Are The Magic In Trouble?

I knew that Orlando faced an uphill challenge trying to knock off the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. But, never in my wildest dreams did I suspect the Magic could be jackhammered into the Staples Center court as badly as they were on Thursday night. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers earned a 100-75 win and, to be honest, it didn’t even seem that close. When focused, the Lakers were the best team in basketball this season. When I looked at the final four teams in the NBA’s conference finals (Cleveland, Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando) I had them ranked this way: 1. Lakers, 2. Denver, 3. Orlando and 4. Cleveland. Since the Lakers knocked off what many people believed was the best or second-best teams in the playoffs (the Nuggets), in the conference finals, I imagine a large number of basketball fanswere willing to put their money on the Lakers to be handed the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.

In Game 1, the Lakers did nothing to tarnish their image as the top team in the NBA with a 25-point win over Orlando. Look, I suspect the Magic will bounce back and make the series far more competitive than it was in Game 1. But, can Orlando win? I just don’t see how it can be done … not based on what I thought going into the series and what I saw in Game 1.

Orlando will have to run and gun a lot more to have a shot against the Lakers. Inside, Los Angeles can compete with the Magic’s strength (Dwight Howard) by countering with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The Magic have the speed and quickness edge on the perimeter, but the Lakers have Kobe Bryant … aka The Black Mamba. The Magic come off of having to guard LeBron James and they get the man who I feel is the best player in the NBA: Bryant.

The Lakers have the edge in skill.

The Magic have the edge in speed and quickness. That means Orlando needs to get out in the open court to get more open shots and scoring opportunities for Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. This also will help open up the floor to get some dunks in transition from Howard. Having to bang inside against Bynum and Gasol – at both ends of the floor – will take a toll on Howard in this series.

Before the series, I suspected the Lakers would win in six games. I still think that is a solid pick. But, if this series is going to go six games, Orlando will have to play a heck of a lot better than it did in Game 1.

LeBron James Must Learn From This Moment

It’s understandable Cleveland Cavaliers’ star LeBron James felt a lot of frustration.

After all, he put the Cavaliers on his back and carried them toward theNBA championship he so desperately covets. That dream, of course, was derailed by the Orlando Magic. Thus, the dream matchup of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals will not take place this season. But, in the wake of the loss of James and the Cavaliers to the Magic was an incident that has left a large number of people disappointed. James hustled off the court and blew off the media following the loss to Orlando that ended Cleveland’s season.

LeBron is a great player, and his best years are very much ahead of him. I know he was tired. After all, he carried that team on his back, and carried the team deeper into the playoffs than perhaps it should have been. Still, James made a mistake in not being more gracious in defeat. All the great players hurt after a loss. But, for the most part, they do the right thing – they face the media and they congratulate their opponents. There is no shame in paying respect to an opponent. In hockey, one of the greatest traditions in all of sports is the handshake line at the end of a series.

It was even more disappointing to see LeBron not admit his mistake and disrespect (although probably not intended that way) of the Orlando Magic. At some point, I am sure LeBron and the Magic players will talk it over and bury the moment. In all honesty, it would not have hurt James to congratulate the Magic players and coaches on a phenomenal series and advancing to the NBA Finals. He should have been there with his teammates and coaches to face the Magic, the disappointment and the media.

Obviously, it was painful for LeBron James to lose so far short of his goal (an NBA championship). Now, he has to hope that this will not leave a stain (whether large or small) on his legacy.

Michael Steele Laughs As Caller Refers To President Obama As ‘Magic Negro’

Apparently, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is working to strengthen his credentials among the far right of the GOP. While hosting a conservative talk show (for regular host Bill Bennett), Steele got a couple of good chuckles as a caller referred to President Barack Obama as “magic negro” during the show.

Here is the Think Progress transcript:

CALLER: It’s just like the LA Time said last year or two years ago: He is the magic Negro.
STEELE: Yeah he — [laughing]. You read that too, huh? [still laughing]
CALLER: Oh yeah. I read that too. Even when things go wrong, he still manages to come out smelling like a rose.
STEELE: Well, yeah.

It’s sad to hear someone like Michael Steele find funny what so many black people find objectionable if not outright racist. Chairman Steele, is appealing to the far right’s conservative base worth selling your soul?

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/01/steele-magic-negro-joke/