Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 12 June 2009 / 1 Comments

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has handed the NBA crown to the Lakers with his poor decision making, says Nick Shiambouros.

The Orlando Magic lost 99-91 in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers, who must have thought Christmas had come early on Thursday night.

The Magic went in to the locker room at half time leading 49-37 mainly to the outstanding play of Rafer Alston who scored 11 points. Orlando coach Stan Van Gandy decided to sit Alston out for almost the entire second half and watched his team's lead evaporate. His replacement, the talented but flawed Jameer Nelson, turned the ball over several times but that does not tell the whole story.

Hedu Turkoglu made a huge three point shot to give Orlando a three point lead with only four seconds left in regulation and it appeared that the Magic would tie the series. Instead of fouling right away Nelson stepped back from veteran Derek Fisher who nailed a three point shot to send the game in to overtime.

The Lakers took over in overtime and now have a firm grip on the NBA title leading the series 3-1.

The responsibility for this defeat rests solely at the hands of Van Gundy. I do not know what possessed him to replace the experienced Alston with Nelson who by his own admission was not playing at his best. The saying " if it ain't broke don't fix it" certainly comes to mind and this was a monumental blunder by this coach.

This could be the first time in NBA history that the better team end up losing the championship. If LA coach Phil Jackson was in charge of the Magic they would be leading this series not losing it.

Game Five takes place on Sunday at the Amway Arena and I think the Lakers will be crowned world champions. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit so Orlando really need a miracle.

Recommended wagers:

Sunday, back Los Angeles at [2.32] in the outright market.