CLEVELAND -- In any other city, any other country or planet or solar system, a 22-point lead would be enough to soothe any psychosis. Not here, though. The good people of Cleveland realize not to grow overly giddy about any perceived edge, having experienced every imaginable collapse, heartbreak, shot, fumble, drive, blown save and choke job in the most cursed ongoing existence of any American sports town.And sure enough Thursday evening, that 22-point lead disappeared in a matter of 13 minutes in the second and third quarters, a stunning and confounding blackout even by northeast Ohio standards. Earlier, the fans had saved their loudest boos for Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, Ben Roethlisberger and other local pariahs watching in Quicken Loans Arena. A minute into the second half, when Orlando party boy Hedo Turkoglu -- in the bar again on Game 5 eve -- hit a three-pointer from Lake Erie and gave the Magic the lead, those boos were turned toward an unthinkable target.
Their very own Cleveland Cavaliers, featuring the lifeblood of a city and its fleeing dreams, LeBron Raymone James.
"ALL YOU BELIEVERS, STAND ON YOUR FEET!!" the public-address implored, trying to keep life in the building. "YOU KNOW HOW WE DO IT IN THE `Q!!' BRING THE NOISE, BRING THE PASSION. SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD WE'VE GOT THE LOUDEST AND BEST FANS IN THE NBA!! BRING SOME NOISE FOR YOUR ... CLEVELAND CAVALIERS!!"
So they gathered up some faith one more time from a reservoir that should be dry. And finally, even if just for one night, they watched the Cavs avoid Cleveland's biggest sports flop of all, saving the city from having to witness the final defeat of a would-be title season at home. Even with James missing 10 of his first 15 shots, he was scorching in the fourth quarter, delivering a triple-double (37 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists) drawing Dwight Howard's sixth foul and getting enough help from the Cav Nots -- namely, the previously vanishing Mo Williams, Delonte West and forgotten Boobie Gibson -- to churn out a 112-102 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Before the game, James addressed his teammates and reminded them that only eight teams in NBA history have returned from a 1-3 deficit to win with a playoff series. "Let's be number nine," he told them. He also said they needed to avoid the mockery of TNT's Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, who send teams "fishing" when they are eliminated from the playoffs. His wishes were helped when Williams, shooting an abysmal 23 of 71 from the field coming in, nailed early three-pointers and staked the Cavs to a huge lead. Though they blew that lead, the contributions of others, including the often-useless Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak, renewed James' confidence in them. In the second half, he scored or assisted on 32 consecutive points, 29 in the fourth. Forget those who say Kobe Bryant is enjoying the superior postseason. With a far inferior cast around him, James is playing at a level right now matched by only Michael Jordan and a handful of others.
"Man, this was a big game for us. You never want to disappoint the home crowd," James said. "It was win or go home, and one things we don't want to see is Charles, Kenny and Ernie (Johnson) sending us fishing. It was huge to get it from our complimentary players. Mo was big. The bench was big. We need that."
They'll be needed optimally in Game 6. "We've got to play the same way we played tonight," James said. "Gritty. Get the ball up the court. Play fast. We've got to do everything in our will to steal that game."
Said coach Mike Brown, who is running out of words for LeBron: "We didn't do anything tricky. We said, `Here's the ball, big fella, and get us some baskets.' That's what the great ones do. They put a team on their shoulders. He's our leader and he has grown tremendously. He did the same thing with the Olympic team last summer. We all follow him. He's showing confidence in his teammates, encouraging them. His mental awareness is off the charts."
Still, this seemed more a tease than a statement. For the third time at home in this series, the Cavs blew a monster lead -- 18, 23 and 22 points, to be exact -- and it's obvious they aren't as good as the bigger, smarter, quicker, deeper and better Magic, who have created matchup problems. The question becomes whether LeBron can will this team to a Game 6 win Saturday night in the enemy O-rena. And even if he does -- and I wouldn't put anything past the man, including a 60-point masterpiece -- won't the Cavs just blow another huge lead at home in Game 7?
