Celebrating like its 1995: Howard dominant as Magic reach Finals
Dwight Howard was unstoppable, leading his Orlando Magic past the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach the championship round for the first time since 1995. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard probably watched Nike’s bevy of “Most Valuable Muppets” commercials, advertising the NBA’s hope of a Cleveland Cavaliers-Los Angeles Lakers Finals, as motivation before Game 6. If not, he still made sure this commercial wouldn’t spell reality, overpowering Lebron James’ Cavaliers en route to an easy victory that notch the franchise’s first championship appearance since Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway’s 1995 team.
The beastly center stayed out of foul trouble, which meant Cleveland’s night would be a long and disappointing one. He had his way in the paint, throwing down countless dunks, and flipping in numerous hook shots.
The Cavaliers didn’t have an answer for his low-post play, nor could they stop his defensive prowess. He finished with 40 points, shooting 14-21 from the field and a staggering 12-16 free-throws. He was their catalyst, and why they won in such a commanding fashion, but their three-point shooting had a say in the outcome as well.
When the Magic hit their three-pointers, they win. It’s as simple as that. So, fittingly, they were on fire once again from deep, nailing 12 three-pointers to jump out to an early lead, and thwart every Cavaliers rally.
Their big, versatile forwards and guards–Mickael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu–gave Cleveland’s small back-court of Delonte West and Mo Williams fits, making them pay for their attention directed towards Howard by knocking down uncovered three-pointers. Pietrus, one of their more important players, was right in the middle of the success from downtown, hitting four three-pointers off the bench, and, of course, made sure to pose after each.
Though Howard led the way, it was amazing to see how Orlando continued to succeed living predominately beyond the three-point line. For any other team, this would have been a recipe for disaster, especially if the opposition climbed back into contention. Not for the Magic, who, instead of shooting themselves out of the game, maintained a double-digit lead. They hit seven of their three-pointers in the opening two quarters, helping them to a surprising eighteen-point halftime lead. A majority of the plays were the same: Howard received the ball, the defense converged, he drove into the lane, and passed out to the gunners on the wings and in the corners. It was a thing of beauty.
Following Game 5 of their series against the Boston Celtics, Howard criticized head coach Stan Van Gundy for his lack of touches. In that game, a loss, their final of the series, he scored only 12 points, and took ten shots and three free-throws. Van Gundy took his frustration to heart, and Howard has rewarded his coach’s trust ever since. This commanding performance was the capper. It not only forced commissioner David Stern’s NBA to adapt to Plan B and take those terrible commercials off the air, but set up a finals matchup the Magic, with the combination of Howard and their arsenal of three-point specialists, can win.
I totally disagree with your point that the Cavs let down Stern. The last thing David Stern wanted is the Cavs in the NBA Finals.
Last time around, they drew record low television ratings against the Spurs, they play a grind it out, walk it up half court style of play which promises to turn off and tune out those passive viewers who just tune in because it is the championship, and David Stern wants LeBron in New York.
LeBron is a local guy, and nobody can afford to pay him more than Cleveland, so the only thing that is going to get LeBron to leave is if he is convinced that he will never win a championship in Cleveland.
Thats not to say that the series was handed to Orlando, the Magic beat the Cavs hands down, because the Cavs really weren’t as good as their record, which they ran up in a weak division in a weak conference.
Failing to deliver a rematch of Lakers Celtics, largely because the Celtics couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean in game 7, David Stern got himself a consolation prize.
He gets to give ABC/Disney what they call a “make good” in the advertising business. ABC/Disney grossly overpaid for the rights to the NBA, and the NBA generally hasn’t delivered the ratings to justify what they have been paid.
Soon the TV rights will be up for renewal, and in a declining economy, when ABC really doesn’t need to overpay for NBA rights to use them as a vehicle towards promoting a new untested prime time lineup, so this is an opprotunity for Stern to show his partners at ABC/Disney that he is a team player.
