Last season ended in disappointment for the Orlando Magic. After conquering the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, they ran out of steam in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, losing 4-1. The Magic were outplayed, and, embarrassed. This year, the Magic are playing as if they are on a mission; a mission that will be considered a failure if they are not holding the NBA Championship trophy at season’s end. On Monday, May 10, 2010, the Magic moved one step closer to that goal.
Orlando Magic are Undefeated in NBA Playoffs
The Magic have played eight games so far in the NBA Playoffs and have lost a total of zero. Not only have they not lost a game, but they haven’t really looked threatened either. Athletic teams like the Charlotte Bobcats (the Magic’s First Round opponent) and the Atlanta Hawks (who Orlando just knocked out of the playoffs) looked incredibly mediocre against the Magic. Atlanta, a highly talented team just coming into its own – led by veterans Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson – was unable to do a thing against the magic, getting throttled by 43 points in Game 1 and 30 points (in Atlanta) in Game 3. The closest game in the series between the Hawks and Magic was 14 points.
Vince Carter Paces Magic in Win
The Orlando Magic proved they do not need a big game out of Dwight Howard to crush an opponent. Howard, who only scored 13 points in the win, was a virtual non-factor offensively or on the glass. Instead, the Magic rode the hot shooting of Vince Carter, who led the Magic with 22 points. In fact, it was not only Carter who had a great shooting game, but the entire Magic team, who nailed 16 three-point field goals in the game; the Hawks only made three. Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson added 17 and 16 points respectively, while Mikael Pietrus added 12 points (all from three-point shots) off the bench.
The Magic Look Too Powerful to be Stopped
Orlando has moved through the NBA Playoffs with ease. Their opponents in the Eastern Conference Finals (either the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers who are tied 2-2 in their Conference Semifinals series) will be severely tested and fatigued. The Magic will have a great chance of powering their way past either of those teams. This will of course depend of Howard’s ability to score and stay out of foul trouble, as well as the rest of the Magic scoring as easily as they have thus far. Until then, all the Magic need to do is wait and find out who their opponent is and enjoy the long break that dominance provides.
Disappointing End for Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks were far too good of a team to bow out with taking a single victory. The team will no doubt lose high-scoring guard Joe Johnson to free-agency, but still have a solid foundation built around Bibby, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Al Horford, and Jamal Crawford. If the Hawks are able to keep the team together, they will be a serious player in years to come.
Doug Bowen - I am a graduate of the Florida State University ('07) with a degree in English - Emphasis in Creative Writing.
