Pregame Update: Magic-Celtics Game 7
|
May 17, 2009
BOSTON -- It all comes down to tonight.
After 82 regular season games, a playoff series victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and six postseason contests against the Celtics, the Magic’s Eastern Conference Finals aspirations hang in the balance of Sunday’s decisive Game 7 in Boston at 8 p.m. ET.
That’s a lot of pressure for an Orlando team with a lot of young players.
But if Sunday’s shootaround was any indication, they’re not getting overwhelmed.
Instead they appeared loose, yet focused on the task at hand; the same approach that won them 59 games during the regular season.
And that’s what Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy appreciates about his squad heading into tonight’s winner-take-all contest.
“I like my team in any game,” Van Gundy explained. “I think our team plays with great confidence. We’ve got good balance and a lot of guys who can get the job done.”
Dwight’s Not Wound Too Tight:
The player with perhaps the most media-driven pressure to ensure that his team takes care of business tonight was exuding confidence following Orlando’s shootaround.
But that could have been a result of the message he found in his Alpha-Bits cereal.
“Dominate and win,” were the words Howard claimed formed in his morning breakfast bowl.
He added that he’ll bring the three D’s to tonight’s crucial contest: Dependability, determination and domination.
Good Day for Basketball:
The Magic’s Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Celtics isn’t the only one going the distance.
The Rockets and Lakers take the court at 3:30 p.m. ET today for their deciding game as well.
Magic resident basketball junkie Rafer Alston says that makes for a phenomenal day of hoops.
“It’s a big time day for watching basketball,” Skip said of the double-header. “What better day than to have two Game 7s on your television.”
Facts to Note:
Orlando is 1-1 all-time during Game 7s in its playoff history (1-0 at home, 0-1 on road). The Magic won Game 7 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals vs. Indiana, 105-81, on June 4, 1995. Orlando lost Game 7 of the 2003 first round at Detroit, 108-93, on May 4, 2003.
Orlando defeated Boston during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 4, 95-90. Historically, when the Magic win Game 1 of a playoff series, they are 6-1 in those sets (lone loss – 2003 first round vs. Detroit, 4-3).
This will be the fourth Game 7 for the Celtics in the past two postseasons. Boston is 3-0 over that span when a series goes the distance.
Boston has never lost a best-of-seven playoff series when it goes up 3-2, maintaining a franchise record of 32-0.
Comment and ask questions to Dan Savage by following him on twitter at http://twitter.com/dan_savage.
