MAGIC, LAKERS, TAKE EDGE
The 2009 NBA playoffs continued. Sixteen teams had originally qualified for the postseason, now there were only four left. It was time for the Conference Finals. This time around, there was one surprise entry out of the four but all sides had proved their worth. Predictions had been made. Two of the teams remaining were coming into this series off the back of a Game 7. One thing was for certain, the title would change hands this year, the defending champion Celtics having been seen off by the Magic in the Conference semi finals. That feat wouldn't help the Magic, or any other team though, at this stage. Four teams, four games from the Finals. Time to go up another gear.
In the East, Game 1 of the Cavs vs Magic series was in Cleveland. Well in the first quarter in looked like busines as usual for the home team, the Cavs having built up a double-digit lead already by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was generally more even but the Cavs still extended their lead and were leading 63-48 at half time. In the third quarter, the Magic started biting back but still the Cavs were able to hold on and led 82-78 at the end of three. The Magic kept going though and wiith just over ten minutes left in the game took the lead for the first time! The Cavs weren't going to lie down but in the end the Magic hit a late three pointer to win the game 107-106. Dwight Howard led his team with 30 points. For the Cavs it meant losing home court advantage in the most excruciating way. For the Magic it was the first time they'd won a game in the Eastern Conference Finals since before I've been an NBA fan!
The series stayed in Cleveland for Game 2. Once again the Cavs had the stronger first quarter, the Magic never looked competitive in the opening minutes. The Magic nibbled into the Cavs lead in the second quarter but again the home side seemed to be cruising. The Magic took a bigger bite in the third quarter, cutting the gap back to single figurs for the first time since the early stages but again the Cavs had an answer. Surely they wouldn't allow another late turnaround? The answer turned out to be "yes". With less than six minutes on the clock, the Magic took the lead for the first time. The Cavs fought back though and seemed to have weather the storm only for a Magic jumper to give them a 95-93 lead. One second on the clock. Timeout Cavs. Game over surely. Le Bron had other ideas though, given the opportunity to hit a buzzer beater three...he drained it! That's what the NBA's all about. Cavs won 96-95, LeBron finished with 35 points. Cavs still had work to do but at least they wouldn't get swept.
The series switched to Orlando for Game 3. This time it was the Magic that opened the scoring and though the Cavs initially turned it round, the home side proved to be the stronger outfit early on. The Cavs, needing a win, stepped it up in the second quarter and managed to take a 34-29 lead with 5:27 left in the first half. The Magic game back to duel for the lead though and were ahead at half time. The Cavs also duelled for the lead in the third quarter but the Magic were always able to reply. The Cavs never looked like pulling off a fourth-quarter turnaround. Magic won the game 99-89, Dwight Howard leading with 24points, Rafer Alston backing him up on 14. Bottom line, the Magic are making the Cavs look like a one man team.
Out West, Game 1 of the Lakers vs Nuggets series was in LA. Maybe it was low energy after dealing with a Game 7 but the Lakers looked relatively weak early on, the Nuggets had a solid lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers came back in the second quarter though it took a buzzer beating three pointer to give them a half time lead. The Nuggets weren't done yet though and kept showing that they weren't here to make up the numbers, leading 76-74 at the end of three. In the middle of the fourth quarter, it looked as though Lakers would get mugged. With two and a half minutes on the clock they were back in the lead and were eventually able to kill off the NUggets for good. Lakers won 105-103 with Kobe picking up 40 points.
The series stayed in LA for Game 2. Well the Nuggets opened the scoring but unlike Game 1, the Lakers had the stronger start to the game. The second quarter was a different story though with the Nuggets becoming competitive again but the Lakers still led 55-54 at half time. The Nuggets continued to be aggressive in the third quarter however the Lakers were able to build up a solid lead mid quarter that the NUggets couldn't break down immediately, Lakers led 81-80 at the end of three. It wasn't long into the fourth quarter that the Nuggets took the lead again though. Of course, the Lakers came back but by the time there was one minute on the clock, the Nuggets had added another chapter to their 2009 story. They won the game 106-103, Carmelo Anthony grabbed 34 points. We now had a five gamer with the Lakers losing home court advantage.
The series swiitched to Denver for Game 3. The first quarter was a tight affair but the Nuggets looked to have a slight edge and led at the end of one. That edge became slightly greater in the second quarter with the Lakers unable to retake the lead before half time when the Nuggets lead 52-48 at half time. The Lakers tied the game twice in the third but after that, it just got worse, and Nuggets gradually building up another lead. The score was 79-71 at the end of three. The Lakers finally stepped up a gear in the early stages of the 4th quarter though and paid the Nuggets back for the events of Game 2, turning the game round to win 103-97. Kobe led his team with 41 points, Pau Gasol backing him up with 20. Lakers retake homecourt advantage and should be sorted from here.
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