I played with LeBron in the Olympics and I’ve seen him do some crazy things, but that was the sickest of them all. I mean, that was a tough, tough shot. Turk played great defense, did all he could do really, and LeBron just made a heck of a shot.
He’s the MVP of the league, and that’s what he does best – make plays nobody thinks he can make.
What’s up with us losing all of these buzzer-beaters??? I mean, dang, Philly got us twice in the first round, Big Baby hit that crazy jumper from the wing against Boston and now this from LeBron??? I guess when you think about it, we won a couple of games at the end with Turk in Philly and Rashard here in Game 1. I thought Turk had done it for us again, running the clock down to one and hitting hit shot, but that was a tough way to lose.
Now, you have to watch that shot over and over again on the TV and there’s no getting away from it. But we’ve got to bounce back from this, and I know we will because we’ve done that all season.
We were almost up 2-0 on their home court, which would have been huge, but we just have to realize it’s all tied up now.
We’re going home and we know what we have to do to beat this team. I think Cleveland knows we ain’t no joke and we ain’t going away anytime soon. They know we’re going to keep scrapping and fighting and clawing, and we expect the same thing from them.
Now, we gotta take care of business back in Orlando. Everybody thought I was going to be all frustrated about not getting many shots Friday night, but I’m more upset about how bad we’re starting games. We’re giving up threes and dunks and we’re not running on offense. That just can’t keep happening, especially when we get home.
My man, Bron Bron, hurt us with that shot, but ya’ll know we’ll be back from that. We always bounce back whether it’s in the middle of games or after tough losses.
We’ll be at home now, and we’ll be there to win these next two games. We still think we have the talent and the team to win this series, and one loss – make that one shot – hasn’t changed our minds about that.
I’m out, ya’ll. Bring it for Game 3 cause we need ya’ll.
– D
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Tags: 2008 Olympics, 2009 NBA Playoffs, Buzzer Beater, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwight Howard Blog, Eastern Conference Finals, Game Winner, Hedo Turkoglu, LeBron James, Team USA
That shot was sick! But i still believe that magics can win this series! Let’s go Dwight! Let’s go Magics!
Dang D that was a tough loss. Ya’ll played with heart in the 2nd half. But as U said b4 U guys must bring it from the jump ball. U guys need to play with consistency and full power from beginning to end.
As I have said time & time again this is Ur series. Although the Cavs won 2nite let that be the only win that the Cavs get in this series. I was believing 4 a sweep but 3-1 sounds good
The way that the Cavs snuck Fri nights win in was out of pocket. When we were up 2pts with 1 second left I honestly wasn’t even considering a Cav win. My brother was gettin all types of yes, what I tell U, ya’ll don’t want none yelled in his ear. I mean… that was crazy, but it’s old news.
On Sunday come out and play harder than U guys played on Wed in order to guarantee a victory. In fact, play with a higher level of intensity than U have played with all post season, and just continue to elevate as you progress. I completely believe that an Orlando win is exactly what the Magic will reflect on after games 3 through 5. The Cavs are a tough team; they play hard, and I am sure that they want & feel that they deserve a ring. But U know what…when I was young and I couldn’t have my way, my mom would tell me that I am old enough for my wants not to hurt me. Send that exact same message to Lebron and the Cavs. The Magic are tougher and in my opinion U guys deserve it more {I am a little bias} lolz But I know that Ur talent is awesome, and Ur spirits are admirable.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Have a safe trip back to O-town and have a great game Sunday. MAGIC ALL DAY!!! This is Ur series. Orlando Magic 08-09 Champs!!!!!!!!
Believing w/U~ God Bless,
Love
Dwight, why was Rashard so far away guarding Mo Williams from that inbounds pass? If he was close to him, he could’ve forced a violation or made a deflection.
I’ve seen the game on TV and I feel very upset about that . It’s really shocking.I am speechless at the moment .Although that shot really hurts ,don’t run out on your faith . I truely believe that you and your teammates will bounce back and won’t give up easily ! One lose can’t stop all of you because you have the abilities to win the series !
Dwight , I will support you all the time and send you the best blessing from far far away China ! Go Go Go and fly high !
I wish your dreams stay big and your worries stay small !
Looking foward to your good news !
It’s a good thing you guys can’t get away with anything at all without getting suspensions while players like Mo Williams can throw the ball at you and not even get a technical. I have many friends who no longer watch the NBA because of the clear favoritism towards certain players and teams, and tonight was a classic example of just how true that is.
Dwight you guys blew this team out twice on your home court this season, it was a tough (fluke) loss tonight but I’m quite confident that when the series returns to Cleveland they will be down 1-3. I don’t expect a game 5 win from you guys as the calls tonight were absolutely unreal at times, I can’t imagine how they would be in an elimination game on their home court.
