The Sixers have gotten their wish. They might live to regret it. Or, maybe more correctly, die while regretting it.
The Magic will be without star forward Dwight Howard for tonight’s Game Six of their first-round tilt with the Sixers at the Wachovia Center.
Actually the Magic will be without two stars, both courtesy of Howard’s active elbow.
Howard has been suspended for nailing Sixers center Sam Dalembert with a flying elbow in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game in Orlando. A little while later he nailed a teammate, Courtney Lee, with another elbow, in the process fracturing a sinus cavity.
Howard was assessed a technical foul for the hit on Dalembert, but was not tossed from the game. Afterward Sixers coach Tony DiLeo complained about some of Howard’s tactics. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was not amused, and went on a rant of his own.
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Wednesday that Howard would be suspended for tonight’s Game Six.
All of which brings to mind a game from another era, which also involved the Sixers, and also the “Magic.”
Only this was Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Back in 1980 the Lakers and Sixers met in the NBA Finals. The Lakers were led by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jabbar was hobbling with an ankle injury and his status for the crucial Game 6 in Philly was in question.
Right up until game time, most believed Abdul-Jabbar would limp out of the Lakers locker room and take his spot in the tip-off circle.
Didn’t happen. Instead Johnson, a rookie, stepped into the spotlight, trying to fill the void at center. A legend was about to be born. Just like “Magic.”
Johnson scored 42 points to lead the Lakers to a title.
Which brings us to another Game 6, also in Philly, also involving the Magic, a team playing without its star.
Lightning can’t strike twice, can it? The Sixers must win to extend the series to a Game 7, just as they did 29 years ago.
And if they lose? Poof, they disappear, just like Magic.
The Magic will be without star forward Dwight Howard for tonight’s Game Six of their first-round tilt with the Sixers at the Wachovia Center.
Actually the Magic will be without two stars, both courtesy of Howard’s active elbow.
Howard has been suspended for nailing Sixers center Sam Dalembert with a flying elbow in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game in Orlando. A little while later he nailed a teammate, Courtney Lee, with another elbow, in the process fracturing a sinus cavity.
Howard was assessed a technical foul for the hit on Dalembert, but was not tossed from the game. Afterward Sixers coach Tony DiLeo complained about some of Howard’s tactics. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was not amused, and went on a rant of his own.
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Wednesday that Howard would be suspended for tonight’s Game Six.
All of which brings to mind a game from another era, which also involved the Sixers, and also the “Magic.”
Only this was Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Back in 1980 the Lakers and Sixers met in the NBA Finals. The Lakers were led by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jabbar was hobbling with an ankle injury and his status for the crucial Game 6 in Philly was in question.
Right up until game time, most believed Abdul-Jabbar would limp out of the Lakers locker room and take his spot in the tip-off circle.
Didn’t happen. Instead Johnson, a rookie, stepped into the spotlight, trying to fill the void at center. A legend was about to be born. Just like “Magic.”
Johnson scored 42 points to lead the Lakers to a title.
Which brings us to another Game 6, also in Philly, also involving the Magic, a team playing without its star.
Lightning can’t strike twice, can it? The Sixers must win to extend the series to a Game 7, just as they did 29 years ago.
And if they lose? Poof, they disappear, just like Magic.
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