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (15), from Turkey, looks up from the bench late in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, May 28, 2009, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 112-102 to force Game 6 Saturday in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
AP
Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (15), from Turkey, shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11), from Lithuania, in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 28, 2009, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 112-102 to force Game 6 Saturday in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers' Wally Szczerbiak, right, hugs LeBron James after James scored and was fouled in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Orlando Magic on Thursday, May 28, 2009, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 112-102 to force Game 6 Saturday in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
AP
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
MCT
Cleveland Cavaliers' forward LeBron James celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul from Orlando Magic defender Rashard Lewis during first half action in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
MCT
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard goes up for a dunk in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
MCT
CLEVELAND - MAY 28: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic reacts from the sidelines against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy
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CLEVELAND - MAY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
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CLEVELAND - MAY 28: Anderson Varejao #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts with teammate Wally Szczerbiak #10 after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Varejao;Wally Szczerbiak
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CLEVELAND - MAY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts with teammate Wally Szczerbiak #10 after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Wally Szczerbiak
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There is no overstating the importance of this team having to win this year. The presence of rap mogul Jay-Z beside the Cleveland bench reminds us of his friendship with James and his part-ownership of the Nets, the same franchise that is moving to Brooklyn. An ignominious crash by the Cavs only will lend credence to what was written here yesterday, that a continuing failure to win a title still could prompt James to sign elsewhere in 14 months. And make no mistake, this might be Cleveland's best shot yet. Boston will have a healthy Kevin Garnett next season. Orlando is a serious player. Chicago is on the rise, even if Derrick Rose doesn't do his own schoolwork. Do the Cavs trade for Shaquille O'Neal, which could have happened in February if owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Danny Ferry hadn't nixed a deal with Phoenix? Don't they regret not wanting to relinquish Szczerbiak in the deal? Or not wanting to have the huge contracts of Wallace and O'Neal on the payroll at once?
These are questions for after they are eliminated. For now, they embrace hope, even if the city is wobbly. Who knows, for instance, which Williams shows up Saturday? To his credit, he has accepted all blame, realizing there is no justification for taking 71 shots and making only 23. Also to his credit, he has been spending his mornings in the gym, sometimes as early as 8:30, shooting jumper after jumper. He doesn't want to be remembered as the fraud who leaped out of the passenger seat when LeBron was turbocharging down championship highway, playing the best ball of his life. In Game 5, he finally showed up with the best apology: A scoring flurry at the start. "That was huge for us, with the way they were going to pay attention to LeBron," Brown said. "Mo and Gib did a terrific job of stepping up and knocking down that three ball. We have confidence in these guys. LeBron has confidence in them. We need that from them."
The other pro-Cleveland factor is Howard and his foul issues. When the big man is in foul trouble, James can attack the basket instead of settling for jumpers. Can he possibly find his way into more foul trouble in Orlando? His temper also is getting him into unnecessary messes. If an early elbow had caught Szczerbiak flush on the chin, instead of connecting only with air, the officials probably would have called a technical foul on Howard. It would have been his sixth technical of the postseason, leaving him one errant forearm or referee-directed curse word from his seventh. When a player receives seven technicals during the playoffs, the NBA contacts him and issues a statement.
Go home, son. You're suspended for the next game. And if Howard was suspended for the next game, well, I'd like the Cavaliers' chances of coming back and winning the series. Later, he was seen jawing at officials after his sixth personal foul, and he was lucky they didn't tee him up there. But the scenario didn't go the Cavs' way, just as sports glory never goes Cleveland's way, which is why the win still felt like a delay-the-inevitable prelude to another heartbreak."My main job is to try to stay focused and not worry about some of the fouls that don't go my way," Howard said. "It is tough not being on the floor because I want to help my teammates. You have to roll with it and not react. I've got to stay aggressive without fouling."
Orlando remains confident. "We shouldn't lose any confidence because of the game tonight. They hit shots," Howard said. "We've got to do a better job of containing LeBron at the top of the key. He created too much tonight. But we'll come back ready in Game 6 from the start. We bounce back well. We know what it's going to take. We've got to come out strong and step up our intensity. We turned over the ball too much and gave them a chance to come back."
Is it time to start, oh, maybe doubling James in the fourth quarter? "Maybe," said Howard, who criticized coach Stan Van Gundy in the Magic's previous series. "He's getting what he wants out there."
Van Gundy wants more focus. "I think we've proved to the nation that we have mental toughness and will fight back on the road," he said. "But I don't think we need to keep proving that by digging ourselves big holes. It takes a lot of energy to keep doing that. To win this series, we're gonna have to play 48 minutes. They brought a heightened mentality tonight. We did not."
He paused to wish his wife a happy anniversary. "I love you very much,'' Van Gundy said, "and you've put up with me for 21 years. You deserve a huge reward."
I think he was referring to the NBA Finals. And my guess is, Mrs. Van Gundy will get her reward, at Cleveland's usual expense.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-29-2009 @ 1:43AM
alwaysbeingdady said...
ben wallace was the defensive player of the year .what happen he fell off?
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6-01-2009 @ 8:30PM
olaju67 said...
LEBRON SHOULD HAVE WENT TO COLLEGE KEEP HIM IN CLEVLAND NY DON'T WANT HIM WE DON'T GET DOWN LIKE THAT NO RESPECT FOR HIM WHY DAVID STERN DID NOT FINE HIM HE CRYIN TOO O MAGIC SHOCK THE ....WORLD
5-29-2009 @ 2:44AM
Giles said...
