The Fan Voice: "Instant Grit"

By Live or Die Magic | April 30th, 2009

Greetings from Anaheim, California!
I may be far away from my version of Magic Land but my thoughts are close to home after tonight's incredible Game 6 close out of the pesky Sixers.

Tonight's game was by far one of the most rewarding games I've watched in quite some time. I must have stuck out amongst the other patrons at the lobby bar of the Anaheim Hilton (a large 1600 room convention hotel) as I wore my blue "Blue and White Ignite" t-shirt and yelled loudly for every great play. But I didn't care...

...I was having too much fun watching players like Rashard Lewis step up and play like an all-star and a leader. It would appear that four games of mediocrity is the limit for Lewis. He shed his lethargy from Games 1 through 4 and took over the series in Games 5 and 6. He went from missing shots to making them. He went from being passive to being assertive. And the Magic went from losing to winning.

I'm not certain how much of it was Lewis showing grit at last and how much was a shift in strategy by Stan Van Gundy...likely a bit of both. But watching Lewis score 17 points in the first half tonight took my apprehensions for the Game 6 outcome and transformed them into a fun and carefree game filled with great plays from nearly ever Magic player that got in the game.

And just in time for Rasheed Wallace to vacate the position, Samuel Dalembert has completed a very convincing audition for the role of most hated Magic playoff opponent. His exchanges with Dwight and Turk this season have been, well, troublesome. But considering that we came out on the positive side of the matchup, I'll leave some of my hate on the court (or is that the couch?).

The grit and determination that Lewis has shown these past two games will be even more crucial in the next round against the winner of the Boston/Chicago marathon. We will need him to demand the ball more - even with Dwight back in the game - and we will need him to continue to shoulder a heavier offensive load with Courtney Lee likely to miss much of the series and with Turk in and out of a shooting slump. The great two-man game that he and Rafer Alston demonstrated at times last night would be a great start!

I apologize for the short post, but even though my watch is on Pacific time, my body thinks it's well past midnight. I'll see you guys for the 2nd round!

How great is it to be a Magic fan now!!

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.

Out of all of the games I can remember watching, I think I like that one the best. Nothing better than shutting up a bunch of whiners and doing it easily.

I loved Stan's press conferance afterwards where he mentions the quote from Thaddeus "Dwight being out will be huge for us." LMAO! It sure was.

SVG did a wonderful job of recognizing the miss match Shard was creating in the post. He took the ball out of Hedo's struggling hands and made the Sixers double Shard.

Instant open looks for JJ, Rafer and evan Hedo.

Definitely one of the best games we've played this season. I loved watching Rashard taking over. Hopefully he keeps it up.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:
Out of all of the games I can remember watching, I think I like that one the best. Nothing better than shutting up a bunch of whiners and doing it easily.

I loved Stan's press conferance afterwards where he mentions the quote from Thaddeus "Dwight being out will be huge for us." LMAO! It sure was.

Same thinking here.

Maybe it wasn't the best Magic game I've seen in my life, but I'm pretty sure I haven't been so high after a W.
It happens when it's unexpected...

And LODM, great read, is really good to be a Magic fan right now, and it would be better if we can get past the next series.
A higly disputed 2nd round (like CHI-BOS) would be a plus, altough my heart would probably never recover from it... imagine how much a Bulls fan could have suffered in those 6 games!!!