Mattie T’s Game 2 Recap of the 2009 NBA Finals
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on June 8, 2009
Poor Courtney Lee.
Does anyone else find it ironic that Lee’s potential game-winning missed alley-oop layup came exactly 14 years to the day of Nick Anderson’s four straight missed free throws? Seems like Orlando can’t get a positive break to go their way in the Finals.
I applaud Magic coach Stan Van Gundy for the playcall, which was nearly executed to perfection considering Orlando had just 00.6 seconds to work with in regulation.
Kobe Bryant blew his defensive assignmment on Lee, but Pau Gasol was at the right place at the right time to slightly alter the potential game-winner, which bounced off the backboard & clanged the front rim before Dwight Howard followed with a meaningless dunk that came after the buzzer sounded.
Despite better performances from Rashard Lewis (34 points, 11 rebounds & 7 assists) & Hedo Turkoglu (22 points & 6 rebounds), it wasn’t enough for Orlando to return home with a split.
Lamar Odom might be the reason why, as he outscored Orlando’s entire bench by himself during the Lakers’ Game 2 win.
The Magic’s backcourt of Rafer Alston & Courtney Lee are now a hideous 7-for-30 (23.3%) for the series, which includes 1-for-12 (8.3%) from three-point range.
In order for Orlando to win Tuesday’s Game 3, they must take better care of the basketball as they have 32 assists to 28 turnovers so far during the NBA Finals.
The Lakers have lost their last 3 games when holding a 2-0 lead, which dates back to the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals against Utah.
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