Where is Orlando's Killer Instinct?

After watching the Orlando Magic come out flat and play a dud in their Game 1 loss to the Celtics, I immediately thought two things: 1) The Magic weren't going to roll undefeated to the Finals, and 2) They were bound to come out firing on all cylinders in Game 2.

Seemed logical, right? In all fairness to the Magic, they had had six days off since finishing their 4-game demolition of the Hawks, so perhaps it wasn't too surprising that they came out rusty and weren't at the top of their game in the Eastern Conference Finals opener. It happens.

But Game 2? That was inexcusable. Once again, the Magic looked lackluster, falling behind by as much as 11, and although they briefly went ahead by a point after another patented Celtics 4th-quarter collapse, they ultimately succumbed to Boston, 95-92.

Two underwhelming performances. Two home games lost. One sizeable deficit to make up in the series.

The officials during these first two games have been atrocious, with egregious calls and non-calls against both teams, but honestly, who hasn't come to expect this by now? They're simply terrible at what they do.

I'm not gonna talk about the refs now, though. No, what's most surprising -- and disappointing -- about this series thus far is the noticeable lack of, to borrow one of Walt Clyde Frazier's patented phrases, "fire and desire" in the Magic's play.

Where is their killer instinct?

During these past two games, Orlando has had none. The team has looked flat, disjointed, and uninspired. In Game 2, they were terrible in the clutch. Vince Carter conjured up memories of Nick Anderson circa 1995 by missing two huge free throws with Orlando trailing by three and 30 seconds left. The Magic got a needed stop on Boston's next possession, but then J.J. Reddick made a boneheaded play after he secured the rebound by dribbling to near half court and then calling a timeout with just three and a half seconds left. Had he called timeout before dribbling -- or dribbled past half court -- the Magic would've gotten to inbound the ball in front of the half court line, with plenty of time to get up a potential game-tying three. But because J.J. -- smart Duke grad that he is -- did neither of those things, Orlando was forced to inbound at about three-quarters court, behind the half court line. Jameer Nelson's desperation heave was well short.

I'm really disappointed in the Magic. I thought they were legitimate championship material this year. And while I know the series isn't over and anything can happen, the Magic really haven't done anything to suggest that they have what it takes to win this series.

Dwight Howard has been largely ineffective trying to post up against Kendrick Perkins and Big Baby Davis. Mickael Pietrus and Rashard Lewis have done nothing. Seriously, watching Game 2 last night, I completely forgot that they were on the team. And that's saying something, considering the fact that both played big roles in the team's thrashing of Atlanta. Vince and J.J. have probably been Orlando's best players in Games 1 and 2, but obviously the two of them aren't impervious to choking in the clutch.

Most of all, the Magic just seem to be missing that something to get them over the hump. They don't have the swagger of a champion. Even going back to last year's Finals against the Lakers, it just seems like when the game's on the line, the Magic players shrink from the moment. They lack leadership in the most crucial times.

A week ago, I thought that the Magic were ready to dethrone the Lakers. Sadly, it now looks like Orlando won't even get back to the Finals.