Staring down the barrel of a 0-6 record in finals franchise futility, the Orlando Magic found their stroke offensively, hit their free-throws down the stretch, and stiffened defensively writing a new chapter in franchise history defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 108-104 in Game Three Tuesday night before capacity Amway Center crowd that was raucous and rowdy from the start.
"The one thing that you can't question about our team is our resiliency," said a visibly elated Stan Van Gundy during his post-game news conference after his team narrowly escaped with the four-point must-win at home that turned a 0-2 deficit into a 2-1 sparkling glimmer of hope that extended the championship series.
Orlando's lights-out shooting performance from the field set NBA records for accuracy with an astronomically high 75 percent in the first half and a 62.5 percent average for the game.
It was tale of two halves for Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. His championship dreams turned into a bit of a nightmare, after a stellar 21-point shooting display in the first half, the perennial All-Star was ineffective in the second scoring only 10 points thanks to improved close out Orlando defense and an inexplicably poor performance at the free throw line.
In his post-game press conference a contrite Bryant confessed, "My rhythm was off at the charity stripe." Kobe not only led his team in scoring with 31 points and four three-pointers but he also tallied team dishonors in turnovers (four), fouls (five) and free-throws misses (five). "It was a bad night."
After withstanding a ferocious onslaught from the Magic and with only seconds to go the Lakers stood on the brink of putting the Magic into a 0-3 abyss that 88 others before had been unable to overcome in NBA history.
Read more at Bleacher Report
Showing posts with label 2009 NBA Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 NBA Playoffs. Show all posts
Jun 10, 2009
Jun 7, 2009
Can Magic Turn the Trick Or Will Kobe's Focus Be Too Much Again?
After the 25 point thrashing in Game One at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe "Bean" Bryant, the Orlando Magic players and coaches are telling anyone that will listen that they will rebound in Sunday's Game Two at the Staples Center.
The comeback kids from O-town have somehow been able to find their stroke all season after games when they have lost, only losing consecutive games twice all season with their longest losing streak stopping at three. Unfortunately, the Magic franchise has an 0-5 losing streak in the Finals.
"Every team has nights, where you know, you just don't have it." said a confident yet repentant Dwight Howard who only managed a puny 12 points and 14 rebounds in Game One. "I'm pretty sure we'll bounce back with great energy and effort."
Odds on, he is speaking the truth. There is no way the Magic will shoot 29.9 percent from the field, eight for 23 from 3-point range and give up 40 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds Kobe again.
Right?
Read more at Bleacher Report.
The comeback kids from O-town have somehow been able to find their stroke all season after games when they have lost, only losing consecutive games twice all season with their longest losing streak stopping at three. Unfortunately, the Magic franchise has an 0-5 losing streak in the Finals.
"Every team has nights, where you know, you just don't have it." said a confident yet repentant Dwight Howard who only managed a puny 12 points and 14 rebounds in Game One. "I'm pretty sure we'll bounce back with great energy and effort."
Odds on, he is speaking the truth. There is no way the Magic will shoot 29.9 percent from the field, eight for 23 from 3-point range and give up 40 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds Kobe again.
Right?
Read more at Bleacher Report.
May 29, 2009
Avalanche in Denver, LA Demolishes Nuggets 119-92, take series 4-2
The Los Angeles Lakers are going back to the NBA Finals.
The arms of destiny pummeled the upstart Denver Nuggets from start to finish. Nuggets fans watched helplessly as their team crumbled 119 - 92, against the relentless pressure of the Lakers, before a capacity crowd at the Pepsi Center Friday night.
When LA was thrashed about by 19 points in Game 4 against the Nuggets in the same arena, many in the media and press thought the Lakers were vulnerable to the athletically talented Denver squad.
Playoff coaching legend Phil Jackson all but chuckled after the Game 4 blowout loss, because he knew his team had the upper hand. Denver had awakened the sleeping giant.
Kobe was pissed.
Bryant summoned the best from his Lakers team in Game 5 leading the charge to victory taking hold of the series at 3-2 and setting up the feast that would come in Game 6.
Read more on Bleacher Report.
May 27, 2009
Magic Sparkle From 3, Put Cavs On The Brink 116-114, Lead Series 3-1
"Let the naysayers rail, sing and shout but let your play on the court dispel any doubt."~ Lockdawg
Say, what you will about Stan Van Gundy's teams of the past but, the 2009 Orlando Magic have done the unthinkable put the NBA's No. 1 overall team, MVP and Coach of the Year against the playoff wall.
LeBron James (44 pts, 12 rebs, 7 asts) and the Cleveland Cavaliers go down in humbling overtime defeat to a three-happy Orlando Magic team, 116-114 at the Amway Center in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Magic set a franchise playoff record with 17 makes from downtown but it was Sweet Lew's shot late in the waning seconds of the regulation period that all but sealed the win for Orlando.
