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Magic win, but it doesn't quite feel right

06/10/09 | by Zach McCann [mail] | Categories: Recaps

I know right now should be a happy time. The Magic just won their first NBA Finals game ever and put themselves within 48 minutes of tying the series at 2-2. Dwight Howard took the Magic farther than that other big man ever could. This team is where no Magic team has ever been before.

But I’m sorry. I’m having a lot of trouble enjoying it.

The Magic played the best game they’re going to play offensively, but still couldn’t keep the Lakers from tying the game up with 2 minutes to play. They set an NBA Finals record for field-goal percentage — better than MJ’s Bulls, Magic’s Lakers or Larry’s Celtics — yet the Lakers could’ve won the game as easily as the Magic did.

It leaves a really sour taste in my mouth. It feels like I studied for hours and passed a mid-term, and then realized the class average was a 94. Sure, it feels good, but the outside factors take a lot of joy out of the accomplishment.

If anything, the close finish was an ode to the Lakers. When the Magic shoot this good, they’re supposed to be unbeatable. Not tonight. You can forget any blowout Magic victories in this series — the Magic are only going to win a championship this year by winning three more close games.

They’re going to need more clutch plays like Mickael Pietrus’ tip-in with to put the Magic up 101-99 with 2:09 to play. Rashard Lewis will need more cold-blooded shots like down the stretch tonight. And Rafer Alston needs to keep playing his game, as Stan Van Gundy puts it - attacking, creating, penetrating.

The Lakers did everything in their power to shut down the three-point line, and they did — the Magic only shot 14 treys. The Magic responded by attacking the hoop and reaching the free-throw line (23-of-30) and hitting 17 two-point jumpers.

My problem is, this game felt like a classic Game 3 trap win. The classic playoff victory when the team without home-court advantage wins the third game with its crowd fired up and its season on the ropes.

I know you can’t count this Magic team out. Ever. They’ve come back from two deficits in these playoffs, and there’s no doubt they have the ability to win three out of four games against the Lakers.

“Whether it’s from game to game, minute to minute, our team will keep playing,” Van Gundy said. “We have bad games like Game 1, but it’s never a matter of our resilience or quitting or anything else.”

That’s true, and we know this Magic team is never out of it. But something really, really has to be done about the defense.

The Magic failed to calm the Lakers’ offense for the third consecutive game, this time allowing 104 points on 89 possessions.

Pietrus and Courtney Lee did a fine job on Kobe Bryant after his 6-of-7 start. Bryant only scored 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in the second half, and he missed 11 of his last 14 shots.

The Lakers’ forwards, though, continue to give Orlando problems. Pau Gasol’s pretty post moves led him to 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Trevor Ariza scored 13 points and Lamar Odom had 11 points in a relatively quiet night.

It wasn’t a pretty offensive performance by any standards, but the Lakers did just enough to stay in it.

“I thought we controlled the tempo of the game, the way we wanted to play the game,” Phil Jackson said.

The Magic should’ve won this game by more points. They had chances to put the game away and they didn’t. At several times in the middle of the fourth quarter with the Magic ahead in the 7-9 range, it would’ve taken one shot or one stop to really put the dagger in the Lakers. But that dagger didn’t come until Pietrus made two free throws to make it a four-point game with 28 seconds remaining.

I realize that many of the visitors of this Web site are Magic fans, and I don’t intend to be a Scottie Sourpuss. This was a very nice win and something the Magic can certainly build on. Winning an NBA Finals game isn’t easy under any condition.

But I don’t want the Magic to be reduced to small victories. It’s not enough to make a series of it. I don’t care about them earning respect or anything of the sort. I just want the Magic to win an NBA title. And I think they can.

