CASPER
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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The unsung Orlando Magic have defied criticism of their unorthodox playing style, and are determined to prove that their NBA Finals challenge against the favored Los Angeles Lakers is anything but a long-shot.
Hoisting three-pointers with an "outside-in" offensive arsenal, the Magic have flouted convention and floored opponents to set up a genuine shot at their first NBA title.
"We've heard all the criticism of the way we play," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters on Wednesday prior to his team's final tune-up before Game One on Thursday.
"I don't think you can sit down and say 'this is the style that wins in the NBA' and try to replicate that."
"We're sitting here now with the way we play -- so I like the way we play."
Written off as postseason pretenders due to their penchant for perimeter shooting, Orlando nonetheless made 62 three-pointers in their 4-2 series win over Cleveland for the Eastern Conference championship, tying an NBA postseason record for a six-game series.
Spacing the floor with shooters to compliment Dwight Howard in the middle, the Magic's love affair with the jump shot even led to the dominant center complaining to his coach that he was not getting enough ball from team mates during the playoffs.
"We have a style that fits our talent," Van Gundy said. "I look at our team and I'm confident that the way we play and the shots we create is best for our team."
UNIQUE CAST
In Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando has two atypical 6-foot-10 players who would rather face-up than play in the post. Lewis has created matchup issues for players his size while Turkoglu undertakes some of the team's ball-handling responsibilities.
"People talk about me being a matchup nightmare in the last round (against Cleveland), but Hedo is one of those guys that is just tough to guard," Lewis said. "Me and him feel like we switch off."
Van Gundy may yet spring another surprise by playing point guard Jameer Nelson, who has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury in February.
It would be "a tough decision either way," the coach said of selecting All-Star Nelson, who averaged 27.5 points in Orlando's two regular season victories over the Lakers.
For the Magic, whose first and only other NBA Finals resulted in a 4-0 drubbing by the Houston Rockets in 1995, underdog status sits easy, and comes despite their impressive Eastern campaign that included a second-round defeat of NBA champions Boston.
"We've always been overlooked," Howard said. "We don't want to be the team that everyone picks, because sometimes when everyone picks you, you forget what got you there."
Hoisting three-pointers with an "outside-in" offensive arsenal, the Magic have flouted convention and floored opponents to set up a genuine shot at their first NBA title.
"We've heard all the criticism of the way we play," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters on Wednesday prior to his team's final tune-up before Game One on Thursday.
"I don't think you can sit down and say 'this is the style that wins in the NBA' and try to replicate that."
"We're sitting here now with the way we play -- so I like the way we play."
Written off as postseason pretenders due to their penchant for perimeter shooting, Orlando nonetheless made 62 three-pointers in their 4-2 series win over Cleveland for the Eastern Conference championship, tying an NBA postseason record for a six-game series.
Spacing the floor with shooters to compliment Dwight Howard in the middle, the Magic's love affair with the jump shot even led to the dominant center complaining to his coach that he was not getting enough ball from team mates during the playoffs.
"We have a style that fits our talent," Van Gundy said. "I look at our team and I'm confident that the way we play and the shots we create is best for our team."
UNIQUE CAST
In Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando has two atypical 6-foot-10 players who would rather face-up than play in the post. Lewis has created matchup issues for players his size while Turkoglu undertakes some of the team's ball-handling responsibilities.
"People talk about me being a matchup nightmare in the last round (against Cleveland), but Hedo is one of those guys that is just tough to guard," Lewis said. "Me and him feel like we switch off."
Van Gundy may yet spring another surprise by playing point guard Jameer Nelson, who has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury in February.
It would be "a tough decision either way," the coach said of selecting All-Star Nelson, who averaged 27.5 points in Orlando's two regular season victories over the Lakers.
For the Magic, whose first and only other NBA Finals resulted in a 4-0 drubbing by the Houston Rockets in 1995, underdog status sits easy, and comes despite their impressive Eastern campaign that included a second-round defeat of NBA champions Boston.
"We've always been overlooked," Howard said. "We don't want to be the team that everyone picks, because sometimes when everyone picks you, you forget what got you there."
