The expression “The fierce urgency of now” was originally coined by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967, and received a boost from now-President Barack Obama, who revived it during his campaign for the Presidency. It can be applied to many real-life situations and is apropos for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Amway Arena.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy drew up a perfect play for the final .6 of a second at the end of regulation of Game 2 at Staple’s Sunday. To get a look like that for rookie Courtney Lee was a great piece of coaching, but the kid couldn’t get it to fall. It’s a tough shot, and Pau did just enough defensively to change the shot.Somebody online has already turned the missed shot into a mock Southwest Airlines commercial.
Not an easy shot. If you think about it, the shot would have been a series-changer. The series would be even at one game apiece instead of Orlando being in an 0-2 hole. And not only the trajectory of the series would have been changed. It could have changed the trajectory of Courtney Lee’s career and even his life. Look no further than Derek Fisher to see what a last second playoff make do for your legacy.
Will Courtney see that .6 seconds in his sleep for the rest of his life. I hope not. But, he definitely wouldn’t have had to buy any drinks in Orlando for a couple of years, and that basket would be a huge part of his legacy. Possibly a career defining moment. (You can just imagine the .6 Courtney Lee t-shirts.)
Now comes Game 3. As a team, where is Orlando’s head? How do you react to “the one that got away?” How do you deal with “Only 3 teams in history have come back from an 0-2 deficit in the NBA Finals.” Can the Magic overcome a not-ready-for-the-finals Jameer Nelson and the emotional wreckage of Rafer Alston and win without a point guard playing at a high level?
One thing is certain. It is must-win for the Magic. Down 0-3 would be a pit of despair. If Dwight Howard doesn’t get his game together and if Orlando doesn’t find its collective shooting stroke, Quincy will put the toe tag on the Eastern Conference Champion and CSI Miami will show up with David Caruso putting on his sunglasses and saying uttering some hyper dramatic one-liner.
If the Magic can’t salvage Game 3, “No Magic trick will be able to save them from elimination.”
As for the Lakers, Kobe “Mr. Sunshine” Bryant was asked after Game 2 if he’s happy now, and he snarled, “What’s there to be happy about.” #24 has begin to view an NBA Finals as something precious. Who knows when he will get another chance to be 2 wins away a title?
Kobe and Phil Jackson have failed in their last 2 finals appearances. I know that it’s popular for Laker fans to say, “This is the first of back-to-back championships.” Or, “This is the start of a Laker Dynasty.” But so much can happen.
Whose to say that Portland’s young core with Brandon Roy (24yo), LaMarcus Aldridge (23yo), Travis Outlaw (23yo), Rudy Fernandez (23yo) and Greg Oden (21yo) doesn’t begin to fulfill its championship caliber promise next year and challenge the Lakers in the Western Conference. Or that Houston, who pushed LA to 7 games, with Yao in the middle, Aaron Brooks (24yo), Kyle Lowry (22yo) and Luis Scola in his prime don’t parlay this year’s post-season success into a significant run next year. Or that Denver won’t, with a year of experience, be ready to “graduate” to the Finals (especially if they are able to re-sign Birdman, JR Smith and Dahntay Jones).
In the East, Orlando will have another year under its belt and that is an exceedingly young group. And, Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert says he doesn’t give a damn about the luxury task, and if the Cavs make the right moves, a dominant LeBron era is not out of the question.
My point is that you just don’t know. If the Lakers fail to retain Lamar Odom, if Trevor Ariza and or Shannon Brown bolt as free agents, if Phil elects to walk away, if Kobe or Pau suffers an injury, if Bynum doesn’t develop, the Lakers may not get back to an NBA Finals next year. Kobe is in his prime, and he’s not getting any younger. That’s why he is laser focused.
Lakers Legend, Hall of Famer and The Logo himself, Jerry West, made 9 NBA Finals appearances and won only one championship. He had the misfortune of playing in an era with Bill Russell’s Celtics and those Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Phil Jackson Knicks teams. Magic Johnson won 5 NBA Championships as a Laker, but lost 4 times in the Finals.
Getting to the NBA Finals is precious. This is Kobe’s 5th Finals appearance, and he has converted 3 times. This will be number 4. He has the Lakers playing the most focused basketball in the post-Shaq era. He will not squander this opportunity. He’s barking at his teammates (like when Gasol blows a defensive assignment or Shannon Brown isn’t in the corner for a kickout shot). He’s snarling at officials when a call doesn’t go LA’s way. And he is not suffering fools in the media gladly. No joking. No smiling. Every quarter is the 4th quarter of Game 7. And that’s how it should be.
The fierce urgency of Game 3. Must-win for Orlando vs. Kobe with a bullwhip driving his teammates like it’s the 4th quarter of an elimination game with the Lakers on the ropes. The Lakers will come out with energy, urgency and even some desperation because there’s no guarantee that Kobe or Phil will get this close to a ring again.
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