Eastern Conference Finals Game 6

The weight LeBron took upon his shoulders to carry his team past Orlando into the NBA Finals finally became too great to bear. LeBron went scoreless in the second quarter and was held to 25 points, matching his lowest output of the postseason, as the Magic ousted Cleveland with a 103-90 victory Saturday to win the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. It was Dwight Howard in the dominant role typically played by LeBron, as Howard scored a playoff career high 40 points to go with 14 points. Howard was the focal point of the Magic offense two nights after taking just 10 shots in Game 5. Saturday he took 21 shots and made 14 of them, and went 12-for-16 at the line as the Cavs elected not to double-team so as to cover Orlando's potent three-point shooters. The strategy failed to work on Howard or the gunners, as Mickael Pietrus went 4-for-7 from behind the arc and Rafer Alston and Rashard Lewis both checked in with 3-for-7 performances from three-point range. The Magic were 12-for-29 on treys, while the Cavs had their own success, going 9-for-20. Mo Williams was 3-for-4 from long distance, but all of his production came in the second half after he had just three points going into the break. Delonte West had two three-pointers on a 22-point night when he was the major weapon other than LeBron, who hit a pair of three-pointers himself. The stat line of 25 points, seven assists and seven rebounds is quite a night for just about anyone, but for LeBron it was a significant dropoff after scoring at least 35 points in each of the first five games of the series. His teammates, and Williams in particular, failed to deliver the support that would have allowed him to be anything less than spectacular every night. Williams was acquired in the offseason to provide a steady ballhandler and an additional scoring threat, but he didn't have a single game in the series with more than five assists and only once delivered more than 20 points. Williams had 17 points and five assists Saturday, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas ended his season with a real thud, scoring just two points on 1-for-5 shooting while getting destroyed by Howard on the other end. Igauskas has been one of the best offensive centers in the league for many years in Cleveland, but looked all of his 33 years against Howard, who is a decade younger. Ilgauskas, a free agent this summer, may be let go as the Cavs face a crucial summer for their franchise. They have just one more year with LeBron before his contract is up in 2010, and it may be their last chance at what has seemed like a sure championship. Anderson Varejao, Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak are all free agents as well, and general manager Danny Ferry faces some hard decisions. The Magic seem much more well-positioned for the future, but they don't have to worry about next year just yet. The mercurial, quirky team reliant on outside shooting and their physical specimen of a center will see if they can continue to trample on the championship plans of another favored team when they face the Lakers in the Finals. We'll have a full Finals preview in advance of Game 1 on Thursday.

Western Conference Finals Game 6

The Lakers have had their struggles in this postseason, but they appear to be peaking at the right time. L.A. played at full intensity while the Nuggets endured a curious collapse, particularly at the defensive end, as the Lakers advanced to the Finals for the second straight year after a 119-92 blowout Friday to end the Western Conference Finals in six games. The Lakers shot a whopping 57 percent, and made nine of 16 three-point attempts. Kobe Bryant led five players in double-figures and three players who scored 20 or more for the Lakers with 35 points on 12-for-20 shooting. Kobe added 10 assists and six rebounds on a night when he had opportunities for himself as well as his teammates. Pau Gasol had 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Lamar Odom delivered his second straight impressive performance with 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Trevor Ariza went 3-for-4 from behind the arc for 17 points as he continues to show improvement, particularly on the offensive end. The Lakers had an edge on the boards as well, outrebounding Denver 38-27 as L.A.'s high field goal percentage manifested itself in the form of fewer missed shots leading to fewer transition opportunities for the Nuggets. Chauncey Billups, who averaged 20.6 points for the playoffs, never got into a rhythm Friday, and took just seven shots for 10 points. He did his best to ignite the offense with nine assists, but the rest of the team had just five assists combined, while the Lakers totaled 28 assists. The only sharpshooter for the Nuggets in Game 6 was J.R. Smith, who was 4-for-9 from three-point range and 10-for-17 from the floor for 24 points. Carmelo Anthony came up with 25 points, but had too many lapses on the defensive end. It wasn't a fitting ending for the Nuggets or the Denver crowd, which saw their team post its best-ever regular season record and advance farther in the playoffs than they've gone in 24 years. The Nuggets experienced tremendous growth after the trade to acquire Chauncey Billups, and if they keep the team together, they need only to absorb the lessons the Lakers taught them and take a few more steps to truly join the league's elite. There's no next year for L.A., advancing to the 30th NBA Finals in franchise history. Kobe, in his 13th season, knows his personal window is closing. He must win now to cement his legacy, and the rest of the Lakers must surely be hungry to erase the memories of last year's opportunity missed.

Eastern Conference Finals Game 5

LeBron isn't asking for much in terms of help from his teammates. No one other than LeBron had what might be deemed a stellar sort of night Thursday for the Cavs, but it was enough to get by at home for a 112-102 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, cutting Orlando's lead to 3-2. LeBron scored or assisted on 32 straight points in the third and fourth quarters, racking up a triple-double with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. He was extraordinary, but failed to score 40 points for just the second time in this series. Those two occasions are, not coincidentally, the two games the Cavs have won. LeBron was not alone Thursday, as the man acquired to be LeBron's second-in-command finally played like it. Mo Williams nailed six of nine attempts from behind the arc for 24 points, and his hustle play with the team down by one and 6:09 to go helped turn the game in Cleveland's favor. He hustled after a missed three-pointer, diving out of bounds to save the ball and bouncing it off the leg of Rafer Alston to ensure the Cavs retained possession. Williams then assisted LeBron on a three-point play that put Cleveland in front for good. Daniel Gibson helped seal the victory with eight of his surprising 11 points in the fourth quarter, as he found his missing shot to go 3-for-4 from three-point range. Zydrunas Ilgauskas held his own against Dwight Howard, with 6-for-8 shooting for 16 points and six rebounds. That was all the Cavs needed in a topsy-turvy game that saw Cleveland blow a 22-point lead in the first half, Orlando take a six point lead in the third quarter, and the Cavs wind up pulling away for a double-digit victory. The Cavs emerged shooting 50 percent as a team and, thanks to Williams and Gibson, 50 percent from behind the arc, while the Magic shot just 46 percent from the floor and 32 percent on 25 shots from from three-point range. The Magic failed to take advantage of an edge at the free throw line, making just one more shot on 41 trips to the line compared to 34 attempts for the Cavs. It was an especially long night for Rafer Alston, who followed a career high 26 points in Game 4 with jus three on 1-for-10 shooting Thursday. Rashard Lewis struggled as well, going 4-for-13 for 15 points, but the resurgent Hedo Turkoglu made up for it with 29 points, a playoff career high of his own. Dwight Howard was once more brilliant in the paint, going 8-for-10 for 24 points and 10 rebounds, but again didn't get enough shots to become a dominant force, and fouled out with 2:21 to go. Howard isn't likely to publicly rehash his complaints about a lack of offensive involvement before Game 6 on Saturday, but he would be wise to do so in private. The Magic must feed Howard when he's on his game and others, like Lewis and Alston, are not. It is an ironic juxtaposition of superstars, in which one must become less integral to his team's offense and the other must become more so.

Western Conference Finals Game 5

1. The Lakers had to play better defense and get improved play from Lamar Odom after a 19-point loss in Game 4. Done and done. The Nuggets went 9:53 with just one made field goal in the second half, and Lamar Odom posted 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers pulled away in the fourth quarter Wednesday for a 103-94 victory to take a 3-2 series lead over Denver in the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led 73-66 after a Dahntay Jones tip-in with 5:11 to play in the third quarter, but it all fell apart for Denver from there. Trevor Ariza blocked Carmelo Anthony's jumper the next time down the floor, and though the Nuggets retained possession, Pau Gasol came up with an errant pass from Chauncey Billups and fed Shannon Brown for a dunk that ignited the Lakers. Gasol came away with yet another bad pass from Billups, Anthony was called for traveling and the Nuggets were caught with a 24-second clock violation as Denver continued to unravel on its next three possessions. A Billups three-pointer gave the Nuggets their last lead at the 2:24 mark of the third quarter, and Denver trailed 89-81 after their next basket, a Linas Kleiza trey with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter. Odom scored eight of his points during Denver's drought, and Brown, another spark plug off the bench, had all six of his points. Kobe had a team-high 22 points, but acknowledged after the game that he consciously tried to play more of a facilitator's role, dishing out eight assists. It worked, just as it did when the Lakers took Game 7 against the Rockets in the conference semifinals. Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Trevor Ariza put up 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and Derek Fisher poured in 12 points as the Lakers had five players in double-figures. Andrew Bynum looked solid in limited playing time as well, scoring nine points in 19 minutes. The Lakers had an advantage on the interior all night, as Nene was barely a factor with four points and eight rebounds before fouling out. Kenyon Martin was the only post player for Denver who found any sort of success, with 12 points and five rebounds, while Chris Andersen had just two points and eight rebounds instead of his usual energizing performance off the bench. Anthony provided the lion's share of the offense, scoring 31 points, but went just 9-for-23 from the floor. That pales in comparison to the poor shooting of J.R. Smith, who was 1-for-10 from three-point range. Kleiza, who scored seven points in the second half to keep the Nuggets afloat for awhile, was the lone exception to a night of struggles for Denver. The talented Lakers played near their best Wednesday, and it seems the Nuggets can only hope L.A. can be lulled back into its frequent slumbers for two more nights.

Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

It seemed like, as it had all season, that LeBron was destined to come out on top. A phantom foul on Mickael Pietrus as he was guarding LeBron was followed by a no-call on Anderson Varejao as he kept Dwight Howard from the basket at the end of regulation Tuesday, but Howard responded by creating his own fate. He came out and made three dunks to begin overtime, scored 10 of his team-high 27 points in the extra period as Orlando took a 3-1 series lead on Cleveland with a 116-114 victory. Howard's block of LeBron's driving shot with 16 seconds to go was symbolic not just of the moment but the entire series. The Magic's superstar has been maligned during the playoffs for his disappearances at key moments and his complaints about not seeing enough shots, but came through in an overtime that put Orlando a game away from the Finals. Howard's frustrations have been well-documented, and continued as he was called for a technical foul in the third quarter that puts him one technical away from an automatic suspension. He shook it off in overtime, and now it is LeBron who has to wonder what more he has to do. He scored more than 40 points for the third time in the series, pouring in 41, and on all three occasions his team has lost. His teammates showed signs of breaking out of their collective slump, led by Mo Williams, who had 18 points through three quarters. Yet Williams did not score in the final 16 minutes of the game, and Delonte West, the team's third-leading scorer with 17, put up only four of those points in the fourth quarter. The bench broke its string of four straight single-digit scoring performances, but was still outscored 26-14. Pietrus outdid the Cleveland bench all by himself with 17 points, all while drawing the unenviable assignment of guarding LeBron. The five three-pointers Pietrus hit were impressive, but no one had a touch quite as fine as Rafer Alston did, hitting on six of 12 attempts from behind the arc for 26 points, a career playoff high. Alston's unexpected contributions exascerbated Cleveland's troubles on defense. The Magic shot 50 percent from the floor and 17-for-38 on three-point attempts while the Cavs went just 6-for-22 behind the arc. The defense and all-around contributions that made the Cavs so tough all year have deserted them at the worst time. They must perform a spectacular turnaround now to claim a spot in the Finals that seemed just a week ago to have already been theirs.

