Magic x Rockets 1995 Finals Game 1

exquisite hakeem elijah who has delivered one of the greatest runs of sustained excellence in playoff history respect is also elusive when you are deemed too young the orlando magic were labeled two immature two inexperienced to contend for a title this year it's too soon they were told at the beginning of the season i looked at the projected starting five horace nick d scott penny myself and i said we can do it and so far they have done it orlando has simply turned the clock ahead their party starts now tonight the reigning champs against the precocious challengers the nba finals next [Applause] this is the nba on nbc the 1995 nba finals tonight game one between the houston rockets and the orlando magic the o arena in orlando already roaring this year the magic have gone 46-4 in this building counting the playoffs and tonight they open the nba finals against the defending champion houston rockets who have shown repeatedly that they can win anywhere under any conditions hi everybody i'm bob costas welcome to the nba finals the story here is this the orlando magic is universally regarded as the nba's team of the future there are almost certainly championships ahead for shaquille o'neal anthony hardaway and company the question is can the rockets make them wait a little longer maybe not because with each passing game the magics seem more resourceful more sure of themselves their youth no longer such an obstacle speaking of obstacles the rockets just ran the nba's version of the steeplechase no team has ever been seated as low as sixth and won the title but that's where the rockets began this postseason and without home court advantage in any series they have already beaten the teams with the three best records in the league if the rockets should win it all much credit will go to the bold trade which brought them clyde drexler from portland giving the veteran guard his third shot at the nba finals but most of the credit will go to akeem elijahuan whose stunning run of playoff brilliance has elevated him beyond all-star or even mvp status and into the ranks of the very greatest who have ever played the game year 23-year-old shaquille o'neal seems destined someday perhaps someday soon to be placed in that same company but for now the 32 year old elijahuan is the nba's best player his team its defending champion starting tonight o'neil and the magic test themselves against those standards we'll step aside now and when we come back marv albert matt gucas and bill walton join you as our coverage of the nba finals continues outside of disney it is the biggest event to ever hit orlando the nba finals have come to central florida with the orlando magic getting ready to go against the defending champion houston rockets and this the scene outside the rockets locker room just moments ago aggressive let's keep on trolling you know giving it up right now all night long yo they don't think they respect us either though yeah what's up let's show the world we welcome you to the orlando arena hi everybody i'm marv albert along with matt dukers and we are delighted to be joined by hall of famer bill walton a man who can certainly relate to the much anticipated marquee matchup of the standard position between shaquille o'neal and akeem elijah phil how do you break it down marv the history of the game that comes to a head in this series we're on the collision force between the game's two most dominant big man one trying to maintain the status quo and the other one trying to force the changing of the guard akimolajuwan the game's best player the defending champion plays with an incredible sense of poise and pride and shaquille o'neal the toughest guy in the lord and the lead to guard their numbers in the playoffs this year have just been sensational but when all is said and done there will be a clear-cut winner between one of these two guys and that man will write the next chapter in the history of basketball and that although much of the attention has focused on the matchup at center it may well be the subplot to this series could determine the outcome mark no question they are the central figures but i think the series will turn on the play of people like nick anderson plays like this hustle and click on michael jordan which stole the first game from chicago the blanket job on reggie miller in game seven keeping him from being a factor and nick's clashing and driving gives the magic offense some added puns and so far nick has started michael jordan and reggie miller in the playoffs and now it's on to clyde drexler a man who is very hungry looking for his first nba championship all right so coming up it's game one of this best of seven between the rockets and the magic when we come back we'll have the introduction of the starting lineups the nba on nbc is brought to you by red dog beer bold yet smooth unusually easy to drink you are your own dog by ford and your ford dealer have you driven a ford lately and by warner brothers fat man forever starting friday june 16th at a theater near you now look at downtown orlando beautiful 95 degree day that was earlier this afternoon during the course of this playoff run the houston rockets have an extraordinary road ball club five straight wins on the road they have won seven of ten overall was set for the introduction of the starting lineups let's join with paul porter of the public address good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the beautiful orlando arena and tonight's game one of the 1995 nba finals featuring the western conference champion houston rockets and your eastern conference champion orlando ladies and gentlemen introducing the starting lineup for the western conference champion houston rockets and one guard six seven from houston number 22 clyde drexler the other guard 6-3 from north carolina number 30 kenny smith at center seven foot from houston number 34 akeem alijah and one forward at 6'5 from american international number 17 mario ellie and the other forward 610 from alabama number 25 robert horry the head coach of the rockets is rudy [Applause] tamjanovic [Applause] you're ready for this now ladies and gentlemen stand and cheer your easter conference champion boris [Applause] [Music] number one [Applause] from lsu number 32 shakib [Music] [Music] is [Music] for our sideline coverage tonight we have a combination of ahmad rashad and hannah storm let's start with sadie here's the modbus all right thanks mark horace grant certainly can take a lot of credit for getting this team playing the way they are now he can also take a lot of credit on last sunday when they were playing against indiana he was the guy going up and down the bench cheering his teammates on trying to get him into this final well today in that same role he showed up in the locker room with all three of his championship rings from chicago to show his teammates that if they do it right this is what's in store for him hannah thanks ahmad well the rockets tell me they're rejuvenated from their five-day layoff after those grueling western conference playoff series however they had a big injury concern coming into this one and that was a key melange one who cruised the top of his left hand in practice on monday and has just told me that the swelling and the pain have gone down he's not concerned about it in the game particularly because it's his non-shooting hand rudy thompsonovich is emphasized for his team defensive intensity he says don't let these guys get comfortable particularly on their home floor mark ladies and gentlemen thank you hannah and we are set for game one of the nba finals both teams with similar styles both teams like to launch the three anywhere from 20 to 25 times on average bill i i think a big factor in this whole series is who gets out and gets the easy baskets both teams like to go with it houston has to get the ball to accumulate one virtually every time down for seven straight games then they've got to force orlando to play set off in and make them work at that time and time again and they've got to get in penny hardaway's face and not let him advance the ball easily elijah and o'neill set for the opening tip the official joe crawford with the ball and we're underway the rockets control kenny smith picked up by penny hardaway robert orry setting the pick clyde drexler it will be covered by nick anderson akeem lost him and orlando to the offense patient defense by o'neal and shaquille gets possession for penny hardaway well the rockets one of the poorest offensive rebounding teams in the league there they showed they're not a very good defensive rebounding team at times maybe because they're very small out there they don't have another big forward to go along with elijah here's kenny smith hitting the three well we saw the rockets taking advantage of the double team with a quick release from elijahuan to smith and usually when penny gets scored on he wants to go down and post up the man that just scored on him not this time the magic pull for raucous that's a move right there where you go one way come back with the jump hook that'll work well for akeem against shaq get the big guy moving and come back the other way robert horry coming off the outstanding series against san antonio taking the lead from fletchler but it was slightly off anderson her heart away posting up [Applause] now he's up at the top his man will go down and double team hardaway but when you're in that kind of defensive rotation that's when you're vulnerable on the offensive boards shaq cleaned up nicely shaq showing his strength early and houston looks rusty from the long lay off i think the rest is going to hurt them hard away beating o'neal and a foulless claw at first hardaway for the notion to take the three drexler trying to help out call for the foul i think a big difference is the lighting in this building western conference buildings are a lot brighter than this well just hang around a little bit in about 15 minutes it'll all be back on that's from the introductions it takes a while i saw bill chatting with the lighting director prior to the start of the telecast and it had to be puzzled frankly not but turn it up make it bright make it loud and rebounded by stop two and a half gone by and the magic got 6-3 brent with the head fake and the foul well the magic don't normally run a lot of plays for horace grant but we've seen two opportunity situations in transition where harsh just goes down takes position robert rory is six foot ten same as harris grant but harris grant a much stronger player inside robert ari called for the foul his first and horace grant man signed as a free agent after seven years with the chicago bulls seeking his fourth championship ring [Applause] orlando nine houston three ariel [Applause] shot to his arsenal he's pump faking a lot something he did early on in the games where david robinson was successful later on when he abandoned the fakers but straight to it he killed david robertson [Applause] hardaway rejected by ori good play by horry have you ever seen a man at the center position with better footwork than a team no no i have not he has the footwork of a guard he does study the guards moves i think he and michael jordan have the best footwork in the entire nba that's an offensive foul and that's the call from joe crawford so shaquille picks up this first shaq loves to set this ferocious pace underneath it just rolls over and bruises akeem sternum right there that's the second time akeem has given that kind of position to shaq if he lets him keep getting it he'll get killed but he got a break there as shaq was a little bit overactive elijah working his way down low the magic nine the rockets seven a break jack just ran over the guy yeah but he got the foul on jagged the rockets don't have the manpower to be fouling shaq in fact the two regular season games played jack only shot a total of seven free throws anderson able to hit the three and the foul against the rockets [Applause] excuse me shaq puts so much pressure on the defense especially when it's a scramble situation he's so big and so strong and works so relentlessly for that deep position [Applause] backing his way on smith that's a very