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 Party poopers? Magic not finished despite Sixers' Game 3 celebrations
Posted: Friday May 14, 1999 07:32 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The temptation is there to keep celebrating into the night and weekend, basking in this rare moment of playoff glory. The Philadelphia 76ers haven't been this hot since Julius Erving soared through the air in the Spectrum. Philadelphia coach Larry Brown is aware of that problem: There is still work to be done. "We have to treat it like a one-game series," said Brown, trying to restore some humility after the Sixers defeated the Magic 97-85 Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-5 series. "We can't afford to slip up." Driven by memories of an eight-year honeymoon with the NBA draft lottery, the emotional Sixers have pushed the favored Magic to the brink of elimination. But the basketball revival that has gripped Philadelphia could go wrong in a hurry if the Sixers don't finish the job in Game 4 Saturday. "Those fans in Orlando will be packing it in if we get this Game 4," Orlando sixth man Darrell Armstrong said Friday. "They're going to go crazy just like the fans here in the City of Brotherly Love." The Magic committed 27 turnovers Thursday, 20 in the first half, and watched the game degenerate further when Penny Hardaway complained that coach Chuck Daly didn't get him enough shots. Allen Iverson, stifled by an onslaught of double teams and physical muggings ordered by Daly in Game 2, scored 33 points, had an NBA playoff record 10 steals and even led the cheers in the Sixers' first home playoff game since 1991. "I've seen a guy by the name of Michael Jordan, so I've seen 63-point games in the playoffs," said Daly, who was not offended by Iverson's gesture for him to call a timeout when the Sixers ran away with the game in the third quarter. "He is a great player, he's tough as nails. He gives no excuses. You've got to love him." Seven-foot-1 Matt Geiger scored only four points, but the fiery, intimidating center got into heated confrontations with 6-10 Isaac Austin, 6-1 Armstrong and 68-year-old Daly in the opening minutes of the game. The emotion spread quickly through the First Union Center, the conflagration of nearly a decade of waiting for deplorable basketball to end. And it did. "The crowd was about as good as any arena I've ever been in, and I've been in some good ones," Brown said. Brown, aptly characterized by one writer as "a chest-pass coach in a no-look world," was fine with the celebrating in the stands. He was furious, however, with some of the emotion displayed by his players on the court. Iverson led the way with various forms of street-ball posturing, including the unthinkable gesture for Daly to call a timeout when Philadelphia gained its biggest lead, 23 points, in the third quarter. Larry Hughes, a fearless 20-year-old rookie, made the same signal with his hands after one of his high-flying dunks. "It motivates me, because the series isn't over," Hardaway said of the fans' wild celebration. "They are acting like the Sixers just swept this and we're going back home. We have one more game and we have something to prove. I've got something to prove ..." Brown lectured his team on Friday about the importance of holding off the party until the job is done. "We came too far to let one big game at home give us the wrong impression," said Hughes, who nonetheless doesn't regret taunting the Magic. "We got a little down there, too, so we were just trying to return the favor a little." The Magic's season hinges on whether Hardaway can put aside his differences with Daly long enough to send the series back to Orlando for Game 5. Hardaway scored most of his 18 points during garbage time and complained afterward about getting only 12 shots -- two in the first half In Game 4, "I'm coming out firing no matter what," Hardaway said. "I don't care if I miss 25 or 30 shots. I just have to, because I'm going to get blamed for it either way. I'm in a no-win situation." Hardaway is still bothered by partially torn ligaments in his right wrist. Sixers reserve guard Aaron McKie did not practice Friday and was limping badly with a deep thigh bruise. He is listed as questionable for Game 4. Celebrating aside, both teams are still questionable for Game 5.
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