Free Darko On Toronto-Orlando

We're looking at every NBA Playoff series through the eyes of both Free Darko and Basket Bawful. Here's Free Darko's look at the Toronto Raptors-Orlando Magic series. Your author is Dr. LawyerIndianChief.

On the surface, Raptors versus Magic is limited in flash, intrigue and sex appeal, as it pits two teams that were founded less than 20 years ago against each other. Neither of the teams are rich in history, neither has ever won a championship nor put a player in the Hall of Fame (Olajuwon doesn't count!). Both teams will inevitably be stomped in the next round by the Detroit Pistons. Save for Dwight Howard's dunk contest appearance, none of these teams made headlines for anything significant this year (not even for ill business like somebody shooting a gun into the sky). Oh, and both teams started off the season looking much better but then kind of fizzled out in March and April, even in the flaccid Eastern Conference,

All Hail The Sword Of Rathgar!

How Do You Like 'Dem Apples, Riley?

My Christmas holiday summed up in five words or less: Clementines, Toblerones and beer. No joke. A million thanks to Alphonso Jackson, Nancy K. Kopp and, of course, Rick Chandler for filling in while I was gone. Your 'Body Shop' gift certificates are in the mail. Now, on to the NBA Closer!

• By The Moon And The Stars And The Sky. I swear, every Saturday "NBA Closer" I write includes a picture of Dwight Howard dunking, some ridiculous stat-line and a Magic victory. Seriously. Howard had 29 points and 21 rebounds and Turkoglu capped a 22-point night with a huge 3-pointer with 11 seconds left as the Magic survived a career high 48 from Wade to beat the Heat 121-114 in OT. The win marked Stan Van Gundy's first return to South Florida since his — monster finger quotes here — "abrupt resignation" two years ago.

Knicks Ready To 'Turn The Page' After Tragic Coach Mauling

Mustaches Amplify Sadness

TRAAAAAAAAAAAAADE!!!

The NBA Closer is written by me. I only kept this awkward italicized intro here so I could link to The Basketball Jones podcast. What? Those hits put food on the table, man. Enjoy!

• A Million Mohammed's Couldn't Stop Dwight Anyway. The Bobcats traded center Primoz Brezec and sexy forward Walter Herrmann to Detroit on Friday for Pistons' big man Nazr Mohammed. Unfortunately, the deal was pulled off a little too late. Minus the services of all three, Dwight Howard posted 33 points and 18 rebounds as the Magic beat the undermanned and ESPN-darlings-for-a-day Bobcats 103-87 to snap a three-game slide.

In Praise Of Dwight Howard

Every two weeks, the gents at Free Darko will be taking a look at the deranged ecosystem that is the National Basketball Association in their own indelible fashion. Here's this week's entry, from Bethlehem Shoals.

If you're surprised at the Orlando Magic's strong start, you haven't watched Dwight Howard this season. At various times in his young career, Howard's been overpowering, agile, immense, fluid, frightening and startling. Now, he's all that at once, and his NBA's buzz index has lept into the red. Henry Abbott's watching Howard every chance he gets — previously the kind of thing one said only about the Phoenix Suns — and Jack McCallum's giving him the royal treatment. I'm even returning to Eric Neel's 2006 claim that Howard, not Bron Bron, would hold the league's spine high over his head.

Warriors Vs. Road Warriors

The NBA Closer is now written by our own Canadian weekend maestro J.E. Skeets. When he's not busy scouring the box scores, he can be heard on The Basketball Jones daily podcast. Enjoy.

• Magic Carpet Ride. Leave it to the Orlando Magic to strut into the hostile Oracle Arena — with their pimp canes and iced out goblets — and snap the Warriors' six-game winning streak. Dwight Howard scored four of his 18 in extra time as the NBA's top roadies pulled off the entertaining 123-117 OT victory over Golden State. The Glass Tiger, Howard, nearly cost the Magic the game in regulation when he was assessed with a tech for smacking the padding on the basket after a missed dunk. Ridiculous call. He composed himself though and calmly hit two late free throws to extend the drama. 'Lil Jameer Nelson finished with 22 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds and Keith "Bilbo" Bogans chipped in 22 for the Blue, who are now 11-2 on the road and 16-4 overall under sexy Stan Van Gundy.

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