difficult matchup for kenny smith for any point guard in the nba hard away with the complete arsenal of weapons hit from the outside the post-up game and a different type of point guard than houston is used to play [Applause] on this side out of bounds play they like to go to penny against the smaller points it looked like the rockets were not ready for it not ready to come to double actually akeem thought about coming but no way does he want to leave shaquille for a cut to the hole ellie was over because scott was helping out ella with the save [Applause] orlando's going to double team akeem every time possible in the low post dennis scott who is on fire right throughout the indiana series extends to a 14-7 magic league so far the magic defense very aggressive taking the rockets out of any kind of rhythm and they look rattled by it magic one of the best defensive teams in all of basketball [Applause] ellie with anderson back ellie going all the way but could not put it down anderson for hard away here's hardaway [Applause] akeem elijah want a terrific passer finds mariowelli who can't convert the layup and then comes right back on a transition play and misses a dung you gotta play perfect if you're gonna win the nba championship rudy tom zanovich just irate says oh goodness gracious takes alive i gotta have a timeout madison what do you say something like that i'm not really sure but what made it even worse for the houston rockets and on the first miss it turns into a three-pointer for dennis scott on the next one a fast break dunk for penny hardaway so it's almost like a nine-point play five for the magic and the four that houston did not get and that's the spread in this ball game nine 7-0 run by orlando houston has missed its last four shots [Applause] yes drexler coming up short anderson able to handle houston's not attacking they're standing back they're firing up in the perimeter dump it inside you got to get jack back on his heels [Music] that's possible and penny hardaway is having his way in the early going against kenny smith and the rocketstress had an awful time guarding screen roll in games three and four of the san antonio series with vinnie del negro and we saw why on that particular play houston looks very rusty this is not the team that dominated the western conference playoffs nice orlando 20 houston just a step quicker in every area the touch pass by hard away and the rockets are very slow in their rotation elijah drawing the foul so hakeem [Music] of staying with o'neal not letting him get a roll to the basket an excellent defender but he didn't show it there by helping his teammates but somebody from the weak side has to help out hardaway saw it all the way newey had grant wide open inside akeem at the line off the foul by shaq [Applause] appears to lose his balance maybe a double dribble there an easy foul call there but shaq has to sit down the defense for the pick and roll for houston it's just not good and they played against stockton kj and avery johnson throughout the western conference so they should be ready their plan looks confused and shaquille o'neal setting it out after picking up a second jeff turner who had some big moments that was an intent advance from anderson well yes that that worked for brian shaw in the indiana series did not work right here jeff turner played well against the pacers he is in there replacing shaquille o'neal elijah tries to foul yes and it counts the magic had plans of using harass grant on a team from time to time and especially when shaq would get into foul trouble but they don't want him to be the primary defender as he has to be right now olajuwon just has too many weapons for hearthstone how late was the double team though he took he must have taken three dribbles there and nobody came especially with with horace grant you've got a double team every time i came with eight points he said three of four from the field the rest of the rockets one for nine and that's the story here at the start grant and kenny smith corrals the rebound horace grant will try to get around in front and again elijah wow keeping the rockets alive in this first quarter well he's uncanny with so much of his offense but bill when he gets the ball almost below the backboard and still able to make that jump shot i have never been able to figure out how he can make that well bill russell's here he's our halftime guest maybe he'll have some kind of clue that's the ana foul on ellie when hakeem is on the baseline he loves to hitch to the middle and then turn to that baseline just [Applause] [Music] bring them all on just face you all up and elijah want to score houston's last 10 points the nba right throughout the season well aware that uh this team is the worst free-throw shooting club in the league at 67 percent that will [Applause] a team i would fit in quite well on [Music] what was your lifetime oh embarrassingly low [Applause] well we see why the rockets are not a good offensive rebounding team four people spread out around the perimeter nobody going to the glass dangerously close to snatching that off the rim for a goaltend good transition defense however by the magic normally the rockets would get out and run with that elijah watch of the fade away three and a half remaining in this opening quarter hardaway with the pull out yes akeem's on a pace to take about 50 shots in this game but penny hardaway's the one who's making all of his shots with a 6-7 point guard with that butterfly type ability to float over the court and change directions and pull up and hit the jumpers i don't know how you guard him either for a while but kenny smith did a good job by containing him and keeping him from driving to the basket but then he committed the sin of fouling the jump shooter he did all he could do just let him take the shot challenge eddie smith sitting down sam cassell who has been a terrific big game player for the rockets has come on for kenny smith ellie off the head fake fires one and hits would you guys explain that shot well maybe he's just a tough shot maker and can't make those layups when you're playing as poorly as ellie started off in the offensive end might as well throw something wild up see if you're really hot just murdered and back comes ellie fast break for the rockets cassell challenging carter and it's an offensive foul orlando calling for time they lead by 10 with just under three minutes to go in the first mario ellie had some problems with very makable layups here he had to do the little double clutch and release from his knee and i think he called glass bill i don't know if you heard him his foot was outside the foul line when he took off and then jeff turner tried to take charges i don't know he's kind of tall to be taking charges if you're that big [Applause] [Music] [Applause] start in his first quarter four of six for the field ten points have the sensational series against the san antonio spurs we've talked about that with houston coach rudy tomkatovich asked for his thoughts on hakeem's play against the spurs if i had to say this one word it's legendary performance i think people will be talking about that performance in the san antonio series for for many many years and the reason being because we're up against a great team and san antonio is just a fantastic team and david robinson an mvp a great defensive player a very competitive very intelligent player and for akeem to have had a series like he did it's just like i said legendary i don't think anyone has ever played as well as hakeem elijahuan did in this past six week playoff series and bill the the bucket by nick anderson extending to the 27-15 orlando league chucky brown who just came in not able to hit and rebounded by horace grant horace grant is killing him he's got seven points seven rebounds to start the game and nobody's put a body on him yet and the rockets look like they're hearing footsteps like shaquille is out there or something ready to block his shot they are really squeezing off those layouts shot clock at five trying to brush this by glenn and handled by brown rockets with elijahuan up front along with chucky brown and clyde brextwood mario ellie sam cassell brown and a whistle before the shot attempt foul called against orlando that's number two on hardaway first two stars for orlando with two fouls the 12-point deficit that can be made up but what is how rusty they look they haven't played since last thursday night they wrapped it up in game six they were playing every other day sharp is razors now flat elijah off a triple [Applause] ryan shaw handling just came on for penny hardaway ryan sure relocating the three-point punch in the series against indiana anderson got tied up finding turner yes the magic doubling the score they're up 30 15. well without hardaway and o'neill in there nick anderson becomes the go-to guy in post-op situations against a very tough and taller defender and drexler nick got shut off but found the open man nice penetration by cassell the basket and the foul the foul but the beauty of the magic is that guys like nick anderson when shaq and penny go to the bench they don't miss a beat because they got other guys like nick anderson like dennis scott they can just flat out play great offense and run everything through them sam cassell out of florida state in the second nba season entered the nba without much mccain but made his mark as a big game player and the the basket bike is so waved off it's a few shot situations for sam and he's able to take advantage marv you weren't a big florida state or dunbar high school fan absolutely not much acclaim for [Music] and the offensive foul offensive what i'm saying a lot of clubs had a shot oh that's sam casella passed them by but has certainly proved his worth come playoff time a look at the uh the offensive foul committed by jeff turner 35 seconds to go in this first quarter here is gracel yes a free for cassell it hasn't been amazing so many guys like caselles slipped way down latrell's freewell another example ac green another patrick thornton rockets 19 [Music] off balance and last touch by houston another one nick van exel that's what makes scouting so hard bill the scouts go out there and look at their college games and a lot of times you don't see these players at chicago at phoenix and you kind of lose track of them and that's how these people get lost in the draft do those steps do they get paid on a guaranteed basis or on an incentive basis how well the guy dies are you suggesting a new pay system a structure i'll give it all to shaq and it and that's it for the first quarter fast start by the eastern conference champion orlando magic hakeem four of seven for ten points shaquille one of two for only two points and early foul for picking up the two and taking a seat houston only seven of 21 shooting in the first quarter the magic by 11 will be back in orlando in a moment you're watching the 1995 nba finals on [Music] nbc defending u.s open champion ernie ells on hand here at the arena which reminds us of sunday at 4 p.m eastern 2 on the west coast nbc sports will present a centennial of champions the celebration of the usga in a preview of the 95th u.s open that's sunday right here on nbc let's check in with our sideline reporters of opera shot and hannah storm first come on all right brian telling his team they did a great job on the double team for the keem making him throw the ball out every time he got down then on the other end of it they thought that they were doing a great job against the double team getting great spot up shots wants him to continue to do the same hannah well i'm ready tom danovich not angry not panicking simply told his team hey we got that out of our system we missed some easy shots we can fight our way back into this one that's what the rockets tend to do come together when they're down particularly on the road mark all right hannah anthony bowie a one-time member of the houston rockets opening up the second quarter with the jump shot who played very well against the pacers late in the series and a pretty drive off glass by clyde trexler that's his first field goal the magic 32 the rockets 21. shaquille o'neal is back on the floor back