Related Images
Cohen: Remembering the Beantown Blitz
By Josh Cohen
May 14, 2010
ORLANDO -- Some, on one hand, remember it as one of the most relieving victories in franchise history. Others, on the other hand, recall it as one of the most satisfying triumphs in the team’s storied past.
No matter how you reminisce or cherish it, the Orlando Magic’s Game 7 win last season against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals was as gratifying as devouring a full platter of strawberry cheesecake and some of the best New York City cannolis.
At the time, it was reasonable to suggest that contest was the “most important” road playoff game in the club’s history. Boston was an astounding 32-0 in a best-of-seven series when leading 3-2, and almost nobody outside of Central Florida was picking the Magic to win.
Rather than be swallowed up by the obvious pressure and disillusionment from the national media, the Magic stepped up to the challenge and delivered an outstanding performance.
Orlando dominated from the early stages – silencing the electric TD Garden crowd – and coasted to a convincing 101-82 victory to advance to the East Finals and force Boston to concentrate on Red Sox baseball.
Hedo Turkoglu registered 25 points and 12 assists and Dwight Howard contributed 12 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks to help the Magic secure their second all-time Game 7 triumph.
“We learned a lot, coming in here and beating the world champs (at the time) on their own floor,” Howard said that night. “Everybody was talking about experience. The biggest thing was effort and energy. The team that played the hardest was going to win.”
Orlando’s Game 7 win also came at a time when there was so much scrutiny surrounding the team. The Magic were burned twice in the final seconds during the First Round against the Philadelphia 76ers before battling back to win the series in six games and were smoldered by a devastating buzzer-beating game-winner from Glen Davis in Game 4 of the Boston series.
But like championship aspirers do, the Magic overcame the criticism to stun the hoops universe. They utilized such an enormous Game 7 victory to give themselves tremendous confidence in the Eastern Conference Finals – a series they ultimately won in six.
Although we recently discovered that this triumph was not voted as the “best” all-time Magic victory (that honor went to Game 6 against the Cavs last season), Game 7’s historic victory allowed the entire world to get a first-hand look at the Magic.
Until a team advances to the conference finals, generally speaking, it’s not as likely for casual basketball fans, particularly outside of the local market, to pay close attention to that specific squad. Conference Finals games are almost always in primetime and are heavily spotlighted in the media throughout the entirety of the series.
Growing up in New Jersey, for instance, I remember when the Nets finally reached the conference finals in 2002. Once their East Finals series against the Celtics started, everyone started focusing on the greatness of Jason Kidd and the emergence of Richard Jefferson. Before that, they were classified as just good players on an up-and-coming team.
It was very similar last year with the Magic after their Game 7 win over Boston. Fans from around the globe began noticing the immensity of Dwight Howard, the distinctiveness of Rashard Lewis and the brilliance of Stan Van Gundy.
It just comes with the territory after unexpectedly eliminating the defending NBA champions on their home floor in a decisive Game 7.
My final description of it: Just … Wow!
By Josh Cohen
May 14, 2010
ORLANDO -- Some, on one hand, remember it as one of the most relieving victories in franchise history. Others, on the other hand, recall it as one of the most satisfying triumphs in the team’s storied past.
No matter how you reminisce or cherish it, the Orlando Magic’s Game 7 win last season against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals was as gratifying as devouring a full platter of strawberry cheesecake and some of the best New York City cannolis.
At the time, it was reasonable to suggest that contest was the “most important” road playoff game in the club’s history. Boston was an astounding 32-0 in a best-of-seven series when leading 3-2, and almost nobody outside of Central Florida was picking the Magic to win.
Rather than be swallowed up by the obvious pressure and disillusionment from the national media, the Magic stepped up to the challenge and delivered an outstanding performance.
Orlando dominated from the early stages – silencing the electric TD Garden crowd – and coasted to a convincing 101-82 victory to advance to the East Finals and force Boston to concentrate on Red Sox baseball.
Hedo Turkoglu registered 25 points and 12 assists and Dwight Howard contributed 12 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks to help the Magic secure their second all-time Game 7 triumph.
“We learned a lot, coming in here and beating the world champs (at the time) on their own floor,” Howard said that night. “Everybody was talking about experience. The biggest thing was effort and energy. The team that played the hardest was going to win.”
Orlando’s Game 7 win also came at a time when there was so much scrutiny surrounding the team. The Magic were burned twice in the final seconds during the First Round against the Philadelphia 76ers before battling back to win the series in six games and were smoldered by a devastating buzzer-beating game-winner from Glen Davis in Game 4 of the Boston series.
But like championship aspirers do, the Magic overcame the criticism to stun the hoops universe. They utilized such an enormous Game 7 victory to give themselves tremendous confidence in the Eastern Conference Finals – a series they ultimately won in six.
Although we recently discovered that this triumph was not voted as the “best” all-time Magic victory (that honor went to Game 6 against the Cavs last season), Game 7’s historic victory allowed the entire world to get a first-hand look at the Magic.
Until a team advances to the conference finals, generally speaking, it’s not as likely for casual basketball fans, particularly outside of the local market, to pay close attention to that specific squad. Conference Finals games are almost always in primetime and are heavily spotlighted in the media throughout the entirety of the series.
Growing up in New Jersey, for instance, I remember when the Nets finally reached the conference finals in 2002. Once their East Finals series against the Celtics started, everyone started focusing on the greatness of Jason Kidd and the emergence of Richard Jefferson. Before that, they were classified as just good players on an up-and-coming team.
It was very similar last year with the Magic after their Game 7 win over Boston. Fans from around the globe began noticing the immensity of Dwight Howard, the distinctiveness of Rashard Lewis and the brilliance of Stan Van Gundy.
It just comes with the territory after unexpectedly eliminating the defending NBA champions on their home floor in a decisive Game 7.
My final description of it: Just … Wow!
