It’s all about four fucking free throws.

Number of free throws scored in an instant hot Parties hot, a decisive moment in the final that no one remembers…unless they lose. Many heroic counterattacks are attempted by drawing quick fouls and forcing the opponent into a personal defensive line. Try to gain time and subtract points, Let it be as God wishes This usually doesn’t work because usually teams trying to win will give the ball to their best shooter. It’s a matter of repetition and training, and it’s also a matter of cold blood.and Generally speaking, important free throws are scored. But when they fail… oh.

When a mistake or two is made, when the price paid is high enough, fans tend to remember the wound forever. What if more fail? ¿Take four as an example? And have the option to decide the final match? ¿Starting with the first Finals for a team that only has six years to live.? These mistakes then become a ghost that forever haunts those who failed…and those who saw the failure. In this case, a long shadow still stretches across central Florida, near those areas of Disney World that bear the name of the franchise in question: the Orlando Magic. He lost his first Finals appearance in 1995, with personnel mistakes also contributing to his missteps. what if Can not resist. The door to a parallel universe could create a completely different NBA. Just because you missed a free throw? Sometimes, it’s just that simple. or not.

On June 7, 1995, the Magic, which entered the NBA through the 1989 expansion, played their first Finals game. At home, Orlando Arena was packed with 16,010 fans who promised to be delighted when the team took a 20-point lead over the Houston Rockets. The Houston Rockets, the 1994 champions, looked old and tired. Tut Attacking the West, an unlikely route led him to the Council with what was defined as “magic”. future team. On game day, commentator Bob Costas stopped talking. They have 23-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, who averaged 29.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game this season (selected to the NBA Second Team). Anfernee Base (penny) Hardaway was also selected into the best five team with 23 points (20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists). And the dynamic young couple (“Shaq and Kobe before Shaq and Kobe“O’Neill himself later said) Horace Grant bulldozer power forwardHe was released by the Bulls after Michael Jordan, shooter Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson retired for the first time. Pick Draft pick in franchise history (11th overall, 1989).

The huge rockets of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler (especially Olajuwon) have found their pedal stroke (they always do), but That doesn’t seem to be enough. With less than a minute left in the game, the Magic led 110-107. Nick Anderson missed a shot, but Grant saved a key offensive rebound. After another long attack, Anderson (Anderson again) got another rebound on offense, and the Magic attacked from all four corners until the Rockets fouled Anderson with 10 and a half seconds left. The forward missed his first free throw. He turned around angrily and beat his chest. But the second time also failed. Both were so brief (and tense) that he caught his own rebound…and received another personal one. He said “now yes“…but again he missed two free throws., this time too long, with looks of disbelief and a hint of nervous laughter between them. With almost no time on the clock, there were four chances to put more than one possession between plays. 1-0 in the 1995 Finals, just one step away. But Anderson failed to score, leaving the score at +3, gobbling up current TV commentator Kenny Smith’s seventh triple (a Finals record at the time). In overtime, Hakeem Olajuwon’s magic penalty kick decided the game (of course), turning a 1-0 deficit into 0-1, 118-120. It wasn’t just the first point of the finals.

The Magic were a young, inexperienced team that survived on talent and optimism that seemed unstoppable seconds before those fateful free throws. They won 57 games (57-25) and eliminated the Celtics, Bulls, and Pacers to win the Eastern Conference title.Michael Jordan was left on his own After trying baseball and wrestling with his demons (gambling, the death of his father), he returned not long ago (on March 18, he issued his legendary statement: I’m back) with the number 45 and not its myth twenty three, which he wore during those months.that failure his magnanimity Later, Hakeem Olajuwon remembered his Rockets (champions in 1994 and 1995, two championships) Three hits Bulls) Yes, they beat Jordan Because he participated in the 1995 playoffs, but he did not enter the finals at all.