to the matchup for the keem olajuwon that's what akeem has to do defense that's the only thing i think you can do against shag is make him take that turnaround jumper he doesn't get fouled on it for much and he doesn't get second chance points off it let's check helped him out there back i think it's a little gun shy right now about going inside with those two personal fouls [Applause] and shaquille able to rip it away from clyde houston did not take advantage when shaq was out the five minutes in the five and a half minutes he was out houston only outscored orlando by two points in that stretch the passing hitting the cutters houston they're they're just standing around watching shaq deal elijah [Applause] [Applause] everything looks like a somewhat easy scoring opportunity for the magic taking the ball of the basket now the rockets finally get something going in the hole drexel got one a little earlier and a pretty move by ori eluding turner a little head fake and he went around 34-23 orlando robert horry with his first field goal and the call by steve jobby against anthony well shaq has really been making this pass on the move which is tough for a big man but he has good vision where all the defenders on the floor he's been able to find that cutter to the holes so necessary for the rockets attack for somebody besides hakeem to play well it's got to be somebody ori drexler cassell they're all prime candidates the nba on nbc is brought to you by acura who invites you to test drive the exciting new tl series by the prudential peace of mind it comes with every piece of the rock and by budweiser the king of beer this bud's for you the magic want to get shaq involved inside anthony bowie going to set a screen across on elijah one and shaq coming across the lane going to stop in the lane dead with elijah one on him back which is a good scoring opportunity unfortunately for the magic anthony bowie called for the illegal scream but when jack catches there he'll do a lot of damage they want to get him going he's only got one field goal they'll do a lot of damage to your site by destroying it and smashing you through the basket two and a half gone by in the second quarter and an 11-point lead for the matching [Music] one of the rare times that a key won't be in the post for houston they swing orion who was a college center at alabama as most centers he achieves his dream by finally playing forward of course stopped by anderson able to get him out to elijah oh nicely done the extension going blast by robert orlando's defense is so strong and it's orlando 36 and houston 25. that is not houston's defensive game plan for three and rebounded by shaw shaq in transition akeem has not scored in the last seven minutes you try for the front you got to maintain body contact he feels he grabs but he doesn't move back enough and he gets dunked on how embarrassing is that well the amazing thing is that most players don't even get into the play akeem elizabeth almost recovered and got back in once again when jack catches it in that dark painted area with the defender on his back nothing you can do but fallow if you're going to try to stop him and elijah sitting down after picking up his second shaquille on the line for the first time completely a three-point play 7-4 shaquille o'neal and a 14-point orlando lead charles jones the 38 year old 11 year band has come oh what a what a spin by drexler this is why the rockets wanted to get drexler for when olajuwon is struggling or on the bench they have another go-to guy this is what he can do inside clyde drexler one of the best big guard post-op players in the business anthony bowie's been hitting the three he's four of five from downtown in the playoffs they say his foot was on the line it's a two-parter he has been hitting though from long range and a foul is called rockets are down by 14 points a keem to the bench for the first time guys like clyde drexler this is their opportunity to get off the dime here and get the game rolling in their favor [Music] chuckie brown sitting down wexler and he'll go to the line pete has come on replacing chucky brown collecting his third foul chuckie brown sitting down with five rebounds and now rudy tom janovich lineup of jones chill cut and ori up front frankfurt and cassell at the guards hardaway and scott getting set to come back [Music] [Applause] classic rebounding guard one of the best rebounders in the nba from the backcourt led the nba in defensive rebounds and was third on the offensive glass at the time of the tray that was back on february 14th when brexton was not a popular deal did you guys like it at the time i love the deal because you got to have offensive players rebounders they're the easiest guys to replace oh yeah where do you find them [Applause] well this all started when sam first got into the ball game and a call went against him he started barking at the officials joe crawford has a very long memory and when things aren't going sam's way he often loses his composure sometimes his decisions aren't the best as far as the the drexler birthday i thought it was very a bad move for the rockets this was part of their championship team last year a guy they were going to need there's that foul again the offensive foul called on sam caselle and any kind of gyration like that joe crawford will nail you i like that technical foul houston's got to do something to get back in this game get on the refs get the crowd who wins right now the crowd just having a big party although i don't think that was uh sam cassell's plan as horry is fouled i don't believe that was a premeditated emotional technical that but sam so brian shaw called for the foul his second this is the rockets game when they can get out in the open floor transition basket of an opportunity to get an easy basket or a three-point play this is when they're playing their best then they supplement it with the obvious post-ups for elijah and her drexler then when the double teams come that's when those three-point shots become a little bit easier because you've already hit a couple of layups robert in his third year out of alabama has really made his mark in the playoffs to show you how good orlando is houston's the defending champions and they're the ones that look nervous o'neill played by jones red with the sting and the reverse bars nine points along with nine rebounds tricks were going all the way and he draws the foul orlando well i think harris grant for seven years saw another fella who used to wear number 23 and i guess still does make these kinds of shots but i don't think iron screen ever thought he would do it in this situation that pass spun him around and then he does the george that's move timeout call you're watching the nba on nbc [Music] well there's been so much excitement here in orlando the past couple of days the magic advancing to the finals with that dramatic win sunday over indiana capping off the eastern conference final series and a wild seat at the end of the game with coach brian hill hoisted to the shoulders of shaquille o'neal we talked about that with brian hill well it took me by surprise because he came up from behind me and all of a sudden i was eight feet in the air which is uh an unusual feeling but uh yeah it was it was a tremendously exhilarating feeling to realize that you were on your way to the nba finals i'm sure that every every coach and every player dreams of the opportunity and uh it was just a wonderful feeling and certainly to you know to have him express it that way meant a lot to me also a real class move by shaquille o'neal brian hill very rarely gets any credit for this team's success he does a wonderful job by and large and of course there was a much publicized blow up in practice that they had late in the regular season and there was a shouting match between shaq and brian hill and shaq just killed all those rumors that's a normal production meeting for us i don't know what all the fuss was about yeah you're telling me to go get more tough six and a half remaining in the first half and the magic leading by 12. they doubled up on o'deal anderson for three yes nick anderson with a second field goal he has five points a little wrinkle now for the rockets they brought charles jones into guard o'neill and the akeem watch fire scratch trying to give him a little breather defensively and see if he can't help out in the lane and elijah won with 12 points 47-34 again the double team and a bad pass could not be handled by hardware number 17 mario ellie replacing fighters taking advantage of the much shorter horror horus grant they want horace to try to front but akeem is so strong and moves so well almost impossible to run him effectively unless you've got the range of david robinson which horace graham does not have and 10 minutes between pockets for elijahwa keem is now five of ten from the field scott played by orig hardaway guarded by cassell there's scott changing his fine on the three goes for the two [Applause] orlando maybe ellie is part of that midnight hoops program doesn't really get started until it gets close to the hour big front line now for the rockets not a lot of scoring with charles jones a little more beef on the board but charles jones nowhere near strong enough to keep jack from [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 52 and the rockets 46 and orlando shooting so well right throughout the playoffs 54 in this first half o'neal and he's called for a travel one of the reasons that orlando and houston are the two best shooting teams in the playoffs is they got the great post-op players that bring in everybody shaq stumbles to try to get his balance as casel does a good job at cutting him off and making him shuffle his feet the big guys they create all those stand-up shots for the little guys elijah had the pass broken up by anderson 4 35 remaining in this first half reminder coming up at halftime bob costas with the prudential halftime report and he'll be talking with one of the all-time greats the former boston celtic phil russell [Music] well so far the post up the double teams and then the toss out for the three has not looked good for the rockets this at least was a better looking shot in rhythm off some dribble penetration so there are other ways to get those open perimeter shots and the three-pointers anderson on the penetration it is now an 18 point orlando league well we have a lot of stars in this game with the keem and shaq we've got penny we've got clyde drexler but i think throughout this series it is going to be players like nick anderson who get involved nick having an outstanding first half four out of five from the field two out of three from beyond the line and when he's making that perimeter shot it sets up those kind of drives to the hole as nick is ready tonight but at the last minute that little double clutch freezes olajuwon and the rockets right now are mesmerized by shaq he's picking a part with this with his passing he's dunking into the hoop and right now the rockets are standing back on their heels and not challenging this young star orlando team and anderson with eight of orlando's last 10 points seminole run by the magic how about shaquille with five assists in this first half he had his best passing year on the regular season he's carried that over in the playoffs and as they double team him more and more he'll have to continue to move that ball around you just have to wonder how much of a layoff the five days off and affected these rockets they had been talking all throughout the playoffs how tired they were playing every other day but they were very successful with it now with the time off they just may have gotten a little rusty but the other argument to that is in game one of the overall playoffs against utah akeem with five or six days left he had 45 points in that game mario ellie upset because he thought he'd get the call on the continuation but dick prevetted with the indication that he bobbled it and it slowed down the continuation so the basket does not count he should be at the line yeah [Music] [Applause] and mario who speaks four or five different languages trying to talk to the officials and said hey i am in the active shooting