Western Conference Finals Game 4

This time, the Nuggets started and finished. Denver was done in by going nearly half the fourth quarter without a field goal in Game 3, but on Monday kept on scoring as seven players wound up in double-figures during a 120-101 victory that tied the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. The tightly called game resulted in 49 free throws for the Nuggets but only 38 for the Lakers, and Carmelo Anthony, in particular, took advantage. He was dealing with a stomach virus and suffered a sprained ankle in the first half, but mitigated a 3-for-16 shooting night with a 9-for-11 performance at the line for 15 points. It was nonetheless well below Anthony's average, so Billups, who was 9-for-9 at the line, and J.R. Smith, who nailed four of nine three-point attempts, filled in the gaps and scored 24 apiece. Denver's bench outscored L.A.'s 42-24, led by Smith and 10 points from Linas Kleiza, and the Nuggets pounded the Lakers on the boards, pulling down a 58-40 advantage. Kenyon Martin had 15 rebounds, Chris Andersen 14 and Nene 13, while Pau Gasol led the Lakers with just 10. Gasol and Andrew Bynum had an efficient night down low, with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting for Gasol and 14 points on 6-for-7 from the field for Bynum. Kobe led all scorers with 34 points, but shot just 10-for-26 from the field and 2-for-10 from behind the arc. The struggles of Lamar Odom continued, as he shot 1-for-8 for five points and failed to score more than 10 points for the eighth game in a row, after averaging 17.8 points per game in the first round. The Lakers might be able to slip by the Nuggets if Odom doesn't become more productive, but they won't win a title. They'll do neither if they can't rebound or defend without fouling.

Eastern Conference Finals Game 3

The difference for the Cavs this year has been the improved play of the supporting cast around LeBron. Sunday it seemed as though Cleveland was stuck in a time warp, as LeBron nearly outscored all of his teammates put together in a 99-89 loss to Orlando that gives the Magic a 2-1 series lead. LeBron scored 41 to go with nine assists and seven rebounds, but the Cavs made just nine field goals that he neither scored nor assisted upon. Cleveland shot just 5-for-26 from behind the arc, and even LeBron was ice cold from long distance, going 1-for-8. The Magic wasn't stellar from the outside either, shooting just 35 percent from three-point range, but surprisingly attempted just 16 treys to Cleveland's 25. Orlando did much of its damage at the line, draining 39 of a strikingly high 51 free throws attempted. Dwight Howard had his own foul trouble, playing just 28 minutes, but made the most of them thanks to plenty of free throw attempts, going 14-for-19 at the line for a team-high 24 points. It was the first time Howard failed to pull down double-digit rebounds in the entire postseason, but his teammates pitched in to keep the Cavs' edge on the glass to just 42-40. Hedo Turkoglu had 10 boards, helping making up for atrocious 1-for-11 shooting from the floor. Rashard Lewis had a relatively quiet night, scoring 15 points, his lowest offensive output since the first round, and still the Magic came away with victory. Rafer Alston and Mickael Pietrus filled the offensive void, as Alston had the hot shooting hand early en route to 18 points while Pietrus scored 11 of his 16 in the second half. The real masterstroke was by Orlando's defense, which allowed Cleveland to shoot just 37 percent and were content to let LeBron try to play one-on-five. Mo Williams was the second leading scorer for the Cavs, with 15, and he shot just 5-for-16 from the floor. Delonte West, with 12, was the only other double-figure scorer. The Cleveland bench continued its struggles on the road, failing to score 10 points for the fourth straight game away from home. The Magic have taken the Cavs completely out of their offensive rhythm in a magnificient defensive display. Cleveland would have been down 0-3 if not for LeBron's buzzer-beater. They'll need a lot more than off-balance three-pointers to right themselves in a series that's been owned by the Magic.

Eastern Conferrence Finals Game 2

Hedo Turkoglu and Mo Williams came alive during the fourth quarter Friday, powering their teams' offenses. But when it came down to the final shot, Williams turned to the man who gets it done all the time for the Cavs, assisting LeBron for a three-pointer over the arms of Turkoglu that dropped in as time expired to give Cleveland a 95-95 victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron's shot at the top of the key rescued the Cavs from what would have been a disastrous loss after blowing a 23-point lead. The Magic chipped away at that first-half deficit, finally tying the game with 6:13 to go on a 15-footer by Rashard Lewis, who once more proved difficult for the Cavs to contain and led the Magic with 23 points. Courtney Lee followed with a 10-footer at the 5:26 mark to give Orlando its first lead. The Cavs retook the lead on a Williams three-pointer about a minute later, and then Turkoglu, who scored eight of his 21 in the fourth quarter, hit a three-pointer to tie the game with 48 seconds left. Turkoglu's shot with less than a second to go gave Orlando what looked to be the winning 95-93 margin, but it instead merely set up another signature moment for LeBron. It was yet another high scoring night for LeBron, who had 35 points to go with five assists and four rebounds, and he was essentially the only scorer on the floor until Mo Williams scored nine of his 19 points in the final period. Delonte West added 12 points, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 12 as well, though his greatest contribution was on the boards, where he pulled down 15 rebounds. He was competitive with Dwight Howard all night as the Cavs refused to let Howard go off the way he did in the Magic's Game 1 victory. Howard followed up a 30-point night with just eight shots and 10 points to go with 18 rebounds. The frightening thing for the Cavs is they nearly lost even as they contained Howard. The Magic's psyche clearly took a hit on the buzzer-beater, but they have played the Cavs remarkably well on the road, and have a chance to take command of the series if they play just as well at home.

Western Conference Finals Game 2

1. Nuggets fans might want to play the number 16 in the lottery, as that number was central to some unexpected contributions and a comeback from their team in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Kenyon Martin overcame a broken ring finger on his left hand to score 16 points, and Linas Kleiza provided the bench play Denver lacked in Game 1 with four made three-pointers and 16 points as the Nuggets erased a 16-point deficit in the first half Thursday to win 106-103. The other major scoring outputs for Denver came from more familiar sources. Carmelo Anthony scored at least 30 points for the fifth game in a row, with 34, and Chauncey Billups shook off the relative struggles of Game 1 to score 27. The Nuggets still must be troubled by J.R. Smith's continued cold shooting, as he went 1-for-6 for just three points. The Lakers have their own concerns about Derek Fisher, who lost his touch again after nailing three of six from behind the arc in Game 1, going 1-for-9 for three points Thursday. Kobe Bryant tried to make up for it with an efficient 20-shot, 32-point performance, while Trevor Ariza was a force on both ends, with 6-for-7 shooting and 20 points to go with four steals. Yet Ariza will rue his worst play of the night, when he tripped after caputuring a jump ball with the Lakers down two and 18 seconds to go, resulting in a turnover that led to game-clinching free throws by Billups. Each team can now say they've let a game get away, and it will be especially incumbent upon the Lakers to cut down on mistakes as they attempt to capture the next two games in Denver, where the Nuggets haven't lost in more than two months.

Eastern Conference Finals, Game 1

The Cavs are not invincible. Any team can be beaten if it gives up 55 percent shooting, and 45 percent shooting from behind the arc, as Cleveland did in only its second meaningful loss at home all season Tuesday, a 107-106 defeat at the hands of Orlando. That the Cavs came within in Mo Williams' prayer off a jump ball with a second to go despite playing such poor defense most of the night shows just how potent Cleveland is. LeBron had a magnificent night, scoring 49 points on 30 shots, dishing eight assists and pulling down six rebounds. It's not his fault Cleveland's interior players couldn't compete. Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis outscored Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao 52-24, led by Howard's 30 points and 13 rebounds. Lewis was 9-for-13 for 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Orlando's distributors were effective at feeding the post, as Orlando piled up 32 assists to Cleveland's 23. Hedo Turkoglu served up 14 assists and Rafer Alston had eight. The Magic had a much more productive bench as well, led by Mickael Pietrus with 13 points. The Cleveland reserves were outscored 25-5, with those five coming from Joe Smith. Wally Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson and Ben Wallace went scoreless, as the Cavs struggled to find a complementary scorer for LeBron. Williams scored 17, including a three-pointer and the end of the half and another that gave Cleveland a lead with 2:04 to go, but it was not enough. The same goes for Delonte West, who nailed three treys but went just 4-for-13 for 11 points. The major problem the Cavs must address isn't on offense, of course. They have to improve their defense and particularly on the interior, where they can't allow Howard to have another huge scoring night. Friday night is suddenly even more important than it would have been, with Cleveland fighting to avoid a difficult 0-2 hole and Orlando seeking a knockout punch.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. One man who has been there before doesn't quite stack up to a whole team with experience. That was the case Tuesday for Chauncey Billups and the Nuggets, who fell to a Lakers team that exhibited more poise under pressure late in a 105-103 L.A. win in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets held a four point lead with 3:25 to go after Carmelo Anthony scored his 39th point. Kobe Bryant responded with a long two-point jumper, and after Pau Gasol blocked a Nene layup, Bryant tossed out of the double team to an open Derek Fisher, who hit his third game-changing three-pointer of the night to give the Lakers the lead. Billups responded with a three-pointer of his own to give the lead back to Denver. Consecutive fouls led to four points at the free throw line for L.A., and a two-point Laker lead. Trevor Ariza then stole Anthony Carter's inbounds pass, and two more three throws made it a two-possession game. Billups followed with another three-pointer to cut it to one, but with three seconds and no timeouts, it was too late for the Nuggets. Billups, who had 18 points and eight assists, couldn't single-handedly beat the Lakers as Anthony and the rest of the team lost its head down the stretch. Kenyon Martin made an unexpected offensive contribution with 15 points, but committed a unnecessary foul on Kobe that sent him to the line in a tie game with 30 seconds to go. Nene had a healthy output with 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting, but fouled out with 1:14 to play. The Nuggets bench, one of the team's greatest strengths, was outscored 27-16 as J.R. Smith struggled to find his shot on an eight-point night. The Lakers seemed one-dimensional in the box score, but Kobe's 40 points for once did not indicate a lack of involvement from the rest of the team. Fisher had 13 clutch point, and Pau Gasol had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Six Lakers made at least one shot from the floor off the bench, and five made at least one three-pointer on a night when the Lakers shot 11-for-25 from behind the arc. Denver actually held an advantage from the floor, as the Nuggets shot 49 percent to 41 percent for the Lakers, but L.A. made up for it with outside shooting, a 46-37 rebounding edge, and at the line. Denver shot just 23-35, or 66 percent, on free throws, and even the normally straight-shooting Billups missed three of nine foul shots. The savvy Lakers were able to steal a game Tuesday, and the Nuggets can only blame themselves for a loss that may haunt them all summer.

