Writer’s Block… with Anthony Carter

Magic Will Run Out in Game Four; Lakers Will Return to Form

June 11, 2009

Checking the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup, we see one resounding theme. Through three games of one, and six of the other, the home team has won each game.

Will this continue? While there’s only one game remaining in the Cup – for all the marbles – The Finals will be reaching Game 4 this evening.

Orlando’s Magic men will try to pull even in the series, knowing that Game 5 is not only necessary, but is on their home floor. Whereas the series was supposed to be over after the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game One 100-75 victory, the Magic players think otherwise.

Having almost stolen Game Two in Los Angeles, Orlando did just enough to win Game Three at home, 108-104. Now, if they can only duplicate the Lakers’ Bryant missing five-of-10 free throws and their own 62.5% field goal shooting, they have the slimmest of shots.

“Yeah,” said Bryant about his play in Game Three. “Yeah, it was disappointing.  There [were] a couple mistakes that I made that I wouldn't mind getting back. 

“That being said, you've got to pick your head up, put one foot in front of the other and keep on moving.”

The problem is that the Magic set an NBA record from the field in Game Three and it’s not likely or plausible that it will happen again. And we all expect Kobe to make his next 40 or so free throws without a miss. Add it all up, and Orlando shouldn’t have a shot. But they’ve been there before.

They won the last two series without home court advantage and hope to head back to Los Angeles, either up 3-2 or down 2-3. They key is to head back to Los Angeles. Otherwise, they would have lost the series 4-1.

“I think the difference here is, that keeps things in perspective,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said, “we were happy to win last night, but we're still down 2‑1 with them having the home‑court advantage. 

“I think our players understand all that.  I think our players understand that we've got a very tough road ahead of us.”

Extremely tough. The Magic will cool off a bit and Bryant will heat back up. The sum of this equation is a double-digit win in Game Four. Thinking ahead, expect the Lakers to win the first time they get a close-out game – in Game Five.