ORLANDO -- It was a night when a veteran dismissed as old and inept proudly turned back time, a night when a man-child with 21 rebounds and nine blocked shots was the goat, a night when the well-coached team won and the team that executed horribly in critical moments lost. Sometimes, the slim difference between a champion and a wannabe funnels down to savvy, character, IQ, experience, all the traits that never seem cliche when it's past midnight in overtime and the studs are separating from the frauds.
L.A. Lakers vs. Orlando MagicLakers 99, Magic 91: Recap | Box Score
Moore: Lakers Have Championship DNA
Povtak: Ariza's Revenge | Orlando's PG Mess
Lakers Lead 3-1 | Next: Sun. @ Orlando, 8 PM ET
The NBA Finals would be tied at 2-2 today if Dwight Howard, so-called Superman, knew how to make a free throw. It's not that he hasn't tried to improve, spending countless nights in the gym with friends who don't let him leave until he makes 300 and the final 20 -- requiring him to start over even if he misses after 19. He visualizes at the free-throw line. He hums hip-hop rhythms at the free-throw line. He breathes in, breathes out. But none of those tricks helped Howard with 10.4 seconds left in regulation, when the Magic had an 87-84 lead and needed him to make one foul shot so they could exhale and likely win Game 4.
He clanked both.
"I just missed them. I've been working on my free throws," Howard said after missing eight of his 14 attempts. "They just weren't falling tonight. I think I did a lot of good things. It's just that the free throws weren't there."
Oh, that's all. The free throws weren't there. I see.
Suddenly, all of his wondrous deeds on defense -- no one else in Finals history has had nine blocks -- were forgotten. The energy and noise in the arena was now an anxious hush, and all eyes turned to Kobe Bryant, who was born for these situations. Derek Fisher? Nah, he was old and slow and no longer able to make a big shot. A beloved guy? Sure, particularly when he asked the Utah Jazz to rescind a three-year, $22 million contract so he could return for a cheaper deal with the Lakers in Los Angeles, where top doctors were more capable of helping his young daughter, Tatum, deal with a left eye ravaged with cancer in her infancy. But did you want him taking the last shot? In 2004, you did, back when he hit the shot with 0.4 left that beat the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. In 2009? Not really. Not when he had missed his first five three-pointers Thursday night and not when he hasn't been hitting that many since, well, 2004.
But when the Lakers inbounded from their own end line with remarkable ease, Fisher found himself with the ball just behind the three-point line ... as Magic guard Jameer Nelson WAS BACKING OFF HIM. Huh? If nothing else, get in the old man's face and contest the shot. But with Nelson on the other side of the trey stripe, Fisher was left no tactical choice but to fire the shot designed for Bryant and try to act 29 again.
"I was just going to kind of survey the situation, but Nelson was giving me a lot of space and I like to step into those threes," Fisher said. "Even though I wasn't making them, I felt like I could do that."
When it went in with 4.6 seconds left, well, who in America didn't feel good for him? Even if you dislike Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers, as many do, Fisher is the one everyone roots for. And the crazy thing is, he wasn't done yet. With the game tied at 91 in the extra period, the suddenly energized and productive Trevor Ariza rebounded his own miss and set up another game-winning scenario. Eventually, there was Fisher, open again beyond the stripe. Bryant had the ball and was trying to back down two defenders, but how could he ignore the wide-open warrior? He kicked out the ball to Fisher while landing a firm elbow to Nelson's chin, something the refs could have called but didn't. With everything Fisher has been through -- his daughter's illness, leaving the Lakers when he didn't want to, returning under difficult personal circumstances -- did anyone really think he'd miss with 31.3 seconds remaining?
The second dagger clinched a wild comeback victory for the Lakers, a 99-91 killer that gives them a 3-1 lead over the devastated Magic, sets up Bryant for his first championship without Shaquille O'Neal and lines up Jackson for his record-breaking 10th championship as a coach. And to think the Lakers let Fisher sign with the rival Jazz after his first heroic buzzer-beater. He could have held a grudge and taken his daughter to another city with elite medical care, but Fisher has too much class and perspective to be bitter. Jackson understood his leadership abilities and work ethic and gladly brought him back. Anyone who wondered why, even on his worst shooting nights, is quiet today.
"I've always heard things," Fisher said of the criticism. "Now it's age. Before, it was in terms of not being able to shoot or not tall enough or whatever the case. I've always used those things as motivation to work even harder and try to be better than I was before. The guys on this team are just unbelievable. They ride with me, good or bad, and I just want to continue to thank them for showing the confidence I need. And the belief that Phil has showed in me, I can't say enough about it.
"I have a responsibility to my team that if I'm going to be on the floor, then I have to make a difference. None of us can continue to just expect that Kobe is going to save us. We have to be willing to take blame, responsibility and accountability. I felt bad because Pau [Gasol] was kicking it out to me for some wide-open threes that I was missing. I promised him that I wasn't going to miss those shots anymore."
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ORLANDO,FL - JUNE 11: Head Coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic speaks to the media after Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals at Amway Arena on June 11, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy
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Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol (C) grabs a rebound in front of Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (R) and Jameer Nelson during Game 4 of their NBA Finals basketball game in Orlando, Florida, June 11, 2009. REUTERS/Larry W. Smith/Pool (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes after the ball in front of a diving (L) Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Fisher;Jameer Nelson
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic reacts on the side line in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic dives for the ball underneath Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jameer Nelson;Derek Fisher
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Fisher;Jameer Nelson
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic moves the ball out in front of Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jameer Nelson;Derek Fisher
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Head coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers discusses a call with referee Scott Foster in the second half against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Phil Jackson;Scott Foster
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic runs up court in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hedo Turkoglu
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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 11: Dwight Howard #12 listens to head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 11, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard;Stan Van Gundy
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A better moment than even the 0.4, obviously? "This is at the top of the list," he said. "You know, personally, with my experiences the last couple of years and leaving this team and coming back and playing with this group of guys, this ranks right at the top. You know, even greater than the 0.4 because I feel we're as close as possible to what our end goal is."
No one was more pleased than Bryant, who has pleaded for help from teammates who come and go depending on the night. Fact is, the Lakers have played six postseason games following a loss and one off day -- and won all six times. Bryant again didn't shoot well, hitting only 11 of 31 after another fast start, and his fatigue could have been a long-term problem if the Magic had tied the series. Which makes Fisher's heroics even more vital. They will be remembered fondly in Lakers history, and don't be shocked if the cheers at the victory parade are as loud for him as Kobe.
Why pass the ball to the old man, superstar, when he was struggling?
"Because he's been there before,'' Bryant said. "He's been there and done that. In the locker room [afterward], I was kind of teasing him because he was 0-for-5 until he made those last two. But that's Derek. He just has supreme confidence, and I think those shots at the end of the game are actually easier for him than the other ones."
"Well, it's character," Jackson said of Fisher. "We've always said that character has got to be in the players if they're going to be great players. He's a person of high character, and he brings that to play, not only in his gamesmanship but his intestinal fortitude."
In Jackson's eyes, the game's turning point came late in the third quarter, when Bryant wrestled the ball from Howard after the Magic big man had corralled an offensive rebound. Frustrated, Superman grabbed Bryant around the chest and pulled his jersey, drawing a foul. Bryant trash-talked his U.S. Olympic teammate as they walked up the court. "That just showed the kind of grit this team has tried to develop over the last year, to come back from circumstances that are dire or being down," said Jackson, thrilled that his team overcame a 12-point deficit.
Howard and the Magic, on the other hand, are soft mentally and chokers in the clutch. How do you explain missing 15 of 37 free throws as a team? How do you explain 17 turnovers -- Howard had seven alone --while the Lakers committed only seven? Hedo Turkoglu, normally reliable, missed four free throws in the fourth quarter. "I wish I knew the answer. The ball just didn't feel right in my hands," he said. "I should have been more focused and made those."We had it, but it just kind of slipped away because of our stupidness."
That would be stupidity, Hedo. The Magic even botch the language.
Not that Stan Van Gundy wanted to hear about the lack of experience in the Finals. Once again, you could question the Magic coach for numerous strategic blunders, such as why Nelson was playing so far off Fisher in regulation. If Van Gundy had fouled the Lakers with, say, 11 seconds left while holding a three-point lead, might the outcome have been different?
