boston. The Magic responded by winning the next two games and the series but Van Gundy said he felt no vindication from that. “If our team’s not great Wednesday night, I’m back to being an idiot,” he said.
Edge: Cavaliers.
PREDICTION
James has been spectacular in the playoffs and his supporting cast has played well also. The Cavaliers will be tested by the Magic but Cleveland is well-rested, has home-court advantage, and has been playing stifling defense in the post-season. It should all add up to a trip to the NBA Finals for the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers in six.
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