2. The Kings are kicking themselves, too. They had the worst record in the NBA, but fell to fourth in the draft order after the lottery Tuesday. The L.A. Clippers won, meaning they'll likely be selecting Blake Griffin of Oklahoma first overall. There's a dropoff in talent after Griffin in what's generally hailed as a weak draft class, so the Kings and the Wizards, who had the second-worst record but fell to fifth place in the lottery, are clear losers. The Thunder, a team that looks poised to take a leap with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, moved up a spot, which can only improve Oklahoma City's chances of making the playoffs next year. The Grizzlies, another team with young stars in place, should get better after picking second this year. But no team got luckier than the Clippers, a franchise that could use luck and a little direction, too. Griffin would prompt the team to move some of its frontcourt parts, nearly all of which were on the shelf with injury at one point during their dreadful 2008-09 season. The draft isn't until June 25, of course, so there's more than a month for the Clippers to change course and decide against Griffin and instead take the next Michael Olowokandi, the bust of a No. 1 pick whom the Clippers selected the last time they won the lottery.

3. We're changing the format a little bit down the stretch here. With only one game a night for the duration of the season, we'll focus on that contest, and instead of breaking everything into three separate entries, we'll just have one "observation" (though really the observations include more than just a single thought). The exception will be when league news prompts another entry or two. So let's enjoy what should be an intriguing final two rounds, with either Kobe versus LeBron or an upset on the way.

Conference Finals previews

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW
No. 1 L.A. LAKERS vs. No. 2 DENVER NUGGETS
Summary
No one would have given the Nuggets much of a chance against the Lakers when the playoffs began. The clubs have since taken divergent paths, with Denver cruising to easy five-game victories over New Orleans and Dallas while L.A. looked out of sorts in seven games against Houston following a first-round dismissal of Utah. The point guard matchup, perhaps more so than any other, inspires confidence in those who are now calling for a Denver upset. Chauncey Billups has been magnificent, averaging 22.1 points, 7.3 assists and a startling 54 percent on three-point attempts in the playoffs. The Lakers have meanwhile struggled to find the right mix from their trio of Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown. That's hardly true at the other guard spot, where Kobe is averaging 27 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists in 12 postseason games. He scored 40 in Game 2 against Houston but just 14 in Game 7 as he focused his attention on getting his teammates involved, a key assignment for him moving forward. Dahntay Jones has the unenviable task of trying to slow Kobe, though any success in that endeavor will go far to cement Jones' reputation as a premier perimeter defender. The same goes for Trevor Ariza. His job will be guarding Carmelo Anthony, whose playoff averages of 27 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists compare favorably to Kobe's. The Lakers are likely to go with Pau Gasol at power forward and Andrew Bynum starting at center, meaning Denver's Kenyon Martin, known for his athleticism and interior defense, will have his hands full against the long, agile Gasol. Bynum struggled mightily against Utah, losing his starting job, but he regained it when Lamar Odom sustained a back injury against Houston, and is coming off his best performance of the playoffs in Game 7. Bynum is an X-factor, but so is Nene, who was known primarily for injuries and inconsistency until this season, continuing his evolution in the playoffs with six double-figure scoring games. Odom and the Nuggets' Chris Andersen give each team energy off the bench, and while the Birdman is hot, Odom is more experienced and a better all-around threat. The greatest difference maker in reserve for Denver is J.R. Smith, who has averaged 16.3 points a game of instant offense. The Lakers don't have anyone of Smith's caliber on their bench, but they have plenty of bodies, including the efficient Luke Walton, streak shooting Sasha Vujacic, and whichever two point guards don't start. Steady Anthony Carter is the backup point guard for Denver, which really goes only eight deep, though Linas Kleiza makes an occasional cameo to provide the team with an additional shooter. The Lakers play 10 men, with Josh Powell able to step into the post if needed. Both benches are among the game's best, though L.A. can only lay that claim if Odom isn't starting. Denver has the more consistent rotation, and it's clear the entire team is in rhythm. They can defend and score, but so can the Lakers, who, for all their troubles, still have the more talented team. They've got homecourt advantage, too, and they're going to need it, given Denver's newfound enthusiasm for their team, which hasn't lost at home in more than two months. It will be a lot more competitive than anyone might have thought when the playoffs began, but Kobe, the best player on either team, will not be denied a shot at another title. Prediction: Lakers in 7.

Lineups
Schedule (all times Eastern)
Game 1 - Tue May 19 Denver at L.A. Lakers 9 p.m. ESPN
Game 2 - Thu May 21 Denver at L.A. Lakers 9 p.m. ESPN
Game 3 - Sat May 23 L.A. Lakers at Denver 8:30 p.m. ABC
Game 4 - Mon May 25 L.A. Lakers at Denver 9 p.m. ESPN
Game 5 * Wed May 27 Denver at L.A. Lakers 9 p.m. ESPN
Game 6 * Fri May 29 L.A. Lakers at Houston 9 p.m. ESPN
Game 7 * Sun May 31 Houston at L.A. Lakers 8:30 p.m. ABC

Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers
Starters
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Trevor Ariza
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum
Bench
F Lamar Odom
PG Jordan Farmar
G Sasha Vujacic
G Shannon Brown
SF Luke Walton
PF Josh Powell
C D.J. Mbenga

Denver Nuggets
Starters
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Dahntay Jones
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene
Bench
SG J.R. Smith
F Linas Kleiza
PG Anthony Carter
PF Chris Andersen
C/F Johan Petro
F Renaldo Balkman
PG Jason Hart

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW
No. 1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. No. 3 ORLANDO MAGIC
Summary
The King finally has a worthy challenger to his throne. LeBron and the Cavs have cruised to eight consecutive double-digit victories to begin the playoffs against clearly inferior competition. The Magic, who won 59 games in the regular season, represent a clear step up, but whether they'll be able to get any closer to knocking off Cleveland than the Pistons or Hawks did is another matter. The Magic will no doubt be using an array of defenders on LeBron, who is the leading scorer in the playoffs with 32.9 points per game, to go along with 9.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists. Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, J.J. Redick, Mickael Pietrus and Courtney Lee are all liable to wind up on King James before the series is through. That leaves plenty of open shots for guards Mo Williams and Delonte West if the Magic choose to double-team, and that could widen the advantages Cleveland already has at the guard positions. Williams, at 14.8 points and 4.5 assists per game for the playoffs, is another tough matchup for Orlando's Rafer Alston, who just got done dealing with the toughness and savvy of Andre Miller and the speed and skill of Rajon Rondo. Williams is a much better shooter than those two, so it's yet another defensive adjustment. West has thrived this season after being switched to shooting guard, and is coming off a 21-point performance in Game 4 against Atlanta. He has a clear advantage over Redick, if Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy stays with the shooter, and would likely hold an edge over Lee or Pietrus if there's a change in the Magic's starting lineup. Orlando's meal ticket is in the paint, where Rashard Lewis will be a tough cover for Anderson Varejao, who isn't used to playing on the outside as much as Lewis likes, and at center, where Dwight Howard has, despite his up-and-down involvement on offense, averaged 16.6 rebounds a game. Zydrunas Ilgauskas isn't the kind of player Howard is, but he's still one of the better centers in the league, and has the size and offensive skill set to at least make the matchup competitive. The Magic's bench could keep the series interesting as well, particularly if Redick can hold onto the starting two-guard spot and the hot-shooting Pietrus can remain with the second unit. Lee is a multi-dimensional scorer who can provide punch off the bench as well. Anthony Johnson is a solid, experienced backup point guard, while reserve power forward Tony Battie is a competent scorer in the post and Marcin Gortat is shooting 71 percent as Howard's backup center. Cleveland's bench has struggled, particularly away from home, nearly coughing up a big lead to Detroit in Game 3 and following with combined totals of 13, seven and eight points in the next three road games. Power forward Joe Smith and swingman Wally Szczerbiak have been the best of a motley bunch, though it's unfair to count center Ben Wallace's production by offensive numbers. Daniel Gibson's shooting has been missing, and Sasha Pavlovic has done little to recall his days as a starter. This trend will have to continue for Orlando to prevail, as will the resurgent play of Hedo Turkoglu, who's coming off of 25 points and 12 assists in Game 7. Otherwise, the Magic have no shot. Prediction: Cavs in 5.

Schedule
Game 1 - Wed May 20 Orlando at Cleveland 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 2 - Fri May 22 Orlando at Cleveland 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 3 - Sun May 24 Cleveland at Orlando 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 4 - Tue May 26 Cleveland at Orlando 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 5 * Thu May 28 Orlando at Cleveland 8:30 TNT
Game 6 * Sat May 30 Cleveland at Orlando 8:30 TNT
Game 7 * Mon June 1 Orlando at Cleveland 8:30 TNT

Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers
Starters
PG Mo Williams
SG Delonte West
SF LeBron James
PF Anderson Varejao
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Bench
F/C Joe Smith
G/F Wally Szczerbiak
F/C Ben Wallace
G Daniel Gibson
F/C Darnell Jackson
SG Sasha Pavlovic
SG Tarence Kinsey
Injured
PF J.J. Hickson (back, out indefinitely)

Orlando Magic
Starters
PG Rafer Alston
SG J.J. Redick
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Rashard Lewis
C Dwight Howard
Bench
G/F Mickael Pietrus
SG Courtney Lee
PG Anthony Johnson
C Marcin Gortat
F/C Tony Battie
PG Tyronn Lue
C Adonal Foyle
SG Jeremy Richardson
Injuries
PG Jameer Nelson (separated shoulder, out)

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. Hedo Turkoglu is known as a late-game player. He also appears to be a late-season player. Turkoglu shook off the struggles that had plagued him for months to show signs of life early in the series against the Celtics, and came back after a 3-for-13 clunker in Game 6 to deliver his finest performance since February on Sunday when the Magic really needed him in Game 7. He hit on nine of 12 shots, including a 4-for-5 performance from three-point range, to score 25 points to go along with a playoff career high 12 assists as the Magic won Game 7 in Boston to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Turkoglu had it going throughout the game, with 10 points in the first half and a three-point dagger with 3:55 to go that answered a Ray Allen trey and put the Magic up by 15. Allen was Boston's leading scorer with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting, but everyone around him was flat. Paul Pierce had 16 points but went 4-for-13 from the field, Glen Davis only got seven shots off for 13 points, and Rajon Rondo went 4-for-10 for 10 points. Orlando outscored the Celtics 25-12 off the bench, as Mickael Pietrus sizzled in his 24 minutes of play, shooting 6-for-7 and making all three of his shots behind the arc for 17 points. Rashard Lewis went just 5-for-14, but went to the line 10 times and wound up with 19 points. Rafer Alston had 15 points, and Dwight Howard was just the fifth leading scorer on the team, struggling with foul trouble and taking just nine shots for 12 points. Howard couldn't complain about the lack of shots this time, though, given all the other hot hands on the team, and he still made his presence felt on the boards, where he had a game-high 16 rebounds, and on defense, with five blocks. The Magic became a much better defensive team after being eliminated in the second round last year, and it was the defense, which held Boston to 32 percent shooting and 4-for-16 from three-point territory, that lifted Orlando past the conference semifinals this year. The Celtics, who played so valiantly without Kevin Garnett, can simply hope Garnett, Pierce and Allen can avoid breaking down next year, and that their young players continue to improve so they can return to championship contention in 2010.