With the Cavaliers clinging to a 98-97 lead with 4.1 to go, Rashard Lewis stepped and drilled a 3-pointer on a catch and shoot play off an inbounds pass that put the Magic ahead by two, 100-98.
Not to be denied, King James would step up again and put his team on his back. On the next play he took the ball hard to the rack and was fouled with .5 on the clock.
James had his struggles from the line going 11-15 for the game but he calmly swished both to tie the game at 100-100. The Magic can't get the ball into Howard under the bucket because of Anderson Varejao's sticky defense. (see more at Bleacher Report)
May 24, 2009
Lakers Bust Nuggets 103-97 Take 2-1 Series Lead In Western Conf Finals
DENVER - The Los Angeles Lakers arrived to the Pepsi Center with their minds focused on one thing. Regaining the home-court advantage in the Western Conference Finals.
Kobe Bryant, A*K*A the "Black Mamba", was visibly drained and fatigued by game's end but still managed to torch the Denver Nuggets for 41 points on 50% shooting, leading his team to the six point Game Three victory over the Nuggets 103 -97 at the Pepsi Center. It was the ninth time he has reached the 40-point plateau in his illustrious career.
The Nuggets loss was their first in 16 straight home games including the playoffs.
The Lakers' defense helped Carmelo Anthony return to earth holding Denver's only significant scoring threat to 21 pts on 4-13 shooting, ending his consecutive game streak of 30 + points at five games.
Playing in their first Western Conference Finals home game in 24 years, the Nuggets were full of emotion and high energy but, too often their emotion was negative ultimately leading to three costly technical fouls that amounted to three huge points for the Lakers.
Read more on Bleacher Report
May 23, 2009
Do You Believe In Miracles! King James Does, Cavs Win 96-95 Tie Series
CLEVELAND - U. S. Secretary of State Lewis Cass famously said, "People may doubt what you say but they will believe what you do."
After the Cavaliers lost the home-court advantage in Game One, on two missed shot attempts by guys other than the 2009 MVP, in the final seconds of the game, a throng of doubters sprang up questioning LeBron James' decision to pass the ball with the game on the line.
Facing the same scenario in the final moments of Game Two, with the game and the Cavaliers' season hanging in the balance, King James left no room for doubters.
"I told Mo' whatever it was going take for me, I was going get the ball.", proclaimed Cleveland's superstar forward in his post-game news conference.
Read the rest of the story on Bleacher Report.
May 22, 2009
Denver storms back 106-103 ties series
LOS ANGELES - Carmelo Anthony has officially arrived and the Denver Nuggets found a way to get tough down the stretch making a resounding a statement tying the best-of -seven Western Conference finals series at one game apiece with a 106-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.
Carmelo out dueled his Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant tonight, with his second 30-point game of the series, scoring 34 points on 12-29 shooting. After the Lakers ran out to a fast 14-point lead in the first half but the offense of the purple and gold stalled, stiffened and sputtered in the second half.
They appeared to get cold feet with poor offensive rotations, costly turnovers and poor free-throw shooting ultimately making enough mistakes to lose the home-court advantage.
However, the Denver Nuggets' defense had a lot to do with the come from their behind victory, forcing three huge 24-second shot clock violations. The Lakers led the Nuggets in almost every statistical category, shooting 45.5 % from the field, 40% from 3-point land, forced 14 Denver turnovers and controlled the paint with 52 points (though 40 of those points came in the first half) but when it counted they could not hit the easy ones.
Read the rest of the story on Bleacher Report
May 20, 2009
NBA Conf Finals update...Orlando and LA hold 1-0 leads
West Finals
LOS ANGELES - Carmelo Anthony poured in everything and the kitchen sink hurling in a heroic 39 points and making four huge 3-pointers in humbling defeat against the No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Lakers who held home court 107-105 before the usual star-studded packed Staples Center. Always the leader for the Lakers Kobe Bryant dropped in 40 helping take the early lead in a series that promises to live up to the hype. But the play of the night belonged to an oft victim, Trevor Ariza (6pts, 5rebs, 2assists), who proved to be victor when his team needed him most.
Ariza, a four-year veteran out of UCLA, had the dubious task of trying to match up against the fierce onslaught from Melo, who wouldn't be denied. Still with 30.5 to go Trevor wasn't holding his head down. After two clutch free throws from Kobe Bryant gave L. A. a slim lead 101-99 Ariza seized on the horrible inbound pass from Denver's Anthony Carter going over and through the outstretched arms of Mr. Big shot himself Chauncey Billups then wisely dribbling out a few precious seconds off the clock before finding Bryant who was fouled and hit the final two of his 40 from the line sealing the victory and sending L. A. to an early 1-0 lead in the series.
