2001 ECR1 Game 3: T-Mac antagonizes the shit out of "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson, calling him "Puppy Dog"; Ray Allen posterizes T-Mac with 3s left to send game to OT. The Magic, without Grant Hill but with the league's most improved player Tracy McGrady, were on the brink of elimination after dropping the first 2 games against a strong Bucks team featuring Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Glenn Robinson, and Tim Thomas. Despite losing the first two games, Tracy McGrady was able to shut down Big Dog. Cue the shit-talking. There was a shoving-match/fight in this game that I couldn't find footage of. This was an incredibly physical game. The Magic held a big lead but collapsed late in the 4th. T-Mac would not be denied in the OT. McGrady ended up tying Penny Hardaway's Magic playoff record 42pts. The Bucks would win Game 4 and advance, where they lost to the Allen Iverson and the Finals-bound Sixers in 7 games. This was T-Mac's first season as the main man after leaving Toronto and cousin Vince Carter; some in the media were beginning to question whether letting McGrady go instead of VC was the right move.
The 2001 season was a magical one for the NBA. It was the last season that zone defense was banned. It was the last time no team finished with 60 wins (the Spurs had 58 wins and the league's best record). Mike Miller of the Magic won rookie of the year. A sign of the changing times, this was the first season the league permitted players to wear knee-length shorts, although some players like John Stockton opted to stick with the short shorts. This season also had the largest players in NBA history: the average player weight of 227.8lbs is the most of any season; the next closest was 2011 at 224.8lbs.
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T-Mac: 42pts (14-32) 8reb 10ast 3stl 2blk
Allen: 27pts (11-20) 3reb 6ast 3stl 1blk
Cassell: 21pts 16reb 5ast 2stl 1blk
Big Dog: 14pts 5reb 2ast 2stl 1blk
🎶: Who Let the Dogs Out?" by Baja Men was released in 2000.
