| 2009 NBA Playoffs: Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game 5 |
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| Written by Scott Burgess | |||||||
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Thursday, 28 May 2009
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 The Orlando Magic can win the Eastern Conference and get to the finals of the 2009 NBA Playoffs tonight, May 28, with a win in Cleveland over the Cavaliers. The Magic have already won in Cleveland in Game 1 and they know they can do it again. NBA oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Cavaliers as -7.5 point home favs over the Magic with the over/under listed at 190.5 points. Be sure to get your 2009 NBA Playoffs Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction in now at Sportsbook.comThe Magic are playing as a team instead of a one man show, like the Cavs. They have no fear playing on the road as they bounced the Celtics in Game 7, in Boston. Dwight Howard has improved his game playing a more dominant role under the hoop. He finished with 27pts 14 rebounds in Game 4. The Magic had four starters with double digit points and Mickael Pietrus was great off the bench with 17pts after making 5 of 11 from the arc. The Magic have figured out the Cavs. When the Cavs have concentrated on stopping Howard down low, the Magic make 3-pointers (they hit 17 of 38 in Game 4), and when Cleveland focuses its defense on guarding the perimeter, Howard destroys them near the basket. The Magic got more good news Wednesday when the NBA rescinded Howard's Game 4 technical foul, his sixth of the playoffs. If he received one more technical he would’ve had to sit out a game, which would be devastating. The Cavaliers aren’t getting enough support from their other starters or from their bench. Off the bench the Cavs added an additional 14pts while Anderson Varejao was the low scorer on the Cavs with 9pts. Mo Williams guaranteed a Game 4 win, but after making 5 of 15 from the field to finish with 18pts isn’t going to cut it. The MVP, LeBron James, is averaging 42.3 points, 7.3 rebound and 7.3 assists in the series, says he won't go down without a fight. "I'm up for the challenge," James said. "And I think my play; my leadership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also." But the odds are heavily stacked against the Cavs. In the NBA's 62-year postseason history, 190 teams have taken a 3-1 lead in a series and 182 of them have won. More daunting for the Cavaliers is that the Magic have won 10 of the past 14 meetings between the teams, and were one of three teams to win at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena this season. Recent Trends to Consider:
2009 NBA Playoffs Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers When: Thurs, May 28, 2009 8:30 PM ET Line: Sportsbook.com Pick: Magic +7.5 Point-Spreads.com 2009 NBA Playoffs Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers The Bottom Line: Oddsmakers keep favoring the Cavs by a lot and they failed to live up to those standards. Each game has come down to the wire, usually with the Magic covering or winning. Bet the house on Orlando. Be sure to get your 2009 NBA Playoffs Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction in now at Sportsbook.com and receive a 10% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit.                        |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 May 2009 ) | |||||||