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What should probably be a tied 2009 NBA Finals is now a 3-1 series lead in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers after a 99-91 overtime victory in Game Four against the Orlando Magic. Unable to hold onto a 12-point halftime lead and a 5-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Orlando essentially blew this game at the free throw line and with mental breakdowns all night that finally caught up to them. After Dwight Howard missed two free throws that would have sealed the game in the final minute, who else but Derek Fisher hit a three to send the game into overtime and then drilled a game winner from beyond the arc to break a tie in the extra session. Continue on to examine the player, coach and team grades for Game Four.

Now that’s what we were looking for from the 2009 NBA Finals: a competitive game in which both the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers established and executed their styles of play at high levels of effectiveness. Home apparently is where the shot is for the Magic, which shot a blistering 62.5 percent from the field (an NBA Finals record for a team) in a 106-102 Game Three victory that cut the series to a 2-1 deficit. Hardly looking like the team that took off games earlier in the playoffs, the Lakers nearly went up 3-0 in the series thanks to a very urgent and efficient fourth quarter. But in the end, Orlando made the big plays when it mattered most to hold on and make the 2009 NBA Finals a series again. Continue on to examine the much better grades for both teams in an enjoyable Game Three as opposed to a miserable Game Two.

Last night the Los Angeles Lakers were able to take a 2-0 series lead in the 2009 NBA Finals with an overtime home victory against the Orlando Magic. Five years ago today, the Lakers had similar overtime success in a Game Two at the Staples Center. Led by Kobe Bryant’s 33 points, the Lakers held off the surprising Detroit Pistons to even up the 2004 NBA Finals at one game apiece. Unfortunately for a team with four future Hall of Famers in Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, the Lakers would not win another guy in a series dominated by the Pistons. Continue on to examine the 2004 NBA Finals as it compares with the 2009 NBA Finals.

When played the right way, basketball is a beautiful game characterized by movement, rhythm and flow. Last night’s Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers lacked many of these qualities and was hardly a thing of beauty, especially on the offensive end of the court. Orlando’s Courtney Lee had an opportunity to make up for the poor quality of play with a brilliantly-designed lay up at the buzzer that would have won the game for the Magic, but he missed. Lucky to have gotten to overtime, the Lakers would go on a late 7-point run to propel the 101-96 victory and 2-1 series lead. Continue on to examine the less-than-impressive grades for Game Two of a Finals series that has been very disappointing thus far.

Well, superstar guard Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers’ teammates came out aggressive and focused in Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals, and the result was a 25-point drubbing of the Orlando Magic. Bryant scored a personal Finals high of 40 points while the Lakers pounded the Magic on the boards. Orlando superstar center Dwight Howard made just one field goal and had only 12 points; his teammates were no better as the tentative Magic were literally and figuratively roughed up in a total team effort by the Lakers. Continue on to examine the grades in L.A.’s convincing 100-75 victory over the Magic in Game One.

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