"No, we thought 11 seconds was too early, especially with the way we were shooting free throws," he said. "But you know, in retrospect, we gave [Fisher] so much space to shoot the ball. We played like we were trying to prevent a layup. We denied Bryant the ball, but then we just didn't play Derek Fisher, just didn't guard him."
In the end, this was about experience over inexperience, about Jackson over Van Gundy, about Bryant over Howard, about Fisher over Nelson. "That has nothing to do with any of it," Van Gundy shot back disgustedly. "We've played enough basketball games. It's basketball. These guys have been in hundreds of games, thousands of them. Most of these guys have been in huge games. It's just too cliche to say it's all about Finals experience and that we're all of a sudden playing with 11-foot baskets and a smaller court. I just don't buy it."
Oh, yeah? Then why was Derek Fisher all alone? Why did Goofy, Pluto and Mickey Mouse have a better shot of guarding him than Jameer Nelson?
Because sometimes, the old man is disrespected before his time. He'll laugh all the way to his fourth ring ceremony while, hopefully, Howard is in the gym practicing more free throws.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-12-2009 @ 4:05AM
knowledge said...
Jay you flip flop more than ur local politician. I remember u crowning Denver and Cleveland conference champs after, what, 2 or 3 games? Go to sleep and give ur computer a rest! Oh now u got nuthin but praise and admiration for the Lakers? Ur gonna go on Around The Horn and tell the listening world that u picked LA from the start? The bandwagon is full and u are the weakest link. GOODBYE!!!
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6-12-2009 @ 4:37AM
tpro24w said...
Oh, come on..all that I see from these Laker haters like Mariotti in this article is attention being drawn to stuff like the "no call" elbow that Bryant landed Jameer (even though Jameer threw himself into it to try to draw the foul in my opinion). Yet, these people fail to allude to the fact that ORL at one point led LA 18-0 in foul shots in the 4th qtr and OT. I think it might have ended up 18-2 after the end of the game flagrant shots. LoL. Yeah, but not only that..but the haters also fail to credit the Lakers for playing with a lineup of Farmar, Bryant, Walton, Powell, and Mbenga for the final 3 minutes of the 1st and Farmar/Brown, Vujacic, Walton, Powell, and Gasol for the first 3 minutes of the 2nd Qtr due to touch fouls on the Lakers...but Nope, all of that is forgotten for a Kobe elbow landing on Jameer. The Magic got jobbed; yeah right! Despite everything, the Lakers proved to be the resilient team and are on the way to yet another title.
After reading these articles over the last few weeks, I just wonder what Terrence Moore is going to say now, after consistently discrediting Kobe (not so much the Lakers)knowing that another title is on the horizon. Although, I still expect the usual for him and Mariotti to keep telling us how LeBron is still the best thing since sliced bread even though he has done nothing, nothing in comparison to Kobe, ShaQ, and Duncan in his career!
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6-12-2009 @ 4:32PM
robelle1 said...
Couldn't have said it any better to the Lakers/Kobe hating media. I have to bear the disrespect all season long just hoping for this days when the Laker team and Kobe can prove them all wrong by sheer determination and perseverance. Let's save the gloating till Game 5.
6-12-2009 @ 5:34AM
Lakergregg said...
Well written tpro24w, Mariotti still hasn't admitted he was wrong for saying the Lakers couldn't win in Denver.Have some balls Jay and just write "I was wrong."
Also,check your facts, D-Fish signed with the Warriors NOT the Jazz following a loss to Detroit in the finals at the end of the 2003-04 season.
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6-12-2009 @ 6:53AM
obamaizadope said...
Mariotti is as delusional as Rod Blagojevich, must be a Chicago thing. If basketball was like football, and Howard only had to play one way, he'd be Butkus, Lambert, Lott, and Greene rolled into one. He is a phenomenal defensive player, but his teammates don't trust him with the ball on offense, and I don't blame them. Drop 81 on 'em Sunday, Kobe, just because..
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6-12-2009 @ 7:35AM
jtkik said...
