Derek may have just sent the Magic fishin’

In a similar fashion to the 2008 finals, game 4 will be looked at as the pivotal game of the series however this year much more fondly for the LA Lakers. Last year at this time they were contemplating how they could blow a 24-point lead in the third quarter with a chance to tie the series at 2 and finally put some pressure back on the Celtics (please see last year’s blog history). This year had just as much drama for them but a different outcome. It was the Lakers who faced the deficit, not nearly as daunting at 12 points but in a series where (game 1 omitted) the largest lead was paltry 7 points, a sizeable margin. Moreover they were in massive foul trouble and not getting to the foul line themselves. Oh yes, and their starting point guard had not seen the bottom of the net since they were made of baskets. Then something turned. Right out of the locker room to start the half LA started making up the deficit, outscored the Magic by 16 and by the end of the period they were up by 4. We followed was one of the best 4th quarters and OTs in NBA finals history as the Magic turned the tables on LA and had a 5 point lead with 11 seconds to go only to have Superman miss two foul shots then an 0-5 Derek Fisher drained a 3 with 4.6 to play, another in OT and with the second, may have sent the Magic on vacation, fishin’ as The Jet calls it. When the NBA season is over there will be plenty of time to contemplate decisions and there are several SVG will be spending his time on. First and foremost how do you not foul in the final seconds to ENSURE anyone, not just Kobe gets even the smell of a 3?? Why run with Nelson the entire 4th and OT when Rafer Alston had been giving LA fits since the start of game 2?? Lastly, you still had 4.6 to play in regulation why not use every time out you had to get the ball where you needed it? One question that will not fall on the feet of Stan was the free-throw shooting of the Magic. It wasn’t just Howard who let them down (and he was quick to point it out during the press conference). Just the same, the correct answers to the questions seem clear as day the next morning but even giving Stan the man the benefit of the doubt it does appear he has earned is “MOP” nickname again, despite comments about experience not having anything to do with the outcome. Well, if it wasn’t the players lack of experience then the lion’s share of the blame has to go to the person making the decisions. Only this time he’ll have to live with it all summer. Did SVG panic? Would you have stayed with Alston in the 4th? What about free throw shooting? Let us know here and in the NBA chat rooms and team rooms.