2. The Lakers, who have squeezed in as many naps as possible in these playoffs, finally kept their hands off the snooze bar Sunday. The post players for L.A., and in particular the long-slumbering Andrew Bynum, finally took control as they should have much earlier against the depleted Houston interior in an 89-70 Game 7 victory that did away with the pesky Rockets. Bynum hit on six of seven field goal attempts and scored 14 points, while Pau Gasol had game highs in points, with 21, and rebounds, with 18. The Lakers held a 55-33 advantage on the boards, as shooting guard Ron Artest led Houston with eight rebounds. The attention to defense was the key for the normally offensive-minded Lakers. The Rockets shot just 37 percent, and though Aaron Brooks, who has averaged 24.7 points in his last three games, was again the leading scorer, the Lakers held him to 4-for-13 from the floor and 13 points. Luis Scola, another difference maker from Game 6, endured a 4-for-12 shooting performance for just 11 points. The reserve backcourt of Von Wafer and Kyle Lowry combined for 18 points, but with Carl Landry going 2-for-10, the bench couldn't keep Houston in the game. Kobe Bryant, who has mostly looked to score during the playoffs, played a facilitator's role Sunday, taking just 12 shots for 14 points while dishing out a team-high five assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Kobe's conscious deferrment to his teammates may be what the Lakers need to get going as the competition gets tougher against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets, as hard as they fought without Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo and Tracy McGrady, had no business taking L.A. to a seventh game. Many questons face the Houston franchise this offseason, but the answer the Lakers must deliver is whether they can learn from the fevered intensity the Rockets have shown.

3. I reviewed my predictions after the first round, so let's see how I fared in the conference semis. I had the Lakers in seven, believing the Lakers would struggle as they did against the Rockets, though I surely wouldn't have made the same call if I knew Yao would miss more than half the series. The Nuggets won in five and I had them winning in six, but I could have been dead on if not for the non-call on Antoine Wright that led to Carmelo Anthony's three-pointer at the end of Game 3. I called for the Celtics to prevail in seven, which looked like a winner until Hedo Turkoglu materialized when I least expected him to and the Magic regrouped to steal Game 7 on the road. I underestimated the Cavs, daring to think they could lose a game against Atlanta by picking them to win in five when they instead made it consecutive sweeps to start the playoffs. So I nailed only one of the series after picking four of eight on the nose in the first round, but picked three of four winners this time while coming within a game of perfection in each of the three series I missed. I'll take it, and move on to the conference finals, with previews and predictions Tuesday before Game 1 between the Nuggets and Lakers.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. No one gets up off the mat quite like these Houston Rockets. And no one has more egregious lapses than the Lakers. The Rockets responded to a 40-point blowout in Game 5 by evening up their Western Conference Semifinals at 3-3 Thursday with a wire-to-wire 95-80 victory over L.A. It's the second time in three outings the Lakers have trailed the entire game after holding a lead at some point in every game all season. The Rockets ran out to a 21-3 lead, and kept the Lakers at arm's length the rest of the way. L.A. came within two points in the third quarter after Houston started 1-for-7 coming out of the half, but Carl Landry converted a three-point play to re-energize the Rockets, whose lead was back to nine by the end of the period. Landry was a catalyst off the bench with 15 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting and nine rebounds, helping the depleted Houston front line dominate in an area where the Lakers are supposed to have an advantage. Luis Scola had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Pau Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Andrew Bynum went scoreless with seven rebounds in 19 minutes, and Lamar Odom had eight points and 14 rebounds off the bench. The lack of production from the L.A. post players represented more yeoman's defensive work from 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes, who once more started at center. It was the even smaller Aaron Brooks who carried the day for the Rockets, going 8-for-13 from the floor and nailing three of four attempts from behind the arc for a team-high 26 points. His production has been the barometer for the Rockets all series, as he's scored 19 points or better in three wins and 14 or fewer in three losses. It's his hot shooting and ability to penetrate that allows Houston to shoot high percentages, as they did Thursday with their 51 percent showing from the floor on Thursday, and negate the offensive production of Kobe. The Rockets defense kept Kobe relatively in check as well, as he scored 32 points, but took 27 shots to get there, and the rest of the Lakers struggled to get going on a 36 percent shooting night. The lone bright spot was the play of Jordan Farmar, who has been reinvigorated since starting for the suspended Derek Fisher in Game 3. Farmar was one of just three double figure scorers for L.A. with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting, while Fisher struggled to 1-for-7 shooting for two points. Don't be surprised to see Farmar inserted back into the starting lineup for Game 7. The Lakers can use any spark they can get right now.

2. Point taken from Dwight Howard. The Magic fed their superstar big man early, and he wound up with 23 points on 16 shots in Game 6 Thursday instead of the 12 points on 10 shots he had in Game 5. Yet the Magic kept going to a hot hand whose success is just as critical, giving Rashard Lewis 18 shots for 20 points in an 83-75 Orlando victory that evens the Eastern Conference Semifinal series at 3-3. Lewis has been able to exploit the mismatch he has with Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine on the offensive end the entire series, so he continues to get the looks, and together with the involvement of Howard, who yanked down 22 rebounds, the Magic controlled the interior. The inside production was critical, because Hedo Turkoglu returned to his cold-shooting ways after an 18-point Game 5, struggling through a 3-for-13, seven-point performance Thursday. The starting backcourt of J.J. Redick, who was 0-for-7 for two points, and Rafer Alston struggled as well, until Alston nailed a go-ahead three-pointer with 4:01 left and sank a tear drop with 1:52 to go to finish with 11 points and give the Magic a three-point lead. Turkoglu followed with his lone highlight, a dagger of a trey that put Orlando up six with 1:23 to go. The Magic nonetheless wound up with just 37 percent shooting, enough only because Boston committed 22 turnovers to just 10 for Orlando. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins were the major culprit for the Celtics, giving away the ball five times each despite major production in other areas. Rondo went for 19 points, a team-high 16 rebounds and six assists while Perkins had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce scored 17 points and had nine rebounds, but the rest of the team struggled, and in particular Ray Allen, who was without his shot for the second straight game, going just 2-for-11 for five points. The Celtics need Allen to find some way to contribute in Game 7, just like the Magic need more out of their shooters. Orlando may insert Mickael Pietrus for Redick, while Boston's reserves will be asked to get it done off the bench, just as they did in Game 7 against Chicago.

3. Commissioner David Stern held court Thursday in Houston before Game 6 between the Rockets and Lakers, and it appears he, too, has concerns the right calls aren't always being made by the officials. He reiterated his desire for 100 percent accuracy, and said he'd be in favor of expanding the replay system to include a coach's challenge system like the one the NFL has. It's unclear whether such a system would have allowed Dallas coach Rick Carlisle to challenge the non-call on Antoine Wright that led to Carmelo Anthony's game-winner in the Mavs-Nuggets series, but it's clear the league must move in that direction. The spectre of the Tim Donaghy scandal still looms over the league and its officials, who continue to be perceived as, at best, incompetent, and at worst, criminally so. Any effort to make the outcome of games as clear and indisputable as possible is the correct one for the NBA right now, as is the further definition of flagrant and technical fouls. Stern said he won't loosen the reigns on the league's penalties for such transgressions, but the man who metes out most of the punishment, Stu Jackson, is open to more communication about just what the rules are. Players, coaches, fans and apparently officials could all benefit from greater clarity, as the ejections, suspensions and spectre of suspensions stemming from the violation of these loosely defined rules have been major stories in the playoffs. Stern draw the line wherever he wants, but he has to tell everyone where it is first.

BONUS OBSERVATION
4. A special note here to pass along the news that the NBA has lost another of its most intriguing figures to cancer. Wayman Tisdale, who provided size and offense off the bench for Indiana and Phoenix and was a 20-point scorer for Sacramento in the 1980s and '90s, died Friday morning at the age of 44. Tisdale was a force in college ball at Oklahoma, and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and after his 12 years in the NBA recorded eight albums, achieving a second fame as a jazz bass guitarist. A bone cancer diagnosis led to the amputation of his right leg in 2008, and disease continued to consume Tisdale. He received an award from the Greenwood Cultural Center in his native Tulsa, Okla., but appeared at the ceremony 30 pounds lighter than usual and in a wheelchair after battling acute esophagitis, which kept him from swallowing. He nonetheless had a 21-date concert tour scheduled for this spring and summer. His death comes on the heels of Chuck Daly's passing this weekend. Let's hope this is the last such news for awhile.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. It's all falling apart for the Orlando Magic. They were a buzzer-beater away from a 3-1 lead Sunday, but now find themselves trailing 3-2 after blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead Tuesday in a 92-88 defeat to Boston. Coach Stan Van Gundy blamed himself for poor defensive strategy on the Glen Davis basket that beat them in Game 4, and Van Gundy drew more than just self-criticism after Game 5. Dwight Howard said after taking just 10 shots in Tuesday's game that the team must do a better job of getting the ball to him. He appears to have a point, since it's tough to win if the best player on the floor is an afterthought on offense. It's been this way for the entire series. Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis shared the ball and took 14 shots apiece in Game 4. Howard was limited to eight shots because of foul trouble in Game 3, and took one fewer shot than Lewis in Game 2. Howard took 12 shots in Game 1, fourth most on the team. Yet Howard can only blame himself for his struggles on the boards after the first quarter, when he pulled down nine of his 17 rebounds. The Celtics as a team held a 42-39 advantage on the boards, as everyone in the starting lineup for Boston, except Ray Allen, had at least seven rebounds. The Magic were done in by their inability to pull down a rebound in the final minute, allowing Boston to keep the ball for a 54-second stretch until Eddie House made two free throws for an 88-85 Boston lead. The Celtics got to the free throw line more often than the Magic, and took full advantage, sticking all 21 of their shots. Davis, in further evidence of his arrival, was the leading scorer with 22 points, outplaying the man to whom he was assigned, Rashard Lewis, the Magic's leading scorer with 18 points. Paul Pierce had a relatively quiet scoring night but nearly came away with a triple-double in a 19-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance. Stephon Marbury added 12 points, all of which came in the early part of the fourth quarter to keep Boston afloat. Now it's the Magic who must quickly reconcile differences and use the weapons they have to avoid being sunk.