Dwight I’m sick and damn tired of the league all but putting Kobe/Lebron in the finals. I absolutely cannot believe the disrespect the league is showing every other playoff team by acting as though they don’t even stand a chance. Annihilate the Cavs in game 3 and 4 Dwight, ruin this “dream season” we keep hearing about where only two players in the entire league seem to matter. The day Sterns sorry ass gets thrown out of the league is the day this league will return to greatness.
Forget about that lose and keep moving on .There are still hopes .No matter what you’re going through, I’ll support you ! I know your spirit won’t die easily, so keep fighting and get the victory ! I’ll cheer for you !
Forget about that lose and keep moving on .There are still hopes .No matter what you’re going through, I’ll support you ! I know your spirit won’t die easily, so keep fighting and get the victory ! I’ll cheer for you !
From Az I am blown away by you and the Magic, You are on fire. Way to step up… Beat Cleveland
Hey Dwight, tough way to lose a game. It hurts seeing all these buzzer beaters like you said. Just keep playing hungry man you guys ARE the better team then they are. Play Magic basketball and we will win the series and surprise the nation…remember it was just one game. Win or lose that didn’t make the series. Learn what you can from that and move on to Sundays game which I know you guys will play amazing. Take it to them right from the tip off and blow them out. Be strong. I will be praying for you bro…as always GO MAGIC
While that was a tough one last night and SVG accepted the blame (for which I think he was too hard on himself), give the man his due. Sometimes people just make plays and there is nothing you can do about it.
It’s done, it’s over with and we all need to put it behind us and move on to Sunday.
Now for the real stuff…You guys cannot continue to come out flat. Both of these games as well as the Boston and Philly series would be far different if you guys can get a lead early or stay close…in each and every case, you guys would have won by double digits!
No need to panic, get down or think you cannot win. You guys are far superior and not only will win this series but the title if you just clamp down and get serious for 48 minutes. Maybe you guys need to simplify it this way. Put up 7 numbers on the board and with each win cross one off. You are 7 wins away from taking the whole thing. Realisitcally youguys got what you needed with one win in Cleveland…now let’s take 2 at home and last night will be just a distant memory and nothing more than a personal highlight reel.
The fact of the matter is Dwight, one game doesn’t change a whole lot in a 7 game series, no matter how you lose it. It wouldn’t have changed much if you won either, cleveland would have a good shot at coming back. The thing about playoffs is, you have to play every game like it is your last as long as you have a game to play. AND YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT POSSESSION BY POSSESSION, there is no way around it. You can’t slack off at the beginning of the games like you did w/ cleveland, or in the end of the games like you did with boston. you beat these guys by 30 by putting together one consistent game. You have to hold together the entire game. Defensively and offensively. Then the next game, then the next game…until you have no more games left to play. There is no future or past in the playoffs. There is only the next game in the schedule.
It is as simple as this. Remember 2004 playoff finals, det vs lal? Kobe hit a miracle shot to send game 2 to overtime, and then lal won the game for a split at home. Back then, Detroit were huge underdogs, espn had all that kobe-shaq hype, and everyone was convinced that the momentum had shifted and los angeles were back in the series. Sad for them, they weren’t able to play another game at home. That is exactly the mentality that you should be in right now. That is what you should have learned playing detroit twice in the last two years. They won 3 straight home games against lal very convincingly, by winning every quarter, not letting them to get back into the game. Not even close. No doubt that you have the ability to do the same. And it is up to you to keep the intensity for the entire game. Because when you go, team goes. Especially on the defense.
Take care Dwight.
That was a dagger right in the heart, it almost made me cry. ALMOST, but then I figured the series is tied and we still have five more games to play and two are in Orlando so we’re not out. Magic played a great game to be down 23 and come back to lose by only one point, the dagger, I just knew we were 2-0, Magic did a great job. But as you already said you can’t keep getting those slow starts and expect to just bounce back everytime. You got to fight hard for 48 minutes. Come out strong and hard in game 3, and get that win. Break ‘em down Magic.
All I’ve got to say is you and the team play your offense/defense, MAINTAIN THE LEAD all in 4our 8ight for the next 3 games!!!
Peace out!
Dwight -
That was just a hell of a shot. We can bounce back from this. We have already proven that.
Good luck Sunday, we can do it. Keep everyone focused like you always do and we will be all right.
GO MAGIC!!
~Jolene~
Dwight Baby, you saw the replay now turn off the TV and refocus your energy and passion for that championship ring. Send that energy, your strength, to your team. Your confidence as a player and leader is growing by leaps and bounds.
