The Cavaliers' tactical style completely defeated the Magic. If it were just a superficial analysis, many people might think that Charles Barkley was talking nonsense.
The reason is that LeBron James' breakout style of play should be restrained by Dwight Howard's top-notch assist defense ability.
But obviously, they have ignored Lin Yu and Rashard Lewis, two top outside shooters, and Lin Yu's running without the ball is already among the best in the league.
Therefore, even if James was restrained by Howard, Lin Yu and Lewis, who had ultra-long range, in turn restrained Howard, whose defensive range was only mid-range at most.
To be precise, this series will be between Lin Yu and Rashard Lewis. As for James, he is purely a tool to break through and contain the defense...
Compared to LeBron James, a higher-level tool man, the Magic have an extremely low-level tool man in Tony Batty.
The reason why Tony Barty can start is purely because Dwight Howard is unwilling to provide pick-and-roll coverage for outside players, and the Magic desperately needs an inside player who can pick-and-roll and cover. Therefore, Brian Hill can only compromise and let Tony-
Batty was put into the starting lineup.
If there was no such demand, the Magic's best starting lineup would be center Howard, power forward Hedo Turkoglu, small forward Trevor Ariza, shooting guard Grant Hill and point guard Jamal Nelson.
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Tony Barty, who has nothing else to do except pick-and-roll screens, is naturally a tool man, much lower level than James.
Brian Hill is also very helpless. The Magic's lineup is lame, and the pick-and-roll effect of the offense has always been mediocre.
Defensively, after a serious injury, Grant Hill only had a positive defensive attitude. Turkish Hedo Turkoglu has never been known for his defense. Jamal Nelson is too short on the defensive end.
A loophole.
The Magic were able to fight their way out of the Eastern Conference and grab a spot in the playoffs, taking advantage of the weak Eastern Conference. Against a true championship favorite like the Cavaliers, the Magic obviously still have a long way to go.
At least Brian Hill doesn't have the ability to help the Magic go further.
In the Cavaliers' first playoff game this season, LeBron James was stared at and restricted by Dwight Howard throughout the game. The lack of qualified long-range shots became his lifeline.
Throughout the game, James only relied on a few opportunities to catch the ball and make a lot of mid-range shots. He made 8 of 18 shots and scored 18 points, plus 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
When James was a little misfired on the offensive end, Lin Yu and Rashard Lewis became the key winners for the Cavaliers in this game.
Lin Yu played the best personal performance of the game. He was running around throughout the game, and his full potential without the ball played its due role. Grant Hill had a defensive attitude, but
He couldn't keep up with Lin Yu's ideas and pace at all.
By teasing his opponents without the ball, Lin Yu got many excellent scoring opportunities.
After the game, Lin Yu made 12 of 20 shots and scored a game-high 31 points, plus 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
Rashard Lewis also made 7 of 16 shots and scored 20 points, plus 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
The Big Three scored 69 points together. Overall, the Cavaliers still played efficient teamwork and won the game easily.
At 107:89, the Cavaliers won by a big score. Lin Yu, who scored the highest score in the game, became the best player of the game.
Dwight Howard, who scored 19 points on 8 of 17 shots, 13 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 blocks, almost lost the game lying down.
At the end of the game, he looked at the score with his hands on his hips for a while, looking a little frustrated.
But a moment later, LeBron James walked up to him, stretched out his hand and gave him a hug, and the familiar smile suddenly appeared on Howard's face again.
A happy beast is a happy beast...
A long way away, Lin Yu shook his head secretly. He did not go to Howard to say hello. He was in a good mood after winning this game, not because he was the best in the game, but because he felt relaxed.
The Cavaliers should be able to easily enter the second round of the playoffs. The Orlando Magic are no match for them, not at all!
If he wasn't afraid of being labeled as arrogant, Lin Yu even felt that he could have said what Tracy McGrady said: I'm already thinking about my opponents in the next round.
The Cavaliers' opponents in the next round will be decided between the Raptors, which is fourth in the Eastern Conference, and the Heat, which is fifth in the Eastern Conference. On the first day of the playoffs, the Raptors and Heat are just spectators for the time being.
The playoffs started on the same day. There was only a duel between the third-placed Pistons and the sixth-placed Bulls in the Eastern Conference. This matchup was full of gimmicks, and even seemed to be arranged in advance.
Ben returns to the Palace of Auburn Hills as the visiting team's starting center!
But perhaps because they were disturbed by the Kobe Bryant trade, or perhaps because their pure strength was indeed inferior to the Pistons, the Bulls were directly beaten 78:98 on their opponent's territory, losing by a full 20 points.
There is also the West, with the second-ranked Phoenix Suns facing off against the seventh-ranked Lakers, and the fourth-ranked Jazz facing off against the fifth-ranked Rockets.
In the locker room, Lin Yu had free time after taking a shower. He did not pay attention to the game between the Pistons and the Bulls.
Because he knows very well that no matter what, the Pistons and Bulls can't touch the Cavaliers, because the Celtics, who are defending the Eastern Conference semifinals, will definitely kill the winner between these two teams and then meet the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the two games in the Western Conference, Lin Yu took a look at the score between the Lakers and Suns. It was 108:97. The Suns won easily. This year, Kobe Bryant will fall in the first round again.
Lin Yu paid more attention to the game between the Rockets and the Jazz. He specially used the TV in the locker room to watch the second half of the game.
He had to admit that Memet Okur was the kind of center who was extremely restrained by Yao Ming, and Carlos Boozer was also the kind of power forward who was extremely restrained by Yao Ming. No matter how they played, the Rockets were no match for the Jazz.
In the first game, the Rockets lost with a score of 97:103.
"This year's Rockets will also go to the first round..."
Lin Yu thought about the prospects and predictions of some domestic media before the start of the playoffs. Some domestic basketball experts were even looking forward to the Rockets and Cavaliers meeting in the finals and staging a Chinese Derby in the finals.
Looking at it now, this Rockets team can't even beat the Jazz, let alone the Spurs, Mavericks and Suns.
But when it comes to the Mavericks, Lin Yu thinks of the eight-year-old miracle that should have been staged this season. Tomorrow is the first game between the Mavericks and the Warriors.
Whether the Black Eight Miracle will take place can be seen after watching the first game...
Lin Yu was thinking, should he go to the spinach company to buy some Warriors Black Eight Success?
