“We geared our team up to play Boston. Everything was geared to play Boston. And then you guys [Orlando Magic] win. We had big Z Andy, myself Delounte Mo. You guys are out there with Dwight Rashad Hedu, etc. You guys are out there with what the league is now. Raw shooters, lob targets.”
— LeBron James on his 2009 series vs the Magic, via Mind the Game.
“To think that I averaged damn near 40/8/8 with no space. I lived in the paint. I did not have my signature move yet. I was not a disciplined jump shooter at the time. I would shoot fadeaways for no reason. I was so athletic.”
very annoying series but probably most memorable buzzer beater of my life
Xboarder844
I remember this series. The moment Orlando won and was our opponent I was worried. We didn’t match up well AT ALL. We had built for Boston, we’re ready to come back and keep it going strong off of 2007 success.
And Orlando was built to totally exploit every weakness we had. Like we had absolutely *no answer*, and it was so difficult to watch.
JustAKidFromAkron
Wasn’t it later revealed that half that Magic team was juicing?
gen_wt_sherman
Could have told you this 15 years ago.
And then after that loss to Orlando we sign shaq for the express purpose of fouling Dwight Howard six times a game in the playoffs, and then we get fucking Boston again instead of Orlando.
protoklite_13
I will forever remember this series as the series of really bad defensive adjustments (why keep doubling Dwight when ALL their shooters were on fire??) and Rafer freaking Austin hitting ridiculous threes he had no business taking and hitting circus and-1’s off the glass.
JOS1PBROZT1TO
And the next season the Cavs geared up to play Orlando but had to play Boston instead. And lost in more humiliating fashion. But I’ll never forget those teams from the end of LeBron’s first stint. Despite those crash and burns, they were really fun.
MTT92
2009 was an all time fun team to watch, still hurts we didn’t get that Finals match up.
9 Comments
“We geared our team up to play Boston. Everything was geared to play Boston. And then you guys [Orlando Magic] win. We had big Z Andy, myself Delounte Mo. You guys are out there with Dwight Rashad Hedu, etc. You guys are out there with what the league is now. Raw shooters, lob targets.”
— LeBron James on his 2009 series vs the Magic, via Mind the Game.
“To think that I averaged damn near 40/8/8 with no space. I lived in the paint. I did not have my signature move yet. I was not a disciplined jump shooter at the time. I would shoot fadeaways for no reason. I was so athletic.”
Clips： https://x.com/brongotgame/status/1775505890579255350
very annoying series but probably most memorable buzzer beater of my life
I remember this series. The moment Orlando won and was our opponent I was worried. We didn’t match up well AT ALL. We had built for Boston, we’re ready to come back and keep it going strong off of 2007 success.
And Orlando was built to totally exploit every weakness we had. Like we had absolutely *no answer*, and it was so difficult to watch.
Wasn’t it later revealed that half that Magic team was juicing?
Could have told you this 15 years ago.
And then after that loss to Orlando we sign shaq for the express purpose of fouling Dwight Howard six times a game in the playoffs, and then we get fucking Boston again instead of Orlando.
I will forever remember this series as the series of really bad defensive adjustments (why keep doubling Dwight when ALL their shooters were on fire??) and Rafer freaking Austin hitting ridiculous threes he had no business taking and hitting circus and-1’s off the glass.
And the next season the Cavs geared up to play Orlando but had to play Boston instead. And lost in more humiliating fashion. But I’ll never forget those teams from the end of LeBron’s first stint. Despite those crash and burns, they were really fun.
2009 was an all time fun team to watch, still hurts we didn’t get that Finals match up.
Mikael fucking Piétrus. I will hate that dude for as long as I live…