ORLANDO -- It's hard to find much good in a third consecutive loss -- the longest losing streak in almost two years -- but the Cleveland Cavaliers discovered quickly just how valuable Antawn Jamison is going to be at playoff time.

Jamison, obtained from Washington last week to give LeBron James a real sidekick, didn't start in Sunday's game. Yet he started the second half and had eight points, three rebounds and a blocked shot in the first 1:39 before the Orlando Magic wisely called time out.

The Cavs now have another game changer.

"I think he's going to help us,'' understated Cavs coach Mike Brown.

It was Jamison's second game with the Cavs, but the first in which he showed why the trade was made. In last week's loss to Charlotte, Jamison missed all 12 of his shots in the worst shooting night of his career.

"I was able laugh off that last game,'' he said Sunday. "But this one, at the start of the second half, I wasn't thinking too much, just playing. And it gave me confidence. I'm feeling a little more comfortable now.''

The Cavs got Jamison to help in their anticipated playoff matchup against Orlando, giving them someone to counter Rashard Lewis. He posted up Lewis at the start of the second half, hitting two short hook shots, a layup and a 20-foot jumper to erase the halftime deficit.

He finished with 19 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Because of the schedule since the All-Star break, he still hasn't had his first practice with the team. It's been a learning-on-the-fly experience, but he loves what he sees coming.

"This is going to be great for me. It's been four years since I've had open jumpers like this, no double teams, able to go one-on- one,'' Jamison said. "It's almost scary what can happen playing alongside guys like this (LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal). It's going to make the game so much easier.''

Jamison averaged 19.9 points in his first 11 seasons, but he never played for a team good enough to be a serious contender. To get him, the Cavs had to trade center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. They still expect Ilgauskas to return after Washington waives him this week, and he waits the required 30 days to re-sign. The only risk is someone else offering Ilgauskas a contract too good to refuse in the meantime.

Although he didn't start the first two games with Cleveland, he could join the starting lineup as early as Tuesday against the New Orleans Hornets.

"Everyone here keeps telling me, don't be passive. Be aggressive and we'll adapt to you,'' Jamison said. "They want me to shoot. That's what I do. I think it will come quickly.''

Source: Tim Povtak, FanHouse