i shot the ball i left my hand i should have gotten a good field goal i believe he was speaking english yes mario ellie has used all those languages in his basketball travels he has made the round europe cba a host of teams in the nba maybe the referees weren't listening in english yes 54-37 orlando just under four to go in the first half anderson is on fire you are right mark i don't even think nick picked up the rim until he released that ball and he had a hand in the face from robert dorey he is hot 20 point orlando league [Applause] mario ellie for clyde wrestler with [Applause] for the houston rockets this their 101st game this season for orlando it is number 100 [Applause] [Applause] no one has been able to slow down shaquille o'neal all season long he led the league in scoring this year second in the mvp voting [Applause] [Music] if anybody can guard him in the nba it would have to be him the team has to go to the bench with his third foul just too strong maybe we'll have to ask russell how he guarded chamberlain's in those days well in those days you were allowed to use your legs your knees your forearms your fists anything to push that guy off the block you're not allowed to do that anymore miss nick anderson and hit five of his previous seven back comes scott and it knocked away the steal by [Applause] smith for three [Applause] and the magic leads 57-41 talking a moment ago about the busy schedule of the rockets their playoff run all the more remarkable when you consider they played 16 games in 30 days and then have the rest as they waited for the winner between indiana and orlando wrestler running the floor behind the backbone to set up ellie beautifully good wide drexler for mario ellie and it leads to a timeout called by the magic the clyde rex are an outstanding open floor player but this what makes him so he is unselfish in that open floor if he's got a man ahead of him or a man cutting into the basket he will deliver on time when clyde drexler created the hoop this is the type of play that will give his teammates confidence something they're sorely lacking right now as they trail by [Music] 14. well as bill russell checks out the action do you think phil he is saying to himself uh let's see if i were out there this is how i would handle shaquille o'neal i'm sure that's what he's thinking because bill russell changed the way the game of basketball was played with his defense shaquille o'neal is going to change the way the game is played because of his offenses bill russell the competitor that he is he's saying i gotta get out there two minutes less than two minutes elijah sitting down with three fouls on the way anthony hardaway got in the early foul trouble sat down after picking up his his second but he's had a very strong first half with 13. nine points for o'neal hakeem leading houston with 14 off the steal anderson spinning his way and they have been tipped by [Applause] yes clyde drexler from downtown he has 11. and it's orlando by 15. drexler the third leading three-point shooter on houston houston the most prolific three-point shooting team in nba history [Music] anderson forced outside by drexler shot clock at three trexler with the steal anderson thought he was fouled under a minute left of the hand rexler back at the other end and nick anderson arguing the play hurt himself by remaining in the backboard foolishly arguing the ball was a clean strip by a dream teamer a future hall of famer clyde drexler live with 13 points all in the second quarter and the foul against the rockets nick anderson with a quick flick on clyde drexler that doesn't happen too often but then on the runner in the fast break situation goes off the rim and charles jones thought he was on offense because he tipped it in and now craig drexer who's an excellent defender was getting double team help from robert dori but return the favor on the steal charles jones called for that foul donald royal has come on for the magic for the first time down to 25 seconds in the quarter hard away or he got a piece of it a second consecutive retraction [Applause] so the rockets with a late rally here at the end of the second quarter i think this would be a tremendous boost for the rockets given to the fact that they were down 20 in this ball game 57-37 as hard away who always follows his own shot but a terrific defensive play by clyde drexler to force the action the other way but having been down 20 and now get this thing close to 10 before the half is over will give them a tremendous boost at halftime and also one other thing i think the rockets before this series over maybe before this game is over they will think of maybe putting kenny smith or sam purcell who's ever had to point on dennis scott and put a bigger player like mario ellie on penny hardaway because he's been killing them in general inside it is only an 11-point lead as you mentioned back just a moment ago orlando led by 20 701 by houston final seconds of the half [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] have to feel very good about getting back into it elijah in the first half six or 12 14 points for the big number three personal fouls o'neal sat early after picking up his second four of six for nine points five assists for shaquille the magic leading 61.50 in game one of his best of seven bob costas with the prudential halftime report in just a moment and a special guest the former celtic bill russell [Music] this is the prudential halftime report brought to you by the prudential peace of mind it comes with every piece of the rock halftime of game one in orlando the magic leading the rockets 61-50 houston closing the second quarter on a 13-4 run to get back into it to some extent down now by 11 and for all the talk about the big men the big difference in this first half has been orlando's dominance in the backboard their guards have done a better job and they lead by 11. bob costa's back in orlando in a moment we'll talk with hall of famer bill russell but first some news starting with an update on the condition of mickey mantle today it was announced that the former yankee great has been diagnosed with liver cancer he's on a list to receive a transplant sometime in the next three to four weeks according to his doctors it's our estimation that this tumor cannot be removed safely and that his condition is continuing to slowly worsen and that his only treatment alternative to save his life will probably be liver transplantation dr hamilton emphasized that the 63 year old medal would not be able to leave the hospital without receiving the transplant at the french open today there were two men's quarterfinals and it was a good day for former champs the lone remaining american 1989 winner michael chang advanced with a straight set win over romanian qualifier adrian voigne chang advances to the semifinals where he'll face two-time defending champ sergi bruguera of spain who took out unseated renzo furlon of italy in three sets we'll have the chang grugera match on friday morning at 10 o'clock eastern time nine o'clock for that on the west coast switching back to basketball the akeem elijah and shaquille o'neal match-up might be the best one in the post season in the pivot since the old wilt chamberlain bill russell confrontations helped popularize the sport in the 1960s despite chamberlain's incredible offensive prowess russell's celtics usually got the better of it against wilts philadelphia teams and they seem to meet routinely in the playoffs during russell's 13-year career boston won 11 titles while chamberlain won just once before russell retired in 1969. we both had egos as being the best player in the league so certainly you had to prove it on the floor and uh you know it was just amazing what they did against each other i think the energy that they expended against each other probably didn't happen again until they met on the floor again wilt was a very good offensive player and that bill russell was a dominant defensive player i think he revolutionized and revolutionized the game at the defensive end of the floor uh and talking to him after i got into the league he said you know i don't pick up a basketball from one season to the next and that kind of puzzled me because i was such a big workaholic offseason with basketball he said i don't get paid to score i get paid to rebound and play defense wilt could score against anybody and certainly russell picked his spots when he would block a guy shot get his attention so it was always sort of mind games they played against one another and there is bill russell 11 nba titles as the center for the boston celtics and we'll talk with him after a message from prudential and a word from the nba 16 nba championship banners have made it to the rafters in the boston garden making the boston celtics one of the great sports dynasties in bill russell's 13 years the celtics won 11 times including eight in a row and bill joins us now neither center had a particularly big first half each spent stretches on the bench in foul trouble but right now where does akeem elijah will start with him rank among the all-time centers in your view he's right there with him uh what i like about him i've watched him since he was at houston in college and uh he has grown so much as a player i think that he turned the corner off probably two years ago because up until that time he didn't really i don't think he really knew the game uh when he made a pass it was to get rid of the ball now he makes passes to make plays and that is a world of difference obviously in terms of physical skills shaq could be one of the greatest who has ever played if you could give him one piece of advice about post play now what would it be have fun listen the way he's playing it's got to be fun because one of the great things is to be able to go out there and do what you want to do how would you play shaq how would you play akeem well would check um i would play without the ball and uh but i would try to make him move laterally i would never try to match him powerful in power play i've tried to make him play horizontal rather than vertical much the way you tried to play chamberlain i would guess yes uh they're a lot like but but very different i love to watch shaq play i think he's just uh i like his personality i like his uh dedication and i like his discipline because tonight for example in the first half [Music] he's got about five or six assists and plan to help his team win the really tough thing like this build-up is not to get caught up in it yourself and and try to match the other guy in numbers what you gotta try to mess the guy the other guy in as he wins talking about great match-ups in the middle against david robinson and kim elijahwan had an astonishing series in the western conference finals in fact jack ramsey said the other day i go all the way back to george miken i've never seen a guy have a better playoff series against that level of competition what do you think i think i haven't seen any better uh because he he went out and he played and he played hard and he played smart uh i thought that uh that the san antonio team did not have a good um defensive plan because he but not only was he able to get 35 points but they still left the guys open for the threes and you should i would think you would take away one or the other how do the best of your celtic teams i realized it was a different era but the best of your celtic teams rank against the teams that have won recent championships the bulls three-peat the lakers and celtics of the 80s the pistons in between oh we would have beat them all that simple and the famous russell cackle anything about the modern nba that bothers you the league is booming but is there anything you see that bothers you uh not really uh i really admire and respect these young guys that play and they play hard you know um you you a lot of people criticize a lot of the guys for a lot of things but you have to consider this that you now have almost 30 teams that many quality players it's very difficult so you're going to have players that are not that skilled that have notoriety lastly we had hoped to have will chamberlain here tonight he would have been here but he is out of