The Fan Voice: "Heartbreaker"

By Live or Die Magic | May 11th, 2009


Well, talk about going to emotional extremes in the span of just a few seconds. I was standing in front of my seat, speaking with two other media members about what an exciting finish this was (last night’s Game 4 loss to the Celtics), and how amazing it was to see Dwight and Rashard both hit free throws late to put us in the lead. I also commented on how scary it was that the Celtics had 11 seconds to try to get the ball into Paul Pierce’s or Ray Allen’s hands. I was already envisioning how I was going to react if the Celtics didn’t make the shock. In that moment, I just couldn’t even fathom the impact that going up 3-1 on Boston would have for the team, the town, and the fans. While it would hardly mean that the series was over, it would be such a huge step mentally for basketball in Orlando.

Watching Glen “Big Baby” Davis hit that shot and then immediately seeing that red border of death surrounding the backboard, sent a wave of numbness all throughout my body. The absolute worst part of it all was being able to hear a surprisingly loud roar from the pro-Boston fans in the building. We had quieted them for much of the fourth quarter only to have them go home happy, boisterous, and in my opinion, after watching them file out, belligerent. Seeing Davis celebrate his incredible play by getting into it (at least verbally) with Magic fans certainly didn’t help. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t even move from the spot where I was standing. All I could do was take it all in, feel that awful feeling, I mean really feel it and appreciate it. I’ve spoken with several fellow Magic fans today who woke up this morning from a nice dream only to have the reality of last night’s events hit them again like a Rajon Rondo backhand. But I think it is important for fans to feel awful, to feel like they’ve lost something important. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the feeling. Orlando fans have to struggle with the constant sense that we are underdogs because of our smaller market, our smaller arena, our lack of a title, and our lack of respect. But by realizing what we are missing, and recognizing how bad it feels after games like Game 4, we can appreciate how wonderful it will feel when we are the team that has overcome a grueling playoffs and finished on top. More and more I feel like the it is a case of “when, not if.”

I know that the players are feeling it too, and they are responding accordingly. The players that are supposed to be our best players all stepped up last night. Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, and Courtney Lee. Sure, neither Turkoglu or Lee shot particularly well, but both of them ramped up their games late and made plays in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. Frankly, had it not been for the poor play (i.e., shooting) of the complementary players on the roster, we might have had a different outcome. Coach Stan Van Gundy did his usual falling on his sword routine after the game, but it was matchups that seemed to be the problem, not the defense on the final play. It is my personal opinion that any minutes slotted for Tony Battie should instead go to Marcin Gortat. Battie has missed all four of his shot attempts in the past two games. They weren’t even good shots, and they didn’t even come close. Gortat gets inside, where he should be, and does damage. So long as Rafer Alston and JJ Redick are struggling (each shot 1 for 7), then I think Courtney Lee and Gortat need to see more court time together. To Redick’s credit, he did lead the team in assists with 7.

As awful as I feel and as bad a night it was for our guys are us fans, I still feel pretty good about the series. Sure, Boston may be riding some momentum, and yeah, they got their home court advantage back. But Boston shot over 52% from the field in a game that we shot 40 percent (including 18% from 3-point land) and yet they still needed a miracle shot at the buzzer from their 5th best player on the court to beat us! You can call that a homer statement if you want, but we stunk up the place last night and still almost won. I can guarantee you that this is what the players are thinking, and if it is good enough for those actually playing the game, then it is good enough for those of us that are watching it!

Can’t wait until tomorrow night.

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.

The board is still so shocked that anyone has noticed your new article...

Nice read as always LODM, I agree that the first reaction was painful, even from very far away and in another continent... but I've still high hopes, our team as showed times and times again that they didn't back up.


EDIT: wow, I'm a Team Leader since today... do I have to speak with the other players before tonight game?

:=)

quote:

Originally posted by Luke_FfS:
The board is still so shocked that anyone has noticed your new article...

Yeah, I am a bit surprised as well! I'll try not to take it personally.

Oh, and I think you have to reach "Legend" status before you can address the team! ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by Live or Die Magic:
Yeah, I am a bit surprised as well! I'll try not to take it personally.

