Game Five Adjustments: Magic-Cavaliers

1) Can't be timid or afraid, remain aggressive: Cleveland will throw everything it has at Orlando in a do-or-die Game Five. In fact, it is pretty safe to say that every game, the Magic will see the Cavaliers best in the next game (or three games).

Dwight Howard said he was treating Tuesday's Game Four like it was a Game Seven. He will have to do the same tomorrow night in Game Five. If Orlando learned anything as a franchise from the 2003 debacle against Detroit, it is that you cannot take any game in the series for granted.

The Magic must find a way to close this series out as quickly as possible. The last thing you want to do is give LeBron James another chance to do something amazing (like he did throughout Games Two and Four).

This is why Orlando cannot be afraid or play like it has a game in hand. The most important thing the team can do is continue to play aggressively and fight. It is important to dictate the tempo. At times Tuesday, Orlando was not doing this.

It still seems there is some fear of what James will do and some panic in the team. Seeing a four-point lead disintegrate late (or watching Cleveland extend the lead to eight at the end of the first half) are signs that Orlando sometimes does not play in an attacking mode.

When the Magic attack, the Cavaliers simply do not have the answers to match up with them.

2) 3-pointers must come within the offense: the Magic are a 3-point shooting team. I have come to accept this even with my hatred for the shot as a primary strategy.

It is hard to expect Orlando to shoot like the team did in Game Four every night. Thirty 3-point attempts in one game is just ridiculous. Making 17 of them is even more amazing. It very well saved the game for the Magic.

It is cliche to say "live by the three, die by the three." Orlando did that in Game Four. When the Magic were hitting 3-pointers, they were almost impossible to beat. When they settled for them, the Cavaliers made their move.

Orlando falls in love with the shot. It is no secret.

It remains imperative that the Magic work for 3-pointers within their offense and look to the post or to attack the basket at all times. Orlando cannot settle for 3-pointers just because they are "on" that night.

3) Protect the ball and treasure possessions: I have said this before, but Orlando must continue to eliminate run outs and fast break opportunities for Cleveland. These are easy opportunities and take away the Magic's inherent advantages in this series.

Cleveland has been successful this series only when the team gets out on the run. This comes from turnovers and long rebounds. Long rebounds come from long shots -- like 3-pointers.

It is important for the Magic to make sure they limit these opportunities for the Cavaliers. Stopping run outs is order No. 1 defensively for the Magic. James is virtually unstoppable when he gets a running start.

This is one way to keep him from doing so.