That was an amazing comeback by the Magic.
They were getting their heads handed to them by the Heat.
LeBron and D.
Wade each had twenty points at half time for the first time all year.
The Heat were playing their best game since crushing the Lakers on Christmas.
There defense was trapping and confusing Howard.
Superman looked like it wasn't going to be his night.
They were rotating and challenging the Magic shooters, they were rebounding, getting steals and getting out on the break and getting easy buckets, even new comer Mike Bibby knocked down a three.
The game was in the bag.
Many fans were probably planning to leave early in the 3rd quarter so they could get to their favorite south beach spot.
Even when Mike Miller hit a three quarter shot after time expired at the end of the second quarter.
I said to myself.
It won't matter.
This game is done.
I was wrong, very wrong.
After the Heat got up 24 point lead, I waited for the Magic to officially check out.
I should know that the Magic live and die by the three.
Tonight they lived.
Hitting the threes got them back in the game and then some.
First Jason Richardson knocked down a three, then another, then another, pretty soon everybody was making their threes.
Even the much maligned Gilbert Arenas made a couple of threes in row to tie the score.
He waived his hand in front of his face to signal that he was on fire.
Take easy there Gilbert.
One game does not resurrect your career.
When that happened I knew the Heat were in big trouble.
The Magic finished off the comeback by getting ahead, then holding off the late Heat comeback.
I knew LeBron's last second three was going to miss and it did.
Bosh then slammed the ball in frustration.
I'm surprised the ball didn't bounce back and hit him face.
Maybe he was trying to get the back for when a LeBron pass smacked him the grille earlier.
I'm not saying the Heat chocked.
I'm saying that every time the Magic made a three, I saw tiny hands squeezing the throats of Heat players and coaches.
Who is the blame? I'm blaming everybody.
Pat Riley, the players and the coaches.
First Riley rolls the dice by saying, I will signs three all stars, then fill in the rest with just regular guys.
That will win a championship.
The only thing that is going win them is an early exit in the playoffs.
LeBron, D.
Wade are a couple of all stars players and tough matchups every team.
They both play hard and get there points every night.
Chris Bosh is technically an all- star too but he's more of a finesse player, or as Kevin Durant recently called him a "fake tough guy.
" The Heat centers are not even middle of the road.
Ilgauskas was decent about ten years ago, but now because of age and foot problems, he is slow by even tortoise standards.
Dampier is like just a big body.
There is reason he's been with six teams.
The others Heat role players sit around watch LeBron, D.
Wade and hope for blow outs so they can see the court.
Not one of them is considered lock down defensive player that can cool off a player like Richardson who was blazing.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra.
He looks like the youngest coach NBA history and maybe a defensive wizard, but has he no imagination when it comes down to drawing up plays in close game.
Most of the time it is give the ball to LeBron and let him go one on one.
While the others including Wade, Bosh and others just stand around and watch.
No pick and rolls, no running Wade off a couple of screens, no back picks for LeBron, nothing.
One on one is easy to defense, lots of good teams play a little zone in last couple of minutes because it's never called.
The Heat are now a wretched 5-12 against teams with winning records.
So unless Alonzo Mourning decides to make a comeback and provide some size and toughness, I can't imagine the Heat getting past the 2nd round, which is not exactly what Pat Riley and ownership had in mind had in mind when they signed the big three.