Benito broke his leg this year, I`m surprised he tried to come back this year. He was never a good scorer. Shaq is NOT the answer for this team. They have been playing a lot with Ilgauskas, James, West, Gibson, Williams. Two 6`3 wings! That is just too small a line up. James can play any of the five positions, but he can`t play all of them all at once. Only one of those three point guards should be on the court usually at any given time. James deserves better than to be over hyped as if he could have already done better in 6 years than Parish did in 22 or Jabbar in 20. He is just a talented, hard working, 24 year old kid. The highest priority needs to be adding a legit sized wing guard with legit mid and long range shot. A young Bryant type. Probably no where near as good. So West, maybe, can come off the bench. Then they need to choose, James at power or wing forward, because James needs a better forward starter mate, too. And then the team needs a young Ilgauskas as a back up center. LeBron lusters should just enjoy watching the kid play, instead of bragging on all the accomplishments he hasn`t made yet, maybe then he`1l have a better chance of making them. The all star years are behind El Zyd, Benito, and Wally, but they are still valuable locker room influences. They, like James, need more help on the wing. Doubling James won`t do any good. He can pass. He is an adequate rebounder for a small forward, not overwhelming, but he has El Zyd, Varajao, and Wallace for that, and would rebound more if he is moved to power forward. But he can score inside off quickness for now, and his assists and steals are well up there. He is the legit mvp. He just isn`t the mature, history dominating player he might become and some fantasize he already is. And yes, Howard is immature. He is a year younger than James and much more raw a talent. But I expect he`ll take the Ws over the media kisses. James is playing at a level of down 3-2, in the semis. If you really think only Jordan and a handful of others can match that, you need to learn a LOT more about basketball. Maybe James himself will teach you next season how much better lots of guys can do than that. If you want to award him for being good for his age, send him to UCLA or North Carolina, or some other good universtiy. If you want him to be good in the nba, don`t exile him to Manhatten. If he leaves CleveLand, let him join Wade in Miami, or see if he can do the near impossible, and lead the Clippers to consistent wins instead of near consistent loses. MUCH too cold in New York winter, too hot summer.
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5-29-2009 @ 3:19AM
Giles said...
And CleveLand fans, do NOT give up on this series OR on keeping LeBron. One of James` rare hot shooting nights from mid and long range, on the road, in game 6, and this series will turn completely around. But a little respect, please. It is the Magic leading for now, not the Cavs. None of the Magic deserve to be hyped as all time greats, but they are ahead. Just watch the games, and enjoy. In real life, it may take another dozen years before James will have earned the kind of praise he got straight out of high school. The hype isn`t James` fault, he is just playing well.
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5-29-2009 @ 3:57AM
etienne said...
The Cavs can already start planning for their vacation. The Cavs can;t put 2 good games back to back. The series ends in Orlando on Saturday night.
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5-29-2009 @ 7:05AM
Adam said...
Hmm - I think they put 8 games back to back ... something to the tune of 10 points or more. Also - Last night was more of a "must-win" for Orlando than will be talked about. LeBron smells blood. He's got his boys hungry again. I like Cleveland's chances. Go CAVS!
5-29-2009 @ 4:25AM
tpro24w said...
Once again, what is all of this "hyperbole" (a word that I know Marrioti likes to throw out there a lot) and sensationalism about LeBron James. Granted, it goes without saying that he is an outstanding player who will undoubtedly in the future be viewed as the best player in the NBA and among the all-time greats, but lets not put the cart before the horse.
I find it funny how the media tries to put James in a better light by portraying his supporting cast as a bunch of slugs and players that are holding the "Great One" back, but yet, Kobe Bryant has all the help in the world and cannot do anything with it. I don't agree. I compare James supporting cast more to Michael Jordan's supporting cast of players who were DEFENSIVE minded players; guys like Rodman, Pippen, Grant, Harper etc.. were all NBA defensive players. As for Cleveland, they had the best "D" in the league this year. LBJ certainly did not do that all by himself. On the other hand, Kobe's supporting cast looks so good on paper because they are OFFENSIVE minded players who everyone can see cannot play one lick of Defense. Since Offensive and Defensive components both take up an equal share of importance, I would judge the supporting casts as equal. I mean, Cleveland even has a former all-star (Wally) and former Defensive player of the year (Big Ben) burried on their bench and Mo Williams who persistently whined his way on to the all-star team this year, so they cannot be that weak of a supporting cast.