Oh, and I think you have to reach "Legend" status before you can address the team! ;-)

LOL

You've to put a link on the main section I think, I'm sure that a lot of people didn't even look to the other ones. I often take a look to the "Fan Voice" section cause there's space for better discussions, and trolls usually didn't go in there...

Well, still no comments here, but for me this is the right place to write.... cause in my mind the real heartbreaker was this one.

I could survive with sunday loss, we were down almost all the game, and when we take the lead it was only by one. You could expect a buzzer beater from the C's in this kind of situation, that's what they usually do.

But yesterday was another story. We were in control, everytime they made a run, there was an answer. There was a point, at the start of the 4th, in which every possession seems to be predestined to be a bucket. It wasn't the perfect game with the right rotation every min, but I was very proud of our guys.

Until this late drought starts and become neverending. This is the real heartbreaker IMO. This is the game that will be very difficult to get out of our mind.

But I still have faith that our guys could do it, although if we think that game 5 was a difficult one, look out, a potential game 7 will be even tougher, and we'll need a perfect game.

What a great read and description of EXACTLY how I've felt after the last two games. I guess we'll start to see where the true Magic fans who will stick by the team are. All the playoff fans will go back to watching So You Think You Can Dance.

Luke, everything you said is accurate. I wish I could have written this about last night's game instead.

I am still too raw to really get my thoughts down. It is moments like these when I wonder why I let a sports team affect me like this. I try to tell myself that in comparison to the other things in my life, this is not so important. But if it isn't important, why do I feel the way I do now?

quote:

Originally posted by Live or Die Magic:
Luke, everything you said is accurate. I wish I could have written this about last night's game instead.

I am still too raw to really get my thoughts down. It is moments like these when I wonder why I let a sports team affect me like this. I try to tell myself that in comparison to the other things in my life, this is not so important. But if it isn't important, why do I feel the way I do now?

my thoughts exactly.

I try to tell myself to get over it, that it's just a bunch of millionaires playing a game, but it doesn't seem to work..

Everything is going great in my personal life, with school and family, but after Sundays loss I felt so empty, and don't even get me started on Tuesday..

I mean just thinking about how a player they bought (I can't respect that, the way they did last year with PJ Brown either) was basically the reason we lost makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Well, I already feel amped up thinking about tomorrow.

JRam...I'm assuming you're referring to Starbury...and I agree with you.

The one that really bothered me was last year when they tried to get Reggie Miller to come out of retirement. I just thought it reeked of desperation.

I don't so much mind the offseason pickups - the ones where they get a solid bench guy for the vet minimum. But grabbing guys like Mikki Moore and Starbury off waivers...I can't stand that.

I reserve the right to be hypocritical if the Magic end up engaging in this practice in future seasons.

quote:

I reserve the right to be hypocritical if the Magic end up engaging in this practice in future seasons.

Homer.

quote:

Originally posted by Live or Die Magic:
JRam...I'm assuming you're referring to Starbury...and I agree with you.

The one that really bothered me was last year when they tried to get Reggie Miller to come out of retirement. I just thought it reeked of desperation.

I don't so much mind the offseason pickups - the ones where they get a solid bench guy for the vet minimum. But grabbing guys like Mikki Moore and Starbury off waivers...I can't stand that.

I reserve the right to be hypocritical if the Magic end up engaging in this practice in future seasons.

yeah, picking up a p[layer during the offseason is great, its what the off season is all about, but picking up some guy halfway through the season is something i find hard to respect. A trade is different though, because you give up something in return.

This one was a heartbraker for the C's instead.
They lost the kind of game in which they usually thrive in. A blow-out win by Orlando would have probably have a lesser impact in their minds, because now they know that the Magic COULD pull out the W in a close game also, while recovering twice from a double-digit lead.

All that shooting 36,6% overall, 6/26 from three (23,1%) and 54,8 % from FT.
Awful, very awful stats. Saying that Rafer was our best 3p shooter yesterday is enough???
But our stellar defense in the 2nd half makes up for that.


Now, if we could only find a little shooting touch in game 7.... those two days off are going to kill me!