Cohen: The Series That Deserves More Recognition
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By Josh Cohen
December 28, 2010
ORLANDO -- When NBA fans reminisce the most memorable playoff series of all time, they tend to talk about the illustrious Lakers-Celtics matchups of old and new, some of the Pistons-Bulls collisions and even clashes between the Knicks and Pacers or the Spurs and Mavericks.
While all of these historical playoff matchups were spectacular, the one series that deserves to be mentioned as one of the most exhilarating in NBA history is Magic-Cavs of 2009.
There are immeasurable instances from the Eastern Conference Finals that year that continue to astonish me.
Yet for whatever reason – possibly because neither team resides in a large market – this breathtaking series does not receive the attention it warrants.
Here is my checklist of questions to determine if a playoff series should justifiably be regarded as one of the best of all time. I, then, follow each question up with an analysis to evaluate whether Orlando-Cleveland was compelling enough to be in the discussion.
1) Were most of the games competitive, down-to-the-wire affairs?
In Games 1, 2 and 4, Orlando and Cleveland battled back and forth in the final minutes of regulation, and in Game 4’s case, overtime.
Rashard Lewis buried a game winning 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds remaining in Game 1; LeBron James drilled an unimaginable game deciding buzzer beating 3-pointer in Game 2; Lewis hit a go-ahead trey with 4.1 ticks left in regulation of Game 4 and the Magic eventually won in overtime.
2) Were there extraordinary individual performances?
LeBron enjoyed, statistically, one of the most sensational efforts in NBA history. He scored 49 in Game 1, 35 in Game 2, 41 in Game 3, 44 in Game 4 and recorded a triple-double in Game 5. Dwight Howard, meanwhile, erupted for 40 points and 14 rebounds in a series-clinching Game 6.
3) Was there anything unique that transpired during the series?
The Magic rallied back from a 15-point deficit in Game 1 and won; they overcame a 23-point hole before losing at the buzzer and they also battled back from a 22-point deficit in Game 5 before falling late.
Howard tore down the shot clock after flushing home a thunderous two-handed slam dunk during Game 1.
After frequently being criticized for not being clutch at the free throw line, James sunk a pair of game-tying free throws in the last second of regulation in Game 4 to send the contest into OT.
There was all kinds of trash-talking throughout the series, and of course, it magnified when LeBron chose not to congratulate and shake the hands of the Magic players at the end of Game 6.
4) Was there anything surprising about the series?
Prior to the start of the series and in the midst of the Kobe & LeBron Nike commercials that would air every two minutes to build up an anticipated NBA Finals showdown between the two superstars, everyone seemed to believe a Lakers-Cavs championship was inevitable.
Again after LeBron nailed his game winning 3-pointer in Game 2, NBA analysts seemed to believe there was no way the Magic could overcome the adversity of such a moment.
Well, we all know how the series ended.
5) Did the series cause a rivalry between the two teams?
Until LeBron chose to leave Cleveland and join the Miami Heat this past summer, Magic-Cavs became, arguably, the most compelling rivalry in the NBA last season. During each of last year's regular season games between the two clubs, there was a very obtrusive tension on both sides. It was very apparent that both teams did not care for one another and hoped they would clash again the postseason. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics interrupted that plan.
Now that James is no longer in Cleveland, the rivalry has obviously subsided and may not even exist anymore. But while it lasted, you couldn't help but admire this enmity.
I’m not trying to suggest the 2009 East Finals was absolutely and incontrovertibly the “greatest” playoff series of all time. I have always felt that Knicks-Pacers in 1995, Spurs-Mavericks in 2006, Lakers-Kings in 2002 and others are among the most enthralling postseason matchups in league history.
But I definitely believe Magic-Cavaliers in 2009 deserves to be in the discussion as one of the most exciting.
Based on my aforementioned checklist of questions, I believe it proves to consist of all of the necessary components to be in the conversation.
