Ghosts of Free Throws Past haunt Magic

ORLANDO -- Nick Anderson is rolling over in his grave.

The Ghosts of Free Throws Past returned after 14 years, adding another painful reminder why the Magic will forever curse the black stripe 15 feet from the basket. That and Derek Fisher.

The inability to make the only shot on the basketball court that isn't subjected to defenders shines as the obvious reason the Lakers moved within one victory of the championship after tossing Orlando aside 99-91 in overtime Thursday night. But not the only reason.

(Watch a replay of Game 4 at 12 a.m. ET Saturday on NBA TV.)

As much as free throws played into a loss that may have ended the Magic's realistic shot at the franchise's first title, Stan Van Gundy can't be excused from the conversation. The decisions of Orlando's coach are open to after-the-fact inspection.

Starting with Van Gundy.

"That one will haunt me forever," he said.

That one is the final 10.8 seconds of the fourth quarter. Rewind just 0.3 seconds, as All-Star center and free-throw novice Dwight Howard clanged two freebies off the rim. Make either and the series is likely tied heading into Sunday's fifth game instead of the Lakers holding an imposing 3-1 lead.

Howard has been cramming at the line in recent weeks, hoping to get some semblance of comfort for moments just like this. Kareem's advice this week seems so irrelevant. Superman doesn't need a skyhook. Howard could use Rick Barry as a tutor.

Underhand shot, anyone?

"I did a lot of good things tonight," Howard said, "just free throws weren't there. Not just for me, but for everybody."

Howard's 6-of-14 effort at the uncharitable stripe just compounded the Magic's foul-shooting woes down the stretch. Orlando misfired on five of its last seven free throws in the fourth quarter, to go just 10-of-17 in the period. Hedo Turkoglu, 85 percent at the line in the Playoffs, went to the line seven times in the fourth and made just three.

The Magic, though, still held a three-point lead (87-84) after Dwight's last misconnections of regulation. Only one shot kind of shot could tie the Magic and even though he didn't take it, the ball ended up in the hands of the Lakers' best option outside of Robert Horry.

The sideline indbounds pass with 10.8 left went to Kobe Bryant. Quickly doubled, Bryant quickly bailed out to Trevor Ariza, who sent the ball to Fisher without it touching the hardwood. The veteran, no stranger to clutch shots, took two dribbles and pulled up in rhythm from beyond the arc. Fisher also had three feet of prime Florida real estate, compliments of Jameer Nelson, to work with before getting into his motion.

"We played like we were trying to prevent a layup," Van Gundy lamented.

Fish, of course, went swish. The Magic nearly botched the ensuing inbounds with 4.6 seconds left, even after a timeout, and managed only an awkward Mickael Pietrus 20-footer. Turkoglu was supposed to pass the ball to Rashard Lewis.

"It was totally my fault," Turkoglu said before blaming the loss on the team's overall stupidity.

Who does one fault for going brain-locked instead of locking down? The Magic could have prevented Fisher's shot by fouling before any attempt was made. Coaches, analysts and those who play both at home love to debate the timing of fouling in that situation. Van Gundy thought it was too soon to foul and turn the final few seconds into a free-throw contest.

Maybe he knows the Magic would have lost that game, too.

"It was my decision with 11 seconds not to foul," Van Gundy explained. "Yes, I regret it now, but only in retrospect."

Having Nelson, only three games removed from an extended stint on the IR, on the floor to guard Fisher is another issue. Starter Rafer Alston (11 points) has at least two inches and four months on Nelson, but he didn't play in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Nelson (two points) passed up an open lane for a layup before getting the ball to Howard prior to his ill-fated trip to the stripe. Alston had gotten to the rim several times while he was in the game, but a disastrous third quarter was enough for Van Gundy to bench his first-teamer for good.

"I thought it would be hard to bring [Alston] back," Van Gundy said. "Jameer wasn't doing a whole lot, but he also wasn't hurting us."

Hardly a ringing endorsement. The Magic led by 12 at halftime with Rafer playing more than twice as many minutes as Nelson.

The overtime didn't go well for Van Gundy's crew. Lewis, in the midst of his worst game of the Playoffs, opened the five-minute stanza with a 3-pointer. The Lakers outscored Orlando 12-1 the rest of the way, but Fisher's second and last 3-pointer of the night proved to be all the points they would need.

The Lakers were up 94-91 with 31.3 seconds left and the Magic elected to go for the tie instead of a quick 2. Hedo clanked a 3 and Lewis batted the loose ball into Orlando's backcourt. Pau Gasol picked up the welcome assist and dunked.

Van Gundy often says too much is made of intangibles, such as experience and coaching itself. Maybe that's just a smart cover considering the Magic don't stack up favorably to the Lakers when the resumes of both are dissected. This is just basketball, SVG tells us, and sometimes it's as simple as shots falling or not falling.

It's a good bet Anderson agrees with Van Gundy. Ghosts in the air, unlike decisions, can't be second guessed.

Art Garcia is covering The NBA Finals for NBA.com. If you have a question or comment, send him an email