Keep the faith Big Man! Cleveland knows that you guys can bring it home to Orlando’s court where YOU reign as KING! Hey Killer, I’m waiting to see Dwight Howard shoot a big beast of a jumper too. I want to see the world go crazy when you hit it. Good luck tomorrow night.
These Buzzer shots really hurt.
Thats okay I think yall got this!
i’m really feelin this orlando team
yall are the best in the league
you just gotta prove it!
Yeah great shot by lebron but the referees did a good job for cleveland too, those fouls called on gortat and that on lewis oh my god, 8 points allowed because of that!!!and that offensive called on lee when it was a clear basket……….. you will win the series 4-2
Yeah it was a tough lost, sometime you have to lose so you can win. Next game come out with emoyions like you did in the 4th quarter of game 2. Play dominant in the post thats the Howard area anything else around should not be there. Good Luck in the next game. Play hard or go home.
yea dwight you all can do it. Love your power dunks under the basket. I must admit lebron is good *laugh. But i believe magic can do it!
No worries Dwight. We are still behind you guys. Cleveland has nothing on you guys. Not when they were up 23 points and you guys came back. Big props to you guys for that
Keep going Dwight……………
Magic will win the series!
no worries.. cool running!! keep the faith!!!
Dwight,
Keep your team’s heads up. Show use how much you want it! DOMINATE.
Man Dwight! Tough loss. But like you said MVP’s make MVP shots! But you are the defensive player of the year!! So take these next 2 games playing great Defense! I was reading some of the comments above and people are asking why you guys didn’t do this or that? You can’t dwell on those things! Have a short memory! Go in game 3 and 4 (AT HOME) and play ALL 48 minutes! I don’t always agree with things Van Gundy has said but in game 1 when he said that the Cavs have never been in pressure situations in the playoffs. They don’t know what it’s like. But you guys do. That was great! Go out and apply pressure from the opening tip! Have a great next 2 games! Know Portland, Oregon has crazy Magic fans up here cheering you guys on!! Go MAGIC!!!
dwight don’t put yourself down,that just a lucky shot,you gonna bouce back next game,just work hard,push them to the limit,and you will get the big prize at the end of it
D-12…. what a shot by bron bron…. but u know what was impressive to me more than that stupid shot…. how we came back and fought our way to a 2 point lead with a second to go in their home court!!!!…. i will be there sunday to cheer you on brotha…. we need to play magic ball 48 min… lets not even give them a chance to breath!… and if little moe throws the ball at you again make sure u have alston smack that b**** up haha!!! WE GOT THIS !!!!! LETS WIN A TITLE!!!!! GO MAGIC!!!!
I know it’s tough to see them celebrate on their home floor when you could have won the game, but they celebrated so loudly because they knew they were lucky to come away with the win.
The bottom line is this: The Magic have responded well to adversity for nearly the entire series and for most of the playoffs. The Cavs have responded well to adversity for a sum TOTAL of one second. That means alot.
Every time this team has lost in disappointing fashion, they’ve fought back harder the next time. You did it down 2-1 vs Philly and down 3-2 vs Boston, something no one had ever done. You can do it again, and you know it.
You know there’s no guarantees, as Cleveland is a great road team. But you’re a great home team, and you will be at home, in front of the fans that love and support you. Attack this game like you’ve done the other times and you’ll be just fine.
Good luck Dwight I know you can win it all.
If the refs stop calling these bullshit calls then you guys would blow them out.
Tough game Dwight but we’re coming to Orlando for 2 games. Gotta get em both and put this series away. The house will be rocking for sure!!
I still cant believe that last play. I look at it and analyze and realize we could have defended it so much better (hindsight always 20/20) but with 1 second left you have a clear advantage on the defensive end because of so little time. Guard the inbounds passer hard and heavy, make it difficult to get the ball in. Or realize its going to Lebron no matter what and put 2 guys on him and leave the inbounds passer alone. I also believe Pietrus or Rashard should have D’d up Lebron instead of Turk. I hope if it comes down to another game like that SVG makes the right call and we get the outcome we want.
Bottom line is this series could be 2-0 either way. We split up in cleveland. Proved we can win there despite the odds. Crawled and fought back into both games and had a chance at both. Both games came down to clutch 3s. Rashard hit one for us, Lebron hit one for them. Preceded by huge plays by the other team in each game. Lets stomp them at our house. I know we are capable. I watched you go up 40 points at home on them just over a month ago.
GO MAGIC!!!!!!