Follow Josh Cohen on Twitter here
December 28, 2010
ORLANDO -- When NBA fans reminisce the most memorable playoff series of all time, they tend to talk about the illustrious Lakers-Celtics matchups of old and new, some of the Pistons-Bulls collisions and even clashes between the Knicks and Pacers or the Spurs and Mavericks.
While all of these historical playoff matchups were spectacular, the one series that deserves to be mentioned as one of the most exhilarating in NBA history is Magic-Cavs of 2009.
There are immeasurable instances from the Eastern Conference Finals that year that continue to astonish me.
Yet for whatever reason – possibly because neither team resides in a large market – this breathtaking series does not receive the attention it warrants.
Here is my checklist of questions to determine if a playoff series should justifiably be regarded as one of the best of all time. I, then, follow each question up with an analysis to evaluate whether Orlando-Cleveland was compelling enough to be in the discussion.
1) Were most of the games competitive, down-to-the-wire affairs?
In Games 1, 2 and 4, Orlando and Cleveland battled back and forth in the final minutes of regulation, and in Game 4’s case, overtime.
Rashard Lewis buried a game winning 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds remaining in Game 1; LeBron James drilled an unimaginable game deciding buzzer beating 3-pointer in Game 2; Lewis hit a go-ahead trey with 4.1 ticks left in regulation of Game 4 and the Magic eventually won in overtime.
2) Were there extraordinary individual performances?
LeBron enjoyed, statistically, one of the most sensational efforts in NBA history. He scored 49 in Game 1, 35 in Game 2, 41 in Game 3, 44 in Game 4 and recorded a triple-double in Game 5. Dwight Howard, meanwhile, erupted for 40 points and 14 rebounds in a series-clinching Game 6.
3) Was there anything unique that transpired during the series?
The Magic rallied back from a 15-point deficit in Game 1 and won; they overcame a 23-point hole before losing at the buzzer and they also battled back from a 22-point deficit in Game 5 before falling late.
 Josh Cohen |
After frequently being criticized for not being clutch at the free throw line, James sunk a pair of game-tying free throws in the last second of regulation in Game 4 to send the contest into OT.
There was all kinds of trash-talking throughout the series, and of course, it magnified when LeBron chose not to congratulate and shake the hands of the Magic players at the end of Game 6.
4) Was there anything surprising about the series?
Prior to the start of the series and in the midst of the Kobe & LeBron Nike commercials that would air every two minutes to build up an anticipated NBA Finals showdown between the two superstars, everyone seemed to believe a Lakers-Cavs championship was inevitable.
Again after LeBron nailed his game winning 3-pointer in Game 2, NBA analysts seemed to believe there was no way the Magic could overcome the adversity of such a moment.
Well, we all know how the series ended.
5) Did the series cause a rivalry between the two teams?
Until LeBron chose to leave Cleveland and join the Miami Heat this past summer, Magic-Cavs became, arguably, the most compelling rivalry in the NBA last season. During each of last year's regular season games between the two clubs, there was a very obtrusive tension on both sides. It was very apparent that both teams did not care for one another and hoped they would clash again the postseason. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics interrupted that plan.
Now that James is no longer in Cleveland, the rivalry has obviously subsided and may not even exist anymore. But while it lasted, you couldn't help but admire this enmity.
I’m not trying to suggest the 2009 East Finals was absolutely and incontrovertibly the “greatest” playoff series of all time. I have always felt that Knicks-Pacers in 1995, Spurs-Mavericks in 2006, Lakers-Kings in 2002 and others are among the most enthralling postseason matchups in league history.
But I definitely believe Magic-Cavaliers in 2009 deserves to be in the discussion as one of the most exciting.
Based on my aforementioned checklist of questions, I believe it proves to consist of all of the necessary components to be in the conversation.
Follow Josh Cohen on Twitter here
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What's your most standout memory from the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals between the Magic and Cavaliers?
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