By Dan Savage

If the Orlando Magic plan on earning a Game 6 victory in Boston, they’re going to have to play their best contest of the series and have near-perfect execution in number of areas. It won’t come down to just one thing or a single player.

However, if you’re looking for the main key to a Magic victory, search no further than franchise cornerstone Dwight Howard.

While his teammates all play pivotal roles, the Magic’s offense and defense goes as far as their Superman takes them.

Howard had to put up monster numbers in both of Orlando triumphs thus far, recording 32 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in Game 4 and notching 21, 10 and five in Game 5.

Hey, no one ever said being a superhero was easy.

With the Celtics playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Orlando will once again require Howard to bring the “will” of a superhero. That same determination he revealed prior to Game 4 in Boston.

On that occasion, the Magic’s All-Star center approached his head coach and told him he may need a rest earlier than usual, because he was “going to go as hard as (he) can to get one.” Poised to avoid a sweep, Howard stayed true to his word and dismantled the Celtics interior for game-highs in points, rebounds and blocks.

“He’s been dominant and that's the reason that we're winning,” Rashard Lewis explained. “He’s dominating the paint and making it tough for their guys to come in and score easy baskets.”

Unlike the first five games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Howard could provide an even greater mismatch down low than normal. With Glen Davis possibly out due to a concussion and Rasheed Wallace suffering from back problems, the Celtics interior could be heavily depleted. If Howard can dominate early and force Boston to double and possible even triple-team him, it will open up shots for the Magic on the perimeter and make the lives of his teammates much easier.

After all, that’s the power only Superman can have over the outcome of a game.

By Josh Cohen

Rashard Lewis said it best during his postgame interview on Wednesday: “Game 6 will most definitely be the hardest game of the playoffs that we’ve ever faced.”

There are countless items that Stan Van Gundy will address to his team prior to tipoff on Friday. Examples include limiting turnovers, moving the ball to create open shots and attacking the glass to deny Boston from having second-chance opportunities.

But the most important agenda for the Magic is to disallow Paul Pierce from locating his sweet spots and forcing contact on his fakes. The Truth has been almost unstoppable offensively in this series – shooting at least 50 percent in the first three games of the series and then erupting for 32 points in Game 4.

In Game 5, however, hard-nosed and battle-tested defender Matt Barnes helped control the former NBA Finals MVP. The eight-time All-Star went just 3-of-8 from the field and recorded only two points the second half.

The Celtics rely heavily on Pierce offensively when the going gets tough, and if he is not in his rhythm, Boston often struggles putting points on the board.

Barnes, Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus will absolutely have their hands full once again guarding Pierce in Game 6. But what may help minimize The Truth will be requiring him to defend Lewis, a favorable aspect of the fourth quarter for the Magic in Game 5.

Ice-O continuously backed Pierce down in the post when Boston was forced to go small with Kendrick Perkins (ejection) and Glen Davis (concussion) out. Lewis realizes the small forward position is his more natural spot, especially since he played that role during his nine years with the Seattle Sonics.

Lewis racked up nine of his 14 points in the final frame, and it was very obvious that Pierce was exhausted after having to contend with the Houston native’s length.

It is very clear that when Pierce is removed from the picture, Boston doesn’t really have other answers offensively. Although Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have their moments, Pierce is the one who sets the table for whether Boston will have control of the game or not.