It’s all over. Lakers in 5.
In what could have been an epic NBA Finals series, the LA Lakers made quick work of the Orlando Magic.
The Magic lost Game 5 99-86 in the final NBA game to be played at Amway Arena.
The Magic came out strong taking a quick 15-6 lead in the 1st quarter; a quarter that also saw all 5 Magic starters score and assist at least once. But it was not to be. Kobe Bryant and his supporting cast proved to be too much, too hungry for the trophy.
After squandering away Game 2 in overtime to come back and win in commanding fashion in Game 3, the Magic gift-wrapped Game 4 to put themselves in a 3-1 hole. No team has ever come back in the NBA Finals from that deficit, and that statistic will remain for now.
Perimeter shooting and rebounding were key to the Magic’s demise in Game 5 as they couldn’t seem to hit anything from the outside through the first 45 minutes, and certainly were dominated on the glass all night, especially by the Lakers offensive rebounding.
The Magic attempted to make a push late in the 4th quarter but it was too little too late. They were unable to make stops and the Lakers continued to negate the Magic’s final surge to send the series back to LA.
I guess there’s always next year. With the Magic returning with their original starting 5, and the possibility of keeping Rafer Alston, the Eastern Conference is shaping up to be even more dominate in the coming season. The Magic will be back…the Celtics will be back (with Kevin Garnett)…and oh…did anyone hear…Shaq looks like he’s headed back east to suit up with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Enjoy it Lakers…savor it. Pop the champagne bottles all the way ’til October, because with the look of the East for next year, this may be Phil Jackson’s record-setting, but final, finals victory.
Blake's Sports Corner 