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Ball Don't Lie

Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:25 am EDT

Magic's secret singin' weapon remains undefeated

By J.E. Skeets


Forget the NBA Finals record 63% shooting mark. The Magic's Game 3 victory was all because of Gina.

Again.

Yes, Orlando improved to 6-0 in the playoffs — 7-0 on the season — when seven-year-old Gina Marie Incandela sings the "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Amway Arena. She belted another one of her stirring renditions on Tuesday night. The kids got pipes, I tell ya.

As we pointed out a few weeks ago: Gina was diagnosed at an early age with PDD NOS, a form of autism. Her parents, fearing their little girl would never be able to speak, enrolled her at the University of Central Florida, where instructors used music to help her speech. Shortly thereafter, she took a liking to LeAnn Rimes; when she heard Rimes' rendition of the national anthem, Gina mastered the tune.

Tuesday was her fifth straight appearance before a Magic home playoff game. She'll likely be asked to sing again before Thursday's Game 4 ... and between every single spin at Stan Van Gundy's favorite roulette table.

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86 Comments

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  1. Fighting Maroon
    1. Posted by Fighting Maroon Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:37 am EDT

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    Sigh.
  2. Nikki
    2. Posted by Nikki Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:38 am EDT

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    She was good!
  3. John
    3. Posted by John Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:48 am EDT

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    U-------c---------f!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. Lam
    4. Posted by Lam Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:51 am EDT

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    Way to go Gina.
  5. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    5. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:05 pm EDT

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    a couple great stories out of Orlando.... the boy w/ selective mutism was touching as well
    LAKERS in 6
  6. Walter E
    6. Posted by Walter E Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:12 pm EDT

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    Well, it wont hurt to lose 1 right gina? i mean,shes young we have to teach her how to lose too right? lessons in life kind of thing for the little girl...
    it will be useful when she grows up...
    lakers will get game4,lose game 5 and wrap it up in game 6!!!
  7. Anton
    7. Posted by Anton Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:13 pm EDT

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    Keep singing little one. Magic need two more to secure a little comfort.
  8. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    8. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:23 pm EDT

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    I think a FAT LADY is singing in game 4...
  9. ickytheicicle
    9. Posted by ickytheicicle Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:36 pm EDT

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    Kris Allen who?
  10. Giles
    10. Posted by Giles Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:37 pm EDT

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    I wonder if Kobe will cry again like he did when the Fakers lost to Detroit?
  11. Woo21
    11. Posted by Woo21 Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:38 pm EDT

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    I've seen her sing everytime at the arena and while I dont question the little girl can sing. 7 years old or not, what is the point of having anyone sing the national anthem when they dont know the words? Last night was really bad and it's getting worse each time she sings. Again, she's done a good job of hitting notes and she can sing. I just wish her mom or dad or even Otis Smith would teach her the words.
  12. imposibol
    12. Posted by imposibol Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:49 pm EDT

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    too bad it wont be enough.. la has games 6 and 7 LOL
  13. Gassy Garry
    13. Posted by Gassy Garry Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:53 pm EDT

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    Magic shot the highest percentage in NBA finals history & they barely won the game!! I think the LAKE SHOW has absolutely nothing to worry about!! Remember when the LAKE SHOW outplayed the MAGIC it is a BLOWOUT but when the Magic completely outplay the LAKE SHOW it is a 4 point win!!
    sorry MAgic fans but the LAKE SHOW WILL BE THE 2009 NBA CHAMPS GUARANTEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. Smokin Joe Fraze
    14. Posted by Smokin Joe Fraze Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:53 pm EDT

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    #10 Woo21, Apparently you missed the part about her having Autism (PDD NOS) and her parents fearing she would never say a word in her entire life?
    I just wish ignorant people would stop reproducing.
  15. Michael K
    15. Posted by Michael K Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:01 pm EDT

