Did the officials goof? Did Cleveland really beat Orlando to even the East Finals?
For the record, Orlando beat Cleveland 116-114 Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Magic need just one more win in the next three games for their first NBA Finals appearance in 14 years.
But replays of LeBron James’ second free throw to tie the game at 100 and force overtime make it appear that Anderson Varejao reached up and tipped the ball in, which would result in two points not the one point the Cavs were credited for James’ last free throw. If the officials would have credited the Cavs three points for James’ first free throw and a Varejao put back after James’ missed second free throw attempt, the game wouldn’t have gone to overtime. The Cavs would be 101-100 winners to even the East Finals at 2-2.
Cleveland point guard Mo Williams guaranteed his team will win the Eastern Conference Finals against Orlando because he said two of the next three games are in Cleveland and he can’t see his team losing two games at home.
Maybe Williams should have waited to make his prognostication after Game 4 tonight in Orlando because last I checked, the Magic host two of the next three games in their Amway Arena, where the Cavs are 0-3 this season and haven’t won since February of last year. And with a 2-1 series lead, Orlando can use its actual home court advantage to grab the two victories needed to advance to the NBA Finals.
NBA players’ women provide courtside entertainment
This has got to be the most exciting NBA playoffs in at least a decade.
But the action isn’t restricted to the court. Apparently, the sideline has its own sideshow, and I don’t just mean celebrity sightings of Jack Nicholson, Justin Timberlake, Will Ferrell, Denzel Washington, Terri Hatcher, Tom Cruise and Mrs. Terminator Maria Shriver.
The players’ mates and moms are creating excitement.
With only a two-day break after fighting off undersized and undermanned Houston in a fierce seven-game semifinal series, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that his players are going to have to win on emotion when Los Angeles opens the Western Conference Finals against Denver tonight.
But if the Lakers are relying on emotion for a victory, I don’t like their chances.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant admitted that “we’re bipolar†after struggling with the Yao Ming-less Rockets, and NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith said the Lakers have half-a—ed their way to the Finals after dominating the West in the regular season to finish one game behind Cleveland for the best record in the league.
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