2. The Rockets stunned the Lakers in Game 4 without Yao Ming, but continuing to get abberationally great performances from supporting players is no reliable way to win a series. That was clear Tuesday as the Lakers and their superior talent took control in a 118-78 rout that puts L.A. up 3-2 in the series. Lamar Odom played limited minutes for the Lakers after injuring his back on a hard fall in Game 4, but even so, the Lakers displayed superior athleticism and dominated every phase of the game. The outside shooting that was such an important factor for the Rockets on Sunday was absent Tuesday, when they shot 5-for-29 from behind the arc. Ron Artest's shooting woes continue, as he went 4-for-15 and 1-for-7 from three-point range to score just nine points. Aaron Brooks was once more the leading scorer for Houston, but his 14 in Game 5 was well off his career-high 34 from Game 4. The Lakers had seven scorers in double figures, led by Kobe's 26, and made the most of 18 Rocket giveaways, scoring 24 points off turnovers. The Rockets had just 10 points of 13 turnovers by L.A. The major disparity was in field goal percentage, as the Lakers shot 51 percent while the Rockets made just 32 percent of their attempts from the floor. It was a reversal, and then some, from the last time out. The Rockets, with their limited personell, will be hard-pressed to turn the series another 180 degrees in Game 6.

3. Here is the schedule for the next few days:
Wednesday, May 13
Dallas at Denver, Game 5, 9 p.m. TNT
Thursday, May 14
Boston at Orlando, Game 6, 7 p.m. ESPN
L.A. Lakers at Houston, Game 6, 9:30 p.m. ESPN
Friday, May 15
Denver at Dallas, Game 6, if necessary, TBA ESPN
Sunday, May 17
Orlando at Boston, Game 7, if necessary, TBA TNT
Houston at L.A. Lakers, Game 7, if necessary, TBA TBA
Dallas at Denver, Game 7, if necessary, TBA TBA

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. There's a step up from Detroit and Atlanta to either Orlando or Boston, but the question for the Cavs right now is whether anyone can give them a game. Cleveland moved to 8-0 in the playoffs, with each victory by double figures, in an 84-74 win Monday that completed a 4-0 sweep of the Hawks. LeBron was brilliant once again, nearing a triple-double with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but the story was Cleveland's defense, which held Atlanta to woeful 32 percent shooting. The Hawks shot just 2-for-13 from three-point range, and if it hadn't been for an advantage at the free throw line and in the turnover category, Atlanta might have been dusted by 25 or 30. The Cavs committed 18 turnovers to Atlanta's eight, and shot just 14-for-26 at the free throw line while the Hawks went 26-for-30. Cleveland once more struggled to find bench production, getting just six from Wally Szczerbiak and two from Joe Smith. There are chinks in Cleveland's armor, but they hardly show up next to the deep dents they put into their opponents. The Cavs took apart the Hawks on the boards again, gaining a 48-33 advantage through 11 from Anderson Varejao and 10 by Zydrunas Ilgauskas. No one on the Hawks had more than the eight rebounds of Josh Smith, who was one of only two cogs in working order for Atlanta. Smith had 26 points, while Joe Johnson had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The rest of the team shot just 21 percent against a Cavalier defense that, together with LeBron, are halfway from delivering Cleveland its first championship.

2. The rest of the Mavericks finally gave Dirk Nowitzki the help he needed, and Dallas finally won a game in its Western Conference Semifinal series with Denver. Nowitzki scored 44 and was one of six players in double figures as the Mavs chipped away at a deficit that was as much as 14 points in the first half to come up with a 119-117 victory to avert a sweep. Josh Howard overcame his ankle to score 21 and grab 11 rebounds, while Jason Kidd had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jason Terry, Brandon Bass and J.J. Barea scored in double-figures as well as the Mavs shot 51 percent. Dallas dominated the boards, with a 50-34 rebounding advantage thanks in large part to Nowitzki, who had a game-high 13. The Dallas star was virtually matched by Carmelo Anthony, who had 41 points, 11 rebounds and five steals, but for once, Anthony's team didn't have the firepower to keep up with Nowitzki's. Chauncey Billups had 24 points and seven assists, and J.R. Smith went 7-for-10 for 19 points, but it was clear the Nuggets missed Birdman Andersen, who was sidelined with a stomach flu. They got a solid performance from Nene, who had nine points and eight rebounds and caused all sorts of trouble once more for Erick Dampier, who fouled out. Yet it wasn't the sort of 20-plus point offensive showing he put out in Games 1 and 2. The Nuggets will struggle in the paint without either Birdman or an unusually stellar performance from Nene, but there's little for them to be concerned about as far as this series is concerned. It took a gargantuan effort for the Mavericks just to beat a shorthanded Denver team. Birdman should be back for Game 4 Wednesday (9 p.m., TNT), and that should be the end of the Mavs.

3. Just about everyone expected Chris Mullin's dismissal as VP of basketball operations from the Warriors. What no one can forecast is what Golden State will do next. The troubled franchise stripped Mullin of most of his power in November, firing Mullin aide Pete D'Allesandro and promoting longtime Don Nelson assistant Larry Riley, who was in turn named Mullin's replacement Monday. Team president Robert Rowell clashed with Mullin, despite the job Mullin did to construct the franchise's first playoff team since 1994. Mullin's acquisition of Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington in a midseason trade sparked the Warriors to the postseason in 2007, where as a No. 8 seed they upset Dallas, the league's top overall seed. The team barely missed the playoffs in 2008, but floundered to a 29-53 finish this year while Mullin was out of the loop. Now the Warriors are without not only a man who has brought recent success but a legendary player for the team in the '80s and '90s and a member of the original Dream Team. He was a connection to Golden State's last heyday for the Bay Area's rabid basketball following, and his departure will further test the team's already put-upon fan base. The franchise could be one of the league's most important teams, but under Chris Cohan, who has not coincidentally been owner since 1994, they have not been.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. The Lakers apparently forgot that Yao Ming was not the only competent professional on the Houston roster. L.A. simply laid down in the first game since Yao's season-ending broken foot was diagnosed, trailing by as many as 29 points in a 99-87 loss that leaves the Western Conference Semifinal series tied a 2-2. The Rockets were able to trounce the Lakers even as Ron Artest struggled through a 4-for-19, eight-point night because the Lakers let Aaron Brooks simply dismantle them for 34 points on 12-for-20 shooting. Opposing shooting guard Derek Fisher wasn't a factor on either end of the floor, finishing with two points on four shots as L.A. struggled to find any offense. Kobe Bryant followed up five consecutive 30-point performances with a 15-point dud in which he failed to get to the line even once. Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 30 points, but 18 of those came in the fourth quarter once the game was already out of reach. The Rockets simply did a masterful job on defense, and picked up scoring from infrequent contributors like Brooks and Shane Battier, who nailed five of 10 three-point shots for 23 points. Houston wound up with a 43-37 advantage on the boards even though L.A. had a significant size advantage, thanks to Luis Scola, who had 14 rebounds, Artest with 10, and Chuck Hayes, who started at center and pulled down nine. The Lakers were simply outworked in an ominous sign for their championship hopes. They clearly suffer from a lack of focus, and the onus is on Phil Jackson to call upon his Hall of Fame coaching talent and get the team to play to its capabilities.

2. The Celtics are in great shape against Orlando whenever Glen Davis can go toe-to-toe with Rashard Lewis. That's what happened Sunday, when Davis nailed a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 95-94 victory to tie the series at 2-2. Davis scored 21 points, including the game-winner and another jumper with 32 seconds left to give the Celtics the lead, to go with six rebounds. Lewis got to the line and sank two free throws to put the Magic up with 11 seconds left, and had 22 points and five rebounds on the night. The Celtics won despite foul trouble for Paul Pierce, Brian Scalabrine and Davis, 1-for-10 shooting from long range, only two bench points and just seven points off eight Orlando turnovers. Boston made up for it with phenomenal 53 percent shooting, and it helped that the Magic, who rely so heavily on three-pointers, shot an abysmal 5-for-27 from behind the arc. Pierce was the primary offensive force once more for the Celtics, going 9-for-15 from the floor and 8-for-9 at the line for a game-high 27 points. Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and 13 rebounds as Boston gained a 44-38 edge on the boards despite Dwight Howard's 17 for Orlando. No one other than Howard had more than five rebounds for the Magic. Howard, who scored 23 points, and Lewis were the only consistent offensive threats, as no one else scored more than 11 points. Mickael Pietrus had a good-looking 11 points on eight shots in 27 minutes, but Hedo Turkoglu had an ugly 11, following his best performance in the playoffs so far in Game 3 with one of his worst Sunday, going 4-for-14 from the floor and 1-for-4 from three-point range. Turkoglu must come up with a better showing offensively, and Lewis has to contain Davis defensively, for the Magic to turn back the determined Celtics.

