Just when I say LeBron James hasn’t carried his team through adversity quite like Kobe Bryant has throughout the Western Conference playoffs, James goes and drops a triple-double on Orlando to pull Cleveland within 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

I’m still skeptical (but hopeful) of Cleveland winning the next two and advancing to the Finals, where a matchup with Bryant for all the marbles will make great theater. But that figures to be an improbable feat if it’s going to take two more 37-point, 14-rebound, 12-assists performances from James. It becomes an especially difficult task considering Saturday’s Game 6 is in Orlando and the Cavs not only haven’t figured out the Magic but have yet to win in Orlando.

What makes me most pessimistic, though, is how the Cavs played one of their best games of these playoffs and still needed a huge fourth quarter from James to pull away, still only won by 10 at home and still squandered a big lead, this time 22 points.

And for all of James’ dominance in the fourth quarter, many of his 17 points in the final period came on jump shots. If those aren’t falling in Game 6 the Cavs are in big trouble.

Aside from that, Thursday night was the first time that James got some much-needed help from his teammates. Mo Williams poured in 24 points, Big Z scored 16, Delonte West finished with 13 points and Daniel Gibson had 11 off the bench. I doubt all four of those guys have similar performances when their backs are against the wall on the road. I doubt Cleveland goes into Orlando and shoots 50 percent and builds another 20-plus point lead, let alone hang on for victory after blowing it.

James is a special, special talent and leading his team to the NBA Finals after trailing 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals would be his most impressive feat yet. I’m rooting for him. I just don’t see Cleveland getting it done.

ON NUGGETS-LAKERS
A friend of mine who covers the Nuggets text messaged me last night and asked if I thought Denver could beat L.A. in tonight’s Game 6.

My reply: “Definitely. L.A. hasn’t proved to be consistent on the road. Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum haven’t been nearly as effective as they should be. The Nuggets’ role players you would think will play much better at home. And that Pepsi Center crowd seems like it’s been crazy.”

I want to believe the Lakers have learned a lesson from how erratic they played in that Houston series. I want to believe that Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher all will have that killer instinct to close this thing out and get a little extra rest before the Finals. But teams are what they are at this point in the season, and the Lakers have proven that they don’t take care of business when they should.

Everything in me says Denver wins a close one tonight and takes this thing back to L.A. for Game 7.

I expect Chauncey Billups to come out aggressive much like he did in Game 1 of the first round against New Orleans. If he gets going early it could be a long night for L.A.

It might be essential that Billups come out in attack mode with this game providing all the pressure Denver’s fiery roster needs to implode if things start out on the wrong foot. Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Dahntay Jones and Nene can all lose their cool at any moment and have shown it in this series. Billups is the one calming force that can settle down the Nuggets in this elimination game.

Something tells me the X-factor tonight will be Trevor Ariza. He’ll need to hit the open shots that the Lakers’ system creates for him and play lock down defense on Carmelo Anthony. Jordan Farmar could also be big off the bench if given ample minutes. Denver backup point guard Anthony Carter can’t keep up with Farmar defensively, so if Phil Jackson plays him he could help L.A. match the firepower coming off Denver’s bench.

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More and more I’m hearing people say they’re sick of Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James.

Sick of the Nike puppets. Sick of the Vitamin Water ads debating the Black Mamba and the Chosen One. And sick of the NBA “pushing” for that matchup in the NBA Finals.

But the NBA’s great debate can be settled tonight. All it will take is a loss to Orlando by James’ Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where it has really become win or go home in this elimination game.

It’s baffling, by the way, how anyone outside of Denver and Orlando can root against a Kobe-LeBron Finals. That’s like saying, ‘Eh, I’d rather not see Tiger and Phil in the final pairing on Sunday at Augusta.’

But for all of King James’ stats and individual honors and regular season wins this season, it should become clear to everyone that Bryant still wears the crown as the league’s best player.

James averaged more points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Bryant in the regular season. He also shot a higher percentage from the field while leading the Cavs to a league-best 66 wins, one more than Bryant’s Lakers. He took home the much deserved honor as MVP after putting together a season that swayed many into thinking he’s actually surpassed Bryant.

But what we’re all witnessing in these conference finals is the one ingredient that still separates the two players, the one factor that Bryant has that has his team one win away from advancing to the NBA Finals rather than one defeat from summer vacation — will.

Bryant, no matter how ugly things have been for the Lakers at times, will not let his team get bounced from the playoffs. Each time the Lakers’ backs have been against the wall, Bryant has come to the rescue. Of course the Lakers need five more wins to seal the deal. But thus far it’s been Bryant who’s willed his team through the adversity. Bryant who carried the Lakers past Utah, a down but determined Houston team and now a loaded and confident Denver team.

