MyTenSense.com

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy blamed himself and center Dwight Howard laid his head in his hand as they fielded the press’ questions about a 1-point loss to Cleveland after LeBron James’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer to tie the Eastern Conference Finals series at 1-1.
Sure, Van Gundy could have had a defender contest the Mo Williams inbound pass that led to James’ last second shot and he could have put two men on LeBron.
But the Magic shouldn’t be second-guessing themselves. After all, the Cavs were the ones in need of a little magic after giving up double-digit leads at home in Games 1 and 2, and it took the “biggest shot” of James’ career to keep Orlando from returning home with a 2-0 series lead.
Charles Barkley was one of the few NBA analysts who picked Orlando to win the Eastern Conference, and now he looks like a genius.
And I must admit I was like everyone else, hoping for an NBA Finals featuring No. 23 (James) vs. No. 24 (Lakers guard Kobe Bryant).
The ball is now literally in the Magic’s court with Games 3, 4 and 6 in Orlando’s Amway Arena, where Orlando is 2-0 against Cleveland this season, including a 29-point regular season victory, the Cavs’ worst of the season, early last month. Plus, the Magic is battle-tested after outlasting Philadelphia and Boston in six- and seven-game series, respectively, unlike the Cavs who cruised to eight consecutive double-digit victories to sweep their first two playoff opponents.
If the Magic actually puts together a complete-game effort instead of these second half comebacks, we may see Howard’s No. 12 vs. No. 16 (Lakers center Pau Gasol) or No. 31 (Nuggets center Nene) competing for the NBA championship.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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Does it really matter which team is victorious in Game 7 of the Celtics/Magic series?
Unless you’re a fan of the teams, not really. Regardless of who wins tonight, the winner will eventually join the loser on the couch for the NBA Finals.
That’s because whether Boston or Orlando advances to the Eastern Conference Finals later this week, the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to roll over them within five games.
I don’t mean to dis Boston or Orlando. I’m glad the Celtics are back in the playoff mix after nearly two decades of dormancy. I was rooting for them last year to win their first NBA Trophy since 1986 for a league-best 17 NBA championships, and this year Boston has defended its league crown well with two fiercely competitive and entertaining seven-game playoff series against Chicago and Orlando. And the Magic and NBA defensive player of the year Dwight Howard have made the franchise’s farthest playoff run since Shaq and Penny tried to spoil Michael Jordan’s comeback and quest for Chicago’s eventual second NBA championship triple-peat.
But tonight Orlando and Boston are just scrapping to determine the sacrificial lamb for the Cavs. With NBA MVP Lebron James leading the way, Cleveland is having its best season ever and the team is well-rested after sweeping their first two playoff opponents, Atlanta and Detroit. Plus, the week and a half off has enabled the Cavs to dissect the Celtics/Magic series. So Cleveland will be more than ready to open the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday against the Orlando/Boston series winner.
So personally, I’d rather watch the two-hour season finale of ABC drama Desperate Housewives because I can always catch the season finale for Boston or Orlando next week.

By Teneshia LaFaye
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teneshialafaye
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If you’re an NBA fan, you’ve had the debate with your friends.
Who is the best player in the league? LeBron, Kobe or D-Wade?
My answer is King James, and the populous thinks so too because the Cleveland forward received 109 of 121 first-place votes to be crowned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player earlier this week.
Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade already have an MVP trophy. Bryant was the league MVP last season, and Wade, the league’s scoring leader this season, was MVP of the 2006 NBA Finals.
Bryant and Wade, who finished second and third in this year’s MVP voting, have another piece of hardware that James lacks – an NBA championship ring. Bryant won his three championship rings on the shoulders of three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal before the big man left the Lakers to help Wade win Miami’s only NBA championship in 2006.
But LeBron James can distinguish himself by being the catalyst to Cleveland’s first NBA title. So far, the Cavs have cruised through the playoffs with a first-round series sweep of Detroit and a 2-0 Eastern Conference semifinals start over Atlanta. In the process, James has averaged 32 points – more than Wade’s regular-season leading 30 points per game, and he’s averaging 11 rebounds, 6.6 assists and two steals. The NBA Finals could match up James’ team versus Bryant’s Lakers, which Cleveland beat out by one game for the league’s best record this season and the most wins in Cavs’ franchise history.
Wade is out of the picture right now after Miami was eliminated by Atlanta in the first round of the NBA playoffs. In dominating performances against the Hawks and Pistons, James has posted better postseason numbers than Wade and Bryant, and he also has better career averages in points, rebounds and assists.
So if LeBron leads his team to an NBA championship this postseason, it’ll be hard to argue he’s not the best in the league.

By Teneshia LaFaye
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teneshialafaye
Add me on Myspace: www.myspace.com/tlafaye