Final score: Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Orlando Magic 102

Mo Williams helped out LeBron James and the Cavaliers by scoring 24 points in Cleveland's Game 5 win.

Analysis: In winning Game 5 to stay alive in this Eastern Conference finals series, the Cavs made key adjustments. At the same time, LeBron James delivered another epic performance by posting a triple-double. He also got plenty of perimeter help from Mo Williams (24 points, 6-of-9 on threes) and Daniel Gibson (3-of-4 on threes).

The go-getter: James came through for the Cavs with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. James accounted for 32 consecutive Cleveland points by either scoring or having an assist (29 consecutive in the fourth). With his team’s back against the wall, the league MVP took over.
The brick-layer: Just as he did in Game 2, Rafer Alston (Orlando) vanished. He shot 1-of-10 from the field overall, going 1-of-7 from 3-point range. The scary part about all this is Alston, who scored 26 points in Orlando’s Game 4 win, made his first shot Thursday only to miss his last nine.
The stunning stats: Orlando is known for its 3-point shooting, but Cleveland not only made one three than the Magic (9-to-8), but also shot a higher percentage (50 percent to 32 percent) from long range.
The play: With Cavaliers leading by six with 2:22 remaining in the game, James drove the ball at Dwight Howard, made the shot and drew a foul to foul him out. James completed the 3-point play to give Cleveland a 102-93 lead.

What’s next: Game 6 Saturday in Orlando, 8:30 p.m.
What to expect: The Cavaliers may be without starting two-guard Delonte West, who left the game late in the fourth quarter with a hip pointer. West will likely gut it out, but Orlando knows the Cavaliers are going to go that spread offense in which James gets the ball at the free throw line. How the Magic adjust to that will play a major role in what happens in Game 6.

LeBron James either scored or had an assist on 29 consecutive points for the Cavs in the fourth quarter.

In winning Game 5 to stay alive in this Eastern Conference finals series, 112-102, Thursday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers made three key adjustments.

1. Put LeBron James on Hedo Turkoglu in the fourth quarter. The strategy TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith has been calling for disrupted the pick-n-roll Orlando loves to use a bit.

2. Posted up James, who finished with a triple double (37 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists), at the free throw line and surrounded him with three shooters -  Wally Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson and Mo Williams – and the hustling Anderson Varejao. Not having to drive from the top of the key, James didn’t need to dribble much to either score or find Varejao cutting to the basket.

3. Made the cold shooter for Orlando keep shooting by defending everyone else. This time, it was Rafer Alston, who shot 1-of-10 from the field. He was 1-of-7 from 3-point range and Cleveland funneled its defense to leave Alston open.

Can this work in Game 6 for the Cavaliers?

We’ll find out Saturday when the series switches to Orlando with the Magic leading 3-2.

Mo Williams and the Cleveland Cavaliers are in deep, deep trouble.

Check out what LeBron James, Mo Williams and Cleveland coach Mike Brown said after the Cavaliers lost Game 4 at Orlando in OT, 116-114, to fall down 3-1 in this best-of-7 Eastern Conference finals series.

Also hear what Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Rafer Alston had to say about the Magic victory Tuesday night.

The big thing to look at in regards to this series is the Magic struggled through their first two rounds of the playoffs. In doing so, they found a toughness within they may never have gained otherwise.

On the other hand, the Cavaliers breezed by Detroit and Atlanta and although they got guys who have been through the playoff wars, they might have gotten too relaxed. Now they have to turn it on somehow and that’s easier said than done.

Final score: Cleveland Cavaliers 96, Orlando Magic 95

LeBron James said he's never the heard Quicken Loans Arena crowd that loud after he hit buzzer-beating shot to beat the Orlando Magic, 96-95, in Game 2 Friday.

Analysis: In an epic thriller, LeBron James made what he called the biggest shot of his career by hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Cleveland the thrilling win to tie the series at 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Sunday. The Cavaliers blew a 23-point lead only to have James save the day for the Cavaliers.

The go-getter: The MVP scored 35 points including the game-winner. He had six turnovers and Mickael Pietrus made it tough on him late, but he found a way to make a 3-pointer at the top of the key. To deliver in that fashion is as good as it gets.
The brick-layer: Rafer Alston (Orlando) shot a dismal 1-of-7 from the field for four points. Just didn’t play well on either end of the floor, took some crazy shots and missed all three of his 3-point shot attempts.
The stunning stats: Before James made that game-winning 3-pointer, he had only four points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
The play: The shot was great, but for Mo Williams to have the patience to wait for James to get free was just as good. He had Zydrunas Ilgauskas open in the corner for 3, but as Williams said after the game, option A, B,C, and D were all for James.

What’s next: Game 3 Sunday at Orlando, 8:30 p.m.
What to expect: Look for the Magic to put Pietrus on James more. The way he forced LeBron to go left and actually blocked his shot worked in Orlando’s favor. As for Cleveland, if it is fortunate enough to build a big lead in the first half, it can’t afford to blow it in Orlando or the Cavaliers will find themselves on the losing end.

I’m going to let you be the judge.

Did Rafer Alston and Derek Fisher each deserve to get suspended for Game 3 after what they did in Game 2 of their respective series?

Alston did. Can’t slap guys in the head. Fisher? I’m not sure he hit Luis Scola that hard for him to fall like that, but he should get suspended as well. What ya’ll think?

“That’s what happens when you start busting somebody’s (expletive). They get upset like that and resort to bush league tactics.” – Eddie House after Boston’s Game 2 win.

Eddie House didn't back down from Rafer Alston on Wednesday night.

If scoring a game-high 31 points off the bench wasn’t enough Wednesday night, Eddie House decided to give Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Orlando Magic some juicy juice.

House not only helped the Celtics tie the series, he called out Orlando guard Rafer Alston, who slapped him in the head after House hit a jumper on him, in a post game interview done by TNT NBA analyst David Aldridge.

Now let’s recap.

Whether it’s Dwight Howard elbowing Samuel Dalembert or Rajon Rondo hitting Brad Miller in the chops, the referees have had their hands full trying to keep the rough play at a minimum in the playoffs. Now NBA commissioner David Stern recently said the referees are 90 percent right, maybe up to 93 percent.

So it will be real interesting to see if Alston is suspended for Game 3 in Orlando.

Should he?