Lakers hold serve, lead Magic in Finals
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 06/11/2009
LOS ANGELES — The most successful sports franchise of them all, the Los Angeles Lakers, has taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. This organization over 63 years has played in 30 NBA Finals. That's 48 percent of the time. And this is no Mickey Mouse series, even though it seems that way.
No professional sports franchise has done as frequently what the Lakers have done: reach the Finals, two teams eyeball to eyeball. In baseball, it's the World Series; in hockey, it's the Stanley Cup; in football, it's the Super Bowl.
The world championship of theme park cities — Disneyland vs. Disney World, Los Angeles vs. Orlando — has boiled down so far to the Lakers doing a better job defensively, teaming up inside with the combination of Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol and Lamar (Candyman) Odom keeping Dwight (Superman) Howard from dominating in the paint.
Orlando like magic successfully stole games on the road against both Boston and Cleveland in winning those series; so far the Lakers have held serve. However, if Courtney Lee had not blown a wide-open backdoor layup with .06 seconds left Sunday, this series would be even. It was that close, but you know what they say: "If was a fifth, we'd all be drunk"
With the score tied 21 times and 23 lead changes, game two was tightly contested. The confident Magic hung in there following the game-one blowout 100-75, but 20 turnovers is no way to win on the road in the playoffs. Rashard Lewis was sensational — 34 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
With the game tied 88-88 and nine seconds left, the Lakers gave the ball to Kobe to finish off the Magic. Four Magic defenders converged on him with Hedo Turkoglu blocking his shot from behind and saving the ball while calling time out. It was a brilliant play.
That set the stage for the Magic to steal game two. Orlando's coach Stan Van Gundy called a great backdoor squeeze play during the timeout, picking off Kobe Bryant where guard Lee missed what would have been the game-winning layup at the rim. The ball dropped to the floor, and 18,997 relieved fans at Staples Center regained their breath.
In the overtime, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 24 points to finish off the Magic 101-96. Did the Lakers dodge a magic bullet? "I don't think we dodged a bullet,” said Bryant. “They bounced back like we knew they would and played extremely well, and we got out of here with a win."
Indeed, the last team from Florida that reached the Finals, the 2006 Miami Heat, trailed Dallas 2-0, went home to Florida, won three straight and the championship. The NBA's 2-3-2 Finals format with two at home, three on the road, and two at home can allow a series and momentum to change if the team that's ahead 2-0 is not mentally tough.
The Lakers appear to be mentally tough. Having a great coach like Phil Jackson and his coaches is huge, as well as having veteran players like Bryant and Derek Fisher who have won championships before. Remember, they (the Lakers) were in the Finals last year when Boston had the home-court advantage.
“We just have to go home and take care of business,” said Howard. “The Lakers did a good job of protecting their home, and now it's our turn to do the same thing. We have been in some tough situations. We just have to fight our way out."
The battle of Disney continues in Orlando.
Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. to host football camp
NFL superstar Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., who attended Pilgrim Lutheran and the Academy of Holy Angels High School in Richfield, Minnesota, led the Arizona Cardinals to their first-ever Super Bowl last year. Fitzgerald also led the NFC in receptions, touchdowns, and receiving yards.
The three-time Pro Bowl star will host his very own football camp on June 15-17, 9 am to noon each day at Providence Academy, 15100 Schmidt Lake Road in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Fitzgerald will team up with Executive Performance Coach Bill Welle of Velocity. Welle is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology. Fitzgerald has worked with Welle for several years.
Fitzgerald & Welle will help each participant become a better, more confident football player. Participants will receive daily instructions, lectures and demos, position-specific drills and SPARQ testing to measure overall athleticism.
Players will also have the opportunity to learn from and take photos with Fitzgerald. He'll talk about his years playing football in Minnesota and his experience in Super Bowl XLIII, as well as the honor of being the MVP of the 2009 Pro Bowl.
The cost for the camp is $189. Go to www.FitzFootballcamp.com to register, or call 612-309-1677.
Can't Miss Football Camps For Youth!
I get asked all the time what did you do to help your sons Larry Jr and Marcus improve their football skills. Their were many camps they attended in their early years I remember The Leo Lewis Football camp- Jeff Robinson's Football Camp- Dennis Green had a Youth Football Camp-NYSP Football Camp also.
This summer I recommend you get your boys involved in Jeff Robinson's 10th Annual Football Camp ages 9-13 at Martin Luther King Park June 15th-18th from 9AM-11AM-also at North High School Football Field the week of June 22-26th from 8.30AM to 10.30 and at Robbinsdale Cooper.Then following at Cooper an North High School high schoolers at both North and Cooper can participate in the H.S.P.D. program sponsored by the NFL and The National Guard. And on June 29th-July 3rd at Robbinsdale Cooper 8.30AM to Noon. Lunch is served free everyday more details www.MinneapolisParks.org-
River Falls Kicking Specialist Camp continues for the 36th year June 27th-29th at UW River Falls River Falls Wisconsin. With Head Football Coach John O'Grady and Gary Zauner Call 1-800 228-5613 or go to www.coachzauner.com - Former Gopher and Dallas Cowboys star Marion Barber III and brother Dominique host the Barber Foundation Football Day for Boys and Girls Its free ages 9-16 June 20th from 8.30 am-3.30 pm.
E.J Henderson Celebrity Softball Game.
Vikings fans as many as 30 Vikings players including star Adrian Peterson and number one pick Percy Harvin will be playing softball in the E.J.Henderson Celebrity Solfball game Saturday June 13th. It starts at Noon at Siebert Field on the U of M Campus.. Donation is $20.00.
Kids 12-under are free. Autograph session, Homerun Derby, and silent auction. The All-Star Softball game starts at 2PM all proceeds benefit the E.J Henderson Foundation and organization making a difference in the lives of inner city youth.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .
