| 26 August 2010
The Amway Center is set to open its doors to basketball on October 10 for a preseason game between the Magic and the Hornets. The regular season starts October 28 as Orlando takes on Washington. With the countdown on to the premier of the Magic's new building, I thought it would be good to give Orlando Arena a proper send-off and recount some of the best memories from our old home.
We are t-minus 62 days until regular season basketball in the Amway Center!
The Amway Center has officially sold out its first game, a preseason tilt on October 10 against New Orleans. That means we are getting closer and closer to the opening of the new building.
The fervor will build and build until that first game. To celebrate a beginning, I thought I would reveal what I think to be the greatest moment and greatest play in the Orlando Arena's history. I would let the video speak for itself, but it was taken off YouTube (stupid copyright restrictions). It really is amazing to watch the whole final sequence again.
Jordan showed rare struggles down the stretch as the up-and-coming Magic scored a confidence-building victory that led to the six-game series victory in the conference semifinals. It is difficult to remember the particulars of that series. There are really just two moments. The team lifting Horace Grant on to their shoulders at the United Center after Orlando eliminated Chicago.
The other?
With time ticking off the clock and Orlando trailing by one, Michael Jordan was bringing the ball up the court. The Magic elected to wait until the Bulls reached half court before fouling. Nick Anderson drew the assignment of guarding Jordan. It was not long before Jordan got past Anderson and was dribbling slowly into open court.
Anderson lurked behind and Jordan knew it. He looked over his left shoulder, then his right. He knew Anderson was behind him, but did not know where.
Then it happened.
(Eds. Note: thanks MagicFan4Life84 for finding the video!)
Jordan looked over his left shoulder and Anderson came from his right. He poked the ball free and it dribbled away into Penny Hardaway's hands.
Nick Anderson stole the ball. Nick Anderson stole the ball from Michael Jordan.
I do not think David Steele has ever been that excited about something on air. But there was still a play to be made. Orlando still trailed by one.
Hardaway got the ball back down the floor quickly and found Horace Grant running with him. He passed the ball to Grant and he dunked the ball for a one-point lead.
Orlando still needed Michael Jordan to miss a 3-pointer that literally went in and out to preserve victory.
As much as Nick Anderson's missed free throws may have cost the Magic the 1995 NBA Finals (the Rockets were going to win that series anyway, folks) and the team's confidence the rest of the series, this one built it for the rest of the Playoffs. The young franchise had never been out of the first round before and they were facing Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Are you kidding me? Even with Jordan just coming back from retirement (or "retirement") and Orlando earning the top seed in the Playoffs, this was a team that knew how to win a title and had the talent to do so.
Not to mention would win 72 games the next season.
This is probably the thing I will miss most about the Amway Arena. I swear I can sit in my seat at games and still see that moment happen on the court. I doubt (hope) that there are other Magic fans out there who can say the same thing. I am actually really kind of upset that the video was taken off YouTube. It is really incredible to watch the last moments again and just feel the energy in the Orlando Arena.
So, is this the greatest moment in Amway Arena history? I think so.
Thinking back on it, it is just utterly incredible to imagine the circumstances that led to a guy like Nick Anderson getting the best of Michael Jordan.
We will be reminiscing about Orlando Arena for the rest of the summer. Have a memory you would like remembered? Tweet us with your memories @OMagicDaily, comment to this article or contact us through the Web site.
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