...It's enough for us ole timers to get a wee bit misty eyed. Magic win game five 102-92. We're into the second round for the first time in 12 years. There have been some nights over the last 12 years that I have wondered aloud, "Why do I seem to care more than the players do?" I wonder no more.....

..."There was a different demeanor from him". That's a quote from Coach Stan Van Gundy on Dwight Howard. That 'demeanor' translated into 21 points and 21 rebounds in game five. Make that three 20-20 performances in five first round games. You can drop the 'child' from the 'Man-Child' moniker. Superman arrived!

...Can't help but think back to 2004 when yours truly, in the final days of the regular season, started the chant, "Three games to Okafor....Two games to Okafor...One game to Okafor." If I were GM back then, I'd still be trying to get the tar and feathers off my backside today.

...Speaking of '04, how about the play of Jameer Nelson in these playoffs? Jameer outplayed TJ Ford and Jose Calderon in the Toronto series. Don't let Jameer fool ya. He heard the hype about Toronto having the point guard edge on us. He scored 12 points in a huge fourth quarter of the game four win. Then, in game five, he nails a monumental three to put us up 102-92 with 2:57 left. Jameer Nelson is coming of age.

...I have to admit that I was a bit shocked after Monday's game five. I actually saw Coach Van Gundy smile! What a job this guy has done. From day one, he's called for this team to be tougher and more accountable. Coach Stan's team has played in the mirror image of its coach all year. I don't know if there's a higher compliment you can give a coach than that.

...The House was rockin' like it was 1996 Monday night. Not an empty seat to be found. It was loud all game, but with 2:00 to play, I could sense the 12 years of frustration just boil over. Celebrate, Orlando! We have a present and a future.

...Keith Bogans doesn't get a whole lotta pub. As a matter of fact, Coach Stan admitted after the game that he was ready to yank Bogans in the fourth quarter. Thank goodness he left him in there. Bogans nailed a couple of huge three point daggers in the fourth. The biggest the shot at the 5:00 mark to push a two point lead to 5, 87-82. Then, Bogans would put the cherry on top with another bomb with just over 2:00 to play to make it 95-84. You'd never know that Keith Bogans was playing in his first playoff series, would you?

...My two favorite chants from Magic fans on Inside Magic Monday night: "Canadian Bacon".....and "Flop-ters....Flop-ters"

...How about the play of Rashard Lewis in this series? In game one, he shuts down Chris Bosh. In the final two games of the series he gets ya a couple of double-doubles. I guess Otis Smith knew what he was doing last summer after all, huh?

...If our second round opponent is nemesis Detroit, which I suspect it will be, beware Pistons! While I am in no way predicting a Magic victory, I will say this: This is not the team you swatted off your shoulder last year.