Off-Day Open Thread: Looking Back at 2009

by erivera7 on Dec 26, 2009 6:04 PM EST in Off-Day Open Thread

With an eventful year coming to a close for the Orlando Magic, I wanted to ask the community what its favorite memory was. 2009 was filled with plenty of moments that Magic fans will never forget.

Here's a few notable ones:

The Magic setting an NBA record by making 23 threes during a game against the Sacramento Kings in the 2008-2009 season.
Orlando sending a franchise-most three players (Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson) to the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.
Howard setting an All-Star voting record by becoming the first NBA player - ever - to receive 3 million votes from fans (the exact number was 3,150,181 votes).
Howard being named the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year. The first time in team history a Magic player has won the award.
The Magic becoming the first squad to overcome a 3-2 series deficit against the Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven series. The C's were previously 32-0 when it held a 3-2 lead.
Orlando winning the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference championship and advancing to the 2009 NBA Finals for the first time since 1995.
Howard setting a Finals-record with 9 blocks in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as surpassing Shaquille O'Neal to become the franchise leader in blocks during a game against the Detroit Pistons in the 2009-2010 season.

So, again, which memory was your favorite?

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No doubt in my mind,

easily beating the Cavs in Eastern Finals last year. Making Lebron act like a little baby and not shaking hands. O that was so great, no one giving us credit and no one thinking we were going to the Finals. Hopefully once again we can overcome all naysayers and make it there again. People are putting us 4th in the East right now. OK whatever you say, lets do it again Magic! Long live the BLUUUUUUUUE!

by blumad on Dec 26, 2009 7:09 PM EST reply actions

Lots of great Magic moments

…as E pointed out several of them, but I agree with the previous commenter that beating Cleveland in Game 6 on May 30th to advance to the NBA Finals was the highlight of the year, especially after almost every expert (with the exception of Charles Barkley, who picked the Magic) was picking Cleveland to beat Orlando and advance to the Finals.

"Orlando Magic... 2009 Eastern Conference Champions"

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 26, 2009 7:22 PM EST reply actions

Beating the Cavs but I knew they were capable of that. What goes unnoticed more is that Dwight blocked 9 shots in a Finals game. Repeat, 9 and that’s a Finals record.

by derekk on Dec 26, 2009 7:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Beating the Cavs was great

but i feel coming back and beating boston in game 7 at their home court after being dwn 3-2 and winning by a blow out was a great moment

by Vanek on Dec 26, 2009 8:33 PM EST reply actions

+1

by TragicMatt on Dec 27, 2009 6:11 AM EST up reply actions

It was nice to see Hedo have the Game Of His Life in a Magic uniform.

25 points, 5 boards, 12 assists, 1 block, and just 3 turnovers on 91.7% eFGs (93.8% TS) in a Game 7, on the road, originally down 3-2, in a contract year, 3 months after the birth of his first child.

Yup.

Orlando Pinstriped Post: Blogging the Orlando Magic with Energy and Enthusiasm Since 2007 | Third Quarter Collapse Is Now Orlando Pinstriped Post

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 27, 2009 7:06 AM EST up reply actions

I'm convinced if Hedo doesn't hit that 3 in the sixers series........we don't advance

Never trust a fart

by AB's triple double on Dec 27, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

I'm convinced, as well.

I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.

"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat

by erivera7 on Dec 27, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

Rafers pimp slap to house followed by Dads elbow to Mo’s face and an encore of lebron crying his way to the Amway visitor lockeroom.

I know what Bo dont know.

by D-RAK on Dec 26, 2009 9:00 PM EST reply actions

Lol. I’m pretty sure Rafer said something like he wouldn’t let Eddie get like that on the Magic before the series started, then sure enough the pimp slap occurs haha

by derekk on Dec 26, 2009 9:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'd have to go with getting to the Finals. The whole series with Cleveland was fun, but the waning moments of Game 6, when it became clear that This Is Actually Happening....

Hard to top.

Orlando Pinstriped Post: Blogging the Orlando Magic with Energy and Enthusiasm Since 2007 | Third Quarter Collapse Is Now Orlando Pinstriped Post

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 27, 2009 7:07 AM EST reply actions

Losing and not liking it

All these moments were great, but the one that meant the most to me as a fan, was when Dwight and Jameer stayed on the court after losing the championship, to watch LA celebrate in their house. Vowing to not let it happen again.

by MagicPhan on Dec 27, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions

What about the alley oop inbound pass for the win over the Spurs????

Every time i see that replay…it gives me goosebumps!!!

by Bonafidebrother on Dec 27, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions

That wasn't in 2009.

by slickw143 on Dec 27, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

That didn't happen in 2009, though it was a dope moment.

I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.

"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat

by erivera7 on Dec 27, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Oh...my bad....

Got excited…LOL!

by Bonafidebrother on Dec 28, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

It's cool.

I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.

"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat

by erivera7 on Dec 28, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

As great as it was going to the Finals...

My favorite moment was beating the Celtics on their home floor when we were written off after the 3-2 deficit. As was already said, I felt very good about the Magic’s chances of beating the Cavs, despite most of the “experts” saying they had no chance. Apparently that won’t matter since some people are already booking Boston’s ticket to the Finals despite the fact we beat them on their home floor too. Looking forward to doing the same thing this year in the playoffs.

by slickw143 on Dec 27, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions

I'll go with the ECF win over Cleveland.

Because it was a dominant performance by Orlando, and because it spared me having to see those insufferable puppets for a while.

Loco por volver a verte, estoy aqui sentado y solito.
Mi corazon ya no responde, porque ya no estoy contigo.

by Diosnomeama on Dec 27, 2009 1:10 PM EST reply actions

This:

by RussL on Dec 27, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions

i fail at linking:

ecf game 6

by RussL on Dec 27, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

How about...

…that play where Darrell stole the inbound, ran down the court with the clock running out, and made the game-winning layup with…

…oh. 2009.

It’s hard to say, because obviously we had two of the best/most exciting playoff series in the team’s history. And the Celtics series was closer, but in the end, I have to go with the Cavs series, because it was the conference final, and because… well, we saw one of the most dominant playoff performances in history from LeBron, and the Magic basically said, “all right, that’s nice, now we’re going to win anyway.”

It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...

by 3.3seconds on Dec 28, 2009 2:57 AM EST reply actions