The comeback of seemingly immortal opponents, and those sting Anderson missed a free kick. chafarron It’s completely the inertia of magic. Brian Shaw, backup point guard and later coach (and very famous assistant coach), would say years later that the atmosphere in the pavilion had completely changed “Between the third and fourth free throws“:”We all know if we fail too…”. Scott was an outside shooting specialist before the arrival of outside shooting specialists in large numbers. He said, “momentum” from your team(“This is a fatal blow to our confidence.“). until Shaquille feels vulnerable: “After that game, I started to wonder if we were really as good as people said we were.“.

Across the way, the old champion sharpened his fangs. “They are demoralized“Hakeem said, while Smith, the man who made the 3-pointer to force overtime, saw the second ring very close after the victory:”We all know we’re not going back to Orlando and the finals will end in Houston”. This means they no longer have any other games than 0-4 or 1-4 (playing in a 2-3-2 format). The final score is 0-4 sweep Magic’s last try in Houston. In the fourth game, they led in the first half, but in the second half they led 66-50. The Rockets were the defending champions, and their coach, the unforgettable Rudy Tomjanovich, let out one of the most memorable chants in American sports history: “Never underestimate the heart of a champion“. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. His Rockets, Hakeem’s Rockets, are done One of the most incredible wins in NBA history.

What about Nick Anderson? Part of him remains among the frontline staff.. “After the game, he sat in the locker room, motionless, silent, and without taking off his clothes.After a while, our staff must have helped him take a bath.“Said Dennis Scott. Anderson was 28 years old by that time in the Finals. He continued to work in Orlando until 1999, and then played in Sacramento and Memphis (in the 2001-02 season, Pau Gasol entered the NBA for the first time). He retired at age 34, having averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds as a pro for 12 years. From 1992 to 1994, he averaged 20+6 points per game with the Magic.During his career he signed Free throw percentage was 66.7%…but only 60% after the 1995 Finals. In the 1994-95 season he exceeded 70% But he ended up shooting 30% in the Finals, a total of 3/10. From 70% to 0/4, it was the most important moment in his team’s history until then, and maybe until now. This cross remained with him forever.

Over the years, many people have speculated about that game and those finals The next few seasons were a turning point for the NBA.If the Magic win the championshipShaquille was supposed to leave the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996? Would the Lakers have been so aggressive in acquiring Kobra Bryant in the 1996 draft without the center? With O’Neal in the East (without the injury that destroyed Hardaway, of course), could they also reach second place? 3 Peat The Bulls?

but nick anderson Failurethe Rockets won that game and the next three games to defend their title. They rely on seed (Sixth in the Western Conference in the regular season) lowest in history, the first in this format to win all series without a home-court factor; also the first to defeat four opponents with more than 50 wins: Utah Jazz (60), Phoenix Suns (59 games), San Antonio Spurs (62 games) and Orlando Magic (57 games). The Jazz led 2-1 in the first round but couldn’t finish the game (2-3); the Suns won 3-1 and lost three straight games (3-4), two of which were on their own court . After entering the Finals in 1993, they lost to the Rockets in Game 7 for two consecutive years. The Spurs, in the final series in the Western Conference, were very happy because they had David Robinson and Dennis Rodman to stop Olajuwon…but Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points, 12.5 points per game in the tie rebounds, 5 assists and 4.2 blocks.

Team Rocket’s path, those Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Those who quickly assimilated into Clyde Drexler were a dream in Texas City, as the shooting guard (who arrived from the Trail Blazers at age 32) played with him during his heroic years at the University of Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon formed the much-lauded couple. , of Pi Srama Jama.Despite injuries and mistakes, the team managed just 47 wins (47-35). He then rowed through an unforgettable, incredible and unforgettable playoff run until he won his second championship ring, which would also be the team’s final championship ring.. In a series of sports miracles, the feat required Nick Anderson’s free throw series, four consecutive defeats that no fan has still forgotten, more than a quarter-century later in Central Florida, and next on to Disney World gold. door.

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