Orlando Magic-Boston Celtics Game Three: Orlando Routed by Celtics
In the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics out-played, out-hustled, and out-defensed the Orlando Magic. In Game Three, the Celtics added out-coached to the list.
In the end, the best thing that could have happened for the NBA, did. The Celtics routed the Magic by 23 points, for a final score of 94-71.
The win still leaves Boston one game short of a series victory. But Orlando let the NBA audience know, they no longer intended to defend the Eastern Conference Championship.
We will have a classic NBA Finals matchup, between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.
Boston never let the Magic compete. They jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, forcing Stan Van Gundy to call an early time out.
Out of the time out, Orlando fought back, to cut the lead to one. Boston answered, with possibly their best game of the postseason.
Boston dominated the Magic defensively, holding the usually high powered Magic to only twelve first quarter points. The Magic only scored 34 first half points.
They could only eek out a total of 47 points through three quarters.
As a team, the Magic learned what being a champion really means.
The Magic spoke about winning a championship as the season's goal. They displayed a total lack of understanding as to how to actually win one.
Like all the other games in the series, the Celtics chased down every lose ball, came away with every contested rebound and made every tough shot.
Even in a game where almost every Celtic played well, point guard Rajon Rondo stood above the pack, again turning in a stellar performance. Rondo controlled the game, with only 11 points, but 12 assists.
More importantly, Rondo ran the offense to perfection, and played harder than anyone on the court.
For their part, the Magic made no effort to challenge Boston for the victory. Once again the Magic showed poor effort, little poise and absolutely no competitive spirit.
At the end of the first half, the Magic had five assists as compared to 11 turnovers. They shot a miserable 39 percent from the field.
Vince Carter followed up his late Game Two choke job with an extremely weak effort in Game Three. He finished with 15 points, two assists, and two turnovers.
Boston kept Dwight Howard out of rhythm with great team defense. Howard averaged a double-double this season—in Game Three, he scored seven points with seven rebounds.
Rashard Lewis pressed his offense early, taking quite a few first quarter shots. Like the rest of the Magic team, he failed to convert.
Now the Orlando Magic must look forward to Game Four.
A miserable existence awaits the Magic on Monday night. Boston will come to close out. Dwight Howard and the Magic have already checked out.
The Magic will also be looking forward at an offseason full of questions. Be sure that angry and disappointed Magic fans, will fill central Florida sports radio with plenty of blame.
Also know everyone from general manager Otis Smith, head coach Stan Van Gundy to every player on the team gets a beating in tomorrow's news papers.
Howard's postgame press conference even suffered from an absence of conviction.
“I won't give up,” Howard stated in a downtrodden and unconvincing tone. He said what superstars say in these situations. Based upon Saturday night's play, all the Magic excel at going through the motions.
And with that, we see the clear difference between Carter and Rondo, Howard and KG, the Magic and the Celtics.
One team simply goes through the motions.
The other wins games.
