Well, folks, maybe Kobe and LeBron will meet for the title in 2010 because this year, it's Superman's turn to go to the big dance. The Orlando Magic destroyed all hope for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 to earn a trip to the Finals. Overlooked and begging for respect all season, the Magic can no longer be ignored, and after 14 frustrating years of losing and disgruntled superstars, they've returned to the NBA finals.
Dwight Howard dominated inside for 40 points, while Rashard Lewis added 18 and the Magic, a team that can make 3-pointers rain like a thunderstorm out of thin air, hit 12 in a 103-90 victory over LeBron James and the Cavs in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.
The Magic will be making their first finals appearance since 1995, one year before the other Superman, Shaquille O'Neal, bolted as a free agent for Los Angeles, leaving the Florida franchise in ruins. It's been a long, slow climb back, but Orlando has been rebuilt with a more faithful Superman and will meet those same Lakers on Thursday night at the Staples Center for Game 1 of the NBA finals, in the battle of Disney World vs. Disneyland, ok not really but it's fun to say.
Oh, and memo to Nike executives: It's time to break out the Dwight Howard puppet (not possible 'cause he's endorsed by Adidas). LeBron's can go in summer storage. For now, the only matchup between LeBron James and Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will have to be limited to those cute TV commercials. I'm really gonna miss those commercials though.
With the city's most famous athlete, Tiger Woods, sitting courtside, Orlando made believers of all those who wondered if they were better than the Cavaliers, a team that won 66 games in the regular season.
LeBron scored 25 in his worst game of the series, but the Chosen One was magnificent for most of it, adding to a legacy still in its early stages. However, the league MVP had to do most of the work alone, as Mo Williams (17 points) lost his shooting touch (maybe it flew away in LeBron's pregame chalk?) and Cleveland's bench was badly outplayed by Orlando's reserves. Delonte West did add 22 points for the Cavs though.
During the closing minutes, LeBron was mocked by Orlando's crowd chanting "M-V-P" as Howard shot free throws. And after Superman muscled underneath for a thunderous dunk with 2:21 left, the crowd moved into finals mode chanting, "Beat L.A.!" Howard's one flaw has been his free-throw shooting, but he made 12 of 16 in Game 6.
The Magic's season hasn't been without its share of turmoil. All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in early February, a setback that at the time seemed as if it would prevent Orlando from doing anything special this year. But general manager Otis Smith acquired guard Rafer "Skip To My Lou" Alston in a trade with Houston. Alston, a former playground legend, fit in perfectly. Then, following Game 5 of the Boston series, Howard called out Van Gundy for not getting him the ball enough and challenged his coaching. The Magic shook that off too, winning two straight, including Game 7 on Boston's home floor.
In the conference finals, they beat Cleveland with a devastating mix of inside power and outside firepower. Everything that could go wrong did in the first half for the Cavs. They couldn't stop Superman in the paint and when Cleveland's defense focused its efforts on containing him, the Magic worked the ball around the arc and took turns launching 3-pointers. On Cleveland's last possession before halftime, LeBron, who didn't score in the period, drove the lane and missed a runner while being knocked to the floor. He sat there in disbelief, looking for a foul, looking lost, looking for some hope. Cleveland's coaching staff stormed off barking at the officiating crew and coach Mike Brown was issued a technical foul.
When the final horn sounded, LeBron could only pull out his jersey and walk slowly off the floor just as he did last year in the Eastern Conference finals after losing Game 7 in Boston. As great as LeBron was, this just wasn't his season, and once again Cleveland fans will feel nothing but heartache as they wait for a team to end the city's 45-year championship drought. The city of Orlando just had a little bit more Magic in them.
Peace and Much Love To Ya :)
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