It's great to see Fish come up epic once again at this stage of his career. Sweet! Fish has had an off year this year, but had a nice one last year and I knew he would step up now when it counts most. Hell yea, Fish! Beautiful! I love how all of the Laker big men were in foul trouble right out the gate with BS ticky tack crap fouls, and they all had to sit much of the first half. I love how at the end of the game Fish gets called for a foul during a reb scrap for having his hand on Howard's back but not even moving him, while Howard has his hand on Gasol's back as he's shoving him to the floor, and Howard goes to the line. Riiiight. I love how the Magic had something like 18 free throws in the 4th quarter and OT to the Lakers 2, and Kobe's being mauled by multiple defenders. Riiiight. Orlando didn't deserve for Howard to hit either of those free throws at the end. Sometimes the basketball gods decide enough is enough, and they step in and stop corrupt and/or incompetent refs from changing a series by unfairly giving a game to one team or another. The Lakers have been repeatedly screwed by bad calls throughout these playoffs, but they are overlooked by those who would rather focus on Laker non fouls that were not called, or even inventing non calls on non fouls, like the Gasol goaltending insanity after the end of game 2, while Howard actually DID goal tend with his hand through the bottom of the bucket to "block" a Gasol dunk earlier. Of course it was called a block. Riiiight. Tonight, Nelson ran into Kobe's elbow every bit as much as Kobe threw it out, and as Magic Johnson said, that's championship basketball! You're playing for a world championship. I love how the only calls or non calls mentioned are always when the Lakers win, despite the many times they got screwed earlier and have been throughout. On that note, the Lakers are about to finish their season-long mission. Stick a fork in Orlando.
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6-12-2009 @ 7:49AM
rexwaller said...
The Magic have a very difficult time executing in crunch-time. They don't gave a go-to guy offensively, and they don't play smart defensively. They have loss 5 or 6 heartbreaking games during the playoffs because, collectively (including the coach), they don't have the basketball IQ or savvy that is necessary to win close game.
I'm a Bulls fan, so I really don't care who wins. But I hate to see a team give games away like the Magic have done throughout the post-season. It will be very difficult for the Magic to recover from this. Their reputation for unintelligent play will follow them from now on. Plus, with Cleveland on the fringe, the Celtics still strong, the Bulls, Denver and Portland all getting stronger, and Kobe not playing as well as expected, this was probably the Magic's best (only?) legitimate chance for a championship.
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6-12-2009 @ 8:18AM
bobbyhustles said...
Jeez, I just don't understand Van Gundy, why on earth are you giving Nelson any burn at all, dude is still hurt and this isn't the time of year to rehabilitate..........Alston is the damn key to their success, dude is putting up the numbers and plays better defense............Howard is soft to be that size also!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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6-12-2009 @ 8:43AM
dmtrsh said...
jtkik is exactly RIGHT! man you couldn't have said it better. it seems like the refs are tring to give it to orlando. howard fouls all the time not to mentioned goaltends. it seems like most of the westcoast teams (especially) the lakers get screwed when it comes down to playing eastcoast teams. I guess its a westcoast, hollywood sunshine hate thing. The magic can step out of bounds while shooting a 3pt shot...no call, goal tend through the bottom of the rim,..no call, foul obviously..no call, comment flagrant + fouls,...again no call. but Bynum steps on the floor foul called, gasol getting pushed from behind (by howard) while going for a rebound and get called for a foul. orlando please stop bitching and laker haters stop hatin damm...all you lakers haters always come up with this bull crap about kobe being a rapist! that's your only card and you haters use it too often..not to mentioned that it's inacurate. again people it was consentual sex not rape! don't forget that the chick screwed 2-3 other guys prior to or after kobe the proof is in the panties ohhh and also her SEMEN everybody nasty ass slut. why didn't she go after the other guys? well money have alot to do with that agin Lakers are a class organisation no thugs like denver and no cheaters and children like orlando and definitely no bitches like cleveland ohh why are the still showing labron muppits? he is toast labron has done nothing for the league and has not contribute like kobe, duncan, horry, olejuan, magic, mj, and the much hated bird! again lakers in 5!
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6-12-2009 @ 9:04AM
Martin said...
Mariotti says "He kicked out the ball to Fisher while landing a firm elbow to Nelson's chin, something the refs could have called but didn't."
Mariotti needs to learn some basketball. The elbow was close to his body (not sticking out) and a player is entitled to move his arms (and last time I checked an anatomy book, that includes elbows) in a natural manner to shoot or pass. It could have been called a foul on Nelson, but it was a better non call.
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6-12-2009 @ 9:05AM
joshgotjokes said...