3. Here is the schedule for the next few days:
Monday, May 11
Cleveland at Atlanta, Game 4, 7 p.m. TNT
Denver at Dallas, Game 4, 9:30 p.m. TNT
Tuesday, May 12
Orlando at Boston, Game 5, 8 p.m. TNT
Houston at L.A. Lakers, Game 5, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Wednesday, May 13
Atlanta at Cleveland, Game 5, TBA TNT (if necessary)
Dallas at Denver, Game 5, TBA TNT (if necessary)
Thursday, May 14
Boston at Orlando, Game 6, 7 p.m. ESPN
L.A. Lakers at Houston, Game 6, 9:30 p.m. ESPN

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. Fouling is becoming a tricky proposition in the NBA, with flagrants and suspensions handed out if you're too forceful and no-call when you need it if you're not forceful enough. The League Office ruled late Saturday that Antoine Wright use the Mavs' foul to give on Carmelo Anthony with just seconds left in Game 3, meaning Anthony's subsequent game-winning three-pointer should not have counted. Yet Wright can be faulted for stopping before the whistle blew to protest the non-call, allowing Anthony an uncontested look that turned a two-point Denver deficit into a 106-105 lead with 1.1 seconds to go. That margin wound up the final score, allowing the Nuggets a 3-0 lead despite plenty of struggles on Saturday. Denver committed the majority of the 61 fouls committed in a parade to the foul line that made the no-call at game's end a bitter irony for Dallas. Birdman Andersen fouled out early in the fourth quarter, Nene and Carmelo Anthony wound up with five fouls, and Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith all had four. The Nuggets were forced to go small up front, with Anthony as a power forward. It didn't slow his production, as he wound up with 31 points and eight rebounds. Billups was the other force for the Nuggets, scoring 32 on 3-for-7 shooting behind the arc. Yet no one else scored more than Martin's 12 for Denver, including Nene, who struggled through a foul-plagued, 2-for-10, five-point outing after back-to-back 20-point games to begin the series. The Mavericks shot 40 percent from the field but put five players in double figures, including Dirk Nowitzki, put up another stellar performance only to lose once more. He's averaging 32 points and 11.7 rebounds a game in this series after 33 points and 16 boards in Game 3, yet only Saturday did his teammates give him enough support to keep the Mavs competitive. Jason Terry had 17 points and Brandon Bass 16 points and five rebounds. Josh Howard shook off his right ankle injury from Game 2 for 14 points and seven rebounds, but Dallas can only wonder what might have happened if he shot better than 5-for-15 from the floor. The Mavs will have all summer to think about any number of breaks that could have gone their way Saturday.

2. There is no debate: LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet right now. He was two points shy of his career playoff high and two assists shy of a triple double Saturday as the Cavs won 97-82 to beat back their first challenge of the series and take a 3-0 lead over Atlanta. LeBron scored 47 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and delivered eight assists the Cavs, who clamped down after the Hawks went ahead 65-64 with 3:45 to play in the third quarter. Cleveland went on a 20-4 run in the next 10 minutes of play, with LeBron scoring 12 of his team's points and the Hawks simply becoming unglued. Zaza Pachulia argued a foul call with the Hawks down by just one point and earned a quick ejection, robbing Atlanta of the inside player it needed with Al Horford hobbled by a gimpy ankle. Horford, who was only supposed to play for short bursts, played from that point in the late third quarter until the final minute, but it hardly mattered who was out there for the Hawks as Cleveland turned it up on both ends of the floor. The Hawks got 21 from Joe Johnson, 18 from Josh Smith and 17 points from Flip Murray, but were murdered on the boards, giving up a 46-23 rebounding advantage to the Cavs. Anderson Varejao had 10 rebounds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joe Smith added eight apiece, as the only real concern for Cleveland was bench play. Smith, who had seven points, was the only player to score in reserve for what has otherwise been a productive second unit. It's a problem, but one a lot of teams wish was their only one right now.

3. No one really blinked when Dikembe Mutombo went down with a knee injury in Houston's first series against Portland, since no one figured the league's oldest player could have that much of an impact, particularly given his short minutes. Now that Yao Ming has been diagnosed with a broken foot that will keep him out the rest of the postseason, having at least one legitimate center in the rotation would have come in handy. As it is, the Rockets look done, and one wonders whether they're finished for more than just this season. Yao has had his season ended by a broken bone in his foot three out of the last four seasons, and with Tracy McGrady having his season wiped out early by microfracture surgery this year, Houston may need to find players who can simply stay on the court. It's particularly unfortunate in the case of Yao, of whom so much has been expected, and from whom so much has been delivered, at least up until injury strikes. His 7-foot-6 frame just appears too fragile to handle the rigors of the NBA season.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. The Celtics picked a poor time to deliver a dud on the defensive end. The Magic, behind the kind of performances they've long needed from Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, shot 59 percent Friday even without the suspended Rafer Alston in a 117-96 win that gives them a 2-1 series lead over Boston. Rashard Lewis had his inside and outside game working, and scored a game-high 28 points while grabbing six rebounds. The cold-shooting Turkoglu awoke, going 8-for-12 from the floor for 24 points. Dwight Howard missed only one of his eight shots as he dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. He had 17 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, four of which came in the first half, and was a major reason why three Celtic post players wound up with five fouls apiece. The Magic backcourt of Courtney Lee and Anthony Johnson combined for 8-for-11 shooting for 24 points until Johnson gave a shove to Stan Van Gundy during an argument between the third and fourth quarters and didn't return to the game. The Celtics had cut what had been a 20-point lead to nine at that point, but the Magic quickly regained control on a night that was all theirs. Ray Allen struggled through a 3-for-13 night and was 0-for-5 from three-point range, while Rajon Rondo wasn't quite as game-changing as usual, with 15 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Paul Pierce returned to form with 27 points and six assists, and Eddie House continued his piping-hot shooting off the bench, nailing six of seven shots and three of four from long range for 15 points. Yet the major story for the Celtics was their foul trouble up front, as Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins and Brian Scalabrine all nearly fouled out, causing all sorts of trouble for a team that's already thin up front. Howard and Lewis were both able to operate effectively in the post, and the Magic will no doubt look to feed them down low once more in Game 4. The Celtics missed a golden opportunity to beat the Magic without Alston, but still have a chance to gain control of the series Sunday.

2. Jordan Farmar has returned to form for the Lakers, and that's bad news for the Rockets, and everyone else, too. Farmar stepped in for the suspended Derek Fisher and had a solid 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the Lakers took a 2-1 series lead Friday with a 108-94 victory. All five Laker starters were in double figures, even though Kobe continued to be the focal point of the L.A. attack, scoring 33 points and going 4-for-6 from behind the arc. Lamar Odom, starting once more, was a force with 16 points and 13 rebounds, making up for the relative struggles of Pau Gasol, who had 13 points and six rebounds going up against Yao. The Rockets controlled the boards with a 56-43 advantage, but committed 17 turnovers to L.A.'s six, while the Lakers shot 11-for-20 from three-point territory. Ron Artest was once more the offensive star for Houston with a team-high 25 points, but for the second consecutive game he was ejected on dubious grounds, this time for a late flagrant-2 foul on Gasol. Yao was the game's leading rebounder with 14 but wasn't as sharp with his shot, going 6-for-14 and 7-for-9 at the line for 19 points. The Rockets, like the Celtics on Friday, missed a chance to beat their opponents without their starting point guards. The difference is Houston is playing a top-seeded team that has home court, and now the Rockets will have to win a second game at L.A. in this series to pull off the upset.

3. The pins on the lapels of all the coaches in the playoffs will have extra meaning now. Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly, 78, died early Saturday morning after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The leader of the Dream Team and back-to-back champions with the Detroit Pistons was named one of the Top 10 Coaches in the league's history when the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1997. He went 638-437 in stops at Cleveland, Detroit, New Jersey and Orlando, but will be most remembered for his work resurrecting the moribund Pistons franchise, elevating the franchise into its current status as one of the league's mainstays. Daly had just one losing season as a head coach, when he went 9-32 with the Cavs, who were in shambles under owner Ted Stepien. He was hired a year later by the Pistons, owned by the late Bill Davidson, and went on to become the franchise's all-time winningest head coach in the regular season and playoffs. It's been a rough season in Detroit, with the loss of Davidson and now Daly coupled with the decline of the team after six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. The legacy that Davidson and Daly left will not fade so easily.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. The Magic have proven they can win when Dwight Howard isn't there. But what about when he's there but doesn't perform well? Howard went just 5-for-13 for 12 points Wednesday, and though he had 12 rebounds, it was a far cry from the 22 boards he cleared in Game 1. It was an otherwise eerily similar box score on the Orlando side of the ledger, but a different result, as this time the Magic lost 112-94 to fall into a 1-1 series tie with the Boston. The difference was on the Celtic side, where Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo had much better performances and Eddie House put up an insane 31 points off the bench. House continued the trend of stellar play for Boston reserves with an 11-for-14 shooting performance that included a 4-for-4 mark from three-point territory. Rondo had his third triple-double of the series with 15 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds, while Allen put up 22 points and six rebounds. The Celtics won going away even without a significant contribution from Paul Pierce, who was limited by foul trouble and scored just three points in 16 minutes. A variety of offensive weapons emerged, including Kendrick Perkins, who held his own against Howard on the block with 16 points and nine rebounds. The Magic got what they needed out of Rashard Lewis, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds, as well as Mickael Pietrus, who came off the bench to score 17 points on 14 free throw attempts. Orlando didn't play anywhere close to the level they needed on the defensive end, allowing 51 percent shooting. The Celtics have dominated this series for about a game and a half, and can take full control as the series shifts to Orlando on Friday for Game 3.

2. Houston's hopes of knocking L.A. off course by making its offense one-dimensional took a hit Wednesday. Kobe, over the flu was draining him a bit in Game 1, scored 40 points on 27 shots, and Pau Gasol abused a foul-plagued Yao Ming for 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 111-98 win for the Lakers that tied the series at 1-1. Yao played just 26 minutes, took just four shots and had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and though backup Carl Landry performed quite admirably on the offensive end and the boards, with 21 points and 10 rebounds, neither he nor Yao could keep Gasol from wreaking havoc. Derek Fisher's 12 points prior to his ejection were enough to put the Lakers over the top. Artest, who was ejected as well, led the Rockets once more with 25 points and five assists, and though five Houston players were in double-figures, it was clear they missed having Yao out there as a dominant force in the post. Landry replaced his scoring but didn't help matters for the Rockets by committing a team-high five turnovers on a night when Houston as a team had 20 giveaways. Yao's 7-for-6 shot-blocking presence would certainly have helped as well, since the normally granite Houston defense allowed the Lakers to shoot 50 percent. His ability to stay on the floor will be a major story as the series progresses.