the country in recent years you two have sort of been reunited there was a period of time where you appeared to be estranged what's the state of your relationship with wilt these days i talked to him yesterday uh you know we call in uh we call each other we talk about the game because uh we both uh love to watch the game and we we sometimes talk about how we would play these guys how he would play them and how i would play them because of the two different styles because of our physical abilities you were a guy i hope the young people watching realize how you revolutionized the sport playing above the rim not just blocking shots but controlling shots changed the whole game well uh i learned to play a certain way and it was different than the way the game was played before but it was a lot of fun to to try to develop my skills you know uh a lot of times in assessing players there are a lot of times people tend to dwell on the obvious skills but the subtle skills are the ones that make the make the players uh as good as elijah one is is subtle things that make him that are not obvious that makes him so good and the same thing is true of check and one of the things is they're both fierce fierce competitors few players possess the subtle skills of bill russell and the drive to win perhaps the greatest team player in basketball history thanks for being with us thank you okay bill russell a reminder that game two of the finals is friday night back here in orlando airtime nine o'clock eastern six o'clock on the west coast halftime now in orlando the magic leading the rockets by 11. back to marv matt and bill not russell but walton after these messages from your local station this has been the prudential halftime report brought to you by the prudential peace of mind it comes with every piece of the rock welcome back to orlando with the magic up 61.50 at halftime of game one of this best of seven let's go to ahmad rashad with orlando coach brian hill all right thanks mark brian up by 11 points what do you tell your team at halftime well there are a couple areas we have to improve number one in the second quarter they really started pushing the ball back at us on makes and we didn't play great transition defense we definitely have to improve in that area our our perimeter shooting we got a little bit carried away and didn't pound the ball inside enough in that second quarter also so we just got to get back to the basics and keep our energy level up and obviously do a great job on the keeming clyde all right good luck in the second half coach thanks all right hannah here with rockets coach rudy tom janovich i know you wanted to set the tone defensively what adjustments do you make in that area particularly on penny hardaway he took 13 shots in 19 minutes well first of all we have to play better offense and uh they got some brakes on us and scored 20 points on transition baskets hardaway getting some of those on his post-ops we have to get down there quicker we also have to rotate out quick to nick anderson he's made three threes all right coach good luck in the second half thanks mark all right hannah and uh we're joined tonight by the combination of bill walton and matt lucas and we will all take a look at the middle light halftime stats a look at the shooting in the first half the rockets 18 of 43 for 42 the magic 25 of 49 for 51 or if you heard brian hill say he thought they may have gotten a bit carried away from the perimeter tremendous second quarter for clyde drexler 15 of houston's 31 points scored by clyde in that second quarter rockets only three of 10 from downtown the magic five of 11 led by nick anderson who had three and nick with 15 points in all the magic led by as many as 20 they're up by 11 as we head to the second half [Applause] back in orlando both clubs making their way back out of the floor a look at the marquee matchup between shaquille o'neal and akeem olajuwon taking a look back this first half akeem an edge with the numbers but he has not found his rhythm and that hurts his team houston psychologically because they're used to him killing whoever he plays against jack a big factor picking up three fouls on akeem and very patient pushing out five assists against the double team [Music] getting underway o'neill had it slapped away good play by draxler three on two for the rockets ellie from trexler why drexler's helped the rockets turn things around this is what brian hill was talking about a halftime transition defense but that kind of turnover leads to a quick strike opportunity four turnovers now for shaq ten for the magic o'neal not a good shot shaquille forcing it again the ball back to the rockets rarely says anything to the referees has been talking as the second half is starting to unfold here about three seconds and backing in [Music] elijah yes 16 for the green and it is down to a seven point orlando league they live by as many as 20. so a shaky start by the rockets they came roaring back late in the second quarter [Music] [Applause] [Music] is one of the strongest men in basketball and shaq is just throwing them around here lowers that shoulder i don't think that's traveling i think that might be an offensive foul well he was backing a keem out of there a team is probably closer to 610 than he is the listed seven feet and there's no way he is anywhere near the 300 pounds of shaquille o'neal team has lost 20 to 25 pounds over the last couple years [Music] anderson deflecting it away houston in the midst of an 11-0 run that goes back in the second quarter and the rockets have hit their last six shots minute and a half gone by in the third hori with the rumor brian hill going with a starting lineup opening this third quarter hardaway and anderson at the guards o'neal scott and brent up front harris scott yes and a sixth assist for shaquille o'neal who really is reading the double teams very well he is seeing every one of them come and when he is patient with the ball he finds the open man and elijah on applauding the call by dick pavetta it's a hack on o'neal his third jack has to be happy although this is a pet shot and that move of a team elijah on that he is just going to take that fade away jumper but really what shaq wants to do there is go straight up challenge the shot no way does he want to come down on the arm of the keem why why would you foul that i mean basically it's a horrible shot a guy fading away behind the backboard the shot you would pray for a guy to take unfortunately he makes it every time he does take it fouling and that's not going to change it puts him at the line a guy shot 80 from the line in the san antonio series orlando's lead is seven [Music] anderson for grant and again wide open clyde trexler martin pointed out he's been the difference he's just quicker to the ball than most everybody else in this game [Applause] triple team elijah popped it out wrexler and the ball is [Applause] the rockets don't get more offensive rebounds because those missed threes turn into long rebounds but the rockets don't take enough advantage of it [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the magic up by nine great position by shaq smart move by olajuwon clearly beaten he didn't want to pick up the sport script anderson getting a piece of it [Applause] [Music] russell talked at halftime about playing shaq before and playing will before they ever get the ball akeem is not beating him as kenny smith drains the three akeem is not meeting him until he gets all the way to the box you got to meet a great offensive post player at the foul line and make him work all the way down it is now a six-point magic [Music] [Applause] against the chicago bulls that is back in game four against chicago anderson tees it up and the rebound handled by ellie morris grant everywhere always keeping balls alive so many lanes open because of shaq's presence out there boy from drexler [Applause] from drexler out of the penetration and then saw ori and now the rockets are starting to look more comfortable in their half court offense the cuts are sharper the passes are better and consequently they get better scoring opportunity there's anderson for three and last touched by the magic a horse grand over the back the fans here in orlando they don't like it but they would much rather have not foul called on horus imagine 67 maraucus 61. smith for three kenny smith with a second straight from downtown it's down to a three-point orlando league now kenny's one of the best three-point shooters in the business he does not leave much margin for her that's his lowest shot as you can shoot and still nail it [Music] knocked it away shot clock will be a problem [Applause] and rebounded by ellen rockets on the run smith with the hesitation move what a performance by clyde drexler orlando needs a timeout brian hill with the call the rockets have come roaring backwards [Music] kenny smith starting to feel it now with a three-point shot this is an unusual spin and rotation and the trolley wire just over the lip of the rim as kenny is starting to feel it and then penny may be expected to pull up for that three can he put it into another gear drexler out of nowhere to clean it up again again drexler anticipating where that ball is going the first one there tapping it home rockets back in it the nba on nbc is brought to you by nike who encourages you to participate in the lives of america's youth by mitsubishi the new thinking in automobiles and by microsoft the leader in software where do you want to go today welcome back to the arena in orlando where the houston rockets have made up an 11-point half-time deficit and come within one of the magic at halftime clyde drexler looked at me gave me the thumbs up and said hey we've got the magic right where we want him he told his teammates this is our game we have to stay aggressive that's what they've done pushing the ball up on the fast break and not passing up those good shots mark all right hannah and the houston rockets who have been uncanny on the road they're gunning for a sixth straight road win that would tie an nba playoff record the bulls did it back in 1991 in their title run o'neill shaquille o'neal extends to a three-point magically houston was in the midst of a 23-6 run going back to the second quarter now 23-8 the last six minutes and 20 seconds we're halfway through the third elijah getting great position but could not put it down got away with a little shove in the back there as he bumped him on the shot attack that's not a foul [Applause] oh they didn't call it wow akeem is bailing out on the shot in there [Applause] after having some problems early has really come on 20-point lead for the magic that has evaporated and a pushing foul it's on drexler [Applause] behind that three-point line and has that kind of time he becomes a very good three-point shooter he hit the game winner in game seven against phoenix what could be better than that it surprised everybody hard away for three or he got his arm in there to keep it alive and drexler able to pick up the first ball here's quite on the run going all the way clyde drexler well your first job in transition defense is stopped the ball nick anderson was backpedaling all the way and once clyde saw that he just put it into an extra gear to go right for the hole robert orri he wants this ball but clyde drexler this guy will not be shut down he knows that keem is not having the typical easy days and hey no problem good buddy i'm taking over here nice inbound play for hauntaway and it ties the game at 71. houston had its first lead since the opening minutes we're coming up on five minutes left in the third [Applause] they go right back to elijah shot clock at four ellie lost it scott for three orlando has missed its last eighth three-point attacks and here come the rockets and smith lost the other trying to leave it for him and smith did not expect the pass to win in orlando where they've only lost four games all year twice in the regular season twice in the playoffs you got to play a perfect game you can't have missed layups you can't have careless casual turnovers out there on the way for three all for their last nine from downtown fly drexler's everywhere and a smirk for three