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15 comments, 44 trackbacks

Comment from: CHHKOURTH GAME [Visitor]
*Game 3 Magic v.s Laker is set up game for Las vegas Money not for Fans.[That nigh Laker plays for Funn not for win].
*The NBA champion this year is LAKER.
*Game 4 Laker win.
*Game 5 laker looss [set up to looss for Stadium]
*Game 6 Laker win in Home place
CHHKOUTH GAME
06/10/09 @ 03:40
Comment from: Matt Brown [Visitor]
I'm sorry, you gotta realize that only Magic Fans are reading your stuff, so why do you have to be so pessimistic about things EVEN WHEN WE WIN. This series could easily be 2-1 Orlando and you know that so why do you have to act like we have no shot even when we do win. Just like at your last two major posts. One reads, "Magic Win, but it just doesn't feel right" (did you need that but? just be happy man jeesh, your supposed to be a Magic fan like all of us)and the other reads "It's not over yet,but its getting there" Jesus man if the Orlando Magic have to find some inspiration for confidence they certainly shouldn't be looking at your articles which are SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE MAGIC FANS and supposed to give us hope instead of shooting us down. Man, this is the one website where I wanna go and read GOOD THINGS about the Magic, yet it's nearly nowhere to be found, sorry but I'm on the verge of being a non-reader.
06/10/09 @ 04:34
Comment from: A-lo [Visitor]
If I wanted cliche-ridden and low-brow basketball analysis, I would go to the Orlando Sentinel. But I stopped reading that poor excuse for a newspaper (really, mugshots of the day as a front page feature?).

Orlandomagicdaily.com is about quality analysis and providing your readers with as much unbiased writing as you can given that this is an Magic-centric website. So don't worry about not being too ecstatic about the Magic's win last night.

Yes, the Magic shot unbelievably, but the game came down to the wire. While fans like to think that the Magic could have stolen Game 2, we could just as easily be looking at an 0-3 hole. Now that the Magic's offense is back on track, and the PG Dilemma has been resolved (until the next game), hopefully the defense will be worked on for the next game. Because the Magic aren't going to win this series by outscoring the Lakers.
06/10/09 @ 06:30
Comment from: jstrouse05 [Member] Email
I don't feel lucky to have won last night in any way. Yes the Magic shot very very well, but so did the Lakers! Look at the box score, the shot 51% if you take out that barage of garbage 3's in the last 45 seconds or so, and Ariza's aweful 2/7 from 3 point land. They easily match the Magic. The only reason the Lakers stayed in the game in the first half is because Kobe couldn't miss even with a hand in his face or when he got fouled. He was killing it in the 1st half. But give Pietrus and Lee credit, they irritated him a lot down the stretch and he forced some shots. And everytime Orlando started to get a lead, they would get a stupid turnover and LA would hit another shot to get it back to 4 or 5 points. I think the Magic played very well offensively, but their defense was lacking. Turk failed to close out on a few open shooters, Pau owned the paint late with his quick hooks, and Odom dominated Rashard in the paint. If I'm a Laker fan I'm more upset with the fact Phil took 3 quarters to get Odom and Pau involved. They shot a combined 13 of 17 almost all from the paint, that's 8 less shots than Kobe had, and a lot more easy buckets. If I'm a Magic fan I'm happy with the win but concerned with our post defense and our defensive rebounding. Dwight's trying to help on every player that touches the ball in the paint and Rashard, Hedo, and everyone else needs to box out and rebound or we're gonna see a lot more 2nd and 3rd chance shots for LA in game 4.

And as for Matt Brown's comments, don't worry Zach I'll take an honest unbiased writer over someone with blue and white blinders on that only focuses on the good rather than what they really see on the hardwood. Keep up the good work!
06/10/09 @ 09:28
Comment from: afallingbomb28 [Member] Email
The reason this game was close was bc of turnovers. I didn't look at the box score but there were so many lazy passes last night. The other reason was offensive rebounds. We let them get 4 or 5 rebounds in the last minute and that can't happen.

Big ups to C-Lee who played fantastic D on Kobe in the 3rd and it would've been perfect But he left his feet and reached in to give Kobe 5 FTs, other than that great job.

