The Magic keeps playing the part of the playoff tourist, ending up in places it has never been. Even at home the team looks like folks from Iowa here to see Mickey–sun-burned, a little lost and snapping pictures of floral arrangements.
Game 5 is not described in its travel brochure.
The Magic must stop and ask directions to get through it, following its postseason tour guide, Horace Grant. Grant has been there before at this critical intersection, although never with this much responsibility or such a noticeable jump shot.
Only the playoffs can make you feel strange in your own home. And in the Magic’s case, the Bulls are like in-laws who have become comfortable enough to raid your refrigerator and sit in your favorite chair.
It is Game 5 of a tied series at the O-rena, where all things were made possible, beginning way back in November.
Much revelry surrounded the Magic’s dominating presence on its own parquet, where it finished a gaudy 39-2. But it has been a 50-50 proposition in the ’95 playoffs against Boston (1-1) and more importantly, against the Bulls (1-1).
The Magic has won three of four on the road, including Game 3s at Boston and Chicago, but it ought not to push its luck. You’re tempting the fates and Michael Jordan by losing Game 5 and returning to Chicago for a must-win Thursday. It is time the Magic started taking advantage of its home-court advantage. Not to do so would be like sitting on your seat belt while driving the autobahn.
The white-hot intensity of the playoffs often homogenizes home court. But like Scotch-guard, you’d rather have it than not, especially if you’re the Magic and still studying the Cliff’s Notes version of the postseason grind.
The Magic is usually highly driven and less careless playing before family and friends. And while we wait for the Magic to reclaim the O-rena, the world waits breathlessly for Orlando’s assembled talent to take the suspense out of just one game.
But Penny Hardaway has been a guy whose game isn’t doing his commercials justice. He hasn’t been aggressive enough to distinguish himself from Brian Shaw. The Bulls are waiting for Grant’s shot to go bad, and Penny ought to be there when it does. Could be Tuesday night.
And Shaquille O’Neal, well, it’s okay to be a role model, but not a role player. He has played most of the series like a man looking over his shoulder for a process server. Time to let loose.
This series has been purely plutonic until now. No one has made a move. Game 5 is for showing your intentions.
It’s near impossible to get a feel for the mood or direction of these playoffs, although Michael is probably dogged knowing Tuesday night might have been the clincher if he hadn’t been pick-pocketed late in Game 1.
Poise has ping-ponged from the Magic to the Bulls for a week. The veteran Bulls are no doubt counting on the Magic to crack.
The Magic has a chance to lend credibility to its O-rena record, not to mention themselves. Taking Game 5 would go a long way in debunking detractors who believe the Magic are more hype than ripe. It is an evening that may well determine how far the production of one of Shaq’s two movies this summer is pushed back. In KAZAAM, he plays the part of a rapping genie, granting a kid’s wishes.
Sorry, kid, but there are a few folks who were in line first with other requests.