Look for 2 straight weeks of coverage out of ESPN/ABC where they use the coverage of the NBA Finals to sell all those empty hotel rooms at Disneyland and Disneyworld.
It will be just like “ESPN The Weekend” except it will last for 14 days.
I put that in the title because of the commercials, so it was not justified. Your reasoning is sound. Cleveland doesn’t have anyone but Lebron. The rest of their team is depressing, to say the least. A majority of the players remain from that title run, which is why the ratings are so low.
I just took the wild guess that the ratings, given the hype around the possibility of Lebron vs Kobe, would skyrocket just because of the their matchup. Yet, I understand also why Stern would have a tough time rooting against the Magic. They have a superstar of their own, Howard, who has nearly the following of Lebron, and a very well-rounded team that could give the Lakers more of a run.
You’re right (I’ll change the title, not because of what you’ve said, but because I’m starting to think it’s bull). With all the commercials and hype around Cavs-Lakers, it would be plausible to think that the viewing audience would be tired of an actual series being played. And, of course, it is Disneyland vs Disneyworld–which, as you say, will boost ratings in itself–instead, and a series that could easily be won by the Magic. They have so much size, and though the Lakers have more depth than Cleveland (you and I would probably be an upgrade over the Cavs bench) it isn’t much of an upgrade.
I see Kobe having a Lebronesque performance. He’ll win a game or two, but his supporting cast will let him down, which will inevitably lead to a loss and questions regarding upgrades that could be made in the offseason.
Los Angeles will join Cleveland on this list: a team that transformed quickly from a championship contender to a team in need of retooling via the trade market.
It isn’t so much that I think the series will deliver ratings, I expect it to get the same lackluster ratings that the NBA has gotten for years, and the reasons for this are what we have been detailing, that on some level, the public just has come to realize that it is just more of an entertainment event than it is a legitimate contest.
Therefore, Stern figures, if we are going to get lackluster ratings, and we are going to, why don’t we further establish Dwight Howard as a marketing vehicle, and at the same time throw a bone to ABC Disney, which will use the series as an opprotunity to market Disneyland and DisneyWorld through their ESPN coverage, while at the same time reinforcing the message to LeBron, that you will only win a championship when you go to NY, like I want you to.
Yes, since the Cavaliers are a one-man show and somewhat boring to watch, Stern is thinking right that Howard is the new chosen one. This shows that the Magic, with depth and a balanced attack, are championship caliber, and a team with one player, Lebron, is not.
The viewing public will probably be down because it’s not Lebron-Kobe as they would have wished, therefore the ratings will probably continue to suffer.
All the Cavaliers need to keep Lebron is to sign a few players in the offseason. Ferry will, by watching how the supporting cast struggled throughout the playoffs, understand that they need to rebuild around Lebron, and bring in actual talent. Because of this, I think Lebron will stay in Cleveland, especially if the Cavs get someone like Boozer or Bosh.
To make a long story short. I think LeBron personally would like to stay. However, while it is unstated, I think LeBron also knows that Stern wants him in NY, because it would bring more revenue to the league, by giving Madison Avenue what it wants.
LeBron knows what all the other players and owners know, that Stern runs the NBA like a petty dictator.
So what does LeBron do?
He has to be at least thinking, if I stay in Cleveleand, maybe Stern will stick it to me for defying him, like he has done to plenty of other players, and even owners.
I’m not saying that LeBron will leave for this reason, I think all things being equal, he would stay. However, everybody knows that in the NBA there are different rules for different people.
Lebron wants be the sport’s first billionaire. He probably would like to stay in Cleveland, but the only way he can accomplish this is to go to New York. You are right, Stern would love Lebron in NY, and Lebron knows this. He grew up in Ohio, and has such a following in Cleveland, so it would be befuddling, except for financial reasons, why he would leave. Personally, I hope he stays, but my gut feeling is that he’ll go.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I had a history test, and Finals are next week.
Take the week off.
There will always be another story to write.