How Magic Can Stop LeBron James

No one really stops LeBron James anymore, but there are ways to slow him. He's like bad weather. You just prepare for it as best you can.

James ran through the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs doing pretty much whatever he wanted -- and when he wanted -- on his way to winning the Most Valuable Player Award and leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA.

Obviously for the Orlando Magic, the key to their chances in this Eastern Conference final is preventing James from just totally dominating the series. They can win, if they do that.

Not since Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls has an NBA champion relied so heavily on one player to carry the load as the Cavs do. James has averaged 32.9 points in the first two rounds of the playoffs -- both sweeps by the Cavs. Their second leading scorer has been Mo Williams at 14.8 points, a dangerously large gap for any team, making it vulnerable to another team with good balance.

The Magic slowed James during the regular season better than anyone else in the league by turning him into a jump shooter, something they can do because of center Dwight Howard -- Defensive Player of the Year -- patrolling the lane.

The Magic held a 2-1 edge in the regular season. In their first victory, James made only 10 of 27 shots. In the second Magic victory, James made seven of 20 shots. In the Magic loss, James made 15 of 27 shots and scored 43 points.

"It's kind of like pick your poison. How do you want him to hurt you,'' said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "I don't think there is one way to do it throughout a series or throughout a game. He's just too good. You have to be ready to adjust.''

It may look like James has the Magic defense on a string tonight in Game 1 with all five defenders moving as he moves, even if it means leaving opportunities for everyone else.

"You have to somehow cut off his ability to get to the basket,'' offered Sam Vincent, former coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, when asked by FanHouse Monday how to slow James. "He will find his teammates on the perimeter, but you ultimately prefer that than a 50-point game from LeBron.

Vincent, who has watched the playoffs from his home in Texas, said that James has become too good of a clutch shooter to think you can count on him missing shots.

"Your whole game plan, obviously, has to revolve around James. More than anything, it's a total team defense. Everybody better know the rotations,'' Vincent said. "It's not like the old days, where you could let him get 70 and stop everyone else. That doesn't work anymore. You can't rely on that.''

The Magic will open with Hedo Turkoglu trying to chase James. But it won't be long before Mickael Pietrus comes off the bench for his turn. Rashard Lewis will get a chance, too. And Howard will be lurking anytime James starts a drive.

"You can't be afraid,'' Howard said. "I have to keep him away from the rim. I wouldn't say give him jump shots, but I'd rather him shoot the ball (from outside), than for him to be getting into the lane, where he's dunking or finding other people and getting them involved.''