NBA Finals: Only magic can help Orlando now

By John McMullen, NBA Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Stan Van Gundy came up with an illusion that would have made Penn and Teller proud in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.

With the game deadlocked at 88 and just 0.6 seconds left in regulation, Orlando's coach pulled a rabbit out of his hat.

There wasn't a soul in Staples Center, not even Jack, Leo or Denzel, that thought Ron Jeremy's Doppelganger would call Courtney Lee's number with the game on the line, so Van Gundy rolled the dice and distorted the Lakers' collective senses.

Checking Lee, Kobe Bryant thought he had the final 0.6 seconds off, fell asleep and got caught on a back screen. Hedo Turkoglu lofted a tremendous inbounds pass over the incredibly long Lamar Odom to a wide-open Lee. All the rookie needed to do was deposit the layup and celebrate.

Instead, Lee's attempt was too strong.

The rest is history.

The Lakers dominated the extra frame to take a 2-0 series lead, and are halfway to their 15th NBA championship.

"It was a good play, it was a good pass," said Lee. "Coach did a good job of drawing up the right play. I caught it, got a good look at the backboard. I tried to get it up there as quick as possible, and the ball rolled off the rim."

Lakers big man Pau Gasol admitted a defensive lapse by the Lakers, but Lee was just too hurried.

Phil Jackson is a perfect 43-0 in the postseason when his team wins Game 1 of a set.

"I was obviously relieved when he missed that shot because it could have been a heartbreaker, and right now we could be in a totally different situation," said Gasol. "I was surprised he was kind of wide open. But I tried to contest it as good as I could, and then we gave ourselves a chance to win the ball game."

Van Gundy, despite out X-ing and O-ing his celebrated counterpart, Phil Jackson, sounded dejected and defeated.

"He missed it. I don't know what else to say," Van Gundy said. "Hedo made a great pass, and we missed it. I don't really know. I'm not trying to be a pain in the butt. I just don't know what else to say about it. It was a great pass, it was right there, and he missed it."

Now, the hill Orlando must climb to get back in this series is starting to loom larger than Mount Everest.

LA is a gaudy 38-1 in franchise history when they have a 2-0 series edge. Jackson, who is aiming for his record 10th NBA championship as an NBA coach, is a perfect 43-0 in the postseason when his team wins Game 1 of a set. Meanwhile, the Magic are now 0-for-6 in NBA Finals games.

And Van Gundy is at a loss.

"We played with no point guard, we played conventionally, we had Rashard (Lewis) at the three, we played Hedo at the one, two and three. We played Rashard at the three and four. We played big, we played with no point guard," Van Gundy said. "What do they say? Just keep throwing stuff at the wall and hope something sticks."

So, with the series shifting to central Florida, what's next?

Van Gundy may want to let his assistants take Game 3 off and bring in Penn and Teller or Criss Angel or David Copperfield.

Magic may be the only way Orlando can beat this Lakers team.