Welcome Back Carter

Five minutes prior tip-off, a media overloaded arena witnessed Kobe school a few of his peers on the art of the turnaround jumper.  To the distance a lone man sporting jersey #15 listened for a bell, waiting for his time to put classroom tactics into practice… Gabe Kaplan would be proud.

Tip was controlled by Howard as Lewis accepted and gave back his assignment with an all net three pointer.  The Lakers, standing at attention fumbled an opportunity while Carter began teaching behind a strong drive to the basket.  Fouled on the shot, Vince was sent to the line where he clocked in two points.  With both teams practicing a philosophy to go inside, Howard was called for his first foul within the first two minutes of play.

Taking command, perhaps out of necessity or perhaps to show a vocal crowd that he can still deliver, Carter proved to Gasol that height is no match to speed.  In retaliation, the Lakers brought their own brand of slashing, forcing a second foul against Howard several minutes later.  Taking advantage of an open wound, Kobe capitalized and put the Lakers up 10-9 at the 7:00 minute point.

After a quick timeout and an aggressive spurt, the Magic took a 4-point lead… and I do mean TOOK.  Kobe, sensing class needed an adjustment, held off detention with a leaning 14 footer kissing glass.  Carter took it personally with a follow-up drive; result: foul and two free throws.  Score 18 – 14 with 3:20 left in the first.  Kobe challenged with his own keeping-it-close all net score.  Nelson, waiting his turn to tutor the arena, drove to officially transform the court into a drag-out fight.

First quarter spotlight: total free throw attempts 28, with the Magic hitting 17 and the Lakers hitting 9.  The first 12 minutes found Carter taking control and Howard pushing his way to secure 2 fouls.

For the Magic, Lewis was the only starter to begin the second.  On the other side of the bench, Kobe sat a spell as well to review the Zen masters notes. Howard returned to the game at the 7:05 point with the Magic up 40-34.  Howard’s third foul hit after less than a minute of play and was replaced immediately.

Carter and Nelson returned to the second at the 6:17 mark, up by four.  Kobe finished note taking and decided to lecture at the 5:16 point, taking advantage of open lanes and splitting the floor for an easy basket.  With neither team willing to accept a first-place loser status, the game remained close as halftime found the Magic at 52 and the Lakers at 48.

First half spotlight: points in the paint, Lakers with 18, the Magic with 14. Kobe secured 13 points while Carter led all scorers with 17 after hitting a perfect 10 for 10 free throw shots.

The second half began with Carter netting a clean three pointer.  It may have taken over half the season but Carter was back in form.  Remembering an oldie, I couldn’t help looking toward the back row for another Vinnie… Barbarino… class was clearly in session with a new cast arrangement.  Not taking flack from student-wanna-be-teachers, Vince earned a technical foul early in the second; sometimes a teacher’s gotta do what a teachers gotta do; fortunately the principal was on vacation, leaving Carter time to take full opportunity to prove he was not the only educator.

Pushes and scratches (and a little sand kicking) defined the remainder of the third quarter.  Not wanting to be pressed to a substitute teacher status, Lewis held a tutoring session of his own by swooshing three pointers to a crowd eager to learn.  Lakers called time out with 4:36 remaining in the third… leaving me to ponder what the provost, Phil Jackson, had on his list of activities. Fisher hit a quick two points while Howard muscled his way for two of his own.

The last two minutes of the third quarter saw Carter and Howard receiving their 4^th foul.  Not too worry, Lewis kept the class going with another three pointer.  The end of the third witnessed the Lakers trailing 74 to 64.

Third quarter spotlight: Kobe held silent, peering somewhere between recess and final exams while Carter added a respectful 20 points to his mix.

With Carter and Howard on the bench to begin the fourth, Orlando Magic fans were yelling for more lessons.  In a quick breath, Kobe and company tightened the grip as cement pounding racked the classroom.  Holding 9 minutes to go, the Magic’s lead shrunk to four.

During break, I attempted to make contact with Van Gundy and suggest another episode of Welcome Back Carter would be just in the nick of time for high ratings.  First call: busy.  Excuse me for a second try as the students were getting rowdy, even Rosalie “Hotsy” Totsy.  Just in the nick of time, Van Gundy received my call as Vince (partnered by Howard) headed to the court.  With teachers ready to teach, a classroom chanted boo’s to the ref as Carter was whistled for his fifth with 8:40 to go in the game.  Not too panic… a teacher knows his limits.

Keeping intensity at it’s highest, Gasol was called for a flagrant foul at the 6:38 point while Howard slammed the bouncing ball all the way in.  Result, Magic up by seven with possession.  Kobe responded with his own three-pointer; another miss by the Magic found Kobe drive and Howard called for his fifth foul.

After a few gives, goes, and takes, the Magic found themselves up 93 to 87 with 70 ticks remaining.

Down by six, an audience worried Kobe and company would remind the world why Kotter was on only late at night at a far away cable station. On his way to securing professor status, Kobe hit a three pointer to bring the game to a one point gap; upon review, a toe hit the line, resulting in an overturn on the three-pointer.  Magic up by 2 with 12 seconds to go.  Quick foul, Carter to the line… you’ve seen enough re-runs to know how this episode goes.

Horshack’s got his hand up and making a most irritating noise… The Magic win 96 to 94.

Welcome Back Carter.  Class dismissed, we’ll see you after school.

Dhuffman