Magic Formula For Success
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June 11, 2009
ORLANDO -- As a writer exclusively covering the Orlando Magic this season, I've been asked a lot of questions.
Since I follow the team day-in and day-out, various people from all walks of life request my take on this squad.
Among the most frequent inquiries – whether it's from readers, friends, colleagues or other media members – what's my take on the character inside the locker room?
My answer has always centered around two key traits: confidence and resiliency.
During their 2008-09 campaign, the Magic have overcome a devastating shoulder injury to All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, a 2-1 first round series deficit to the Philadelphia 76ers, a 3-2 hole to the Boston Celtics, a heartbreaking buzzer-beater from LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals and postseason suspensions to Dwight Howard and Rafer Alston.
Chances are if you can name a basketball hurdle, they've jumped it this season.
Now they'll need to hop through one more hoop; a daunting 3-1 NBA Finals series deficit to the Los Angeles Lakers.
While most teams would crumble amidst that bleak forecast, don't quite count Orlando out. If there's one squad that has the formula for success among overwhelming odds, it's this one.
Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy shared a brief glimpse of their secret mathematical equation in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, when he wrote "32-1" on a board in the Celtics visitors' locker room, marking the first occasion in NBA history a team battled back to beat Boston after trailing 3-2 in a postseason series.
And on Thursday, following a 99-91 Game 4 overtime defeat, numbers, confidence and resiliency again all came into play.
"We have to win one game at a time," Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee explained of the numerical approach to claiming the series. "We have to make sure we secure one win, we can't be looking ahead."
His teammate, All-Star forward Rashard Lewis, added confidence to the equation.
"Of course it goes back to Los Angeles," said Lewis after being asked whether or not the Magic would extend the series to at least six games. "But, we have to take it one game at a time and try to win on Sunday."
The Magic's Superman delivered the resiliency.
"We can't hang our heads, we still believe," Howard said following the loss. "There's no reason to have any doubts right now. We know the position that we're in, but we're not going to stop fighting."
Since that formula has produced nothing but successful results in the past, why should we expect anything different now?
Comment and ask questions to Dan Savage by following him on twitter at http://twitter.com/dan_savage.
For more analysis, turn to Josh Cohen, who examines what fans need to do before Game 5.
