Hubie Brown predicted that Dwight Howard was going to destroy the Cavs within the Japanese Convention finals in 2009: “It’s sooner than Gauskas and it’s greater than Varejao” Initially appeared on Basketball community.
Whereas most have been targeted on LeBron James within the 2009 Japanese Convention finals, Hubie Brown noticed Dwight Howard as the true downside. The famend temple coach believed that the Cleveland horsemen had no clear reply for him and that gave the Orlando Magic the higher hand.
Commercial
“It is not that straightforward,” Brown mentioned Journalist David Friedman after the latter requested if the Cavs would higher double or go to Howard. “Primarily as a result of in the event you play it simply, it’s sooner than it’s, it’s greater than Varejao, subsequently, at one level in the course of the match, you’ll have to equip it with the workforce.”
Brown designed the workforce’s season sequence as a reference, the place magic gained two video games to that of the Cavs. Orlando has a median of 10 manufacturers of three factors (which was comparatively excessive at the moment), reaching a clip of 43%.
Nonetheless, as Brown identified, many of those perimeter seems to be didn’t come by chance. They have been a by-product of Howard’s impression. He demanded consideration within the portray, not just for his rating, however due to the way in which he crushed the glass.
Commercial
In opposition to the Boston Celtics within the second spherical, Howard fell 120 rebounds, together with 29 on the offensive facet. These further items have typically compelled the defenses to break down, opening the clear seems to be of deep after fast kicks to the perimeter.
Orlando had probably the most troublesome street to ECF
THE Riders Entered the ultimate of the 2009 Japanese Convention with the perfect document within the League at 66-16 and had crossed the playoffs, sweeping the Pistons de Detroit and the Hawks of Atlanta.
Commercial
However within the eyes of Brown, this domination didn’t inform the entire story. Whereas Cleveland sank, Orlando has gone by an exhausting sequence of seven video games in opposition to the defending champion Boston and got here out extra clear. The Magic additionally held the higher hand in latest matches, profitable the sequence of the season and profitable eight of the final 11 video games in opposition to the Cavs relationship two seasons in the past.
“Look, throw 8-0 (Cleveland Playoff Document)” Brown mentioned, “As a result of Detroit was horrible and that Atlanta succeeded in three starters. It’s subsequently their first official competitors. Now, you say, how did this workforce (Orlando) beat them two out of three and eight of the final 11? This workforce should do one thing good (in opposition to Cleveland) from a defensive perspective that nobody else does within the East convention; issues.”
Evidently, it was 5 many years of expertise of talking coach. Because the sequence came about, Brown turned out to be excellent in all the things.
Commercial
Dwight ruined a possible LeBron-Kobe ultimate
The NBA’s dream of a LeBron-Kobe NBA ultimate was formally derailed In match 6, and Howard made certain. With Magic Holding an advance within the 3-2 sequence, Howard achieved a dominant efficiency on its house ground: 40 factors, 14 rebounds and relentless strain at each ends. He went 14 for 21 on the sector and 12 for 16 of the road, punishing the Cavs for every late rotation and failing helmet.
Commercial
As Brown predicted, Cleveland had no solutions to Dwight. Ilgauskas couldn’t comply with Howard and Varejao’s velocity couldn’t match his power. Every time the riders tried to ship assist, they have been burned by a cross to an open shooter or a fast motion on the rim. Howard checked the inside recreation, giving the tone to a 103-90 victory that sealed the sequence.
Once more, Brown referred to as the sequence earlier than everybody else. Spectacular, he did not want analyzes to find the hole; He perceived it with the eyes of a coach and the many years of scars in playoffs.
Commercial
This story was initially reported by Basketball community On July 20, 2025, the place he appeared for the primary time.
