Orlando Magic Daily
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5 games NBATV is missing from Sunday’s Orlando Magic Day

By Philip Rossman-Reich

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - 1993: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a slam dunk against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA game at the Brendan Byrne Arena circa 1993 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - 1993: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a slam dunk against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA game at the Brendan Byrne Arena circa 1993 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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2009 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1

There were a lot of classic games and classic moments during the 2009 Finals run. That team was not supposed to make the Finals and have a chance to win the title. The Orlando Magic were probably still another year away from real contention. But they needed to get the experience.

Some fortune helped them. As did some gritty finishes.

Trailing 2-1 in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers, Hedo Turkoglu made one of the biggest shots in team history, draining a pull-up 3-pointer and gave the team the confidence to win the series in six games.

Then came the series against the Boston Celtics. Orlando certainly lucked out avoiding Kevin Garnett. The defending champions probably win the series over the inexperienced Magic if they have him. But without him, Orlando gave Boston a lot more than it could handle.

The first game was a classic game that saw the Magic race out to a big lead and hold on as the Celtics nearly took it back. Game 4 was the classic game-winner from Glen Davis. And Game 6 was perhaps Dwight Howard’s magnum opus as a Magic player.

Either that or Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals that year (which will air as part of NBATV’s Magic Day).

But I would argue Game 6, while celebrated as the game that clinched the Magic’s second ever Finals berth, is not the best game of that series. Most Magic fans would probably say Game 4 — an overtime victory that featured a nearly impossible 3-pointer from Rashard Lewis that gave the Magic a late two-point lead.

To me, the best game of that series was the first one. Game 1 is perhaps the greatest comeback in Magic Playoff history and a game that showed the Magic were not going to lie down in this series. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to work to reach the Finals.

It started honestly on the first play of the game where Dwight Howard dunked the ball so hard it caused the shot clock on top of the basket to collapse. It caused a 15-minute delay in the game and led the league to reinforce the shot clocks the following year.

But the Cavaliers looked like the better team for most of this one, taking a 20-point lead. The Magic stormed back. Their barrage of 3-pointers proved to be difficult for any team to handle.

But Orlando hit just nine 3-pointers in this game. This game was really about the team’s grit and ability never to stop or quit. They were a team that used the 3-pointer but did not rely on it. Defense was this team’s calling card.

And this one had a finish to boot. One that seems to be forgotten in the annals of Magic history.

But Rashard Lewis’ 3-pointer over Anderson Varejao should go down as one of the biggest and best shots in Magic history.

dark. Next. How four missed free throw defined the Orlando Magic

What other games should NBATV have included in their Magic Day? Leave your suggestions below!