The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally acquired Shaquille O’ Neal in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. O’Neal has been on the Cavaliers’ radar since February, when Cleveland nearly acquired the 15-time All-Star center for Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak.
An NBA source confirmed late Wednesday night that the Cavaliers have an agreement in principal to send a package that includes Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace to Phoenix in exchange for four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal, a former first overall pick of the Orlando Magic in 1992, would become a dominant center for the Cavaliers playing alongside the current MVP, LeBron James. O’Neal could be the missing piece for James to win a first championship. The seven-foot hoops icon known best as “Shaq” but also by many other aliases, certainly gives the city a surge of star power. Read more…
The Los Angeles Lakers captured their 15th NBA Championship and 10th ring as a coach for Phil Jackson. The Lakers defeated Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their NBA Finals series via a 99-86 win in Amway Arena.
Undeniably, it was Kobe Bryant’s night. He scored 30 points, dished out 5 assists and blocked 4 shots. Pau Gasol’s defense in the interior was a big part of Dwigth Howard’s limited effectiveness in the paint. The Lakers trailed halfway through the second quarter, 40-36, but took off on a 16-0 run that seemed to stun the Magic. Trevor Ariza had seven points during the run, and Fisher had five as the Magic went 4 minutes 25 seconds without scoring a point.
In the end, Los Angeles’ defense was just as up to the task as Los Angeles’ vaunted offense. Orlando’s screen-and-roll attack was barely a factor, as the Lakers’ spacing and efficient perimeter shooting on the other end made this a one-sided game by halftime. Technorati Profile Read more…
The Los Angeles Lakers need only one more win to capture their 15th NBA Championship, but rumors are said to be spreading that even if the Lakers become champions, officials said they can’t afford to throw the team a victory party, which they were doing in the past, to celebrate the victory.
The Lakers have taken a commanding 3-1 lead over the Magic in their best-of-seven- series, and will have the chance to clinch the championship on game 5 in Amway Arena. The win will set the stage for a triumphal parade through downtown LA.
Officials say such celebration could cost the city $1 million or more at a time when city leaders, faced with a deep budget deficit, were considering worker layoffs and cuts in services. Read more…
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in game 4 of their 2009 NBA Finals series, to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Lakers needed two triples from their old reliable point guard Derek Fisher to seal the game.
With 4.6 seconds remaining in the game, Fisher hit his first triple to tie the game at 87-87 that forced the game into overtime. Fisher hit his second triple in the dying seconds of the extra period that game them the 3-point lead at 94-91.
It was the first time since 1984, when Lakers lead by Magic Johnson and the Celtics lead by Larry Bird, that two games in a finals series have gone to overtime
Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers with 32 points, dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 7 rebounds. Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol each added 16 points for the Lakers. Ariza scored 13 points in the Lakers’ 30-point output in the 2nd quarter. Read more…
The Orlando Magic registered its first NBA Finals win in Game 3, 108-104, against the heavily favored team, Los Angeles Lakers. The win is the franchise’s first since it joined the NBA.
After 2 games of miserably bad shooting and defense, the Orlando has finally found its Magic touch. Making easy shots and shooting tough ones from every corner of the court.
Orlando Magic was lead by Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis who scored 21 points apiece and Rafer Alston played his best game in the series scoring 20 points and dishing out 4 assists in 36 minutes of playing. Read more…
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in over time in Game 2 of their NBA Finals series. Lakers scored 13 points in the 5-minute extension lead by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, who made big shots to lead the Lakers to a 2-0 Finals lead over the Magic.
Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Pau Gasol added 24 for the Lakers.
With the game tied at 88-88 in the regulation, Hedo Turkoglu blocked Kobe Bryant’s shot in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, grabbed the ball and called a timeout with barely 0.6 seconds left in the game.
The Orlando Magic had the chance to steal the game from the Lakers. In a beautifully drawn-up play designed by Orlando’s coach, Turkoglu made a long lob pass to rookie Courtney Lee, but with Pau Gasol fronting him, missed the potential game winning shot as the time expired in the regulation. Read more…
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers pretty much dominated Dwight Howard and the Magic in their first encounter in the NBA Finals.Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, dished out 8 assists and grab 8 rebounds – telling the whole world that there is no stopping him and the Lakers this time around.
Aside from not able to stop the dominance of Bryant, another woes that the Magic encountered was their outside shots. Their prized 3-point shooters didn’t made any impact in Game 1, shooting only 34.8% from behind the 3-point area.
If the Magic wants to tie the NBA Finals series at 1-1, they must defend the pick-and-roll play of Bryant and Pau Gasol. Their most dominant player, Dwigth Howard, should try and keep going to the basket. Howard scored only 12 points in Game 1, with 1 of 6 shooting from the field. Read more…
LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in their Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant had a dominant performance scoring 40 points together with 8 rebounds 8 assists while center Pao Gasol scored 16 points. Lamar Odom snatched 14 rebounds and scored 11 points to help the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are seeking it’s 1st NBA title after Shaquille O’Neal left the Lakers in July of 2004. It’s going to be the 15th overall NBA title for the Lakers and 10th for coach Phil Jackson.
Game 2 will be on Sunday, June 7, at Staples Center.
Orlando Magic’s Dwigth Howard and Rashard Lewis struggled the whole game. Orlando shot only 29.9 percent from the field.
Mickael Pietrus and Hedo Turkoglu had 14 and 13 apiece, respectively, for the Magic.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Overlooked and begging for respect all season, the Orlando Magic can no longer be ignored. After 14 frustrating years, they’ve returned to the NBA finals.
Dwight Howard dominated inside for 40 points, Rashard Lewis added 18 and the Magic, a team that can make 3-pointers drop from thin air, hit 12 in a 103-90 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.
The Magic will be making their first finals appearance since 1995, one year before Shaquille O’Neal bolted as a free agent for Los Angeles, leaving this Florida franchise in ruins.
It’s been a long, slow climb back, but Orlando has been rebuilt and will meet the Lakers on Thursday night at the Staples Center in Game 1. Read more…
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Dwight Howard scored 10 points in overtime and the Orlando Magic a last-second shot by LeBron James for a 116-114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Howard scored 27 points and grab 14 rebounds, Rafer Alston added 26 points and Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus had 17 each for the Magic.
Orlando can earn its first trip to the NBA finals since 1995 with a win in Game 5 on Thursday night in Cleveland.
King James was spectacular again, scoring 44 points and grabbing 12 rebounds and seven assists, but he had eight turnovers for the Cavs, whose season of seasons is slipping away.
After Lewis made one of two free throws with 3.2 seconds left to give the Magic the 116-114 lead, the Cavs had one final chance. Everone knew who will get the ball for the next Cavs possession. Read more…
