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Re: Official Orlando Magic thread
Best article ive read about the magic since we went up 3-1 on Detroit...
"The ending was fitting for a franchise that is trying to erase all the losing of last season: The Orlando Magic got to celebrate their first victory twice.
They had already beaten the buzzer and the Milwaukee Bucks 93-92 Wednesday night on Steve Francis' driving lay-up and had merrily sprinted to the locker room to celebrate. But it was determined that Francis had been fouled with .02 seconds left. With the mournful Bucks still on the court, the Magic returned to cheers after several minutes. Coach Johnny Davis came back without his suit coat.
Francis hit the rim on purpose with his free-throw attempt to eat up the remaining time, and the Magic once again celebrated in front of 15,138 at TD Waterhouse Centre.
You couldn't blame them for not wanting to come back out to finish the game properly after what the franchise went through last season.
They didn't want to take a chance that this marvelous opening night might somehow be snatched away.
"That's why I told the guys, 'We'll celebrate in here, not out there again,'ƒ|" center Kelvin Cato said. "But, heck, what a great way to get Game 1."
Francis debuted with a game-high 26 points and one-upped Michael Redd's 19-foot bank-ď shot with 3.5 seconds left that gave the Bucks a 92-91 lead.
Aside from some frequent defensive lapses, it couldn't have started much better for the Magic, whomever they are. Few folks really know them after General Manager John Weisbrod imploded a 21-61 eyesore and brought aboard 11 new players.
Fans hadn't seen this Grant Hill in a while. Playing in his first regular-season game in 21 months, he scored 20 points on 10-of-21 shooting. Hill nearly became the storybook hero, hitting a go-ahead jumper with 19.3 seconds left.
Hill was feeling so good on his rebuilt left ankle that he tried a shake-and-bake, no-look pass. "I tried not to get too excited all day because when I get overly excited, I don't play well," said Hill, who has played just 47 games since signing in the summer of 2000. "But that was fun. I really felt good."
Rookie Dwight Howard, 18, resembled the NBA's No. 1 draft pick after shaking butterflies. He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Francis, Cato and Cuttino Mobley were playing their first game since arriving from Houston in the blockbuster trade for Tracy McGrady.
Cato had six points and three blocks and Mobley struggled with his shot but scored 12 points.
Francis took a mild swipe at T-Mac, whose Rockets are 0-2, saying, "I think both teams got what they wanted. If [the Rockets] want guys to walk up the court and shoot fade-away jump shots, they got what they want. If the Magic want a team of players who get up and down the court, then they got what they wanted."
For a dwindling fan base deprived of much hope, patrons saw the Magic crawl back after blowing a 15-point third-quarter lead, showing character traits missing in 2003-04.
The Magic ran, as promised, outscoring the Bucks in fast-break points 34-22. The Bucks rekindled ghastly memories of last season's porous defense, waltzing to the basket for 15 layups and five dunks.
But Orlando buckled down in the third quarter, forcing six turnovers for 10 points. They finished with 10 blocked shots, but allowed the Bucks to creep back, thanks to former Magic center Zaza Pachulia.
Pachulia, exposed in the expansion draft by Orlando last season, scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
After making the game-winning layup, Francis paraded around the court, pulling at his jersey to show everybody the team's name. It was to let everyone know that we're back," Francis said.
Said Davis, "Last year is gone."
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11-04-2004, 09:57 AM
