The Magic are playing the first 12 minutes as if it's an exhibition game, where guys can get a good sweat going and not worry about the actual game. But to paraphrase Allen Iverson, this ain't practiss!The Magic would be up 2-0 if the guys from O-town didn't come out for both games with a mood reflecting the blue on their jerseys. It's been downright depressing the way these guys have played in the first half, especially the first quarters.
They were down by 16 Wednesday night, and trailed by 23 in the first half Friday night before taking a two-point lead with a second left.Then LeBron happened. He saved this series for the Cavaliers.LeBron James' 3-point shot from the top of the key that gave Cleveland a 96-95 victory will be the defining play in this Eastern Conference finals series.If the Cavs go on to win the series, it's all about that shot.If the Magic rebound to take the series, it's about the resiliency of a team that got up off the canvas, much like a bloodied boxer, to win the fight. I'd humbly suggest that the Magic take a few smelling salts before the start of the next game."That won't happen in Orlando Sunday," Orlando reserve Mickael Pietrus said of Orlando's sluggish start. It mustn't. As furious as these rallies have been, the Magic can't keep spotting the Cavs all these points.They have the best record in the league.They have the best player in the league (so says the MVP trophy).And they have the resiliency of a team that wants another shot at the NBA Finals after losing in 2007.The Magic still have a perfect opportunity to blow up Cleveland's dream and the script that will play out if the James Gang goes Hollywood. That's what everybody wants, right?All this fixation on LeBron's Cavaliers and Kobe Bryant's Lakers works out fabulously for the Magic and Nuggets. It's much easier to play the "disrespect" card in sports, rather than to embrace the role of favorite son.It also plays right into Stan Van Gundy's wheelhouse. The Magic coach absolutely loves the perception that his team is a bunch of small-town bumpkins simply honored to be hanging out in the playoffs, as if the Magic stumbled upon them."I don't even think most of the nation even knows that we're in this series," Van Gundy said. "I think this is the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LeBron James series and who they're playing against is incidental."But just because most of the world wants us to "witness" doesn't mean we have to drink the marketing Kool-Aid. And there's plenty of that swishing around.Kobe and LeBron are certainly getting plenty of face time on ESPN, which premiered a one-hour special on Thursday called: Dream Season: 23 & 24. The press release says the documentary "focuses on Bryant's and James' pursuit of an NBA championship while forging a friendship reminiscent of past basketball rivals Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird."Nike is also rolling out ads featuring Jim Henson-like puppets of Kobe and LeBron."That was funny," Magic center Dwight Howard said before the game. "Oh, my God, yeah. That was good."Howard is jovial by nature, so he's not going to go grumpy-puss like Van Gundy. But for a team that won 59 games and just beat the reigning NBA champions, the Magic deserve more pub than an afterthought. They proved that again Friday."It's been like that most of the year," Howard said. "The only thing we can do is go out there and play. We have an opportunity just like they do to go out and win a championship."That opportunity took a punch in the gut Friday night.But it does prove that LeBron is up for the challenge that comes with all the hype.He's the real deal. I think the Magic are, too. But this game is played for 48 minutes, not 36.With more energy at the start, maybe the Magic won't need such a furious finish.
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