East Finals
CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers played a perfect game for about two and a half quarters then slowly melted away a 14-point lead and the home court advantage in their game 1 loss 107-106 against D. Howard and the upstart Orlando Magic. The fans in Cleveland are still in shock. They watched helplessly as the game slipped right through the fingers of the Cavs. D. Howard( 30 pts,13 rebs) had a front-row seat after he fouled out late in the fourth quarter but his services would not be needed. After Labron gave the Cavs the slim advantage 106-104, Rashard "Young Fella" Lewis provided the 3-point dagger to silence the crowd and complete the jaw dropping display. The Cavaliers fell in love with the high flying thunderous Labron show early on and when their MVP showed signs of mortality late, his teammates were invisible down the stretch.
James (49 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs) did all he could to will his team to victory driving to the basket in the final moments of the game but the Magic's defense stiffened closing down the paint forcing him to kick the ball back out but the Cavs rotated the ball to Delonte West who missed a wide open and unneccessary three-pointer. Two steps forward, he probably sinks the 20-footer and the home fans go home with smiles. The Cavs would earn a jump ball after a scrum under their basket but with only 1.0 remaining their hopes laid in an off-balanced heave from Williams that clanged the back of the rim sending the Cavs to their first playoff defeat. Orlando now holds the keys to the castle ahead 1-0 in the series having at best already earned a split.
LOS ANGELES - Carmelo Anthony poured in everything and the kitchen sink hurling in a heroic 39 points and making four huge 3-pointers in humbling defeat against the No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Lakers who held home court 107-105 before the usual star-studded packed Staples Center. Always the leader for the Lakers Kobe Bryant dropped in 40 helping take the early lead in a series that promises to live up to the hype. But the play of the night belonged to an oft victim, Trevor Ariza (6pts, 5rebs, 2assists), who proved to be victor when his team needed him most.
Ariza, a four-year veteran out of UCLA, had the dubious task of trying to match up against the fierce onslaught from Melo, who wouldn't be denied. Still with 30.5 to go Trevor wasn't holding his head down. After two clutch free throws from Kobe Bryant gave L. A. a slim lead 101-99 Ariza seized on the horrible inbound pass from Denver's Anthony Carter going over and through the outstretched arms of Mr. Big shot himself Chauncey Billups then wisely dribbling out a few precious seconds off the clock before finding Bryant who was fouled and hit the final two of his 40 from the line sealing the victory and sending L. A. to an early 1-0 lead in the series.
East Finals
CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers played a perfect game for about two and a half quarters then slowly melted away a 14-point lead and the home court advantage in their game 1 loss 107-106 against D. Howard and the upstart Orlando Magic. The fans in Cleveland are still in shock. They watched helplessly as the game slipped right through the fingers of the Cavs. D. Howard( 30 pts,13 rebs) had a front-row seat after he fouled out late in the fourth quarter but his services would not be needed. After Labron gave the Cavs the slim advantage 106-104, Rashard "Young Fella" Lewis provided the 3-point dagger to silence the crowd and complete the jaw dropping display. The Cavaliers fell in love with the high flying thunderous Labron show early on and when their MVP showed signs of mortality late, his teammates were invisible down the stretch.
James (49 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs) did all he could to will his team to victory driving to the basket in the final moments of the game but the Magic's defense stiffened closing down the paint forcing him to kick the ball back out but the Cavs rotated the ball to Delonte West who missed a wide open and unneccessary three-pointer. Two steps forward, he probably sinks the 20-footer and the home fans go home with smiles. The Cavs would earn a jump ball after a scrum under their basket but with only 1.0 remaining their hopes laid in an off-balanced heave from Williams that clanged the back of the rim sending the Cavs to their first playoff defeat. Orlando now holds the keys to the castle ahead 1-0 in the series having at best already earned a split.
May 6, 2009
Deja Vu in Denver...
In this webisode, I express my disappointment in the Mavericks poor play against the Nuggets in game 2 and hope for a better outcome in game 3
May 4, 2009
May 3, 2009
Denver dumps Dallas 109-95, lead 2d round series 1-0
DENVER- NBA Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell once said, "The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." The Denver Nuggets took that approach today against the Dallas Mavericks and then upped it a notch dismissing 11 Dallas drives and demolishing the Mavericks 106-89 en-route to a defining game 1 win before a frothy Denver crowd at the Pepsi Center. Blinn College alumni and Iola, Texas native Chris "Birdman" Andersen had his own personal block party sending back six Mavs attempts.
