The 4th game of an NBA Finals series usually proves to be the pivotal one that can sway a series. Last year, the Lakers lost to the Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals when the Lakers choked away a 24-point lead. One year later, the Lakers were on the other end of a choke job. The Orlando Magic choked Game 4 away, losing 99-91 in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers.
No team has ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
Game 4 started off very ugly for the Lakers. The first quarter saw Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum each pick up two fouls. Bynum picking up his second foul first with 8:42 to go in the 1st (typical). Then came Gasol with 3:44 left, and finally Odom barely a minute after. The Lakers were forced to throw a lineup out on the court that featured Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga, and Sasha Vujacic playing on and off. All 12 Lakers saw the hardwood, except for the cry baby and the Chinese guy. Amazingly, the Lakers were only down 24-20 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The second quarter wasn't any kinder to the Lakers as they scored only 17 points to the Magic's 25. L.A. was down 12 points at the half and their only saving grace was Kobe Bryant who had 16 points at the half (13 pts in the 1st quarter).
Then, the Lakers blazed a purple and gold run, which was led by Trevor Ariza. The dude who was 0-for-6 in the 1st half and was blocked twice by Dwight Howard.
Ariza got the party started with a steal and a dunk. Later, a wild running jump shot tickled the twine. Then, he found himself open on a couple of threes and drained them. When the quarter was finished, the former Westchester High & UCLA star put up 13 points on his former mates. He would later make a huge three in the 4th qtr to stop a Magic run.
With help from Ariza, the Lakers surged to a 30-14 scoring margin in the 3rd quarter. While the Lakers defense picked up, Hedo's fourth foul was a major factor for the Magic's offensive disappearance.
Orlando didn't give up, and they looked like they were firmly in control as Howard converted an AND ONE opportunity. Shortly after Hedo Turkoglu hit his patented step-back three, and nailed a floater to give the Magic an 87-82 lead with 1:34 left to go in the game.
After a Rashard Lewis miss, Kobe pushed the tempo and made an amazing behind the back pass to a trailing Pau Gasol for a slam dunk. Suddenly there was life.
Dwight Howard then found himself open after a defensive miscue, and was ready to rock the rim, but Kobe Bryant put Superman on the ground. This play will go largely unnoticed because of what would follow, but if you're going to foul a guy as strong as Howard, you better make sure he doesn't make the basket.
Howard went up to the line, sweat pouring down his brow, and anticipated making the biggest free throws of his life. With only 11.1 seconds remaining in the game, just one free throw would make it a daunting two-possession game for the Lakers.
Kryptonite must've taken the shape of the ball, as he clanked both free throws, giving the Lakers new life. Questions followed: Would the Lakers go for the three and tie on the road? Would the Magic foul?
The Magic should've fouled...
Phil Jackson brilliantly decided to take the ball from near full court to dicombobulate the Magic offense, it worked to perfection, as Kobe was immediately double teamed. He quickly outletted to Ariza who passed to Fisher to take the biggest shot of his life.
Jameer Nelson foolishly sagged off Fisher, who was 0-5 from three in the game, and Fish made him pay. Derek Fisher hit the three with 4.6 seconds remaining, tying the game at 87 all.
The Magic's final possession of regulation was ugly as Mickael Pietrus put up a wild shot that hit the back iron. He passed on a wide open Rashard Lewis in the corner, and neglected a huge mismatch with Kobe Bryant guarding Dwight Howard.
This game was going into overtime. The first time since the great year of my birth (1984!) that an NBA Finals has had two overtime periods.
Rashard Lewis kicked off the OT, by hitting a wild fadeaway three pointer. Those were his final points of the game though, as he finished with only six points. The Lakers threw a number of defenders at him, and he was flummoxed for most of the game.
Kobe then went to work. He hit two jump shots to give the Lakers the lead 91-90. But as usual, the Lakers were content to let Kobe save them, but he missed three consecutive jumpers, in a stretch where no one else wanted the ball.
Finally, with 35 seconds left, Kobe didn't have to be the hero. Jameer Nelson left Derek Fisher to double team Kobe in the post. Bryant threw an elbow to Jameer's grill, that was ignored by the officials. As Nelson fell to the floor in pain, Bryant found Derek Fisher for another big time three ball. The Lakers went up 94-91, and never looked back.
Turkoglu missed a three, and the long rebound went to Pau Gasol who traveled his way to a deciding dunk. The Lakers were on their way to victory when Mickael Pietrus decided to give Pau Gasol a double axe handle smash to the small of Pau's back. This was a dirty play, and I expect the Frenchman to be suspended for this igregious and stupid offense.
The Lakers get their biggest win in post-Shaq era with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol only giving them a combined 25 points. They won a game where Kobe missed 20 shots. They won a game where they put their opponent on the line 37 times, and that turned out to be the key.
The Magic shot 10-17 from the line in the 4th quarter. Hedo Turkoglu (8-13 FT) and Dwight Howard (6-14) choked at the line. Hedo must've had flashbacks to his clank-filled days in Sacramento.
Orlando also doomed themselves with their 17 turnovers. Dwight Howard was the main culprit with seven of them.
They now find themselves playing in a "do or die" situation at home. I believe that the Magic will put on one more offensive display before they go POOF! The Magic will take Game 5 on their floor in a final display of pride, before the Lakers are crowned as champs in Los Angeles.
What were your reactions to Fisher's big three-point shots? Leave a comment below!