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    lol #13
    #12, your logic is faulty. look at the stats from game 2. magic shot around 30% or so and it still went into overtime. i hope the lakers really do feel the championship is guaranteed. thats when they're at their worst.
  16. sam spade
    16. Posted by sam spade Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:09 pm EDT

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    I thought she was good. As long as she's singing; the fat lady that Phil hired should book a flight back to LA. she won't be needed here.
  17. Smokin Joe Fraze
    17. Posted by Smokin Joe Fraze Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:10 pm EDT

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    #12 Gassy Garry Gonad, funny you should bring that up. Let me state the obvious first and foremost, your intelligence resembles that of Sloth in your avatar.
    The Magic shot 29 percent from the field in Game 1. The Lakers shot 51 percent in Game 3. There's a SLIGHT difference there. What really took place Cro Magnon Man is that LA had by far their best game of the series in game 3 and still lost. LA took 14 more shots than Orlando which is the biggest FGA differential thus far for them in the Finals. That 51 FG percentage.... is also their highest in the Finals. Gasol 9-11, Odom 4-6 and Farmar 4-6. See if you get that out of Gasol and Farmar again this series.
    The closing line in my post #13 also applies to you. Maybe next time you will gather important facts first to stop yourself from making such asinine statements?
  18. Woo21
    18. Posted by Woo21 Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:11 pm EDT

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    #13 like I said I think she can sing and she does a great job at hitting the notes. I wasn't picking on her I just asked what is the point of singing the national anthem and not knowing the words. It's really that simple and no malice was intended. Get over yourself.
  19. Peter Y
    19. Posted by Peter Y Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:36 pm EDT

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    What is with the Magic and special-needs kids? ABC showed a halftime special on a boy with selective mutism who only speaks at Magic games. ..
  20. f12
    20. Posted by f12 Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:48 pm EDT

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    the lakers never out played the magic's. that how u know that this lakers fans dont know nothing about basketball. the magic lost the first game cuz the shot 29 percent thats y theyy got blown out. they lost game 2 cuz of bad decision and turnovers 20 of them. game 3 the reason the lakers was close was cause that was turnover the ball again. if the magic would of shot 62% they would of lost because they was throwing the ball right to ariza and kobe. but they didnt. game 4 magic win game 5 kmagic wins and game 6 magic wins. magic world champs.
  21. Smokin Joe Fraze
    21. Posted by Smokin Joe Fraze Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    #18 lakers4evr, It's a big thing in the Orlando community to take care of peple who need it. That's why Orlando has the most caring fans and most caring players. There is not a dirty player on the entire Orlando Magic roster, very few teams can say that. Genuinely kind fans and genuinely kind players. No Kobe scowl and no LeBron poor sportsmanship.
  22. clippersfan!
    22. Posted by clippersfan! Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

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    Glassy Gary (#12) really exemplifies the ignorance of Lakers fans, or their laziness to just open a browser session, go to Yahoo! sports and pull up stats from the games...
    If you actually watched the game and tried to maintain a somewhat unbiased view you would have noticed the Magic made quite a few shots from within 16 feet and didnt shoot as many long J's as normal (only 14 3pt attempts). This is the key ifthey want to beat the Fakeshow
  23. BL
    23. Posted by BL Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    Didn't anyone know, Lakers are steak breakers. Soon enough after Gina sings, Orlando will be 6-1.
  24. Peter Y
    24. Posted by Peter Y Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:30 pm EDT

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    Re #20: "is not a dirty player on the entire Orlando Magic roster, "
    Smokin Joe Fraze, that phrase is usually associated with a team being called "too soft" to win a championship. That was mainly the knock on the Lakers last year. We had Kobe, but our bigs couldn't play rough enough. Gasol, Odom, Walton, Turiaf were not considered as "dirty" as Perkins, Garnett, PJ Brown, and Posey.
  25. Matthew
    25. Posted by Matthew Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:31 pm EDT

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    Her singing won't help them shoot 63% again. And apparently that's what it takes for them to barely beat the lakers.
    Lakers in 5 as I originally predicted...

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Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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