Amazingly Dallas managed to stay alive in the contest for three and a half quarters before the wheels came completely off the track in the fourth. After Antoine Wright's 26-foot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock helped the Mavs race back into contention. Jason Terry (15 pts,5 rebs) sank a 3 and Dirk Nowitzki (28 pts, 10 rebs) swished one of his fadeaway jumpers to make the score was 82-80 in the first minute of the quarter. The Nuggets playing in the second round for the first time in ten years pounced and banged back bursting ahead with a 15-4 run that blew the game wide open and Dallas never recovered.
The underdog Mavericks must find their bench and get more production from center Erik Dampier, who was noticeably silent in the paint scoring only three points in 22 forgettable minutes with six rebounds while getting out muscled by Nene who paced the Nuggets with 24 points and 5 assists. Mavericks forward Josh Howard also had a night to forget shooting 7-16 from the field and going 0-4 from the three point arc. The Mavericks now face a must win in game 2 on Tuesday if they are to make the series competitive. Denver is quicker and stronger on the inside so Dallas must rely on their "D" and transition offense if they hope to stop the Nuggets who are healthy and surging looking to advance quickly to the Western Conference Finals.
Amazingly Dallas managed to stay alive in the contest for three and a half quarters before the wheels came completely off the track in the fourth. After Antoine Wright's 26-foot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock helped the Mavs race back into contention. Jason Terry (15 pts,5 rebs) sank a 3 and Dirk Nowitzki (28 pts, 10 rebs) swished one of his fadeaway jumpers to make the score was 82-80 in the first minute of the quarter. The Nuggets playing in the second round for the first time in ten years pounced and banged back bursting ahead with a 15-4 run that blew the game wide open and Dallas never recovered.
The underdog Mavericks must find their bench and get more production from center Erik Dampier, who was noticeably silent in the paint scoring only three points in 22 forgettable minutes with six rebounds while getting out muscled by Nene who paced the Nuggets with 24 points and 5 assists. Mavericks forward Josh Howard also had a night to forget shooting 7-16 from the field and going 0-4 from the three point arc. The Mavericks now face a must win in game 2 on Tuesday if they are to make the series competitive. Denver is quicker and stronger on the inside so Dallas must rely on their "D" and transition offense if they hope to stop the Nuggets who are healthy and surging looking to advance quickly to the Western Conference Finals.
Apr 28, 2009
Second Round Bound...Mavs ride Spurs out 4-1, with defense...
SAN ANTONIO- Famed legendary Dallas head coaching icon Tom Landry once said of winning that "the secret to winning is constant, consistent management." With the steeling steady hand of their new head coach Rick Carlisle the aging but upstart Dallas Mavericks exchanged counter-punches with the San Antonio Spurs early on then gave them a spur in the rear and out of the playoffs 106-93, before a maligned crowd at the AT&T Center Tuesday night.
Dallas was scorching from the field, as a team they were over-50% shooting and they used timely defense to usher out their under-manned in-state rival.
Playing without the services of wily Manu Ginobili, who has been sidelined with a much reported right-ankle stress fracture, the Spurs were no match against the athletically deep Mavericks. The 13-point loss marks the first time in Tim Duncan's stellar career that his team has not advanced beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs.
NBA 6th Man Jason Terry (19pts, 4asts, 2rebs) summed up how good it felt for this Mavs team to defeat San Antonio chacterizing the Spurs as, "our mortal enemy" during his post-game interview. German born Dirk Notwizki paced the Mavs with 31 points on 11-17 shooting.
However, the night belonged to the ageless wonder Jason Kidd. The 36-year old point guard poured in 12 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in 40 plus minutes. He shot only 4-11 from the field but the four shots that he made were 3-point daggers into the hearts and minds of the Spurs and their fans. Whether the bucket came with the clock winding down or off a carousel of passes from teammates, if he had time to set his feet he sank shot after shot to help Dallas keep the lead that they would never relinquish.
The blow-out win Tuesday night coupled with the quick dispatching of a perennial playoff powerhouse with defense signals to the rest of the league that the Mavericks are again ready to contend with the upper echelon of the NBA. All-Star forward Dirk Notwizki said before the game, “We should know the importance of closing a team out when you get the chance," referring to their 2006 debacle when the Mavericks lost a 2-0 advantage in the Finals. Ironically, that team also beat the Spurs en-route to their first Finals appearance in franchise history. He maybe in his first-year with the Mavs but, league veteran head coach Carlisle knows what it takes to be playoff-ready. The 2008-2008 Mavericks have toiled through adversity that seemed insurmountable at times during the regular season and they are peaking at just the right time.
Next ahead for the Mavericks will be the winner of the series between Denver and New Orleans. Right now, the Nuggets hold a commanding 3-1 edge over the Hornets and will be looking to advance as well tomorrow night when they play Game 5 at home. If the Mavericks face the Nuggets, they will hope to do better than they did against them during the regular season. Dallas was 0-4 against the Nuggets in this year but in the playoffs the regular season means nothing when you have your sights set on world championship.
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