3. Yao's fouls will have plenty of competition for top billing, however. The Rockets-Lakers series is suddenly rife with more than enough subplots to pique the interest of L.A.'s Hollywood crowd. Will Ron Artest be suspended for his uniquely intense reaction to an arm to the throat by Kobe, one that got him tossed from Game 2? (No.) Could Kobe be suspended himself for the blow to Artest? (No.) Will Derek Fisher be suspended following his ejection for a flagrant foul on Luis Scola, a clear retaliatory move after Scola's words with Lamar Odom? (Yes.) What happens between Scola and the Lakers the rest of the series? (We'll see.) Will Von Wafer return to Rick Adelman's good graces, after the Houston coach sent his own player to the showers prematurely for insubordination? (Again, we'll see.) And who will officiate the series after Joey Crawford exercised such tight control during the fourth quarter that Kobe was hit with a technical for exchanging the kind of in-game chatter with Shane Battier that goes on between every other play from grade school on up? (We'll know after 9 a.m. on the day of each game, when the NBA releases its referee schedule.) This rest of this series, tied at a game apiece, will be interesting for many more reasons than just X-and-O matchups.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. The way Nene has played against Erick Dampier and the Mavericks, the Denver-Dallas series could be over in hurry. Nene and the Nuggets dominated inside for a second consecutive game, and Denver took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday with a 117-105 victory. Nene followed up his 24-point performance in Game 1 with 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting and eight rebounds. Chris Andersen shot 4-for-5 for eight points and nine rebounds off the bench, abusing Dampier, who did little to counter his defensive shortcomings with four points and four rebounds. The Mavericks once more provided little support for Dirk Nowitzki, who delivered 35 points and nine rebounds. Jason Terry made three treys, scored 21 points and handed out six assists to pick up the slack for Josh Howard, who was lost with yet more ankle trouble in the first quarter. That was about it for Dallas, as no one else scored as many as Antoine Wright's quiet 10 points. The Nuggets had another 25 points from Carmelo Anthony, 21 from J.R. Smith, and Chauncey Billups drained four three-pointers on an 18-point, eight-assist night. Kenyon Martin added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists as all the Nuggets had it all in gear. Nowitzki and Terry kept it close through three quarters, and thanks to a Jason Kidd desperation three at the buzzer they were down just 86-83 going into the fourth quarter. That's when the Nuggets clamped down on defense, forcing missed shots and turnovers, and Nene and Anthony went on a two-man 16-2 run. The Mavericks don't appear to be able to stop the Nuggets from scoring in the paint, so their only chance of getting back in the series is to hope Denver's defense begins to show flaws of its own on the road in Games 3 and 4. Don't count on it.

2. LeBron need not convince anyone of his stature in the NBA right now, given that he just hoisted the MVP trophy before the Cleveland fans Tuesday. He then went out and looked as if he wanted to prove that the award was indeed his, scoring 34 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and coming up with four steals in a 99-72 win for the Cavs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Atlanta. James was an even more dominant force in the Cleveland offense than usual, though Mo Williams still managed to make his presence felt as well. Williams drained four three-pointers and scored 21 points, while Delonte West took over much of the ball-distribution responsibilities, with nine assists and 12 points. Cleveland's inside players struggled, with Zydrunas Ilgauskas going 2-for-9 while Anderson Varejao was 2-for-8, but it didn't matter against the Hawks, who succumbed to the superior Cleveland defense and committed 17 turnovers compared to just seven for the Cavs. Atlanta was punished on the boards, too, as the Cavs held a 41-33 advantage thanks to Varejao, who had nine rebounds, and James. Josh Smith scored 22 points and had six rebounds, but Joe Johnson never got untracked offensively, scoring just 11 points on 10 shots from the floor. Mike Bibby had a hot shooting night, nailing five three-pointers for 19 points, and added eight assists, but no one else scored more than six points for Atlanta. The Cavs spent eight days just practicing in between the first and second rounds, but this series may simply be more tuning up for LeBron and company.

3. Game 2 is pretty early for a virtual must-win in a series, but that's likely the case in the Orlando-Boston series. The Celtics can seize control with a win tonight, capitalizing on the momentum they gained from their near-comeback from a 28-point deficit Monday, but if Orlando wins again, they'll be up 2-0 heading home for games 3 and 4. The key for the Celtics will be the continued stellar play of its bench, and in particular Brian Scalabrine, whose outside shooting has been on-point the last two outings. The Celtics could also use better shooting from Rajon Rondo, who has gone cold just as the bench has heated up. The Magic are counting on Rashard Lewis to regain the form he exhibited in the first half of Game 1, when he was the leading scorer on the floor with 14 points. He scored only four points in the second half, and none after the Celtics began their comeback. Lewis at his best is a vital secondary threat to Dwight Howard, and provides them with an inside-outside threat that gives the Magic the offensive diversification they so greatly need. Courtney Lee, a rookie who has continually improved throughout the season, is scheduled to return from his fractured sinus for Game 3 on Friday. Orlando would be wise to ask him to help them close out the Celtics as opposed to relying upon him to turn the tide after a loss tonight.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. The Lakers this year have been far and away the dominant team in the Western Conference, so to beat them Monday, the Rockets turned back the clock. Houston, as many Laker opponents did a few years ago, allowed Kobe to get off 31 shots but dared his teammates to beat them, and in a rare turn of events the past two years, the rest of the Lakers failed to deliver in a 100-92 Game 1 loss. Kobe had his own struggles, shooting 1-for-7 from three-point range, but still wound up with 32 points. Pau Gasol was the next highest-scoring Laker with just 14 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Andrew Bynum, who was back in the starting lineup, and Trevor Ariza scored 10, but that was about it. Derek Fisher was outplayed on a 3-for-10, eight-point night by Aaron Brooks, who got to the basket for 19 points despite 1-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Yao dominated the post for the Rockets even more so than usual, scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Ron Artest once more put his offensive game on display with 21 points and seven assists. The Lakers seemed to struggle with incorporating Bynum back into the lineup, as though Bynum scored in double-figures, Gasol didn't get as many shots as he's used to and Lamar Odom scored just nine points on 4-for-8 from the floor. It would have helped L.A. if Bryant were more efficient, as he shot 14-for-31 but only went to the free-throw line five times. Chances are Bryant will either come up with a gem or actively look to get his teammates more involved in a suddenly critical Game 2 for the Lakers. Rick Adelman and the Rockets, having put up a masterful performance Monday, must be ready to make the counter-adjustments.

2. Few teams have stolen a game on the opponent's home court to begin a seven-game series and left with such serious concerns as the Magic. Watching a 28-point lead be chipped down to just four points Monday must have been a nightmare for Stan Van Gundy, whose team was able to hold on for a 95-90 victory. The Celtics shot just 39 percent but were able to hang around as the Magic went cold in the fourth quarter, hitting only five shots and scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter. Orlando made just nine shots after taking that 28-point lead with 8:57 to play in the third quarter. Rashard Lewis scored 14 points to lead all scorers in the first half, but had just four more points, and failed to score at all when the Celtics were clawing their way back. He was outplayed for stretches by Brian Scalabrine, who has been hot off the bench for Boston. He hit a pair of treys and scored 10 points in 27 minutes while Glen Davis was saddled with foul trouble. Eddie House hit a couple of three-pointers, too, and Stephon Marbury had a burst of eight straight points for the Celtics in the second quarter. Boston's bench, which struggled against Chicago until breaking out in Game 7, played evenly with Orlando's, even with Mickael Pietrus checking in as the Magic's second leading scorer with 17 points. Paul Pierce had 16 of his game-high 23 in the second half to spur the comeback attempt, but the Celtics were ultimately done in by identical poor shooting nights for Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, each of whom went 2-for-10 from the field. Rondo made up for it with a late charge, scoring 10 of his 14 points at the line and grabbing 10 rebounds. Kendrick Perkins grabbed 16 boards to give Boston a 47-40 edge on the boards despite Howard's stellar 16-point, 22-rebound performance. The Magic continued to use a balanced-scoring formula that's been effective for them, but eventually they'll need someone to be able to get on a roll offensively. They were bailed out by Pietrus, who went 3-for-7 from behind the arc in Game 1. Orlando can't be as reliant as they are on outside shooting and sustain their success, so they'll need a more diversified attack to stem the Celtics' momentum.

3. The Hawks pushed the Celtics to a seventh game that wasn't supposed to happen last year, and if they do that to the Cavs, it will be quite an accomplishment. Moral victories and keeping the series competitive are about the extent of the reasonable goals for Atlanta, which faces a league's best team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals beginning Tuesday at Cleveland. The Cavs came within a point of tying the all-time record for wins at home, but the Hawks are tough at home as well, and they'll look to claim a couple in Atlanta before the series is through. The key is containing newly crowned MVP LeBron James, which will be a chore for Maurice Evans, Atlanta's best perimeter defender. Marvin Williams and Josh Smith will no doubt get their crack at him as well, and the Cavs have plenty of shooters to make you pay if you double LeBron. Delonte West, one of those guys who can knock down it down for Cleveland, has thrived since moving over from point guard to his natural position at the beginning of the season, and he'll have perhaps the toughest assignment defensively for the Cavs in Joe Johnson. The point guard matchup will be critical, with Mo Williams, an explosive scorer, going against veteran Mike Bibby, who can score as well, can control the tempo better than Williams and give the Hawks an advantage in the backcourt. Josh Smith will have plenty of trouble with the taller Anderson Varejao, especially on the glass, but can test Varejao's energy and athleticism if he tries to use his dribble-penetration capabilties. Yet Varejao might wear him out on the block if Smith is not careful defensively. Al Horford will have his own difficulties trying to track down Zydrunas Ilgauskas, especially with his gimpy ankle, and Zaza Pachulia, who usually gives the Hawks a boost in the paint when he comes off the bench, has not one but two dangerous reserve big men with which to content in Ben Wallace and Joe Smith for Cleveland. The Cavs have Daniel Gibson, who provides energy, a bit of ballhandling and shooting, as well as Wally Sczcerbiak, who gives them length and shooting, off their bench as well. The Hawks will need Flip Murray to get hot to avoid a deep Cleveland team from opening double-digit leads in second quarters. Atlanta's bench stepped up against Miami, but they're still a liability when compared to Cleveland's. Making the second round, just like making the playoffs last year, is a step in the right direction for the Hawks, but they're walking, not running. Prediction: Cavs in 5.

