Game 3 Adjustments: Cavaliers-Magic

1) Be ready at the tip: There were two one-point games in Cleveland. The common thing in both games was the Cavaliers getting off to hot starts and taking control of the game early, forcing the Magic to dig themselves out of a hole.

I wrote in my adjustments for Game Two that Orlando could not get down by 16 points and have a chance to win. Well, I was wrong. The Magic found a way to come back from a 23-point deficit and nearly pull out a win.

The bottom line is, the Magic can blow out the Cavs. Take out the first quarter in each game, and the Magic are winning by double digits. Obviously, a different first quarter changes the complexion of the game. But it is clear Orlando can keep pace with Cleveland.

If the Magic are ready from the tip in Game Three, they will not necessarily easily win this game. But it is not far from reason to think Orlando will have more control of the game so when that third quarter spurt that has occurred in both games does happen, it will be to extend a lead than to come back from one.

As Stan Van Gundy said in Game One, Cleveland has never had to face a deficit in this postseason. Orlando has. As many have pointed out already, four of the Magic's six Playoff losses have come at the last second.

After Game One against Philadelphia -- when Andre Iguodala shocked Orlando with a last-second dagger -- the team took a 28-point lead before holding on for a five-point win. After Game Three against the 76ers -- when Thaddeus Young improbably hit a layup over Dwight Howard -- Hedo Turkoglu nailed a game-winning basket to tie the series at two.

After Game Four against Boston -- when Glen Davis hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer -- Orlando blew a 14-point lead in Game Five. They won the series in seven of course.

So the Magic have some experience responding from these games, albeit in a wide amount of way.

2) Keep Dwight Howard involved: Orlando wanted to get the ball to Howard early and often and that is part of the reason why Cleveland was able to jump on the team early.

The Cavaliers changed their defensive strategy on Howard in Game Two. They brought a double team with Anderson Varejao helping Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Howard struggled with the double of the two big men and was forced into some silly turnovers.

Despite that, Howard still had a pretty good half. He just missed his free throws. Even with that, he was a non-factor offensively in the second half. He kept his head and effort defensively and was important to Orlando's comeback.

But the Magic have to find a way to keep him involved on the offensive end. He still created a lot of space for shooters and the threat of him was a big part of the comeback. But Howard needs to get his points.

Orlando looked to get him involved in the pick and roll and it freed up Turkoglu and Lewis. Until Cleveland started doubleteaming the guy with the ball. Howard was open and the team was not looking for him.

Charles Barkley pointed it out on Inside the NBA, Cleveland has no way to guard Rashard Lewis or Hedo Turkoglu if James is not covering them. Expect James to be put on one of them in Game Three. That makes Howard's involvement even more important.

3) Limit the unforced errors: Orlando dug itself a hole because of some unforced errors.

The Magic had 12 turnovers, nine in the first half (I believe). Throw that with a 68 percent (17 of 25) performance from the line and you have a lot of points the Magic left on the board.

These were widely fixed in the second half. But in a one-point game, it matters. Both of the games have been one-point games, so clearly every little error matters.

The Cavaliers are going to make good defensive plays and make the Magic take shots they do not want to take. But unforced turnovers and missed free throws always hurt. The missed free throws especially are frustrating.

No one can play a perfect game. But Orlando has shown it can play a near perfect half. You have to if you are going to erase the deficits the team has erased in this series. But to build a lead and keep it in this series, it will take that kind of an effort.