With that said, I don't feel lucky to have won last night but I think Lakers win it in 6.
06/10/09 @ 12:57
Comment from: Linda from Tallahassee [Visitor]
I agree with Zach McCann's take on the Magic victory last night (Game 3). As a former resident of Orlando, I've been a Magic fan since Day One, and I'd like to be more joyful about getting the "w," but the final score was way too close when you consider that the Magic set a Finals record for scoring. Even to the last second (as Lebron taught us), a Laker victory was possible, and that knowledge saps any sense of vindication I'd love to be feeling right now. Two other quick observations: I agree w. one of the commentators that Rayford Alston deserves to be on the floor because he's the one that helped get us to the dance.
Also, Mark Jackson's sneering commentary style is very offensive, particularly his mean-spirited remarks about the fact that Dwight likes "Finding Nemo." Who doesn't love that movie? It is a sad commentary when rude, crude, obscene, and violent are deemed the only "acceptable" entertainment qualities by self-deluded posers. Wish Reggie Miller were sitting in Jackson's seat. Though he was a formidable, love-to-hate Magic opponent when he was a Pacer, at least with Miller we'd have some topnotch "been-there" NBA expertise ...not to mention class and cool.
06/10/09 @ 13:47
Comment from: John [Visitor]
The flip side to this argument is that in game 2 the Magic shot well under their record-setting field goal percentage of game 3 and forced overtime. The Lakers took 14 more shots than the Magic and about double the offensive boards in game 2. Turnovers were prettty much equal for both teams. If the Magic can prevent this huge shot disparity, they will be able to go toe-to-toe with the Lakers without a record setting night.
06/10/09 @ 14:00
Comment from: Ayj [Visitor]
Magic fans should feel very good about this victory. First the Lakers played a very good game, too - people are too enamoured with the Magic's shooting percentage stat - one stat does not tell the whole story. The Magic played a solid game as a team and bested a great effort by LA. If you notice the trend the Magic are slowly, but surely picking up their confidence and learning to attack this Laker defense with consistency and purpose.

The Magic were playing very good on Offense because they were taking high percentage shots inside the arc instead of going three crazy. This can continue, there is no reason it can't - people are too quick to point out this is the best effort the Magic can make and they barely won. They played solid defense in the last part of the game, that was how it was ultimately decided. They shook the annointed "best closer in the game" to the point of fatigue. I knew getting the first win was going to be the hardest. Now I believe they are in a position to put LA on its heels and put the pressure on LA to respond. They are going to force the Lakers to compact their defense so that the Offense is getting the drives and short jumpers, which will pull the Lakers away from Howard. D12 could have his best game of the series in Game 4 -"DOMINATE". It wasn't that the Magic were just making unbelievable shots for that shooting percentage - it was that they were playing great team offense and taking the right shot and making the right pass. The Magic were settling for and forced into bad shots in the first two games. They made a great adjustment and now have some momentum.
06/10/09 @ 14:13
Comment from: Snoopy2006 [Visitor]
Matt - you're wrong, when McCann's work is good enough to be linked to on national news sites such as ESPN, it's not just Magic fans reading this. I'm a Lakers fan and make sure to read his work whenever I have the chance.

Zach - I definitely understand the sentiment. If it makes you feel any better, the only reason the Lakers were close at halftime was a superhuman performance, even by Kobe's standards. As great as he is, if the Magic play tighter D his midrange J won't fall that regularly. Also, I think one of the huge Magic positives was Lee/MP's post defense on Kobe in the 2nd half. He obliterated them early on, but in the 2nd half they did a great job of fighting him off his spots and denying the post entry pass. This is still very much a tight series, and I'm hoping LA can pull off Game 4, because momentum is a strange thing.
06/10/09 @ 15:16
Comment from: Matt Brown [Visitor]
Hey I agree Zach is a great writer and thats how I first started reading his stuff is from an ESPN podcast but my point is that I hate how he has to always look at the negative in the Magic as if thats his main point. It seems as if his postings are not from a Magic point of view and thats what this site is for, for Magic fans to listen to another Magic fan talk.

