No sweep was more impressive than Orlando's dismantling of the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic finished off the Hawks last night in Atlanta, 98-84. Five players scored in double digits for Orlando, as the Magic connected on 16-of-37 three-pointers. The sad-sack Hawks shot just 40.5 percent (3-of-12 on threes), in getting swept for the second straight year in the conference semifinals. Atlanta's two best scorers, Johnson and Crawford, each made just 5-of-15 FG attempts last night. Johnson made just 8-of-30 (27 percent) the last two games, totaling just 22 points (averaged 21.3 PPG this year on 46 percent shooting). Crawford was not much better making 11-of-28 (33.3 percent) in the two home games.

The Hawks were swept in the semis last year by the Cavs, losing by an average of 18.0 PPG. The Magic's margin of victory this year was 25.3 PPG, giving Orlando the largest margin of victory in any 4-0 sweep in NBA playoff history (previous record was held by the Lakers, who outscored the Spurs by an average 22.3 PPG back in 2001). The Magic remained unbeaten in the postseason (8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS) and have now won 14 straight (13-1 ATS) since losing to San Antonio back on April 2 (have won 28 of 31 since Feb 28). The Hawks are the third team in the last six postseasons to sweep both of their first two series. However, a word of caution to Orlando backers. The previous two teams to have done so (the Heat in '05 and the Cavs in '09), each lost in the conference finals!

The Lakers followed Orlando's sweep with a four-game sweep of their own last night. LA jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first half and cruised to a 111-96 win. Kobe had 32 points (fifth straight 30-plus game / averaged 32.0 PPG vs the Jazz) with Gasol adding 33 points (playoff-high this year) and 14 rebounds. Gasol's been just terrific this postseason (20.2-13.1), averaging 23.5 PPG and 14.5 RPG vs the Jazz. Artest and Fisher each scored 20 points In LA's Game 3 win but combined to shoot just 5-of-16 last night for 15 points (who cares?).

The Jazz put a good 'fight' in each of the series' first three games but clearly had nothing left last night. Williams (24.3-10.2 APG), Boozer (19.7-13.2) and Millsap (18.0-8.8)) all had excellent postseasons but the bottom line is this. The Jazz have now lost three straight years to the Lakers in the playoffs and they are NOT getting closer to winning. The Lakers needed six games to oust Utah in '08, five games in '09 but just four games in 2010. A check of the postseason numbers to-date show home teams 40-21 SU (.656) and 36-25 ATS (59.0 percent). There have been 29 overs, 29 unders and three pushes (can't make that up!), while those following the Zig Zag theory are starting to really get hurt. Two losses last night makes it 22-27 this postseason, or minus-7.7 net games.

The Celtics and Cavs meet tonight in Cleveland at 8:05 ET (TNT). The series is tied two-all and as I've been reporting these last few weeks, Game 5 winners of a seven-games series (tied at two-all) have gone on two win 128 of 154 series all-time (that's 83/.1 percent!). I guess that means this is a big game. The Cavs are favored by 7 1/2-points and the total is 194. The Lakers and Suns are set in the Western Conference finals (date to be determined) with LA opening a 3-to-1 favorite to win the series. The early number on Game 1 is LA minus-6 1/2 and a total of 211 1/2.

Good luck...Larry

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