What: Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic, Game 2. Magic leads series, 1-0.

When: 8:30 p.m.

Where: The Q.

TV/radio: TNT; WTAM AM/1100.

Mo Williams' study of the stat sheet following Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals served a severe dose of humility.

LeBron James had played like himself - the Cavaliers' superstar. Dwight Howard had played like the Orlando Magic's superstar. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu had played like the Magic's All-Stars.

Then there was Williams, the Cavs' supporting All-Star to James in the practiced NBA success system that even the best players need support to win playoff series.

Williams had not held up his end of the bargain and knew it. He openly took much of the blame for the Cavs' 107-106 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday.

He wasn't just being a stand-up guy, it was a fact and he knows it has to change if the Cavs are going to get back in the series with a Game 2 victory tonight.

"I think the biggest key to the game was myself," Williams said.

"I have to take the pressure off [LeBron]. I'm looking at the stats and I'm looking at Dwight and I'm looking at Rashard and I'm looking at Hedo and those guys were terrific. And I look at myself."

Williams had 17 points, second most on the Cavs behind James' personal playoff best of 49. Williams even provided an incredible highlight when he made a near 70-foot shot to end the first half.

He even came within a few inches of making a heave at the final buzzer that could have become Orlando sports fans' version of "The Shot" for the next few decades.

But that's fantasy, and the icy reality showed in those columns of black and white that Williams viewed with such disdain. He was 6-of-19 shooting. In the second half as the Cavs were blowing a 15-point lead with a defense in disarray and the offense seizing up and watching a cramping James try to do everything on his own, Williams went just 2-of-7 and had no assists.

Meanwhile, Turkoglu was looking like James as an effective point forward and Lewis was rising to the occasion by coming up with clutch jumpers - the sort of shots Williams hit throughout the regular season, earning him a trip to All-Star Weekend.

During the playoffs, Williams has had a couple of good games, but his shooting and overall production have been significantly reduced from previous levels. He's shooting 42 percent in the postseason after hitting 47 percent in the regular season and his 3-point percentage is down about nine percentage points.

The difference between his performance and Lewis' and Turkoglu's in Game 1 only padded that area.

It wasn't just Williams, either. Delonte West suffered a slump after a great series with the Atlanta Hawks, going just 4-of-13 shooting in Game 1. The backcourt of West and Williams is where the Cavs are in need of dominance in this series because Orlando's frontcourt of Lewis and Howard has the advantage.

"Nobody said it was going to be easy," West said. "We're going to see what this team is made of. It's too early to get your panties in a bunch just yet. It's a seven-game series."

Ultimately, the Cavs probably didn't lose because West and Williams weren't able to hit more shots. After all, they scored 106 points and shot 49 percent as a team. But James also had to set a team record for scoring to keep the Cavs in it and it is unrealistic to expect such play to continue even from the league's Most Valuable Player.

It is realistic for West and most especially Williams to return to their season form. Rather, it is vital with the firepower the Magic has and likely will continue to show off. All the parties know it.

"Mo and Delonte have to keep stepping up and shooting because they are good shooters," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "They are going to make more for us at the end of the day."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166

Box

Cavaliers vs. Orlando

Eastern CONFERENCE FINALS Best-of-seven (Magic lead series, 1-0)

May 20: Orlando, 107-106

Today: at The Q, 8:30

Sunday: at Orlando, 8:30

Tuesday: at Orlando, 8:30

*Thurs., May 28: at The Q, 8:30

*Sat., May 30: at Orlando, 8:30

*Monday, June 1: at The Q, 8:30

*-if necessary

Note: All games on TNT