and drexler able to pop it over ellie smith elijah i think surprised to find himself all alone at the foul line oh both teams have gone cold right now the rockets have not taken advantage of the opportunities with the long missed shots for orlando to run and then the magic look like they're standing flat-footed on the missed shots by the rockets magic ball the team is totally out of rhythm he's hitting jumpers after passing up wide open once horus he can't find where the heck the ball went [Applause] [Music] [Applause] while a very low pick and roll penny going to turn the corner robert orri stepping in there to take the charge and the question is was he out far enough from the rim [Applause] hardaway now for five from downtown orlando not able to hit the three-pointer 3 54 to go in the third the game is tied [Applause] [Music] live rex was so instrumental in leading the rockets back into this game and this savannah has had two cracks in winning a championship on a member of the portland trailblazers and now has another opportunity as a member of the houston rockets a subject to discuss i just think every player would love to uh be on a team that's fortunate enough to win the championship but uh since it is a team game i don't think you uh take that personal and for the most part you do the best you can to help in any way you can but if you come up short i just think that uh you're very fortunate just to be able to have the [Applause] from chance range could not the game is tied and 71 with 325 to go third quarter marv i think clyde does take it personal i think it's his special hunger and push for that ring his [Music] [Applause] akeem olajuwon and then paul walt they should have been an offensive foul i just can't believe what kind of therapy akima lajwan's going to use on his chest there [Applause] so the ball back to the rockets off the travel on o'neill chuckie brown back on the floor matched with horace grant here's brent and rebounded by o'neill who accidentally took a shot in the eye from elijah they might need a 20 here he'll try to work it out five o'clock [Applause] [Music] whose tent in the nba career steals loves to come in and try to poke that ball away that time he gets nothing but eye amazing in basketball you don't have more eye and finger injuries but hopefully shaquille o'neal is all right and this is why i think bill over the years a lot of big men and sometimes you take for granted that a big guy is above all that and that's when he get hit with an elbow not get poked in the eye but first kareem abdul-jabbar wearing the goggles james worthy harris grant here right now because it's a very dangerous situation an inverting poke in the eye but nevertheless very painful to shaquille being checked over by magic trainer lynn currier replaced by jeff turner the rockets have taken a 73-71 lead rexler has 21 points eight rebounds seven assists in a spectacular performance going short and over the glass so the ball to houston ball what a complete turnaround in this game houston was totally out of it orlando making every three-point shot nick anderson in particular and now in the third quarter no one can do anything for orlando they're over seven from behind the line there's for spanish as elijah was able to throw it back out off the triple wow defensive mistake by the magic by sending two people to go in there and make it a triple ryan shaw rocket 76 the magic 73 with a minute and 50 left in the third quarter marvel matt kuchas and phil walton from the arena in orlando magic leading by as many as 20 kenny smith continues to hit from downtown that's his fifth and the rockets have taken over they now lead by six the rockets performance in game two at utah one of the great shooting nights of nba history nick anderson answers right back but unless they start extending their defense orlando and i think they got to come back with penny and shaq you don't leave two superstars at the bench at the nba championship well kakiel still on a recover from the pokemon here's ori yes robert who hit six from downtown in game six against the spurs able to knock down his first of the night 82-75 houston orlando deep to their bench they got to get the ball to dennis scott nick anderson while brian shaw has been a godsend for the magic on a number of occasions not a good shooting here from the perimeter from beyond the three-point line he actually helped the magic defeat houston in uh back in march as he came through was in trouble and foul kenny smith with his seventh three-pointer and smith has 18 points in all 85-7 [Applause] 87 of the magic 78 a team gets it done with the block but orlando's making a mistake akeem is just passing right now they got to stay at home on the deep shooters final seconds of the quarter bringing the magic within seven and that will do it for the first time a remarkable turnaround by the defending nba champion kirsten rocket kenny smith 18 points in all rockets by seven will be back after these messages and a word from your local station while kenny smith on fire from downtown kenny smith hitting six of nine from three-point land an electrifying performance by smith and he does it again smith getting the room from outfeed putting on a three-point festival which gets a uh a nice reaction from sam pasel and kenny smith has tied a record for an nba finals with six from from downtown joining the likes of michael cooper michael jordan villain beer and dan marley the playoff record most three-pointers in a single game dan marley has that with eight but that's what a team's all about marv they see their main man as smith goes again but they see akeem getting run over they see him getting dumped on everybody goes hey this is our man we're gonna cover him tonight well kenny smith showing he can also hit a two-point conventional field goal as this fourth quarter gets underway anderson [Music] anderson with 20 points another three he's four of seven from downtown we may see a lot of three-point shooting records broken in this series with these two teams they're two of the most prolific ones in the [Music] [Applause] robert nba continuing the three-point assault houston with its 22nd attempt from three-point land orlando with 20 they've combined for 42 that is a new nba finals record anderson o'neill rockets lead 92-87 barbara thinks orlando is making a mistake by doubling down mckeem right now he's not killing anybody stay at home let's see what akeem can do against jackie hasn't been that successful shaw [Applause] yesterday just how simple their whole system is we want and that's exactly what they have done in this third quarter shaq was running the floor very well there in transition normally the magic are able to find him al was called on ori his third farnaway fouled by ellie mario ellie picking up his second [Applause] orlando seven of 21. so that's an nba finals record for fakes and attempts dick anderson pumping go one of orlando's many three-point attempts and robert orri gets into the act with 205 gone by in before it has been a three-point festival the rockets leading by five [Music] here's how the rockets are getting some of these open three-point shots for kenny smith here a mistake here brian shaw going and jeff turner going down to double team and leaving kenny smith wide open the magic are told come down and double-team from the foul line well both shaw and turner were there but they didn't communicate and both went and that's why some of the rockets were getting open kenny smith in his eighth year out of north carolina this guy was the sixth overall pick in the draft in 87 and he was chosen ahead of kevin johnson horace grant reggie miller and mugsy bose and bill remember a year ago in the nba finals against the new york knicks he started slowly and then finished strong a key factor particularly in that last game and he had some huge buckets late in the game in the clincher against san antonio [Applause] and three-point shooting records are falling here tonight the five three-pointers by smith in the third is a new nba finals march shot clock at six elijah with 20 points and the rockets lead 94-89 and shaq was that close to getting that jump hook on the block uh yeah and that's what happens when you don't come down and double-teaming but right now it's pick your poison it's either going to be elijah one inside [Applause] a little confused and then go with the hitch and come right back a key jumping high shack fighting for that tremendously deep position akeem forcing him back to that right shoulder the hack down from the perimeter guards good solid defense i'll tell you one thing you know shaq does not quite have the footwear of elijah one but nobody does but it is amazing how good shaquille's footwork is and he had it ever since he came into the league the summer camps have really helped him and he can only think bill it's going to get better and better well this guy's future is unlimited and his presence is not too bad now bill didn't you uh did you work with shaquille a bit i was in another lifetime that's why i still had houston lead i was told that you had actually worked with shaquille on his free-throw shooter no that was the other guy i worked on the dunks and the blocks and [Applause] [Music] [Applause] nothing with footwork here just a quick catch drop step and get in the air so nice little change up by shaquille he has been trying a couple of little moves little pump fakes this time one right of the keem and caught him on his fourth foul marv you talked about the development and involvement the evolution rather of shaquille o'neal this guy has always had a really good game i think the biggest change has been the mental approach to the game and trying to vary what he tries to do realizing he's got to be a shooter he's got to be a skilled player he's certainly moving in that direction and he's three of five at the line 17 for o'neal houston leading by five game one of the best of seven nba final series orlando got off quickly lit by as many as 20 for the rockets with a comfort behind effort led by the combination of threxter and smith all to steal hardaway's attempt woken up by and the officials disagree joe crawford the the outside man saw it one way and steve javi underneath the basket with another call so they will jump it up terrific hustle by mario ellie in transition defense to get back normally that would be an easy breakaway dunk steve jabby had the play going in the rockets favor but joe crawford trailing from the other side had it going the other way so we'll go up to the jump ball i think the replay shows it was a good call eight and a half remaining in the fourth here's shawn [Music] [Applause] shaw really turned it around in game five against indiana he's been on a tail six [Applause] elijah and they're on their feet here in orlando [Applause] if that was not illegal defense well charles jones guarding shaquille o'neal on that sequence smith for free and back from shaw three on two for the magic hardaway [Applause] well charles jones does not get too many scoring opportunities and doesn't get one there as jack saw that one coming all the way and normally penny hardaway doesn't get too many things sent back but labradori came from his blind side but paris grant right now at the other end is playing outstanding defense o'neill on the recovery his first three-pointer missed his previous 5. yes and it counts [Applause] this is the part of the game that orlando is not used to not having been in the finals before not being used to the referees putting that whistle in their pocket that's the way the game is being played right now shaq picks up his fourth on the quick drop step akeem doesn't wait for the double teams just goes right away catches shaq snapping a bit [Music] six and a half left fourth quarter we'll be back in a moment red dog presents tonight's nba finals moment and tonight's topic expansion first back in 1971 oscar robertson and lou alcindor led the milwaukee bucks for the nba championship and only their third season and marked the earliest and expansion team made it to the finals the bucks swept the bullets in four games to win the title so only the 1971 milwaukee bucks able to advance to the finals more quickly than