NBA Finals go East...

Orlando, FL

The NBA Finals will arrive in Orlando, Fl tonight for game three. The LA Lakers lead the series 2-0, putting the home team in a difficult spot. In 222 tries, only 14 teams have rallied to win the championship after trailing 0-2. The Orlando Magic have never won an NBA title with their only previous trip to the Finals being a 1995  loss to the Houston Rockets in four games.  That team featured a top notch duo in Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and Shaquille O'neal. This years team will need a little (or a lot) of Magic to come back and defeat the Phil Jackson lead Lakers if it doesn't want to share a similar fate. Some good news for Dwight Howard and his crew, the Lakers post a losing record in Finals Game 3's (2-3) after leading the series 2-0. 

The Magic will have a frenzied crowd awaiting the return of their beloved team to Amway Arena tonight. Magic is in the air everywhere in Orlando, sights of Magic decals and flags have even been seen on toll-booths on the local expressways. A team that narrowly missed tying the series at 1-1, should play with a ton of confidence on their home floor. Dwight Howard who had 17 in the Game 2 loss will surely look to attack the glass with plenty of fervor to try and ignite his home crowd. Howard lead the NBA in dunks for the second straight season and has a great ability of opening up shooting lanes for his teammates. Rashard Lewis 34 points, and Hedo Turkoglu 22, had big nights offensively in Game 2 and look to explode again at home. Courtney Lee who missed the layup heard around the world is confident his team will perform well in Game three. His last second shot that could have won the game caromed just off the rim and out, many Magic players and fans wondered if Lakers F Pau Gasol committed a goaltend on the play. "I caught it and just tried to make a play, " Lee said. "We didn't lost the game just because I missed the layup. We could have won the game."