The Fan Voice: "Want Storylines? We Got You Covered!"

By Live or Die Magic | June 4th, 2009

The interwebernets are chock full of articles, columns, and blogs that offer prognostication, analysis, and breakdowns of the 2009 NBA Finals. So, in this space, I wanted to offer you something slightly different: a list of the intriguing storylines – things that aren’t necessarily about what is happening under the nets – that I feel make this Finals match up just as interesting as the one that everyone outside of Orlando wanted to happen. Let’s get started…

Trevor Ariza
Regardless of how much of an impact that Ariza has on the series, his presence will be felt by both teams. He is developing into an athletic and aggressive wing-man for Kobe Bryant and his injuries seem to be behind him. It is these past injuries, specifically his foot, that make up much of the rationale behind him being traded from the Magic in the first place. After all, it is never a good thing to mention “small forward” and “foot injury” in the same sentence around the Magic offices.

The match up will surely provide some extra motivation for Ariza. Although he only spent one full season (and small amounts of two others) in Orlando, he seemed to bond quite well with the Magic’s other young and promising players Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. Many Magic fans are still sore about this trade, but that is it’s own discussion.

Rafer Alston
Rafer Alston and Otis Smith have both received much deserved praise during the Magic’s run to the Finals. Alston quickly acclimated to his new teammates and the Magic’s style of play, allowing the rotation to stay as it was prior to Jameer Nelson’s injury. Considering that Otis Smith gave up a player that wasn’t being used and a 1st rounder that will be one of the last two picks in the round, it was a brilliant move to get a starting point guard who has kept this team on track.

But here is where things get intriguing. I would argue that if the Magic were to win the Finals this season, the Rafer Alston trade would have a justifiable claim to the best in-season trade in NBA history, or at least in recent memory. The only recent in season trades that I remember that led to a title were the Rasheed Wallace trade from Portland to Detroit (via Atlanta) in 2004, and the Clyde Drexler trade (also from Portland) to Houston in 1995. But neither of those trades involved injuries to major starters. In Detroit’s case, they were coming off a loss in the ECF the previous year, had a brand new Hall of Fame coach, and made one final move to put them over the hump. My point is, the Pistons were expected to get to the Finals. As for Houston, they were the defending NBA Champions, so it isn’t like they came out of nowhere.

But Orlando’s run this season has been surprising. Yes, a 2nd round playoff appearance, a division title, and 52 wins were great last year. But the national audience was surprised to see the Magic hold the best record in the league (ok, it was only for one day) during the season and to have an impressive record against all the “real” contenders. Certainly the Magic were not expected to knock off both the Celtics and the Cavaliers on their way to the Finals. So, it is fair to say that had we not made the trade for Rafer Alston, the Magic wouldn’t be in this position.

I would love to hear from you guys on this one…can you think of any other in-season trades that had this great of an impact and led to a title?

Tyronn Lue
He was a key contributor off the bench for two of the Lakers three most recent titles. He is likely to see little playing time during the series, but his familiarity with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, and Phil Jackson may have value throughout what is likely to be a long series. If nothing else, he could be a wise voice in the other players’ ears while on the bench. I’ve heard him speaking to Dwight several times in the locker room since he arrived, and he always seems to be offering sage advice to the younger player and putting things in perspective for him. The Rafer Alston trade may have been intended to correct the Tyronn Lue trade, but if Lue’s experience ends up being put to use during a Magic series victory, then this trade will most definitely have merit of its own.

Shaquille O’Neal
Considering that this is a player no longer involved with either team, it is a shame that this is the storyline that is likely to get the most attention. We could call these Finals the “Shaw-Shaq Redemption” Finals or the “Monkey Off Our Shaq” Finals. Truly, whichever team wins, the ever-imposing presence of O’Neal will be reduced substantially. In the case of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant (and his legacy) will be the main beneficiary, as he will no doubt view a Shaq-less title as his most important and most special. Shaq has already tried to lessen this potential impact by publicly coming out with the fact that he will be rooting for Kobe to get his fourth ring. No doubt Shaq made sure to emphasize the number as a way to draw attention to the fact that he already has his fourth.

But I would argue that it will be more substantial for the Orlando Magic because it will be not only the organization but the entire city of Orlando that will breath a sigh of relief. It was bad enough that Shaq devastated this franchise 13 years ago, but since that time he has taken every opportunity to criticize the organization and the city which he still, ironically, calls home. This season, he took things up a notch when he turned his comments toward Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy.

If the Magic win, no Magic fan will ever again care what Shaquille O’Neal has to say.

JJ Redick vs. Adam Morrison
Just kidding.

Disneyland vs. Disney World
I’ve been to both parks and both of them are great. The fact that this is even a storyline is quite sad. But there it was, on the front cover of today’s USA Today. I suppose the nation is more fascinated with these two destinations than the locals. Feel free to gasp in amazement, for there are entire weeks that go by in which I don’t even think about Disney World! Perhaps a title by the Magic will be a small step toward being known for something besides Disney.

