Magic Annihilate the Cavs

Orlando ended up beating the NBA's best team by 29 points Friday night. That's a wholly dominant margin -- heck, the Kings would be embarrassed to lose by 29. But if you can believe it, this game felt worse for the Magic's victim than it looks.

Cleveland was completely dominated by Orlando in this match. Dwight Howard had no problem ripping apart the typically stout Cavs interior. Rashard Lewis and Courtney Lee pitched tents and starting campfires on the perimeter. Rafer Alston whittled, Mickael Pietrus generally kept LeBron James under wraps, and this thing never got close. Every tick of the second half further asserted the Magic's dominance, with the margin reached 41 late in the third.

Scared of Orlando yet?

Magic 116, Cavs 87: Box Score | Scores | Playoff Race

LeBron actually ended up with a fine final line of 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists. But the defense of Pietrus and Hedo Turkoglu made James work for every point. LBJ shot unusually well from the line (10-10) and unusually bad from the field (7-20). The reason: LeBron almost never got to the rim. Orlando packed the lane, and it kept LeBron in the dreaded "fadeaway jumper" zone.

Meanwhile, Orlando's offense got whatever it wanted whenever it wanted. Nearly all of Howard's 20 points came on dunks or very short flips. When it wasn't Dwight, the wings nailed 13 of 27 threes (including five of them by Lewis). Lee helped Alston on defense and vice versa, Stan Van Gundy looked exceedingly pleased with his charges and Tiger Woods allowed himself to leave his courtside seat early in the fourth thanks to the overwhelming margin. Complete success!

Anyone still arguing that Orlando lacks some necessary "it" factor heading into the playoffs needs to watch this game. Maybe the Magic will lose in the second round or conference finals. But don't be shocked if they represent the East in the Finals. This team is incredible.