Magic G Mickael Pietrus insists life is good, despite losing bid for NBA title

Mickael Pietrus insists he has no regrets.

Pietrus didn’t flash his thousand-watt smile minutes after the Magic fell 99-86 to the Lakers and Los Angeles clinched the NBA title on Sunday night, but he still managed to put a positive spin on Orlando’s playoff run.

“It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “I always dreamed about making it to the NBA Finals and this team worked very hard together. It was very special for us. I wish we could have won the championship, but we learned a lot as a team.”

Pietrus is one of many Magic players who has displayed a remarkable ability to shrug off adversity.
He said he doesn’t think about missing an off-balance jumper in the waning seconds of regulation during a pivotal Game 4 that could have given Orlando another precious win. And he refuses to discuss any of his defensive decisions or errant shots throughout the playoffs.

“The Lakers played very well and we hope to do the same thing they did next year,” Pietrus said. “They went to the NBA Finals and lost last year. This year, they came back stronger and they are champions. We will work hard this offseason and want to become champions.”

It’s the same optimistic outlook Pietrus has been pushing all season.

He doesn’t get as much attention as smile king Dwight Howard, but he proved to be a happy-go-lucky tour de force for the Magic.

“I think life is good and no matter what, no matter the situation you’re in, you have to get a smile on your face,” he said.

The team has been criticized for smiling a little too much and having too much fun throughout the playoffs, but Orlando has never been fueled by the frowns favored by the Lakers.

“That’s our team,” point guard Rafer Alston said. “That’s who we’ve been all season.”

Pietrus relished his role as the Magic’s secret weapon coming off the bench during the postseason, but he was one of many guns that misfired Sunday night.

He finished Game 5 with four points on 2-of-5 field-goal shooting in 16 minutes.

He entered Sunday averaging 10.8 points in 26.1 minutes per game in the playoffs. Along with timely 3-pointers, Pietrus played relentless defense. He drew some of the Magic’s toughest assignments, often guarding the Cavs’ LeBron James and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.

Orlando was much stronger in the playoffs when Pietrus also packed an offensive punch. The team went 9-4 in the postseason when Pietrus scored more than 10 points and 4-7 when he failed to score at least 11 for the Magic.

“I learned how tough it is in the NBA and how tough it is to win in the playoffs,” he said. “We are down right now, but we will come back from this stronger.”