After months of preliminary rounds, the NBA Finals are upon us as the Lakers have taken an early 2-0 lead in their series against the Orlando Magic. In the first two games, Kobe Bryant has been sensational and Pau Gasol has been the ideal second option. Meanwhile for the Magic, Dwight Howard has underperformed and their role players, specifically perimeter shooters, have failed to connect as they did in subsequent rounds. Rashard Lewis has been their only player that's stepped his respective game up but it hasn't been enough to steal a game in La-La Land.
Statistically, when the home team wins the first two games of a best-of-seven series, a stunning 94.2% go on to win the series. This bodes well for the Lakers but is it possible that the Magic could be one of the 5.8% that beat those tremendous odds? Well, it's happened three times before and one time very recently. In 2006, the eventual champion Miami Heat dropped the first two games of their NBA Finals series against the power-house Dallas Mavericks. But as we well know, Dwyane Wade turned in a magnificent performance and the Heat went on to capture their first title as an NBA franchise.
Orlando is looking to repeat history. With a stellar 32-9 record playing at home, the Magic are hoping for a bounce-back effort from Dwight Howard and the perimeter role players. For a team that takes on adversity like it's nobody's business, they are poised for an upset. Each round of the playoffs has presented a unique set of challenges and obstacles for the Magic. In round-one, the Philadelphia 76'ers had an unexpected 2-1 lead in the series, heading into game-four at their house. But Orlando re-grouped and won game-four, then going on to win the next two, ending the series in six games.
In round-two, they took on the Boston Celtics. After five games, the Celtics took a commanding 3-2 lead. The Magic could have quit then and there but overcame the odds and won the next two games including a rout of Boston in game-seven.
As round-three emerged, so to did the NBA's best regular season team, the Cleveland Cavaliers and their MVP, LeBron James. But Cleveland's #1 ranking didn't phase Orlando as they controlled the series from the get-go, despite some questionable officiating.
So here we have it, the NBA Finals. And here Orlando is, down two games to zip. I'm not saying the Lakers are going to lose this series but it's hard to count the scrappy Magic out of it, despite what the historical numbers dictate. However, Orlando cannot count on home-cooking to get themselves back into this series - a mistake the Nuggets made against this very same Lakers team in the Conference Finals. Adjustments must be made. First and foremost, pick up the tempo. With the long-range gunners and athletes the Magic have, putting up an average of 85.5 points won't cut it. Get the offense going, create fast-break opportunities and run the floor. The Magic also must cut down on their turnovers, especially their big-man Dwight Howard. Once the pressure comes (and it inevitably will when the ball is fed to Superman down low), make a quick pass out to the open perimeter players. If and when that player receives the ball, don't be afraid to make the extra pass. One of the most underrated aspects of an offensive system is the pass that leads to a pass that leads to a made field goal.
The Magic are at a disadvantage, this much is certain. But that squad is no stranger to overcoming the odds and getting the most out of their players. With the proper adjustments, a change of venue and maybe a little more help from the zebras, we might be looking at a 2-2 series going into the crucial game-five.
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