It's intangible. There's no manual on how to acquire it.
It's one of those mystical things in sports.
It's team chemistry.
Sports teams can have all the talent in the world, but if they don't have that elusive team chemistry, they're not worth their weight in gold.
While ya really can't put your finger on it, we all know that the Orlando Magic's team chemistry has been outstanding all season long.
This team is truly that, a team. These guys genuinely like one another. They have great respect for their coach and their organization. They genuinely enjoy each other's company and it translates on the court.
Team chemistry shows in the incredible resolve this Magic club has had all season long. Nowhere has that been more evident in these 2009 NBA Playoffs. No lead has been safe against them.
You look at the Cleveland series. The Magic would trail by 16, 23 and 22 points vs. Cleveland on the road and yet, this team would rally in all three of those games. One of them they won. In another, it took a LeBron miracle three at the buzzer to temporarily ease the Cavs' misery.
Look at the Boston series. The Magic became the first team in the history of the NBA to rally from a 2-3 series deficit vs. the vaunted C's.
Heck, even in the Philly series, this team goes into hostile territory and wipes the floor with the Sixers in game six without stud Dwight Howard.
Those are just a few examples. It's obvious that the Orlando Magic have had team chemistry on their side all season long.
But, for the first time this season, we are all wondering if that chemistry is fading at the most important time of the year.
I admire Stan Van Gundy for doing what he did in game one of the finals. He stuck his neck, and pretty much every other body part, out and played Jameer Nelson. He played Jameer despite the fact that the little guy had been sidelined the last four months.
I like the gutsy decision. At this time of year, you want your best players on the court. As the series extends, I think you are going to see Jameer get more and more comfortable and conditioned. I also believe that you will see Jameer make more and more of a positive impact upon this series. If there's one thing we have learned about Jameer Nelson over the last five years, it's the fact he is at his best when the odds are greatest and when the entire world doubts him.
However, the one great unknown in making the decision to play Jameer in this series is this....How will it affect the great team chemistry this team has enjoyed?
It's hard to tell after the game one whoopin' we took. Does a lack of team chemistry cause us to shoot 29.9% from the field. Does a lack of chemistry cause us to get-rebounded 55-41? Does a lack of chemistry lead to Kobe putting up 40 on us? Does a lack of chemistry result in Dwight Howard hitting on just one field goal?
I don't think so. I just think the Lakers were dead on Thursday night. We were flat. It happens.
But, let's all keep our eye on this whole team chemistry thing in game two.
I don't know exactly what it is. But, I'll know when we have it...and I'll know when we don't.