The Orlando Magic were certain coming into this postseason they would face the Cleveland Cavaliers with a place in the NBA Finals on the line. Instead, when they look in the mirror Monday morning, they’re going to find that they just might be the Cavaliers of a year ago.
Like Cleveland in 2009, Orlando strolled through its first eight playoff games of 2010, posting a pair of easy 4-0 sweeps over Charlotte and Atlanta. But also like Cleveland, the Magic were handed a reality check in Game 1 the Eastern Conference finals, a 92-88 defeat to Boston that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
Last year it was the Magic who stunned LeBron James and overcame his 49-point burst in the opener with hot shooting inside from Dwight Howard and outside by Rashard Lewis. On Sunday against Boston, it was the Magic who shot just 34.2 percent from the field in the first half and finished with Howard having missed seven of 10 shots (two more misses than he had total in four games against the Hawks) and Lewis having missed eight of 10, including all six 3-pointers he attempted.
Howard posing as Clark Kent and interviewing himself as his Superman self during halftime would have been appropriate — but only if Rajon Rondo had snuck on camera and stuck a chard of kryptonite in his pocket.
Like last year’s series between the Cavs and Magic that went six games, the showdown between Magic and the rekindled Celtics — who have a solid argument for being the hottest team left in the playoffs — should be far from over.
But since the world of irrational conclusions and rampant speculation has reached new levels thanks to the Summer of James, perhaps Orlando can find one more way to be like Cleveland.
If the Magic are upset in the series, let us be the first to suggest that Howard and Magic coach Stan Van Gundy have peaked and that both need a change of scenery.
