Orlando Magic defeat Celtics coming a step closer to history
They have taken another step to rewrite history. Overcoming the historic unconquerable deficit of 3-0 is one side to a story, to do it in style is another altogether. The Orlando Magic have clearly shown that they are not ready to just give up and go back home. The only place they are planning to go is to the podium for the title, but on their way they have to face Boston at Game 6 first.
They have made it half way into history when they defeated Boston Celtics 113-92. Dwight Howard starred with 21 points and 10 rebounds playing the leading role in the victory. So far the one game theory seems to be working for them as after the match Magic guard Jameer Nelson said, “We just all believe. We all believe. We know we can do it, one game at a time".
The series looked like a clean sweep from the Celtics on the helpless Magic just a few days ago but the currents have changed and Celtics seem the feeble one now. The Celtics will face serious consequences for their lack of performances earlier as they head into Game 6 on Friday without their starting centre Kendrick Perkins who after having received his 7th technical foul is on suspension until it’s overturned.
It has been noted that no NBA team has ever won a series after having lost the first 3 matches. After hopeless and demeaning 3 games the Magic found how to counter. It was their shooting from downtown. They shot long and high T making 13-of-25 3-pointers and ultimately stunning the Celtics.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers has acknowledged their strategy having said, “They are a great team when they get a lead, because then those 3s are easy.” He then added, “I thought we never applied any real pressure.”
Nelson made 24 points, and J.J. Redick produced 14 to race the Magic to victory at a speed that the Celtics couldn’t just simply achieve. Howard also made five blocks as a 14 point led was built that never came into challenge till the end.
21 points were scored by Rasheed Wallace 19 by Ray Allen but they just weren’t enough for the ‘Magic’s team show’. Howard had played it rough out there by making everyone think twice when they came near them. He even blacked out ‘Big Baby’ Davis as he was shaken yet he seemed fine in the end. On the issue Rivers lightly said, “I don't know what kind of tests they’re going to do with Baby. He’s a little delirious anyway”.
Redick proved of great assistance as he made a couple of crucial 3 pointers making everybody aware of the 20-8 run which by the end of the half was 51-37. His 3-pointers were impeccable and they clearly reminded the presence of the struggling Vince Carter.
Things just kept getting worst for the Celtics as Perkins was benched after he got his second technical in the game which makes it his 7th post season. Perkins and Marcin Gortat got double technical after messing up and reacting to the officials.
This means that Howard will be left unguarded as the Celtics proceed towards two games from disgrace. If this happens then the Boston side will remember this incident all too well. The reason being, in North American major pro sports leagues perform only 4 times and it has happened before that a team made a comeback being 3 games down from the start.
Of the four it happened 3 times in NHL: once when the Philadelphia Flyers thwarted Boston Bruins about a month ago and then in baseball when Boston Red Sox came back to beat the New York Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series. The event has been close to 93 times but it simply hasn’t happened in NBA history, well the Magic now has the chance to pull the rabbit out of the hat at last.
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