James, on the other hand, had it easy while leading the Cavs through a reeling Detroit squad and a scared Atlanta team. But when Cleveland faced a team just as talented and hungry as it in Orlando, James hasn’t had the answer. His eight turnovers in Game 4 cost his team the game and proved that he still is nowhere near the fourth-quarter finisher that Bryant is.

Supporters of James will point to the lack of help James has received from his teammates. And while it’s true, the same can be said out West with Bryant, who has only gotten a few key plays and even fewer solid performances out of his supporting cast. But the same people who were quick to use Bryant’s talented teammates against him in the great debate likely won’t remember how Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum have largely toiled through these playoffs as non-factors.

Bryant is still the game’s best, and it’s time to admit we’re all witnesses.

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It’s pretty amazing how similar these two conference finals matchups are.

In the East, the Cavs are getting out-hustled by an Orlando team that is playing together and with more of a purpose and sense of urgency. The same has unfolded out West, where the Lakers, for the second straight series, look great one game and appear to go through the motions the next.

Denver’s 120-101 win over the Lakers at the Pepsi Center on Monday night exposed the Lakers for what they are. They’re not underachieving. They’re not turning it on and off. They’re just not that great.

L.A. at this point has two players who you know are going to show up, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. No one else has proven they can be counted on.

Denver, even with an injured and ill Carmelo Anthony, outplayed L.A. from start to finish to tie this series at two games apiece as it heads back to Staples Center for Game 5 on Wednesday. The Nuggets out-rebounded the Lakers 58-40, outscored them 52-34 in points in the paint, finished with a 42-24 advantage in bench points and never trailed again after taking a 2-1 lead.

“They just kicked our (butt),” Bryant said. “It’s not like we can turn it on, turn it off. They just whooped us, period. They whooped us on the glass. They whooped us to loose balls. There’s no switch. There was no switch. We played hard. They played harder and better, period.”

Denver’s rebounding was more dominant than it looked on the final stat sheet. The Nuggets had 20 offensive rebounds to the Lakers’ nine. Denver got at least 13 rebounds from Kenyon Martin, Nene and Chris Andersen. That trio kept the Lakers from closing out defensive possessions by securing rebounds and it led to too many second-chance scoring opportunities.

What stood out, though, is how the Lakers didn’t have anyone remotely interested in matching Denver’s physicality and putting a body on someone to limit the Nuggets’ second chances. I remember one possession in which Andersen needlessly dove on the floor for a loose ball following a Lakers miss even though L.A.’s players were back-peddling down court. Andersen was surrounded by three white jerseys and still sacrificed his body.

Lamar Odom is about as big a non-factor as you’ll ever see. Derek Fisher is not having an impact on either end, and he’s forcing Bryant to work harder because he has to defend Chauncey Billups at times. Trevor Ariza lost his shooting touch in Denver and seemingly forgot he has the tools to defend Carmelo Anthony. He’s another one who’s making things more difficult for Bryant since Bryant has to defend Melo on occasion as well. And Sasha Vujacic has yet to do much of anything positive throughout the entire postseason.

The Lakers’ only saving grace is that they have No. 24 and home court advantage. This series will go seven games. It will because the Lakers can’t win on the road. It will because the Lakers can’t step on a team when it’s down. It will because L.A. isn’t getting anything from anyone other than Bryant and Gasol. It will because Denver is the better team.

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The Orlando Magic deserves credit, much more than I’m willing to give them.

En route to their 2-1 series lead over Cleveland following Sunday night’s 99-89 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic have brushed up against blown leads and big comebacks, the defending champions and the reigning MVP. They’ve won five road games, lost four times on a last-second shot, have lived and died by the three, overcome two 40-point games by LeBron James and one suspension to its best player.

But their luck seems ready to run out. The Cavaliers stand on dangerous ground in this series, no doubt. Cleveland was 1.0 seconds away from walking into Game 4 on Tuesday in Orlando looking to avoid a shocking sweep. As it stands, the Magic can take a commanding 3-1 lead.

Here’s why they won’t. The Magic are still far too flawed. But with Denver’s inconsistency and instability flaring up right on cue out West, Orlando has evolved into the darlings of the Conference Finals. Looks like lipstick on a pig from this view.

The Magic still is a jump shooting team. Their starting point guard still is Rafer Alston, who has the potential to make any number of boneheaded decisions on any given possession. They still don’t have a consistent low post scoring option, which will at some point catch up to them down the stretch. The guy who is supposed to be that consistent low post scorer, Dwight Howard, looks like his emotions are starting to bring out the worst in him at costly times. They’re banking on overachieving role players Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis – both of whom the Cavs have yet to figure out – to close out games.

