Magic's Sensational Sequence Clinches Division Crown
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March 26, 2009
ORLANDO -- In NFL postseason lore, there's The Drive, The Immaculate Reception, The Music City Miracle and The Catch.
All moments that will be etched into the NFL history books for eternity.
But if NBA regular season plays were granted monikers like their NFL counterparts, the series of events that led to the Magic's victory over the Celtics on Wednesday and their second straight Southeast Division title would be known as The Sequence, because each little piece was absolutely essential for Orlando in securing its 84-82 triumph.
And it all started with 3.8 seconds left in the contest.
3.8 seconds left, Celtics guard Rajon Rondo to inbound: As the Celtics All-Star guard approaches the court, it appears as if he knows destiny is not in his favor. Instead of focusing on the inbounds pass, his eyes immediately turn to the official as he awaits the count. Boston sends Eddie House, who is on the left wing covered by Rashard Lewis, in motion and attempts to have him set a baseline screen for Ray Allen.
Allen, who is located in the right wing, charges towards the hoop, along the baseline and intersects with his teammate. But as House tries to execute his screen, Lee uses his quick lateral movement to dance around the offensive-minded guard and stick with his cover. As Allen flies across to the left wing, Rook remains right behind him.
As a result, Rondo turns to his second option, Paul Pierce. He watches as Rafer Alston backs off the ball and helps Hedo Turkoglu complete a perfect double-team on the MVP candidate. There’s no where to go and Rondo is forced to burn Boston’s final timeout.
3.8 seconds remaining; during the timeout: Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy, fully aware of the clock, the Celtics’ lack of timeouts and his team’s foul situation, knows Orlando still has a foul to give. He orders his squad to use it, upon the inbounds pass.
“Coach told us in the timeout what he wanted us to do,” Lee recalled about the situation. “That’s just good coaching down the stretch. We knew we had a foul to give.”
Meanwhile across the court, Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers draws up an isolation play for Pierce.
3.8 seconds left, Rondo’s second inbounds attempt: As Rondo goes to inbound, he eyes up his All-Star forward. Pierce goes in motion and darts towards the top of the key. As he heads for his spot, Celtics big man Glen Davis attempts to execute a down screen on Turkoglu. However, Turk slides right along the body of Davis and stays pace-for-pace with Pierce.
Yet Rondo takes his chance anyway and dishes the ball to Pierce. The 11-year veteran from Kansas holds for a moment, tries to shake Turkoglu and puts the ball on the court. As the ball touches the floor for the first time, Turkoglu brilliantly grabs hold of Pierce and commits the Magic’s final foul to give, before the Celtics forward could even think of getting a shot off.
“I thought he did it well,” Van Gundy said of Turkoglu’s execution of the foul. “He waited until the ball went on the floor. These are the little things.”
With 1.6 seconds remaining, Rondo again looks to inbound: Van Gundy mentioned to the media during shootaround on Wednesday that Pierce is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, because on one of the best team’s in the league, he’s the go-to guy. His evaluation of Boston’s tendencies proved to be accurate as Rondo again looked inbound to Pierce.
Although Lewis was on the ball attempting to interfere with inbounds pass, as soon as he saw Rondo’s eyes shift towards Pierce and his arms begin to extend, Eagle Eye immediately bolted towards Boston’s All-Star forward. Dwight Howard followed suit as he flew away from Davis and towards the right corner.
As the ball found its way into Pierce’s hands, he was surrounded, by Turk, Howard and Lewis, and was completely unable to get a running, turnaround trey anywhere near the basket. His shot soared through the air as time expired, but it was nearly two feet left of the rim, sealing an Orlando victory.
“There was one second left, so we knew only one person was getting that shot up,” said Lee of the Magic’s game plan. “And they would have to shoot over Dwight and Turk, so it was going to be arched. We figured why not just everyone go at him and challenge the shot. He wasn’t going to pass that one up. There wasn’t enough time.”
His teammate agreed.
“It’s the little things that are going to help us win ballgames,” Lewis said following the matchup. “And that’s why we won tonight. He didn’t get a good look at the basket. He just had to turnaround and shoot it and then he had three guys in his face.
The Magic’s execution during the final series of events was almost flawless and mirrored that of an NBA champion. Their All-Star center believes that’s what it’s going to take for his team to end up in the Promised Land.
“That’s what it is all about; doing the small things to win a championship,” said Howard, whose amazing block on Pierce with 4.5 ticks left may have set the whole thing in motion. “Everybody sees all the big plays, but it’s the small things that win championships.”
The mention of The Sequence to Howard brought out one of his favorite analogies.
“I always use this little analogy,” said Howard, who also finished with 24 points and 21 rebounds. “Everybody sees a big bridge. Yet it’s the small little screws that keep the bridge together. It’s not what you see; the big suspension and all the big pieces, it’s the little small pieces that keep that bridge standing. And it’s the little small pieces that are going to keep our team together.”
And it’s those same small plays that might just help the Magic earn an NBA title.
