Rarely have I been this upset after a major victory, and a major playoff victory at that! But this is where I find myself in the aftermath of the Game 1 victory over the Boston Celtics in the EC Semifinals.
I wasn’t expecting the Magic to receive much respect on a national scale in this series. Frankly, in the NBA playoffs, respect has to be earned and we have yet to achieve anything worthy of respect. I’m also not one of these fans that is angered when we fail to get respect, even if it is earned. Because as Magic fans, we are biased and will always assume we are deserving before the rest of the league will say the same. However, I will say this, and I hope you will take it to heart: there is a difference between a lack or absence of respect and disrespect. To me, the former implies a passive stance while the latter implies an aggressive stance, possibly with intent. In other words, you almost have to consciously attempt to disrespect someone in order to actually achieve it.
And this is where we find ourselves. I felt that we were disrespected in the national media when the primary story coming out of Game 1 was how the Celtics almost won the game not how the Magic did win the game. The sentiment was that the Celtics were suffering from the fatigue of the epic first round series with the Bulls. I found this particularly funny because another sentiment expressed how the Celtics came away with a moral victory in part because they were the more aggressive team! So, they were suffering from fatigue but were also the more aggressive team? So which is it?
Stan Van Gundy was not permitted to even enjoy the victory during his post-game press conference. He was on the defensive from the start, having to justify why the victory was still meaningful despite barely holding on to the lead. See, this is where the typical fan just doesn’t understand the mentality of the media. The goal is to win! We won! If a team wins Game 7 of the NBA Finals by one point after blowing a 20 point lead in the fourth quarter, does the team hang their heads? No way! They are rejoicing and celebrating! The city plans parades and the local papers make headlines in 120 point font! So, why should any playoff victory be viewed differently? Especially when the winning team holds a lead and gains home court advantage. Apparently, Orlando doesn’t qualify for this consideration. In fact, our very own local paper, the Orlando Sentinel, piled on the team as well. Here was the headline referencing Game 1: “Orlando Magic Nearly Blow 28 Point Lead, Hold On to Beat Celtics.” Pathetic. Would it have killed them to say something like “Magic Deflect Celtics Rally, Hold On To Win Nailbiter.”
I realize that the Magic players themselves aren’t happy about the way they played in the 2nd half, nor do I want them to be happy about it. But I do want them to be happy about the outcome!
I also read where we will only get partial credit for any victory over the Celtics because Kevin Garnett is out. Well, we are out two starters ourselves! I won’t argue that Courtney Lee and Jameer Nelson are the equivalent in stature of Kevin Garnett, even combined. But I will say that these players are just as important to our team and to what we do as a team as KG is to the Celtics. Also, I’m going to step out on a limb and suggest that Jameer Nelson has just a bit more competitive professionalism than Kevin Garnett does.
Garnett’s actions on the sidelines of the Celtics/Bulls series have made the rounds. He has even started it in this series. Not sure if anyone else noticed it, and I haven't bothered to look to see if it has been written about, but just as SVG was calling the time out when the Celtics cut it to 10 points in Game 1, the TNT cameras showed KG doing some funky thing with this right hand fingers against his left hand palm in the direction of the Magic. My guess is that it was directed specifically toward Howard and that it was KG's way of gesturing that Howard should "Twitter about that!" This is a player that Howard looks up to and is a player that has claimed he enjoys mentoring Howard and yet he thought it was fine to openly taunt Howard like that in such a malicious way, especially considering that KG isn't even playing.
These are just a few examples of the disrespect that has been directed toward the Magic despite the Game 1 victory. It may turn out that we had this coming. Surely, if we don’t win the series, it will be well-earned, and this series is not over, not remotely. But it seems to me that the only way the Magic can swing the meter from disrespect all the way over to respect is to beat Boston and then win the Eastern Conference Finals as well. Looking at it objectively (I’ll try anyway!), that is the only way that it should happen.
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9263 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
i understand the press need to ask questions about something, but sometimes they need to give us some credit. There are several 'experts' that like our team but it almost feels like no one thinks we actually belong here. Like we're the "new money" that just happened to fall into our situation or something.
Howard was interviewed before the game today & he said there going to come out aggresive & play smarter ball, I hope they execute..He says The Magics plan wasnt just to come & steal one game, that they want to win both games..Good way to be Howard! Lets go MAgic! You guys can beat these guys easily, just play smart ball because it's 5 on 8.
Great stuff LOD! I don't care how good KG is (or was if he is never the same after this). It's BS for a bench player who hasn't been in the game to mock the other team. Root and congratulate your own team and players, but acting like a buffoon is idiotic when you haven't done anything yourself.
Posts: 6536 | Location: Amway Arena Lot 3 waiting for the next game | Registered: February 23, 2006
I hate it when you (or me) talk about our team being disrepected the next day and then the day after that the magic show off in splendid fashion a stinker of a game like last night.
Then all the people i had taked to the day before and so strenuosly voiced my point as to why the magic should be given some respect, laugh at me after last night...
Nathan, I've experienced some of this today myself. My response was why didn't these same people talk smack yesterday!
It doesn't count when you talk smack after the fact.
Stay strong Nathan, it will be a long series.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9263 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Its good to return from a spell and read quality like that.
Posts: 6533 | Location: "I come from a land down under. Where beer does flow and men chunder. Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover." | Registered: January 06, 2006
I found your post very entertaining and you do have some valid points. In my opinion however, war games that use victory points rather than elimination, are trying to capture an aspect of battle, and not necessarily the entire war. Where meeting objectives represented by victory points is more important than superiority in numbers and strength. Throughout history, a sacrifice to capture a seemingly useless plot of dirt has often led to victory elsewhere. For example, holding a piece of property until reinforcements arrive is a valid objective. Even in some cases, when you are significantly out numbered and will likely lose 95% of your forces in a battle.
From a game play perspective, victory points and objectives allows for more interesting war game dynamics.
I found your post very entertaining and you do have some valid points. In my opinion however, war games that use victory points rather than elimination, are trying to capture an aspect of battle, and not necessarily the entire war. Where meeting objectives represented by victory points is more important than superiority in numbers and strength. Throughout history, a sacrifice to capture a seemingly useless plot of dirt has often led to victory elsewhere. For example, holding a piece of property until reinforcements arrive is a valid objective. Even in some cases, when you are significantly out numbered and will likely lose 95% of your forces in a battle.
From a game play perspective, victory points and objectives allows for more interesting war game dynamics.
What are you talking about? This post has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. Did you accidentally post it here?
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9263 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
I found your post very entertaining and you do have some valid points. In my opinion however, war games that use victory points rather than elimination, are trying to capture an aspect of battle, and not necessarily the entire war. Where meeting objectives represented by victory points is more important than superiority in numbers and strength. Throughout history, a sacrifice to capture a seemingly useless plot of dirt has often led to victory elsewhere. For example, holding a piece of property until reinforcements arrive is a valid objective. Even in some cases, when you are significantly out numbered and will likely lose 95% of your forces in a battle.
From a game play perspective, victory points and objectives allows for more interesting war game dynamics.
What are you talking about? This post has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. Did you accidentally post it here?
+1
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys"
Posts: 347 | Location: where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea | Registered: July 22, 2009
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