And oh yeah, they still look utterly stumped by James, who eventually is going to get something from his teammates and finally be rewarded for making the right play.

In no way is Orlando playing its best ball. But in every way are the Cavs playing their worst.

The Cavs were the best defensive team in the regular season, holding opponents to a league-low 91.3 points per game and finishing tied for first with Boston in limiting opponents to 43.1 percent shooting, including a league-low 33.3 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Cleveland has allowed Orlando to shoot 49 percent from the field, including 41.6 percent from behind the arc, and average 100 points. The Cavs’ offense, meanwhile, has regressed each game, going from 106 points and five wine and gold jerseys in double-digit scoring in Game 1 to 89 points and just three players in double-digit points in Game 3.

“It’s amazing that we’re still in games at times,” said Cavs guard Mo Williams. “And I think ya’ll know why. It’s No. 23.

“We got to get back to Cavalier basketball.”

Maybe it’s time for Cleveland to forget about Dwight Howard and allow throw more one-on-one post defense at the man-child than he’s ever seen, anything to keep the Magic’s 3-point gunners from getting hot. Perhaps it’s time for the team that blew out teams by a league-best 8.92 margin to revert to outscoring Orlando. Or maybe James should just shift some of that unconditional trust of his teammates back on himself and will this series to a 2-2 deadlock.

The Magic, through all their ups and downs in these playoffs, has shown they can become complacent. Did so in Round One when they toyed with Philadelphia and allowed the Sixers a 2-1 series lead before closing them out in six. Did it again in the Conference Semifinals when Boston took back-to-back victories in Games 4 and 5 on Glen “Big Baby” Davis’ game-winning jumper in Orlando and the Celtics’ 17-3 run to end the game in Boston.

Something is sure to catch up with Orlando. The Magic have too many blemishes on their record to advance this cleanly.

GETTING MO OUT OF MO
Listening to Mo Williams’ post game press conference, I got the sense that the Cavs’ point guard is in store for a big Game 4 on Tuesday.

Following his 5-for-16 shooting performance that resulted in only 15 points with three assists against five turnovers and four fouls, Williams bit the bullet and laid it all on the line.

“We’re giving these guys too much respect,” Williams said candidly. “They’re a good basketball team but so are we.”

Williams then pointed out the pink elephant that sits only in Cleveland’s dressing room, acknowledging the Cavs just can’t match up with Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. He even called versatile swingman Mickael Pietrus the Magic’s “wild card” off the bench.

“They create so many matchup problems for us,” Williams said. “It’s evident. It’s no secret. We know it. Everybody knows it.”

When asked whether he had any bad history with Anthony Johnson or if Orlando’s backup point guard’s controversial elbow to his face would be remembered, Williams stayed focused on the task at hand. (Sort of.)

“I’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Williams said as three band-aids stretched across his stitched-up face, one above and two below his left eye. “I’ve got to figure out how I can make some shots. How I can get open looks. I couldn’t care less about Anthony Johnson. He plays 12 minutes a game.”

If any of the Cavs step up and give James something in Game 4 look for it to be Williams. As he sat on the podium it was as if he was saying, ‘Yeah we have matchup problems. Yeah we’re not making shots. Yeah we’re down 2-1. So what. Let’s play ball!’

It was the definition of manning up.

DEEP THOUGHTS
I’m sick and tired of LeBron James getting every call. It’s embarrassing. I want to see a LeBron v. Kobe Finals more than anyone. But don’t cheat to make it happen.

Whatever happened to “playoff basketball?” Eighty-six free throws? Unbelievable! Everything is not a foul, and not all contact deserves a trip to the free throw line. I literally dosed off with just less than six minutes remaining and thankfully awoke at the three-minute mark. I quickly rewound my DVR to the last play I remember before hitting REM sleep and, lo and behold, I hit the play button only to see Dwight Howard strolling to the free throw line following a commercial break.

How this song and dance helped Howard make 14 of 19 free throws is anyone’s guess.

Mo Williams sounds like he will make a great college coach someday.

Hedo Turkoglu is baiting some team into seriously overpaying him this summer. Good for him.

Courtney Lee has now posterized James twice in this series. I can guarantee you that was a big talking point in the Magic’s locker room following the game.

During James’ press conference, NBATV showed a graphic that listed the scoring leaders in the past four years of the playoffs. A forgotten name was near the top of the list. Gilbert Arenas sits in third place at 28 points per game (minimum 15 games) and trails only Bryant and James. Here’s hoping Agent Zero gets back soon but most importantly fully healed and ready to reclaim his seat alongside the game’s best in 2009-10.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
“We were able to overcome the dagger of the other night. How would we respond to LeBron’s shot? Everything is so psychological with you guys. It is a basketball game. Our guys were ready to play.” – Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy.

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