As for LBJ, I have never seen a player in this league, not even Jordan get the benefit of so many calls; it's really become rediculous and embarrassing to the league. With that said, I don't blame LBJ for utilizing his amazing athleticism and size, but the guy needs to vastly improve his shooting and even his post game a little bit. Actually, you never really see him post too much because he is too busy initiating contact,BULLDOZING, and Annihilating players in the lane. I am sure he would make for a great Running back or Linebacker.
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5-29-2009 @ 4:37AM
steve said...
dude its obvious you don't even watch him play that much
5-29-2009 @ 5:12AM
Dvdfrnzwbr said...
With the MVP on the court i wouldn't use the word inevitable. Cavs won't drop three in Orlando. Seventh game will reveal the Eastern Champs.
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5-29-2009 @ 6:23AM
Puck said...
Does Mariotti gets paid for this stuff? What a blessed individual, what a great country we live in!
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5-29-2009 @ 6:35AM
obamaizadope said...
Mariotti knows nothing about basketball. What a waste of space..
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5-29-2009 @ 8:53AM
Ronn said...
Orlando is begging for the sixth man to count. That man is the officials. They cry that they need his calls to be a champiion....Bull!!!! Let them suck Oranges....
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5-29-2009 @ 9:26AM
worthy said...
Watched that game lastnight and saw again a game called uneven. Would have been a early blowout otherwise, Cavs would have folded. All I know is I boycotted the NBA for years with the Magic VS Bird years, they was not the best two teams all those years just the match up the commish wanted. Then again I stopped watching and slammed the nba durning the Jordan ref friendly years and this is looking dangerously like the same. This time if they take this series from the best team playing at the moment MAGIC, I and am sure many others will never watch this so called sport again. U would think with one ref in prison Stern would have his ref walking and calling the games straight and narrow, but the again they see travels, walks, offensive fouls, and defensive fouls missed nearly ever play.Then the announcers that should be calling it out, called it the best defense and most unstoppable offense of all what a freakin joke. No wonder this is a dying league
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5-29-2009 @ 9:35AM
mhcontain said...
Orlando whines about everything, if the series was fixed Orlando wouldn't be going to the line more than Cleveland. Dwight Howard is a total hack, worse even than Shaq. If the refs called him for every foul he committed he wouldn't make it past half time. As for Mariotti, what did Ozzy Guillen have to say about him?
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5-29-2009 @ 9:51AM
HI CMA MAN said...
Wanna King James would be fouled out before half time IF the referees called fouls on him like they should. He gets away with murder. He is way too cocky and I hope he gets to go home Saturday night as a LOSER. I will take KOBE any day over the immature wanna be King James.
5-29-2009 @ 10:31AM
James said...
One thing about the NBA....you get to watch football from September right through June. It's really hard to tell the NFL and the NBA apart. Lower the shoulder, knock down a few players and slam dunk it over the goal post.....I mean rim..whatever. I miss the days when they actually had to play by the rules. The only true basketball is the NCAA. You can't even get a Major Network to cover NBA games...that's how bad it's become. 'Lebron drives toward the end zone, knocks two players down...TOUCHDOWN !! The dimise of the NBA.
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5-29-2009 @ 10:41AM
bdonate764 said...
I want the Cavs to win too however, isn't it just entertainment ? Living vicariously with the accomplishments of teams etc. is going a bit deep. I remember when the Indians lost 4 in a row
(early 1950's) (?) I was crushed but why ? I was still 17 yrs old and healthy regardless of who won and my HS girlfriend said "who cares" ?
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5-29-2009 @ 11:55AM
HAYLEY BUG said...
All the pressure is now on Orlando. They know they cannot win a game 7 @ Cleveland. They must win Saturday.Cavs in 7.
BTW, how many elbows is Howard allowed to throw??
....Note to LeBron hating Barkley, you and I have the same amount of NBA Championship rings, your jealousy is showing. Kenny Smith rode the coattails to get his...you were irrelevant to that teams success, your jealousy is showing as well.
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5-29-2009 @ 3:14PM
lvvv2gambl said...
What a joke!, to watch the most over rated player in the game, Lebron James, put his shoulder down like a running back and pile drive players to the floor and then have the refs call the foul on them!...lol, did ya see in the fourth quarter James grabbing the player he was gaurding so he wouldnt have to run around on defense...give me a break!...LB is a thug!
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5-29-2009 @ 3:52PM
Bassfishing06 said...
Mike Brown has been a woderful coach for Lebron...however he is not the coach to take them to a championship...why has he never put some zone defense in his book...when you have players that are not athletic enough to play man to man the zone compensates and lets your super star that has to play 46 mins get some kind of rest. Even if a miracle does happen LA will only be harder for the unable to guard!!!
And I am not a Laker fan..Cavs are my favorite.
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