Photo credit: John W. McDonough
Sunday night Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson won a momentous title against a cowering Orlando Magic team. Although Kobe and Phil had both done it before, this time was different. With a 99-86 game five victory the boys from LaLa Land gave each of their legacies an unneeded boost.
For Kobe, the title was vindication, “Shaq, tell me how my trash taste!” Faced with criticism since the much-ballyhooed departure of Shaquille O’Neal from the Lakers, Kobe finally put those voices to rest. He likened the criticism that he couldn’t do it without Shaq to “Chinese water torture.” He also called the notion “annoying” and “idiotic.”
Although Kobe will tell you that the critics don’t matter, he knows he had to win without Shaq. With Shaq out of the way for good, Kobe can put his focus on a new goal – overtaking MJ.
Michael Jordan is the undisputed greatest player to ever live. That’s where Kobe wants to be. If Kobe can win a fifth or sixth title, he has to be entered into the discussion very seriously. The Lakers with Pau Gasol have the very real ability to give Kobe two more much desired rings.
For Phil, mister Zen himself, this was title ten. Twelve if you count the two he won as a player. With a tenth ring as a coach, Jackson overtook Red Auerbach. Anyone who ever said Phil isn’t the greatest basketball coach ever is an idiot. Phil has ten titles. Ten. In the era of free-agency. When Red won his titles, there was no free-agency, and there were only eight teams. Eight teams. The era Red coached in was so easy to dominate Stan Van Gundy might have even won few.
Phil had Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, and Pippen. Red had nine hall-of-famers. Not to mention when Red left, Bill Russell coached them to another title. Talk about a guy who only has to show up. Red Auerbach can’t touch PJ on his best day. Bottom Line. What about John Wooden? Get Real. College players stayed for three or four years and only four other programs were even competing for elite talent. Wooden doesn’t even belong in the conversation.
Phil and Kobe belong and they proved it again by winning the 2009 NBA Title. How did they win? It appeared as though the Magic were on the court, but they did little to make their presence felt. The Magic were competitive until the middle of the second quarter, and then LA took over. There really is not much to say about the game, the series was already a forgone conclusion and the Magic played like they knew it. So what’s next?
Orlando faces a lot of questions headed into the offseason, most notably about Hedo Turkoglu. All indications are the Hedo will opt-out of his contract in order to make more money. He may demand more than what the Magic are willing or able to provide. Letting Hedo go could prove as a crippling blow to the Eastern Conference Champions.
One of the reasons that the Magic are under financial duress is that Rafer Alston remains on the books. If the Magic can find a dumping ground for Skip and his contract, that will ease the bank accounts quite a bit.
What to do about Jameer? If Rafer leaves, Jameer Nelson becomes the number one gun again and everything is settled. If Alston stays, a time-split accord must be reached in order to ease the chaos that erupted into the Magic rotation during the Finals. Best-case scenario Nelson returns to All-Star form and the Magic re-emerge as a contender. Worst-case Jameer’s never the same after adjusting the mechanics of his arm and having his psyche bruised during the rotation shuffle.
Speaking of the rotation shuffle… Courtney Lee and Michael Pietrus both deserve to start. Both cannot start. What to do? Stan doesn’t know. Obviously. Lee and MP both provide defensive skills while Lee is more of a threat off the dribble and Pietrus more dangerous from the perimeter. Likely there will evolve a natural sixth man position that plays 20 to 25 minutes a game and remains a contributor. Who plays the starter and who plays the relief? Not sure yet, but probably Lee starts.
Dwight Howard. “Questions? Psshhh, there’s no questions about Superman!” You mean “Super-let-down-man” or “Super-when-he-tries-man” or “Super-got-out-played-by-Gasol-man?” Howard was pathetic during the Finals. Brutally bad. Dwight never made more than five baskets a game during the Finals, not to mention his free-throw shooting. Dwight Howard may not be a real Superhero, he may just be a guy wearing a silly outfit who fooled some people. Next season will tell us.
It is said that great actors “do not act, but react.” How Dwight reacts to the Finals loss will let the world know whether or not he is great. Kobe turned into the Black Mamba after being embarrassed in last year’s finale, let’s see if Superman turns into Super-Duper-Man.
Stan Van Gundy… Should be fired? Should be institutionalized? Should be water-boarded? Something should be done to Stan the moustache man. He went berserk during the playoffs throwing guys like JJ Redick out during overtime and sitting Rafer when it counted. Orlando needs to fire Van Gundy, or stabilize his mood swings with prescription medication. It doesn’t matter which they choose, but the Magic have to do something. They simply must.
The Orlando Magic had a great season. They won their first Finals game in franchise history. Dwight Howard emerged as a superstar. Now it is time for the Magic to make a move on Turkoglu and Alston; find a place for Jameer, Lee, and MP; define Dwight Howard; and sedate Stan. There is a lot of work to do.