WOWZERS! WHAT A GAME…FOR THAT CRAZY SHOT TO GO IN LAST SECOND LITERALLY-MUST HAVE JUST BEEN MEANT TO BE….BUT JUST MOVE FORWARD DONT WORRY ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES U SEE THE REPLAY ON TV…GIVE EM SOMETHING TO REPLAY/TALK ABOUT NEXT GAME
U GUYS HAVE ORLANDO GOING CRAZY RIGHT NOW…I LOVE IT! CANT WAIT FOR NXT GAME, DONT LET US DOWN!
it’s all good D12; it happens, u gotta respect that shot and move on. Just come home and bring that husttle and heart and we’ll have a chance at the end to get that W!
Last night that shot was a crazy shot! But we all know that was just a fortunate win for the Cavs ~ regardless of what they said after the game they won it by the skin of their teeth. But at the end of the day people are starting to see that we are the team to beat in this series! And you see right seeing this play on the highlight reel is frustrating (I get mad every time)! But that is okay because we definitely got the next one! We will playing at home and like I have told everyone no one gets hype like a Magic fan at a game!
As for Game 3 I could not agree more everyone should come out the gate ready to play like you guys do in the second half! We have to find a way to bring that intensity from jump! I have all the faith in the world that you guys can to this and speaking the win in existence right now! So good luck Sunday I will cheering from my couch and wishing I was there!
BTW ~ way to go on keeping your cool when Month threw tha ball at you! That was clearly is tech foul and the fact that they did not call it just goes to show who the league wants to win the series – LET’S PROVE THEM WRONG!
Watch out for that little ***** Varajeo, he isn’t man enough to play real defense on you, so he flops.
you guys could have gone 2-0, now take care of business at home and crush them.
that was a rough one…but the only way to look now is forward. if there is one thing ppl keep saying about the Magic, it is how “Resilient” this team is…no better time to prove it. with you alllll the way
Yeh a lucky shot, well defended. Like you said you were almost up 2-0 in the “sacred” Q lol. I will be at Game 3 lets make it 3-1 going back to cleveland! Go MAGIC!
You guys played awesome and deserved that win. I couldn’t believe that shot when I saw it. I wish you guys would have won but I know you’ll win the next three and take the series =)
You lose at the buzzer for one game, but you still win the round. And you always send them home. DO NOT FORGET THAT!
I’m so proud of you all even in this loss. Come on Dwight, beat these guys twice at home. Play smart basketball, hit your free throws, you guys have the ability. Force them to make a Dwight Howard muppet. I think you’d be an awesome muppet. Don’t let LeBron and Kobe get all the glory. This is your chance to give us Magic fans the glory we’ve been waiting for. GO MAGIC, WE STILL BELIEVE – ALWAYS.
Kick Mo William’s and Lebron James butt on Sunday…bunch of clowns… Go Magic
hey D, god doesn’t make things easy to achieve..gotta have the ups and downs time..this one was a tough one to swallow..but when ya started to have doubts..this is when He wants you to have a stronger faith in Him man..just keep on believin n He will do the rest…you guys can make this happen!
Chase those Cavs out of town like what you guys did to them in the regular season.
Fight hard and play smart for 48 minutes Magicmen.
You guys are going to blow the Cav’s out. Don’t sweat the last game. The fact that you were down 23 points and you came back to lead by 2 with 1 second shows you can beat the Cav’s!
hats off to Leborn but, u guys played a great game! I love watching u play.
No worries Dwight.… Beat Cleveland
Game Day! Ready for the team to bring it in this game! Show us that the Magic can come back stronger!
“That don’t kill me, can only make me stronger!”
Magic NBA champs ‘09, Better Believe it!!!
Man I gotta tell you I was at the Altamonte Ale House during game 2 and it was absolutley crazy! The whole place was chanting LETS GO MAGIC! The waitresses couldn’t even take orders. It was a sight to behold really! It made me realize just how much this city has become full circle with this team. You guys have really returned us to greatness. The best part was even after Lebron hit the dagger 3 NO ONE freaked out! Everyone kept saying how “we got this” and that if thats what Cleveland needs to win at home there in serious trouble when they hit O-Town. This city does believe in you guys and its because of your hard work and I believe you guys have finally started to get the respect you deserve. Don’t get discouraged, you guys own this team and have bounced back with class so many times! Can’t wait to see game 3! I’ll be the guy in the nosebleeds you can actually hear! GO MAGIC!!!!!!!
Hey Big Guy, it wouldn’t have been so close if they’d just get you the ball more. Z and V are too SLOW to keep up with you in the post so I’m hoping your guards can get you the ball.
On Lebron’s shot – great defense by HT, better offense by LJ. Tell HT to make sure time runs out while his shot is in the air next time!
I am sick of the written Kobe vs LeBron story….
Like the way that you guys throw smiles on those “mistakes” by refs, showing your mental strengthness. Keep it, man! GO GO!