Lee’s miss at the end of regulation, though certainly heartbreaking for the Magic and their fans, was not the reason the Magic are now staring down a daunting 0-2 hole in the NBA Finals.
But don’t let that stop sportswriters from trying to paint him as the ultimate goat, and gleefully digging up the corpse of one Nick Anderson and his blunders in the Finals over a decade ago.
Several outlets brought it up, but we’ll place special focus on the Tampa Tribune:
He missed the shot and that was that. You only get so many opportunities like this. The Magic had their chance and couldn’t capitalize. After five minutes of overtime, the Lakers had a 101-96 victory and a 2-0 stranglehold on this series. Since 1985, when the NBA went to a 2-3-2 format for the Finals, teams with a 2-0 lead have won 11 of 12 times.
The timing was eerie, too. It was 14 years to the day that Orlando’s Nick Anderson missed four free throws late in the opening game of the Finals against Houston. The Magic lost 120-118 and went on to be swept. Lee’s miss could soon rival Anderson’s on the Orlando misery meter because this game – and perhaps the series – was there to be had.
I wonder what other devastating moment from the not-too recent past Lee’s other crucial miss in the fourth quarter (the blown floater on a broken play) reminded sportswriters of?
I overheard Rashard Lewis — playing the role of leader in the dejected Orlando locker room following Game 2 — saying some encouraging words to his teammate. He unfortunately forgot to add that Courtney should also avoid reading most newspapers and sports websites today.
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<33 ambreezii:]
But i’m french so Pietrus is my man in this Finals, and with a lot of “if”, you can rebuild the whole world…
it all has a part in the Loss. but Lee did good. im not going to blame him.
Made a difference. Seriously, you can’t have that many lazy turnovers against a team like the lakers.
but it’s clear that the guy missed his momentum 2 enter the legend of the nba finals, 2 bad but not much of a big deal
I’m simply impressed by this rookie, his maturity, his defense…he is on the start of a beautiful career.
Blocked. By Hedo.
So if you’re going to castigate Lee for missing a fading, quick release tip (didn’t Duncan miss one in Game 5 of the series against the Pistons? Greatest PF ever), do the same to Kobe for getting stuffed. That’s basketball. People miss.
2. Gasol did a great job of recovering and contesting the shot
3. Lee threw it higher off the backboard than he normally would because of Gasol.
4. If Lee had layed it up at the normal level, the refs would have had to call goaltending on Gasol since his hand was through the basket. 5. The play was a brilliant call and a couple of unlucky breaks for the Magic. 6. I’m going to the game tonight in Orlando and will report back.
that would go well in a magazine for ppl that doesn’t live for basketball, as I assume most of us do.
guy had .6 on the clock, gasol coming towards him to block it… he is a rookie AND, press is saying the pass was that good, but it wasn’t.
he was already under the backboard and had to adjust it mid-air and fast, worried by the clock.
tough, tough play.
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