LASTLY, DONT YOU REMEMBER HE PICKED THE LAKERS TO WIN THIS SERIES!?!?!?!? Yeessh, thats really sad, I am a HUGE Magic fan and would NEVER say that and I don't think any TRUE Magic fan would either, you have to ALWAYS BACK YOUR TEAM no matter what the odds are (Cleavland series, Bet he picked the Cavs too)
06/11/09 @ 01:57
Comment from: Caleb Johnson [Member] Email
Zach picked the Magic in 7 on his ESPN Radio appearance. I don't know what you're talking about. The series is still the Lakers' to lose. We can have that bright commentary without the negative outlooks IF the Magic win games 4 and 5, and that's going to be extremely difficult.

And this website isn't just for Magic fans. There's a reason it's called the TrueHoop NETWORK. Fans from across the NBA can come over here and see what the opposition's point of view is. If you want blind optimism, watch Channel 9 news. They predicted Dwight to go for a triple-double and 40 points in game one. Have fun with that brilliant analysis.
06/11/09 @ 12:26
Comment from: A Celtics Fan [Visitor]
Zach baby,

Nice post. Has anybody else noticed the poor quality of news and analysis on the web with regards to the Magic? The Orlando Sentinel has to have the worst sports department in the US, if not the world. And Orlando is not getting a lot of respect from the rest of the big papers or even SI and ESPN.

I'm rooting for the M's, but there are a couple of things that bug me about the Magic. Number one is your coach. Does the guy even have a clue? How does he come up with his lineups? Dartboards? Just saying cause I can't figure why he's playing Nelson when the guy is so out of practice, not to mention he's the shortest guy on the court. And then there is the mysterious appearance of Reddick in game 2. The former Duke star just does not have the range to hit a NBA 3. He looks like an out of place kid among the men in the NBA. And yes I'm a Duke hater. Glad we cleared that up.

Why hasn't Johnson gotten any playing time in the Finals? He gave the team a real spark against the Celtics. And why oh why doesn't Hedo Türkoğlu get the love he deserves from the Orlando fans and the press? He is the best player on the team by far. You didn't even mention him in your article. Howard may become a NBA superstar one day, but right now he just doesn't have the moves. He's a one trick pony - a dunkmeister.

What made the Magic effective in game 3 was excellent passing and ball movement. That and stepping inside the 3 point line to take some higher percentage shots. And also attacking the basket. Or to sum it up, good team play. And that's what it will take to win another game. Hopefully, they figured that out from re-watching the game.

For me the game turned when Courtney Lee made the big slam dunk move. When I saw that happen, I knew that big-ego Bryant would take it as a challenge and get out of the game that had been so successful for the Lakers. And sure enough from that point on KB hogged the ball and tried to be the superstar instead of a team player. He never got the highlight film slam dunk that he wanted to show that he's the big superstar. Pity the Lakers - not really.

So I'm rooting for the M's except is there some way that if the Magic wins that it could keep Reddick from getting a ring? I know... It's not a perfect world and some thing just aren't fair.
06/11/09 @ 14:58
Comment from: Mike [Visitor]
I actually think the close nail-biter may help the Magic. They looked tight at the end and as if they might fold under the pressure of the absolute must-win and a charging Laker team, but Peitrus stepped up and then Lewis all but closed the game out. The Magic took all the Laker's could give and still came away the winners. If the Magic can get another tough win tonight then the pressure shifts back to LA. So many stories about Kobe needing to get Odom & Gasol more involved, but here is Kobe's issue w/that. He wants this to be his Ring - his Championship. You can almost here the Shaq Rap play in his head!!! "..Last week Kobe couldn't do without me." Would he dare give up the final shot??
06/11/09 @ 16:09
Comment from: Matt Brown [Visitor]
Sorry, I was wrong, but it's even worse what is right, HE PICKED THE CAVS IN 7 LAST SERIES....jeez thats bad considering the MAGIC WON IN 6, so now hes picking the Magic so he doesn't look like he did in the last series (a non believer)
06/11/09 @ 20:05
Comment from: magicmakin [Member] Email
I thought this blog was to discuss Magic basketball, not publications and writers. I come to this site to hear the insight of a blogger who's at the game (I'm not) and to hear other bb fans' interesting discussions. If you don't like the author, go somewhere else. Keep up the good honest writing, Zach!
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