9.13.2010

Larry v. Magic: Game 14 (part 4)

1984 NBA Finals Game 7

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
Magic Says He'll Party, too, Not Sulk in a Dark Room

The Boston Celtics might have put a damper on Magic Johnson's planned victory party last night, defeating the Lakers, 111-102, to win the NBA Championship.

But Los Angeles's All-Star guard still would like to hang some balloons and drink a few bottles of champagne when the team gets back to the West Coast.

''The ending isn't good, but the party isn't over, 'cause, like, I'm a party, fun guy,'' Johnson said early this morning. ''They're celebrating 'cause they're the champs, but I'm going to celebrate, too.

''I got here. I played my hardest. I gave my all. I'm not the champ, but I'm very near. I'm going to party for myself and my teammates, cause we were right there.''

Johnson, who was the Championship Series MVP in 1980 and 1982, scored 16 points, had 15 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds, but he still could not stop the NBA's glamor team from turning into sleeping beauty.

Johnson had a chance to put on another Magic show after Los Angeles cut an 11-point deficit to 105-102 with 1:14 to play. He actually had two opportunities to slice the Celtics' lead to a point.

The first time, Johnson had the ball in transition, but was stripped by Boston guard Dennis Johnson.

''He made a good play, but then 'Coop' (Michael Cooper, who blocked Dennis Johnson's layup ) saved the day,'' Johnson said.

The Lakers had one more chance to get back within one. This time, Magic got the ball in the middle of a three-on-two and drove to the top of the key.

But when he tried to hit an open James Worthy underneath, Celtics center Robert Parish swatted the ball away to Dennis Johnson with 50 seconds to go and D.J. converted a pair of free throws after he was fouled five seconds later.

''James was wide open,'' Magic said. ''I knew that was the money, there. He was coming in at an angle. It was James, Kareem and (Boston's Larry) Bird. Bird took Kareem, so I was going to pass it to James.''

Lakers coach Pat Riley, who had an eyewitness view of Parish's steal, said there definitely was contact on the play.

''I felt there was a foul on that play,'' Riley said, ''and that would have given us two things. It would have allowed us a chance to get within one and it would have given us a breath of fresh air, stopped the game for a second, be able to have guys collect themselves.

''But it didn't work out. They (Boston) ended up making two great defensive plays at the end of the game and they ended up winning the game. So, breaks are made for winners. And the winners got the breaks tonight.''

Johnson took close to an hour in the shower before he finally came out to meet the press. He still thought it was Cedric Maxwell who made the critical play.

Who could blame him for a fading memory? This was one series Magic would probably rather store in the attic of his mind. He was a central figure in three Lakers' losses during this grueling playoff.

Johnson forgot how to tell time in Game 2 and never got off a shot at the end of regulation during an eventual overtime loss in Boston. Then he had a chance to win Game 4, but his pass to Worthy was picked off by Parish just before the end of regulation in another overtime loss, this one at the Forum.

Johnson shot just 5-for-14 in the grand finale and was not the same electric charge that ignited the Lakers' fastbreak in Games 1 and 3.

There is some speculation that the reason Johnson shortcircuited was a heavily taped left knee that has bothered him since last Friday.

''It hurt some, but I'm not going to make any excuses,'' Johnson said. ''I was going to play.''

Lakers coach Pat Riley had too much class to use Johnson's knee as an excuse.

''Magic played his heart out,'' Riley said. ''He was so gallant at the end of the game. He kept attacking, kept trying to make the plays. He kept taking the ball to the basket. He kept trying to force the issue, to create. And, he was there most of the time. So, there's no excuses for Magic. He tried to play it as he always does.''

Johnson is at his best in transition. So are the Lakers. This is one team that was almost totally dependent on the fastbreak all season.

But the Lakers never rebounded consistently well enough to get into the free-flowing game they love so much. They were outrebounded last night, 52-33.

''If you don't have the ball, you can't run,'' Johnson said.

Maybe the Lakers weren't that good, after all. Maybe the glitter they projected early in the series was a temporary illusion. The Lakers were married to a philosophy and, when the Celtics cramped their style, they responded poorly.

This was one time where the Celtics' size and brute strength finally overcame the Lakers' greyhound quickness.

''Their strength is size and power inside,'' Riley said. ''That was the difference. They are a great rebounding team and it's not by chance. They pursue every ball. It's an American free enterprise system on the boards and that's their strength.''

The Celtics certainly pounded the Lakers' 37-year-old center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, into submission, holding the hub of LA's team to just six rebounds.

''I'm disappointed,'' said Abdul-Jabbar, who finished with 29 points. ''I probably should have played better.''

The 7-2 Abdul-Jabbar, who has won three NBA championships, one in Milwaukee and two with the Lakers, reportedly will play for one more year before retiring. James Worthy, a star on the rise, had 21 points, but grabbed only four rebounds.

''I think we block shots a lot,'' Worthy said. ''And when we do that, that leaves them open for rebounds. Our rotation wasn't there when we went to block shots and that left a lot of gaps.''

Worthy thought the Lakers might still pull off a miracle late in the fourth quarter.

''We tried to get a spurt going,'' Worthy said, ''but it seemed like when we got to the peak of it, we fell off the end of the cliff.''

Johnson was the player who suffered the most bruises once the Lakers landed in a ditch.

''I'm not cryin','' he said. ''When you live your life, you want to take part in something special. Right now, it's pretty hard to take and disappointing. But it was great to participate and play and have an opportunity to almost win.

3 comments:

FLCeltsFan said...

Are you ready for some basketball? First preseason game tonight! Whoohoo!!!

Lex said...

I am excited!!!!

Matty said...

went pretty darn well if you ask me! defence was phenomenal