Well, just about everything that could go wrong for the Orlando Magic did in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. And now Orlando faces this dilemma: Teams coached by Phil Jackson are 43-0 in best-of-7 series in which they win Game 1, and the Lakers have won 16 best-of-seven series in a row when taking the first game.
Kobe Bryant was outstanding in Game 1 with 40 points, including 18 in the third quarter when L.A. pulled away in the 100-75 victory. His 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists were just the fourth time in NBA Finals history a player has achieved at least those numbers in a single game.
The Lakers swarmed Magic center Dwight Howard whenever he got the ball, holding him to 12 points on just 1-of-6 shooting (He came into Thursday's game with playoff averages of 21.7 points and 15.4 rebounds). Usually the Magic would be OK with that strategy as they are a great 3-point shooting team, but they hit just 8-of-23 on 3s and shot only 30 percent overall.
‘One of the things we wanted to do in Game 1 was come out and set the tone,' said the Lakers' Pau Gasol.
‘We wanted to keep a body on (Howard), move him around, try not to make it comfortable for him.'
‘Their big guys just killed us on the glass,' said Orlando's Rashard Lewis. ‘I was surprised, because we were playing so well in the playoffs. It's too bad because it was Game 1 of The Finals. But we just didn't have it.'
The 25-point margin of victory was the sixth-largest in Game 1 Finals history and largest since the Bulls' 33-point win over the Trail Blazers in 1992. L.A.'s front-line depth of Gasol (16 points, eight boards), Lamar Odom (11 points, 14 rebounds) and Andrew Bynum (nine points, nine rebounds) was simply overpowering. The Lakers outrebounded Orlando 55-41 and outscored the Magic 56-22 in the paint.
‘I know playoff history and stuff, and it's pretty hard to find a champion who hasn't at some point in their playoff run gotten their butts beat by 20-plus. I mean, San Antonio did it I think every year in their playoff runs. You go back far enough, and obviously I worked for Pat Riley, and those of you who are old enough or even older than I am remember the Memorial Day Massacre. Those kinds of things happen. They get one win for it,' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
The only good news for Orlando, which is a 6.5-point underdog for Game 2 on WagerWeb.com, was the return of point guard Jameer Nelson. He didn't start but had six points and four assists in 23 minutes.
The Magic have lost the past two Game 2s in these playoffs, both on the road. But they also had won Game 1 in the past two series.
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