this was a dope article to read
Grantland Piece on the 90's Orlando Magic
- Thread starter nomoreneveragain
- Start date
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
this is why Del Harris aint shyt and never won.
Del Harris was such a fool. He tried to humiliate Kobe in front of his teammates against the Jazz
Whitty Hutton
these posters are TRASH
You can't say that though. Penny described the exact moment his knee got injured, so it was a specific play that started the downfall. It's the old thought how going back in time and stepping on a bug could alter the whole future. Had Shaq been there, whose to say that at that exact moment Penny would have been in the same spot going for that same rebound with Joe Dumars in the same spot to hit him in the knee?
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Dirty D
Vikes & Raptors 4 Life
This team was really special. I didn't think Houston had a chance against them in the '95 Finals. If Nick Anderson makes one of those 4 free throws I still think they're the champs that year. The Rockets were in their heads after that first game. Not so much Shaq and Penny, but the other guys.
The '96 Bulls took their souls in those playoffs, that part was skimmed over in this. I'm sure Shaq going to L.A. was partially motivated by avoiding the Bulls. He probably figured if I'm going to have to deal with Jordan at least let it be in the Finals. It's a shame they never got there in the same year.
The first NBA game I ever attended in person was when this Orlando team visited Toronto in our expansion season and won by 40.
The '96 Bulls took their souls in those playoffs, that part was skimmed over in this. I'm sure Shaq going to L.A. was partially motivated by avoiding the Bulls. He probably figured if I'm going to have to deal with Jordan at least let it be in the Finals. It's a shame they never got there in the same year.
The first NBA game I ever attended in person was when this Orlando team visited Toronto in our expansion season and won by 40.
Yeah from what I remember they were up huge in that game 1 too, like > 20 pt lead. If they had just hung on to win that game I think they win the whole damn thing, you could see the team collapse mentally. Interesting that they thought that once they beat the Bulls they were gonna just walk through the Rockets. Like Rudy T said you can't underestimate the heart of a champion
threattonature
Veteran
That's one of the biggest what ifs to me in sports. If Nick Anderson just hits one of those free throws in that game would that have lead to them winning the title. If so would that have kept Shaq in Orlando. I would've loved to see those Magic stay together to battle it out with the Bulls and if the Bulls would've still won the three straight titles.
so none of you read Shaq Uncut?
it was HIS book basically telling the world how much of a bytch he was
it was HIS book basically telling the world how much of a bytch he was
It's funny reading this stuff as an adult and getting to hear more about the players' real personality. It strips a lot of the nostalgia and mythology surrounding the players away. Being born and raised in Orlando, I wanted to be Penny growing up 
. I'm not saying I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be him on some talented Mr. Ripley shyt. Everybody loved Penny. I can see how the adoration for his game led people to cover his cantankerous and moody ways up. I also can see how the Penny love affair bothered Shaq too.
A few random musings:
* I mainly remember Anthony Bowie for constructing a triple double against the Pistons.
* What somebody said about how it seemed like the Rockets never missed is spot the fukk on. I hated Sam Cassell and Kenny Smith for a long time. Those fukkers made seemingly everything.
* I think we would've beaten the Rockets too if we'd won the first game. Nick Anderson devastated everyone. I was in 5th grade and already taking L's.
* I wish DeVos would sell the team. I've never really felt like he knew what he was doing. From all reports, he's a great man, but I feel like owning the team is a conversation piece or something for him. It's something to do in his leisure. Dude let John Weisbrod (a hockey guy) become GM. Re-hired Brian Hill and shyt like that. I'm starting to lose faith in Hennigan too.
* I don't think anyone really thought Shaq would leave. When he did, the city was crushed. People walked around in a fog like zombies. What they said about a state of mourning occurring was no lie. It was like realizing you're in a post-apocalyptic society and things are never going to be the way they were again. I still hate the Lakers to this day.
* It's good to see Brooks Thompson is still alive.
. I'm not saying I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be him on some talented Mr. Ripley shyt. Everybody loved Penny. I can see how the adoration for his game led people to cover his cantankerous and moody ways up. I also can see how the Penny love affair bothered Shaq too.A few random musings:
* I mainly remember Anthony Bowie for constructing a triple double against the Pistons.
* What somebody said about how it seemed like the Rockets never missed is spot the fukk on. I hated Sam Cassell and Kenny Smith for a long time. Those fukkers made seemingly everything.
* I think we would've beaten the Rockets too if we'd won the first game. Nick Anderson devastated everyone. I was in 5th grade and already taking L's.
* I wish DeVos would sell the team. I've never really felt like he knew what he was doing. From all reports, he's a great man, but I feel like owning the team is a conversation piece or something for him. It's something to do in his leisure. Dude let John Weisbrod (a hockey guy) become GM. Re-hired Brian Hill and shyt like that. I'm starting to lose faith in Hennigan too.
* I don't think anyone really thought Shaq would leave. When he did, the city was crushed. People walked around in a fog like zombies. What they said about a state of mourning occurring was no lie. It was like realizing you're in a post-apocalyptic society and things are never going to be the way they were again. I still hate the Lakers to this day.
* It's good to see Brooks Thompson is still alive.
luvaznpoon
All Star
This was my favorite team in all of sports growing up, and I enjoyed the article. Really a good read. It is interesting though how those guys exhibited a lot of the traits that folks love to try and slander current day players with, but I guess because it was ‘back in the day' they get a nostalgia pass for it. Also, as much as I loved watching Shaq do his thing, articles like this really exposed some of his failings. As great as he was, dude could have won twice as many rings and had even more success if he could have just checked his ego.
Jaylen Tatum
Veteran
Thompson is the men's basketball team of the University of Texas at San Antonio.I
* It's good to see Brooks Thompson is still alive.
I miss that squad...
