Now in the conference finals, things aren’t coming so easy for the Cavs as they may very well have met their kryptonite in the center known as superman Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.
Small forward LeBron James and his Cavs are facing a 2–1 deficit to the Magic. If it wasn’t for James making amazing happen with a last second buzzer beater in Game 2, the Cavs would be staring elimination in the face.
Tuesday night’s Game 4 is extremely important for the Cavs as they look to even up the series and regain home court advantage. The Magic stole it from them with the Game 1 victory.
Even with Howard in foul trouble in Game 3, exiting the game in the first half with just over five minutes left and not returning until the second half of game, the Cavs were unable to capitalize as the Magic led by one at half before convincingly winning 99–89.
James has done his part in the series, including a 41-point, nine assist, and seven rebound effort in the Game 3 loss, but the league MVP has received no help from his supporting cast.
Like Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy mentioned following the Game 1 win, he really has no idea how to stop King James.
“The one thing that I don’t leave this game with is any idea whatsoever of what to do with him,” said Van Gundy. “As a coach, I don’t have a clue.”
While Van Gundy is yet to find this answer with James averaging just over 41 points per game in the series thus far, he has found a way to stop the Cavs—shut down everyone else.
In the Game 3 loss, no Cleveland player scored more than 15 points, and the bench combined for just eight—this coming from a team that was said to have one of the top nine-man rotations throughout the season.
So while the Magic are playing their game, having Howard dominant in the paint opening up the great outside shooting from small forward Hedo Turkoglu and shooting guard Mickael Pietrus, the only Cavalier that seems to be playing—period—is King James.
Where have point guard Mo Williams and shooting guard Delonte West gone? The two players that most helped James lead the Cavs to the best record in the NBA have all but disappeared this series.
Then there’s the Cleveland bench, which played great all year helping the Cavs close out countless games in the fourth quarter. But the way they have been playing thus far in the conference finals, they’re best off staying where right where they are—on the bench.
While the Cavaliers are down they are by no means out. King James will continue his dominance, but he cannot do it alone.
So a message to all Cavs: LEBRON NEEDS YOUR HELP. Enough of watching the human highlight reel. Do your part like you did all season long as part of the best team in the NBA before the King loses his shot at the crown.
Matt Sugam also writes for The Daily Targum at Rutgers University.