Schedule
Game 1 - Tue May 5 Atlanta at Cleveland 8 p.m. TNT
Game 2 - Thu May 7 Atlanta at Cleveland 8 p.m. ESPN
Game 3 - Sat May 9 Cleveland at Atlanta 8 p.m. ABC
Game 4 - Mon May 11 Cleveland at Atlanta 7 p.m. TNT
Game 5 * Wed May 13 Atlanta at Cleveland TBD TNT
Game 6 * Fri May 15 Cleveland at Atlanta TBD ESPN
Game 7 * Mon May 18 Atlanta at Cleveland 8 p.m. TNT

Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers
Starters
PG Mo Williams
SG Delonte West
SF LeBron James
PF Anderson Varejao
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Bench
F/C Joe Smith
G/F Wally Szczerbiak
F/C Ben Wallace
G Daniel Gibson
F/C Darnell Jackson
SG Sasha Pavlovic
SG Tarence Kinsey
Injured
PF J.J. Hickson (back, out indefinitely)

Atlanta Hawks
Starters
PG Mike Bibby
SG Joe Johnson
SF Mo Evans
PF Josh Smith
C Al Horford
Bench
SF Marvin Williams
C Zaza Pachulia
G Flip Murray
PF Solomon Jones
SG Mario West
C Randolph Morris
PG Acie Law

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. Dallas is in trouble unless its interior defense improves after what we saw Sunday. Nene looked like a Hall of Famer against Erick Dampier and Ryan Hollins, scoring 14 of his playoff career high 24 in the second quarter of a 109-95 win for Denver in the opener of the Western Conference Semifinals. Chris Anderson came off the bench to score 11 points, grab six rebounds and block an astounding six shots as the Nuggets dominated the paint. Anderson was one of the players who had double figures off the bench for Denver, which scored 39 points altogether. J.R. Smith shot 7-for-13 for 15 points and dished out six assists while Anthony Carter got hot as well, shooting 6-for-8 for 12 points and four assists. The Nuggets built an 82-75 lead after three quarters with little contribution from anyone other than Nene and the bench, and when Carmelo Anthony finally turned it on to score 14 of his 23 in the fourth quarter, it served only to widen the margin of victory. It was a familiar refrain for the Mavs on offense, who got 28 points and 10 rebounds from Nowitzki but nothing noteworthy out of anyone else. That was Denver coach George Karl's strategy, not double-teaming anyone and forcing someone other than Nowitzki to step up. Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd all had 15, but no one else had more than six, and the Mavs wound up turning the ball over 20 times. Rick Carlisle must counter with a coaching move of his own, the rest of the Mavericks other than Nowitzki must improve their play and Dampier has to show a pulse in order for the Mavs to have a chance in this series.

2. Everyone will remember the Chicago-Boston series. Only diehards and Hawks fans will look back fondly on the Miami-Atlanta series, finally won by the Hawks after seven games decided by 10 points or more. Atlanta took control early and never looked back behind stellar performances by Joe Johnson and Josh Smith in a game that wasn't even as close as the 91-78 final score. Johnson hit on six of eight three-pointers, scored 27 points and added five rebounds and four assists, while Smith scored 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Ronald Murray nailed three treys and Mike Bibby two as Atlanta caught fire from behind the arc, shooting 11-for-23 as a team. That was in stark contrast to Miami's 2-for-9 long-distance performance. Dwyane Wade shot 2-for-9 on three-pointers but still managed to score a game-high 31 points. Udonis Haslem had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Michael Beasley added 17 points and seven rebounds in a surprisingly proficient showing for a rookie in a Game 7 on the road. But no other Heat player scored more than six points, as Miami's other prominent rookie, point guard Mario Chalmers, went 1-for-6 for just four points and four assists. Jermaine O'Neal had to leave the game after playing less than a minute, shooting an airball and committing two fouls to show he still wasn't right after suffering a concussion in Game 5. Al Horford returned for the Hawks, but wasn't much of a factor, scoring seven points and pulling down just three rebounds as Miami gained a 39-30 advantage on the boards. That edge was offset by 17 Heat turnovers compared to just seven for Atlanta. Enjoy it, Hawks fans. It's as far as your team is going to get with LeBron and the Cavs up next.

3. I don't like to point out these things too often, but have to do a little self-recognition here. I came within a game of correctly predicting every Eastern Conference first round series. I picked Cleveland in four, and they won in four. I picked Atlanta in seven, and they won in seven. I picked Boston in seven, and they won in seven. I picked Orlando in seven, and they won in ... six. OK, I didn't see a 25-point blowout in Philadelphia minus Dwight Howard coming. I can live with that. I wasn't quite as accurate with Western Conference. I had the Nuggets in five all right, but thought the Lakers would finish off Utah in four games instead of five. I had the Blazers and Spurs advancing rather than the Rockets and Mavericks. So that means I nailed four of eight series, came within a game on two more, and was wrong on the last two. I'll take it. Now let's see how the second round goes.

Three random observations ...

... about the NBA:

1. It wasn't another overtime thriller, but it was dramatic enough to provide a fitting conclusion to what probably was the greatest first round series in the history of the league. The Celtics' bench surprised everyone two nights after coming up with only nine points by delivering 30 points Saturday to lift Boston to a 109-99 win that clinched a 4-3 series victory over the Bulls. Eddie House canned all five shots that he took, including four three-pointers, and Brian Scalabrine had two treys of his own in an eight-point outing. That was plenty of support for Boston's veteran superstars, who came through on a night when they were needed most. Ray Allen led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds, and Paul Pierce had 20 points and nine rebounds. Rajon Rondo struggled with his shot for the second straight game, going 2-for-8 for seven points, but delivered 11 assists. He wasn't the only one for whom a lid seemed on the basket. John Salmons struggled to 3-for-12 shooting, including 1-for-5 from behind the arc. He missed a layup and three-pointer in succession around the four-minute mark, either of which could have cut a five-point game down to one possession. Ben Gordon could have made it a one-possession game if he made a 4-foot baseline runner with 47 seconds to go, but he missed, and Joakim Noah was called for his sixth foul as he tried to rebound. That capped a night when Gordon led all scorers with 33 points but shot just 7-for-23 from the floor and only 4-for-12 from three-point territory, receiving credit for a first-quarter trey only after a league-office ruling in the fourth quarter in a bizarre turn. The Bulls received one more gift with 28 seconds left when Kirk Hinrich stole Rondo's inbounds pass, but Gordon followed with another missed three-pointer, and the Celtics closed it out at the line. The Bulls shot 39 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc as a team while the Celtics shot 45 and 53 percent, respectively. It's hard to counter that kind of gap, especially considering the Celtics went on a 20-2 run to close the first half. The Bulls chipped away at the lead but never came closer than three points, a margin that surely is bitter coincidence to Chicago given its poor outside shooting. It was a stirring challenge nonetheless for an upstart team with a bright future. They must make a decision on unrestricted free agent Ben Gordon, but everyone else should be back. The Celtics, though, won't have to worry about next season for a little while longer. Their ability to deliver blow after blow until they got to the knockout punch indicates Kevin Garnett's spirit is still on the floor even if his body isn't, and that the Celtics have as much will to persevere as any defending champion.

2. Boston will have to endure a test that looms even tougher now. The veteran Celtics, after having endured a seven-game, seven-overtime thriller, must turn around 48 hours later to face an Orlando team on three-days rest in Game 1. The Magic are coming off a stirring 25-point win in Philadelphia without the suspended Dwight Howard, proving they're more than just a one-man operation. Orlando enters with a great deal of confidence, but so must the Celtics, knowing what they just withstood to get to this point. Rajon Rondo is now a full-fledged star after throwing up a pair of triple-double in the first round and very nearly posting two or three more, and he's clearly one of the top five point guards in the game. He faces veteran Rafer Alston in round two after facing down the Rookie of the Year in the first series. Alston came up with a gem in the clinching game against Philadelphia, scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists, but can't be expected to keep up with Rondo. The other guard spot is a clear advantage for the Celtics as well, with hot-shooting Ray Allen going up against fill-in J.J. Redick, the replacement for Courtney Lee, who isn't likely to play in the series with a fractured sinus. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy may also turn to the longer Mickael Pietrus to help defend against Allen. Van Gundy must hope Hedo Turkoglu's length can distract Paul Pierce, but its clearly advantage Boston at small forward as well. Glen Davis took major strides in the Chicago series, but Rashard Lewis began playing some of his best basketball in the first round as well. Lewis can use his perimeter game to give Davis fits on the defensive end. Howard, of course, will do more than just annoy Kendrick Perkins inside. Perkins did a tremendous job on the glass against Chicago but will find it much tougher going against Howard. Still, Perkins continues to grow by leaps and bounds and has the experience of being the starting center on a championship team, so he's anything but a pushover for Howard. The problem for the Celtics with both Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe injured is whom to turn to off the bench, which struggled against Chicago until bursting forth in Game 7. Eddie House won't go 5-for-5 every night, and you can't count on Brian Scalabrine's outside shot all the time. Stephon Marbury has provided steady point guard play but has no confidence in his shot, and Mikki Moore and Tony Allen haven't been any help. The Magic certainly aren't as deep with Lee out, but if Redick can hold down the shooting guard spot, Pietrus can be a capable wing player off the bench. Tony Battie and Marcin Gortat provide plenty of bulk and rebounding to go along with Howard inside, and Anthony Johnson is a stabilizing veteran hand at point guard. The difference off the bench could be critical considering the wear and tear on Pierce and Allen from the first round, so there's pressure on the Celtic reserves. But a greater challenge stands before the Magic's supporting cast, which must duplicate or come close to the performance they had without Howard the last time out against Philadelphia. It was inspiring, but only one game. There is ample evidence to suggest Howard will have to come up with a gargantuan effort on his own. It's also a lot to ask of the Celtics to win another seven-game series, but they've got more guys under the age of 25 than they do over 30 in their starting lineup, and all of them have been through this plenty of times before. Prediction: Celtics in 7.

Schedule
Game 1 - Mon May 4 Orlando at Boston 8 p.m. TNT
Game 2 - Wed May 6 Orlando at Boston 8 p.m. TNT
Game 3 - Fri May 8 Boston at Orlando 7 p.m. ESPN
Game 4 - Sun May 10 Boston at Orlando 8 p.m. TNT
Game 5 * Tue May 12 Orlando at Boston TBD TNT
Game 6 * Thu May 14 Boston at Orlando TBD ESPN
Game 7 * Sun May 17 Orlando at Boston TBD TNT

Lineups
Boston Celtics
Starters
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Glen Davis
C Kendrick Perkins
Bench
G Eddie House
F Brian Scalabrine
PG Stephon Marbury
F/C Mikki Moore
SG Tony Allen
SG Bill Walker
PG Gabe Pruitt
Injuries
PF Kevin Garnett (knee, probably out for year)
F/C Leon Powe (knee, out)

Lineups
Orlando Magic
Starters
PG Rafer Alston
SG J.J. Redick
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Rashard Lewis
C Dwight Howard
Bench
F/C Tony Battie
SG Mickael Pietrus
PG Anthony Johnson
C Marcin Gortat
PG Tyronn Lue
C Adonal Foyle
SG Jeremy Richardson
Injuries
PG Jameer Nelson (separated shoulder, out)
SG Courtney Lee (fractured left sinus, probably out for series)

3. Here's the schedule for the next few days:
Sunday, May 3
Miami at Atlanta, Game 7, 1 p.m. ABC
Dallas at Denver, Game 1, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Monday, May 4
Orlando at Boston, Game 1, 8 p.m. TNT
Houston at L.A. Lakers, Game 1, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Tuesday, May 5
Atlanta or Miami at Cleveland, Game 1, 8 p.m. TNT
Dallas at Denver, Game 2, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Wedneday, May 6
Orlando at Boston, Game 2, 8 p.m. TNT
Houston at L.A. Lakers, Game 2, 10:30 p.m. TNT