Tiger Woods
Many of us on the Magic Message Boards have long-questioned whether Tiger Woods was actually a true fan of the Magic. Yes, he was a season ticket holder, but only seemed to show up for the bigger-name opponents. Now, he has publicly come out with the fact that he will be rooting for the Lakers. First off, did we even need to know? It was released in his monthly newsletter, so it isn’t like an interviewer put a microphone in his face and asked the question. My guess is that this will get enough press locally that Tiger may get booed when he appears for the a Finals game here in Orlando.

This is a situation where actions trump sentimentality. I don't care where he is from or who he rooted for growing up. He made a choice to make Orlando his home and has been coming to Magic games for many seasons now. The Magic should have long ago become his team of choice. It will be weird watching him rooting for the Lakers during the games here in town and then seeing him rooting for us in a regular season game next season.

All-Time Great Big Men
Look how many of the all-time great NBA big men have a stake in who wins this match up:

Shaq (already covered).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers assistant coach).

Patrick Ewing (Magic assistant coach).

Bill Walton (Rooting for his son, Luke, forward for the Lakers)

Bill Russell (yeah, this one is a bit of a stretch, but you have to figure that he is pulling for us to keep the Lakers’ total title count from creeping closer to Celtics territory, not to mention keeping Phil Jackson from passing his beloved coach Red Auerbach.)

Dwight Howard (yes, he belongs in this category, if for no other reason that he is the only one actually on the court!).

Oh, and hey, I’m just curious….anyone wondering who Fran Vazquez is rooting for...his national teammate and countryman, Pau Gasol, or the team who owns his NBA rights? Somebody? Anybody? Didn't think so.

Enjoy the Finals Magic Fans!


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"

Thanks LODM, a great way to get started before the whistle will open this series.

I'm pretty confident that JJ will win his matchup against Morrison (I'm serious, I believe he'll play at stretches and help the team)

And I would hope that Tiger will have the intelligence of not showing up in the O-rena ever, but I'm pretty sure he'll.

On the Spanish note, I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that Fran and Pau weren't exactly good friends... but anyway, I don't think that Vazquez cares a lot about what the Magic are doing. I even wonder if he's staying up at night until 6 a.m like a simple fan like me is doing...

Good read as always...

As far as the magnitude of the Alston trade...it would certainly rank right there with any I can recall...although I don't share your rational for dismissing the impact of those other in-season trades.

Detroit may very well have been a legit contender w/o Sheed, but odds are they don't get by Indy or LA w/o him. There's little doubt in my mind Detroit doesn't win that title w/o that trade.

Does Houston win back to back titles w/o Drexler? I seriously doubt it as well. They were a 6th seed as it was, went through 4 50 wins teams, and came back 1-3 vs. Pheonix that year.

Imagine if Cleveland had traded Wally for RJ, VC, or Shaq & gone on to win the title. It would be easy to claim they could have won it w/o them...but clearly that wasn't the case.

Another huge impact "in-season" trade I recall that lead to a title was the Lakers picking up Mycheal Thompson during the Bird/Magic era. That was a huge trade for LA that swung the balance of power to them.

The Pistons made similiar moves during the Bad Boys era for James Edwards & Mark Aguire. Even though it wasn't a trade, I believe the Bulls signing Brian Williams during the season was a huge in-season acquisition for them that year. And, believe it or not, SA's acquisition of Nzar Muhammad was pretty big for one of their title runs.

But, you bring up a great point. I can't recall any team in the modern era making a trade to replace an injured, key starter, and going on to win the title. Every trade I can recall was made to make the team better/put them over the top rather than salvage the season.

quote:

Originally posted by Live or Die Magic:
JJ Redick vs. Adam Morrison
Just kidding.

Yes, you gotta be kidding... it's not "Redick vs. Morrison" - it's "faux-hawk vs. 'stache"!!

Quite honestly, I wish reporters would stop talking to Shaq. I really don't care what he thinks since his opinion is tainted by his own gigantic ego.

His team didn't make the playoffs, so now he follows two of his former teams around that ARE still playing to draw attention away from those who deserve it right now.

Supposedly Shaq threw another barb Dwight's way when he was twittering (tweeting? I don't know which one it is) before Game 1. The guy is really coming off as bitter. The one bright side is that no matter which team wins this series Shaq loses. That thought makes me smile.

I doubt Morrison is even in the league when his rookie contract expires.

Tiger strikes me as a front runner type of fan. The only thing that aggravates me is when announcers refer to him as a Magic fan. He clearly isn't one. It really doesn't bother me who he roots for me and I disagree with LOD's sentiment that he should be a Magic fan because he chose Orlando to be his home. I'm moving to Utah in a couple of months and plan on going to quite a few Jazz games. I will probably follow them (and may even root for them) but they will never be my number one team.

In terms of season saving trade Alston may be the best. I'm not sure its the best mid-season trade period. The Magic would have to win a championship for it to even be in the running. In my mind, the Rasheed Wallace trade was the best that I know of. I agree with Kitno, there's no way Detroit beats LA without him.