Finals far from done ... unless you think like an idiot
Ratto: Why complain? | Berger: Van Gundy keeps juggling
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Why is everyone in such a hurry to write off the NBA Finals? Game 3 doesn't tip off until Tuesday night, but if we are to believe what we read, Game 3 is a waste of time. A formality. A condescending 48-minute exercise bestowed upon Orlando to let the Magic make some money in ticket and concession sales.
But the actual NBA Finals? The actual NBA Finals are over.
That's what lots of people are saying, which is why my personal mantra remains true to this day: Lots of people are stupid.
That's right, Freeman. I'm talking to you. And others.
I'm talking to everyone who has decided this series ended with Game 2, which the Lakers won to build their series edge to 2-0.
• Series: Lakers 2, Magic 0 | Talk!
Look, nobody loves a good rush to judgment more than I do. Vince Young hadn't taken his first snap for the Tennessee Titans in 2006 when I wrote him off as an NFL quarterback. The Cleveland Cavaliers were in the process of sweeping Atlanta, after having already swept Detroit, when I wrote them off as a 2009 NBA titlist.
See the common thread there? The common thread is I'm right.
It's possible I've been wrong before. Can't remember.
But that's not the point. The point is, nothing about Game 2 would say, or even suggest, that this series is over. Just the opposite. After Game 1 indicated Los Angeles was out of Orlando's league, Game 2 went the other way. Game 2 showed a Magic team more than capable of playing with the Lakers, and even of beating the Lakers. Yes, Courtney Lee, we're all looking at you.
For some reason, the Lakers lucked out a win in Game 2 ... and people line up to crown them. Like this series is over or something.
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| Dwight Howard and the Magic are still far from losing their grip in the Finals. (AP) |
But someone needs to explain to me the rush to write off this series, because I don't get it. Not to get too snarky about this, but isn't the home team supposed to win the first two games?
Isn't a 2-0 series edge what the Lakers are supposed to have right now? More pointedly, imagine if Courtney Lee had made that shot at the end of regulation to win Game 2. Right now, people would have been writing off the Lakers, suggesting the Magic are in position to win three straight games in Orlando and put this series on ice. That would be a knee-jerk opinion as well, but it would have happened. I know knee-jerk opinions, like this one I had on Lane Kiffin even before Tennessee hired him. But again, I was right.
See, I know knee-jerk opinions. I'm an expert on them. And it would be easy to have one right about now, seeing how I'm parachuting into the NBA Finals for Game 3. Freeman got the first Los Angeles leg of this series, and it would be petulant but easy to write that he had all the fun, that he had the series when it had actual drama, and that I'm left with the dregs. The Lakers have already downed the best part of this series. All that's left now is for them to tilt the glass the rest of the way and finish it off. Like Orlando is backwash or something.
Boy would that have been fun to write ...
But it's just not true. Game 2 showed us that much. Look, Los Angeles should win this series -- as I predicted a few days ago, I would like to point out -- but the Magic showed enough moxie Sunday night in Los Angeles to make it clear that they can win two or even three games in Orlando. And if this series goes back to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7, even if the Lakers are ahead 3-2, all the pressure would be on Los Angeles. Winning one lousy game out of two, at home, would become a referendum on the genius of Phil Jackson and the leadership of Kobe Bryant and the manhood, such as it is, of Pau Gasol. That's pressure.
Only Orlando has the wherewithal to get better from here. Jameer Nelson could play better as he works off the rust, or he could go back to the inactive list in an effort by coach Stan Van Gundy to recapture the chemistry that helped Orlando manhandle Cleveland. Rafer Alston can't play any worse. Mickael Pietrus can't be called for more phantom fouls than in Los Angeles. Dwight Howard won't be held in check offensively throughout this series.
The Magic have more moving parts, is my point. Los Angeles is steady. Kobe has been Kobe. Gasol has played (surprisingly) well. Same with Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum hasn't done squat, but he hasn't done squat in months. No reason to believe he'll start doing squat now.
Am I predicting a 2009 NBA title for Orlando? I am not.
But is this series as "over" as people are saying?
It is not.
