I must begin this piece by stating that the Miami Heat didn’t come into Amway Center and crush the Magic the way I thought it was going to be. As a matter of fact I must say it was exciting hoops action because the Magic were giving the Heat all they could stand in the first half.
I’m sad to say that I can only name one Magic player I’m familiar with. That would be Jameer Nelson. If you’d like to gauge how for back we go, suffice it to say I remember when Scott Skiles, Dennis Scott, and Horace Grant used to “ball” for Orlando. I can recall when Shaq and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway were the marquee players whom catapulted the Magic to the NBA Finals only to be swept by those Bloody Houston Rockets.
I can recall when Penny left, I can recall when Steve Francis left, I recall Hedo Turkgoglu helping lead us back to the Finals, being traded…and coming back. Yep, suffice it to say I’ve ridden with the magic right up until my hometown team (Oklahoma City) received its own NBA team in the Thunder.
Fast forward to 2014 and the Amway Center. This ain’t the same Orlando Magic (and not in a good way). The defending World-champion Miami Heat invaded Disneyland and left with a 110-94 win. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh both were good for 20 each.
Ironically, former Magic, now Heat Forward Rashard Lewis scorched his former team with a dandy 18 and had three 3s. Lewis started in place of injured Shane Battier. I’m confident he didn’t mind being inserted into the starting lineup against his old team. He also was effective when either of the big three took over in the fourth quarter. Crucial.
LeBron James disciples will be surprised to know “Bron Bron” only had a quiet 15 points (5 for 13 shooting) but I dug those crisp passes for assists when he was running the point. He found the open man.
The Magic did show their scrappiness in the loss. A ho-hum crowd with a good ratio of Heat fans had a few sparks of exciting action to cheer about, namely, the play of Tobias Harris who was good for 17 while Arron Afflalo and Victor Olapido’s 16 apiece along with their tenacious play proved this team can compete. Glen “Big Baby” Davis was good for 15 in the losing effort as the magic dropped their third straight.
This was the Heat’s eighth straight win over the Magic and also was their 22nd consecutive division victory.
Although they lost this one, I appreciated seeing the Magic hoop with those Black and White pin-striped uniforms, it reminded me of “Better Dayz”. I had the Penny Hardaway Jersey. He’s a Nupe…like me.
As it stands right about now, The Magic are at the bottom of the Southeast Division. They head West for a Monday Showdown with the L.A. Clippers in “Lob City”. As a columnist, I have to give you the bitter with the sweet. For Orlando Magic, it’s pretty bitter right about now. ..but you knew that already, didn’t you?