the orlando massive mark we talked earlier about guys changing the game bill russell here tonight there kareem abdul-jabbar his unbelievable impact for 20 years in the nba akeem olajuwon and now the future shaquille o'neal hakeem trying to hold him off it's going to be tough how about the block a key made on harass grant when straight up got the block a close goal but that's the kind of break a former mvp a former defensive player of the year will get and in case the kim elijah line got right there and a future olympian 96 in atlanta the game is tied at 98. orlando was trailing by as many as nine hard away and hardware able to tip it back to anderson charles jones doing as good a job what do you think i don't know how you can call this a block the man is just standing there and some of his 300 pounds runs over you that looks like an offensive foul well we have had three of these situations we've had a couple of walk-in calls we had one called on no that's the first one it's jack's way actually do you think that the fact that it was charles jones had anything to do with that no i don't think so well shaquille is now four of six from the line charles jones played only three games for the rockets in the regular season 38 years old out of albany state with detroit last season they released him signed by houston and the rockets is 15 in his 11 nba seasons orlando leads 198. they doubled up on a key open shot for quickslow rebound orlando's defense much much better now they got shaq controlling the weak side they got horace grant taking the lachawan out anderson o'neal keeps it alive one hand strength quickness here's sean trying to dish it off and it will be houston in possession interesting brian hill is keeping dennis scott a prolific three-point shooter on the bench a very dangerous perimeter shooter right now going with brian shaw going with his quicker defender 5-10 left in the fourth ellie has tied the game at 100. i was wrong earlier i think that's his shot i think he's trying to hit that shot mario ellie has 16 points we're under five minutes left in the fourth anderson block by trexler anderson with the tip and trenchler comes away with it three on two brexit [Applause] well mario ellie breaking down the defense getting into the lane this is not bill i don't care if it's shot or not this is not an easy shot especially on the run like that but we have seen mario ellie make it a couple times we talk about what a good shooter is from the perimeter when he has his feet set that runner is difficult mario ellie was a high school team made up chris mullen power memorial high school what small world the ball the basketball is where abdul jabar went to went to high school grew up right next door to the hall of fame going to college next to the hall of fame in springfield bill fighting all the ironies of the game here now the stretch but how about the block by aki malajuwan to start that last fast break hakeem playing with four fouls still with reckless abandon underneath the hoop and three blocks for a keem four for ori eight in all for the rockets they lead by two 4 20 to go and before ellie with the steal try to save it good night [Applause] my timeout looking at the shot clock well he must be thinking that there was a possession there as they ran into the corner i think it was mario ellie who got his two hands on the ball and or kenny smith just flipped it high in the air thinking that maybe clyde drexler could chase it down by drexler like a wide receiver in football trying to go up between two defenders to either break the play up or catch it [Applause] but steve cavey did rule that's possession was had on the throw out so that will give the uh the magic 20 21 seconds on the shot clock post up hard away going against ellie taking him down low going to the spin got some [Music] what help shot by penny hardaway houston has made the defensive switch that matt guccis talked about early put ellie on hardaway in the low post elijah rebounded by shaw the game is tied at 102. o'neal neal providing the magic with a few point lanes well shaq loves to run in transition and he goes right for the front of the rim that time bryan shaw hit him on the slide a rocket haul for time you talk about a tough shot maker of penny hardaway in a post-op against a rugged defender in mario ellie and with akimolajawan coming over to help out penny stayed with it and stay with it grinding it out to knock this down and then jack running the floor and brian shaw hitting him perfectly on the run akeem was running as fast as he could and could not even gain a stride on him or he was there for a play of his own nothing anybody could do the big man finishes the nba on nbc is brought to you by mcdonald's the official break of the nba have you had your break today by oldsmobile and your local oldsmobile retailers and by miller life when you've got the great taste of an ice cold miller light life is good [Music] well at the start of the telecast we discussed two points this match-up from our key match-up between elijah and o'neill and what role some of the guys you may not think about might play well elijah and o'neill and trash with points have played to a standoff uh shaquille with the engine rebounds and assists but other guys have also been able to get into it but i think shaquille has controlled the game hakeem needs to have a lot bigger offensive numbers he's the playoff leading scorer and he looks hesitant out there here's drexler for from three which is remarkable because the keem's hands are so strong and so quick and shaq is having his way just an awful possession by the rockets coming out of that timeout very tentative i'm sure they didn't get the shot that they wanted the line drive jump hook over elijah orlando 106. easton 102. 245 a moment ago battling for the rebound the spin reverse move to get position and then the quickness the snatch and shaq just reaches out and pulls it right away then comes back and says this is how you shoot a i'll tell you what that shows you how much shaq uh respects the kim elijah want he tried to box him out normally shaq will just go after the ball very rarely puts a body on somebody three-point play for elijah to cut it to a one-point orlando league runaway fighting grant and he flicked it out last time and the magic will have 10 on the shot clock how about penny hardaway firing him up here tonight 22 shot attempts for hardaway he averages 13 a game during the regular season that's the problem when you allow shaq into the middle when he misses that chalk horn there's just so many offensive rebound opportunities orlando league elijah yes and he felt he was fouled thought he was hit on the hand these are not easy shots by a king as great as he is he's had to take that he can't even turn into the basket the defense has been that tough but he's a great shot maker too shaw for three elijah with the rebound aquino has 27 points shank with 23 we're under [Applause] terrible shot early in the shot clock they finally force a tough miss akeem gets a big rebound and they get that orlando in possession they lead by one o'neal banking his way and elijah wants to do nothing about stopping balloon by [Music] horace grant gets one this is just beats volleyball up above the net for everybody akeem will come back with a move of his own the running jabar skyhook hakeem prefers the jump hook but against shaq you got to come up with new stuff time and time again and shaquille o'neal feeling it as well that he can get into the lane very quickly the knights up and under move and the soft touch on the jump hook [Applause] reporting from the orlando bench that uh shaquille took a good shot in the eye and took a shot on the throat earlier was asked the question and indicating that he can't talk has a sore throat i think he's saying hey don't bother me i'm busy out here what's really happened for houston though is that ellie drexford and ori have only combined for seven total points in the fourth quarter they were the guys that carried them back to that huge third quarter comeback yes clyde flexler in particular with the explosion earlier very quiet and before elijah coming up short and a foul is called joe crawford with the call and it's going to be on the side non-shooting foul the magic have been killing the rockets all game long on second chance points 18 to seven and eight nothing in this quarter and that number five on shaquille o'neal 14 foul on the magic rockets over [Applause] usually when he hits somebody the other guy falls down but you bump into shack and you feel like you run into a wall actually he stepped on brian shaw's foot who came down to double team that's how he lost his footing 50 seconds left in the fourth magic with the ball and a three-point lead shot block at 10. [Applause] rebound by grant huge offensive rebound for horace grant who has controlled the boards 30 seconds left in the fourth and the shot clock now at 12. shaw for three [Applause] seconds how can you expect to win an nba finals game if you cannot get a defensive rebound on a long bomb three after no inside post-up and then you can't get a rebound after a really top player like nick anderson misses two free throws houston shooting themselves in the foot well rebounding has been a problem for them even when they head over to start but especially after the trade rudy tanzanite said well we're not a good rebounding teammate remaining and houston has one full timeout remaining plus of 20 orlando with two out of 20. we'll be back in a moment [Applause] well nick anderson i just missed too penny hardaway can't even look because he knows nick is struggling and now this is where the mine really starts to play tricks you've missed three in a row you want to make sure you just get it up there and it's too hard off the back iron and the reaction on nick anderson knowing that if he had just made one of those it would have given the magic a hammer on this game all right ellie throws it for smith looking for the three he's been on fire and hence he's tied the game and 110 with one and six ten seconds remaining you want to try to get it inside and pass it back out but kenny smith says forget it i got us here i'm going to take us one more step get this to overtime but there's still plenty of time for orlando as they learned in the indiana series the hard way the magic and the rockets are tied at 110. what a night for kenny smith 23 points in all rudy t giving the sign for the three he's seen many of them tonight we'll be back after this from your local station number seconds remaining the game tied at 110 and the four consecutive missed free throws by nick anderson so costly leading to the three-point shot by kenny smith brian shaw will throw it in here's scott and his scotch [Applause] a very courageous dangerous play there although a nice little move by dennis scott to get a better look at the basket but roberto dorian six foot ten coming over to challenge and actually getting a piece of this good move by dennis scott and a terrific recovery by robert orri to get all balls robert orri is the second leading shot blocker in history the sec with along with shaquille o'neal [Music] and this guy could send a lot of shots back [Music] take another look as that's a great block robert dorey after he was beaten recovered to get old and we're headed to overtime back in a moment [Music] well tonight following your local news it's the tonight show with jay leno and his guests include golf's top money winner this year at u.s open contender peter jacobson plus singers anita baker and james ingram that's the tonight show with jay right after your local news here on nbc we're headed to overtime and this the 23rd overtime game of the history of the nba finals the last five have all been won by the visiting team this is familiar territory for the orlando magic during the regular season they played in 10 of them and went seven and three the rockets played in just one and lost that foul trouble a big key here shaq's got five akeem's got four ori's got four brian shaw a reserve who could easily foul out he's got four five-minute overtime session remember at one point orlando led by 20 that seemed like it was two days ago [Applause] shaquille