Mariotti,
Why so hard on Orlando? Do you have a personal gripe with them? I'm pretty sure that Hedo's first language isn't English, so to say that he botched the language is a cheap shot. Then you call them chokers. Did they spurn your advances when you were young and in love? Did you pin all of your hopes and dreams on the '95 team only to have them pull the rug out from under you? Do Nick Anderson's missed free throws still haunt you? You can't let one team ruin all the others for you. Not all teams hurt Jay. I know how you feel. I was hurt by the Knicks once, but I can't let Charles Smth's missed lay-ups, or Patrick Ewing's finger roll ruin me for other teams. Maybe I expected too much too soon. Maybe they just weren't that in to me. You've got a hard heart Jay. Open yourself up and learn to love again.
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6-12-2009 @ 9:21AM
silvercharm said...
the laker were pre-destin to win the finals they should go ahead and give them the ring's today and give one to the referee's too. you can not beat a team who commits fouls 87% of the time and are only called on 42%of them that's just a fact. this series was already bought,lakers are drama queens!! Kobe fouls everytime he is under the basket but it is never called, but he cry's foul everytime he touches the ball and someone gets charged with one. it looks to me as if maybe more than one referee should be in prison? just shows you what a little money can do, remember that peter kissed jesus on the cheek for a hand full of silver. shame on the NBA for letting this get so far out of hand. maybe a boycott of the sport will help them get this back to and even keel.
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6-12-2009 @ 10:01AM
jmwhitmore said...
Haha....you have to be kidding! Not one foul called on the Magic in 4Q or overtime (except the flagrant in the last seconds--and they COULDN'T let that one go) and you're STILL crying that they're giving it to the Lakers. Oh, they're giving it to them all right...right up the ***. But the Lakers are winning anyway, in spite of the no-calls.
6-12-2009 @ 9:25AM
klovetim said...
Bottom line is the Magic chocked. The Lakers didn't win that game the Magic gave to them on a platter. It wouldn't bother me so much if the Lakers weren't so classless, led by their head classless leader Kobe. I guess we will have to suffer listening on how great the Lakers are if they win and it looks like they are. Does anyone have some ear plugs?
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6-12-2009 @ 9:42AM
The Schucks said...
just one question...is a blatant elbow to the face a foul?
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6-12-2009 @ 10:03AM
jmwhitmore said...
No. It isn't.
6-12-2009 @ 12:07PM
mif991 said...
Nelson face running into Kobe's elbow is not a foul and neither was it blattant. great non call. The two hand shove by Pietrus on Gasol was blattant.
6-12-2009 @ 9:49AM
cpbr2000 said...
Ok all this talk about the magic giving away games..missed free throws are a part of the game..the game before Kobe missed 5 free throws and turned the ball over..The lakers are playing with lots of poise right now..the see the finish line is near and its in their favor..Derek Fisher is such a class act and hes been there before so experience does count regardless of what van gundy says..The magic arent ready yet.look for the Lakers to be around for many years to come..they have a young team even though Fisher is 34..purple and Gold will be celebrating very soon..GO LAKERS
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6-12-2009 @ 9:56AM
The Schucks said...
and one more question...i thought one needed to place both feet back on the court after running out of bounds in order to touch the ball (referencing ariza's rebound in the fourth quarter in which he took one step onto the court from out of bounds and rebounded the ball)...am I right?
the NBA has turned into a complete joke all around...the class and dignity of the earlier celtics, lakers, and bulls is completely lost and it is becoming just about as legitimate as the WWF. Just look at the difference in class, heart, determination, and will in the Stanley Cup compared to the NBA...David Stern has already told his refs who he wants to win (he has done it before), the players whine and complain more than a spoiled four year old girl, and we have to listen to Jeff van Gundy spew utter crap the entire time...I'm done with the NBA, college hoops is where its at. Stern has ruined the NBA.
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6-12-2009 @ 12:14PM
mif991 said...
Yes, the rebound by Ariza was from out of bounds, just like Howard's shove for a rebound on Gasol was called in Magic's favor. You have the right to your opinion, just know that the magic lost because of Howards missed throws. Now get over that. and if you don't want to watch anymore games because of the refs (just like Denver, Boston and Cleveland fans claim)then don't watch. I am okay with that.