How They Got There - Orlando Magic: The Orlando Magic's run to the NBA Finals began with an inauspicious start against the Philadelphia 76ers in the First Round. Andre Iguodala hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Sixers the victory at Orlando in Game 1. The Magic would recover and take Game 2 at home, but then found themselves down 2-1 after a tough loss in Philadelphia. The Magic got a must win in Game 4 at Philadelphia, then took care of business at home in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead. However, they faced question marks going into Game 6 as C Dwight Howard was suspended for the game due to an elbow he threw at Samuel Dalmebert in Game 5. The Magic's role players stepped up huge, including SG J.J. Redick and C Marcin Gortat, and the Magic rolled to an easy win to take the series, 4-2.
In the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals the Magic took on the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics. The big story was the absence of Kevin Garnett for the Celtics. The Celtics were coming off a grueling seven game series against the Chicago Bulls and were nearly run out of their own building in the first three quarters of Game 1 against the Magic. They recovered and made a game of it in the 4th quarter, but the Magic pulled out the win. The Celtics then took Game 2 to even the series as the teams headed to Orlando. The Magic coasted to victory in Game 3, but then suffered another heartbreaking loss on their home floor, as Big Baby Davis hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Celtics the win, and even the series at 2. In Game 5 at Boston, the Magic led by as many as 14 points and seemed on their way to taking control of the series, then they choked and the Celtics won, putting the Magic on the brink of elimination. After the game Howard criticized head coach Stan Van Gundy for not sticking with the lineup that was working, and also for his lack of touches late in the game. Howard backed up his words in Game 6, taking command late, and led the Magic from behind to even the series at 3. The Magic then destroyed the Celtics in Game 7 at Boston, sending them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1996.
In the Eastern Conference Finals the Magic were heavy underdogs against what turned out to be one of the most overrated teams in the history of EVAR, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs were blowing the Magic out in Game 1, but Orlando made a furious comeback, and got the win on a late Rashard Lewis shot. In Game 2, once again Orlando got down big, but once again made a huge comeback and seemed on their way to taking another game in Cleveland after Hedo Turkoglu hit a shot with 1 second remaining. However, LeBron James managed to get off a shot right before the buzzer, sending the Magic to their third heartbreaking loss of the playoffs. The Magic showed great resolve at home in Game 3, winning the battle of the fouls, to take a 2-1 series lead. The Cavs faced a must win situation in Game 4. The refs tried to hand the game to the Cavs on numerous occasions, including a ridiculous foul call on Michael Pietrus at the end of regulation that allowed James to hit two free throws and send the game to overtime. In overtime, Howard took over, and the Magic took a 3-1 lead. Back in Cleveland for Game 5, the Cavs once again got up big, and once again blew the lead. The Magic weren't able to hold their lead and faltered late, sending the series back to Orlando. The Magic dominated Game 6 at home, with Howard having a huge 40 point night. The Magic were back in the NBA Finals for the first time since getting swept by the Houston Rockets in 1995.
How They Got There - Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers were heavy favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, and lived up to the hype in their first two games against the Utah Jazz in Round One. They dominated the Jazz in both games, sending the series to Utah with a commanding 2-0 lead. In Game 3, the Lakers led the Jazz the majority of the game, but then seemed to lose interest and fell on a late shot by Deron Williams. In Game 4, Kobe Bryant played like a man possessed and carried the Lakers to victory. The Lakers then closed out the Jazz in Los Angeles in Game 5.
Things got much tougher for the Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers got a huge wake up call at home in Game 1. They played listless basketball and the Rockets made them pay. Yao Ming dominated the Lakers and all of the sudden the Rockets had a 1-0 series lead and home court advantage. Playing with their backs against the wall in Game 2 the Lakers played much more inspired basketball, sending the series to Houston, even at 1-1. The Lakers brought another strong performance in Game 3 at Houston, taking a 2-1 series lead. It was also learned after the game that Ming would be out for the rest of the playoffs, leading many to assume the Lakers were already on their way to the Western Conference Finals. However, Houston had a say about that and completely demolished the Lakers in Game 4, in what was by far the Lakers sorriest performance of the postseason. Embarrassed, the Lakers came out with vengeance in Game 5 and crushed Houston, once again making everyone feel safe that a Lakers series win was inevitable. But in Game 6 at Houston, the Lakers started slow again, getting down 17-1 to start the game. They slowly chipped away at the deficit but were never able to overcome it, and to the shock of most of the basketball world, the series was headed to LA for a Game 7. Game 7 was decided in the first few minutes, the Lakers jumped out to a huge lead and cruised to victory. They were back in the Western Conference Finals for the sixth time this decade.
While the Lakers had looked less than impressive against Houston, the Denver Nuggets were becoming the media's darlings as they zoomed past the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks. Many pundits had changed their minds and now decided that the Nuggets would be winning the Western Conference. In Game 1 at Los Angeles, the Nuggets controlled most of the game but were never able to get a big lead. Late in the game Bryant took control, and the Lakers got a key steal on an inbounds pass from Trevor Ariza, sealing the victory. Game 2 was another closely contested game, but this time the Nuggets held on for the win, sending the series back to Denver, tied 1-1. Much like he did in Utah for Game 3, Kobe decided there was no way the Lakers were losing and had a dominating performance, giving homecourt advantage back to LA. After already getting the win they needed in Denver, LA decided not to try very hard in Game 4, and it showed as they were out rebounded and dominated by Denver, evening the series at 2. In Game 5, the Nuggets once again played strongly in LA and the teams were tied after each of the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Bryant played a different role, this time he was the facilitator, finding open teammates left and right. Lamar Odom, who had been mostly silent in the playoffs, had 20 points off the bench. Derek Fisher, who had struggled shooting wise all playoffs hit some huge threes. Even Sasha Vujacic got into the act. The Lakers were headed to Denver up 3-2. Many assumed Denver would take care of business and the series would go 7, Bryant and the Lakers weren't having that. LA led throughout the first half and then blew the Nuggets out of their own building in the second half, give the Lakers the series win and sending them to their 30th NBA Finals.
Monday, June 29 - Wednesday, July 1