o'neal not able to hit rebounder by akeem olajuwon at a region oh apparently a jump ball horace grant able to reach in for the tie-up forest grant playing another solid not spectacular but very efficient game 13 points 15 boards the big guys though shaq with 13 rebounds dominant and akeem with just five built to do knee rebound it's tough to play against shaq kenny smith who has set an nba finals record with seven from brian downtown and penny hardaway in the backcourt o'neill with grant and anderson here's anderson for three and the tip by grant a labrador just not getting a body on horace grant surprised by the last rockets play trying to post up roberto dory when you got a lagerman and drexler out there orlando with a two-point lead elijah pops it out ellie for three brexler keeps it alive there's that rebounding by drexel that's when he's at his best 11 rebounds for klein ellie with the step sets up horn for three yes [Applause] with 16 points the rockets lead by one and that's when robert rory is a better shooter once the ball goes inside and comes back out we saw him at the end of the fourth quarter just come down and take one without exploring something else inside [Applause] so well carving out some space just no contest inside with robert orry as he moves him out of there for the tip in and now penetration by mario ellie sets up this good look for robert orry the fact that ellie hit those two runners really forced the defense to collapse on him shaq again so powerful so strong on that walk through move right to the hoop battering out of the play the foul called on a key but foul shots killing the magic shaquille is now five of eight at the monolith only four for their last 11 after they had hit eight in a row the game is tied at 11. a minute 45 gone by in this five-minute overtime session elijah for smith that's a heat check you just knock it down you pick it up off the floor and throw it up there nothing but net rockets by three all the way with the spin and he's fouled well robert is now four of eight three-point land and here is another look well robert rory was trying to stab this with a fork he never looked like he ever had his hands on it but i think feeling it from the three that he made before he made some clutch threes in that san antonio series while he had six in the final game [Music] [Applause] and a three-point lead not near enough there's a ton of time left attack attack [Applause] well jack was back there with five foul but five making a wise move with a three-point lead how [Applause] anderson with the rebound scott for hardaway [Applause] a minute and 39 to go in overtime and running from geneva calling for time terrific play by orlando on the fast break after it's kicked out to the wing dennis scott quickly gets it right to hard away who finishes no foul there everybody looking around but it's so loud in here the party atmosphere continues and nobody can hear a thing what'd you say though we'll be right back [Music] well a reminder friday night nine o'clock eastern six on the west coast it will be game two of this nba final series that'll be nine o'clock in the east sixth in the west right here on nbc a minute 39 remaining in overtime the rockets 116 and the magic won 15. well the last time the rockets came out of a timeout they did not execute very well they've got charles jones on the floor right now we're shack guarding him he'll be able to help out paris grant watching a lot elijah going right and the rockets now lead 118 115 akeem is 12 on 24. he has 29 points drinks were so good at getting the ball to aqui malajuan down to a minute 20 in overtime don't shoot that one away and he's turned back a key kenny smith controller that's a game that has seen both clubs combined for 58 shots from downtown it's a new finals record and they've hit ball tall 22. also an nba finals record nice pass shaquille o'neal a great defensive play by zhang but then he gets through the soft outlet pass to dennis scott and robert playing possum snuck back for the steal and the foul given by scott [Applause] after he sent back a great shot attempt with the block he gets it back on the offensive end converts there but it was the defensive play by shaq it surprised everyone just snatched it right out of drexler's hands on shooting foul next foul by the magic puts them over 25 seconds left in overtime of the rockets using the clock they have a three-point lead and obviously the magic don't need a foul here what they're thinking is get the stop and then the timeout [Applause] this same situation was in the late game in the phoenix for houston and they just fouled them the whole rest of the way put them on the line orlando wasted so much time getting the ball up court before they called this time out brian hill [Applause] if you can't hear yourself though you got to use hand signals well i think penny hardaway was looking to explore something didn't have it finally got the signal and finally got the stoppage of play it's been bill russell's night here as akim dumps it down and shaq just takes it right out like a grapefruit and a terrific defensive fake by robert orry who turned his back to a shack trying to lure him into making that soft pass he did stepping into the passing lane with a gigantic steal if i'm houston right now i foul right away put him at the line and then just have it become a free-throw shooting contest the rest of the way eight in six ten seconds remaining in this overtime three-point rocket lead dennis scott looking to inbound couldn't find anybody and has to use a time-out orlando penny hardaway was the only one coming out to the top of the floor moving towards the basketball everybody else for orlando as they've taken a 20-second timeout all got packed in down towards the baseline dennis was in a lot of trouble bill i agree with you in this situation foul and then make it a foul shooting contest well houston with two and a 20 remaining in terms of timeouts orlando with two timeouts left i kind of liked it somebody finally agreed with me out to that last group i was with hey hey taking open shots this terrific defensive play by the houston rockets to get into the fancy lane knowing because they are well scouted knowing that the pass is for a man coming up to the top and mario ellie step right into that passing lane and stop the play eight and six ten seconds remaining again scott this time able to inbound comes back to scott at 1 18. the rockets call for time with five 10 seconds remaining dennis scott hitting his second from downtown orlando had missed its previous seven three-pointers and that's why we agree with one another especially when the pass went into shaquille o'neal he is the easiest outlet here wide open but the most dangerous player on the floor generally with this much time left is the inbound panzer stepped in loaded up dennis has not been shooting well in this game but he got a good look at this one to knock down the clutch three oh look how soft houston's defense is nobody guarding dennis scott nobody guarding shaq you got to have your hands all over these guys now houston has to come back and make one more play akeem in the post drexler in the post well obviously the rockets have stayed in this game took the lead have a chance to win this game because of their tremendous three-point shooting they also turned in their their transition game getting out on the fast rate after a very sluggish start in the first quarter right now they are the go-to men akimo elijah on clyde rex so you've got to figure they're going to be involved but with the hot hand that kenny smith has had it may be an easy catch for him a little shake put up the shot and maybe an offensive rebounding opportunity for a team and drexler has not scored since the third quarter keep in mind both elijahuan and o'neill are playing with five fouls five and five ten seconds remaining and as we said before as dennis scott was the inbound passer still a lot of time in this possession 5.5 seconds when you throw the ball in and step in you're the man that's generally open and orlando's next foul would put them over robert setting it up getting set to receive the ball from the official joe crawford and a delay of game taken against the magic as orlando wanted to look over the alignment it's usually for the man underneath the basket brexit three-tenths of [Applause] and driving it hard to the basket of what happens here jack coming over to help out to try to block this and that leaves hakeem elijah one all alone on the weak side and he just knocked pirates grant out of there to tip it up and in when you're driving to the hoop against a great shot blocker like shaq just get it up over the top because you know nobody can compete two guys for orlando go flying nick anderson horace grant out of there but there is still a ton of time that point three second rule now in effect which means that all you can do is tip one in clyde drexler not even thinking jump shot in this situation figured i'm gonna drive it to the basket put the onus on the officials if i'm hit will they put me on the free-throw line or not but he made the wise choice and took advantage of shaq helping on d what orlando needs to do is is through the back screen with a love and rudy tom janovich exults in what he hopes will be a record-tying sixth consecutive road victory for the houston rockets but orlando is undoubtedly drawing up a play over a back screen for shaq or i think penny hardaway who can really get up above the rim but throw the high pass and then hope they can dunk it down if you're in the houston rockets you got to put your hands all over your guys don't get reversed and don't get back screened but i think you've got to put a big man and it might i don't know i don't know not sure about elijah maybe charles jones on the inbound passer to get all over that inbound passer so they don't get a look at they get a good chance at a loft bag you've already top giant but you want to keep olajuwon guarding yeah i'm saying but somebody's got to put pressure on that ball charles jones and jones will put the pressure on the inbounds orlando has one timeout remaining brian shaw checking in and now jones steps away oh i'm surprised they're gonna zone up a keem underneath the basket it has to be a deflection with three tenths of a second remaining the rockets by two shaw now short of the basket and that will do it the houston watkins comes from behind effort continue to win on the road [Applause] and for houston their sixth consecutive road win and their eighth low win of this playoff season in overtime raucous won it let's go to hannah storm i got the record three-point shooter here and the guy that kept him in the game first your desire for a championship just kept this team in the game when they were down close i just think this team has been down before we just never give up we just continue to work hard and we know the big fella is going to come along and he was not able to dominate the game kenny and you came through offensively what happened in the second half he had only three points at halftime well in the first half i felt there was opportunities for me but i just didn't feel comfortable taking a shot in the second half i just felt a little bit more comfortable shot was blessed and started going on it's unbelievable you guys hand them and an overtime loss on their home court what does this do to the complexion of the series just game one uh we happen to win game one game two is going to be i'm sure another tough struggle and we're looking forward to it you guys are a heck of a road team got to give you that okay marv all right hannah so once again the final score in overtime the rockets over the magic here in orlando 121-18 the finals continue friday night here on nbc with game two of this best of seven catch the action beginning at nine o'clock east in six pacific right here on nbc for matt duchess bill walton bob rashad hannah storm and bob costas i'm marv albert saying so long from a very quiet orlando arena this has been the nba on nbc

Channel: Tremendous Upside

Views: 40,121

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Id: yC7TKpvwMME

Length: 137min 12sec (8232 seconds)

Published: Sat Oct 12 2019