Game 4 of these NBA Finals was a game of two halves - and two very different coaches.

In the first half, the Magic did exactly what was necessary to win the basketball game. In the second half, they did almost the opposite.

It was clear from the outset that the Magic had identified the only way they saw that they could win against the Lakers: hustle and effort. Out-hustle the Lakers on both ends of the floor, use Dwight Howard as the Windex Man, and stay aggressive on the offensive end with Turkoglu and Alston attacking the rim whenever a sliver of daylight welcomed them closer to the rim. Crisp ball movement lead to 4 wide open threes for Courtney Lee, who only nailed one of those shots to start the game, but it was obvious the strategy could work, and for the first half it did - sort of.

The thing is, even with the Magic drawing at least two fouls on Laker big men Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and a generally ineffective Lamar Odom, the Magic could only muster a 49-37 lead at the half. Dwight Howard's rebound total at the break was equal to that of the entire Laker team. And yet, if you're Phil Jackson walking into that locker room at halftime, you have to feel pretty confident.

Why? Rashard Lewis was a no-show. Stan Van Gundy played Dwight Howard all but 4 minutes in the first half, when the foul trouble on the Laker's top 3 big men could have been an opportunity to save Howard's strength for the second half while giving Marcin Gortat a chance to shred the likes of Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga down low. And if the Laker bigs, who were sitting on the bench with all that foul trouble, could come out in the second half and neutralize the effectiveness of a tired Dwight Howard, the game could be theirs if someone other than Kobe could hit some shots.

Just before the half, I commented to myself (since the only person in the room with me was my wife, and she was reading fan fiction online) that Phil Jackson had somehow managed to stay close in an abysmal first half through his usual patience - he did not give in to any temptation to put any of those big men in foul trouble back in the game, and allowed Kobe to try to just keep the team within striking distance until the break. And in the second half, it was clear his patience in the first half was rewarded.

Coming out of intermission, the Laker offense was crisp. Trevor Ariza lit a fire under his team, scoring 13 points in the third quarter, giving Kobe the help he sorely lacked in the first half. But the Magic came out in the second half looking much slower as a team. Dwight Howard was still running from end to end, but not quite as quickly as he did in the outset and for some reason, either fatigue or via a potentially questionable halftime adjustment, Rafer Alston wasn't looking to push the ball as hard as they did before the break. This allowed the Laker defense to recover quickly, stopping the ball movement that is the hallmark of Orlando's offense when running well. When it stagnated, Magic PG Rafer Alston began massaging the ball a little too much, prompting Stan Van Gundy to give in to the ultimate temptation that would lead to his undoing.

Instead of calling a timeout to coach up Alston and get his team flowing offensively, he substituted for him. Enter Jameer Nelson, the former starting point guard who missed most of the second half of the season due to surgery on his shoulder.

Nelson's game does not include much in the way of crafty moves toward the bucket, so with Alston absent, it left Turkoglu as the only Magic player capable of creating off the dribble. And as with every other appearance he's made in this series, Nelson's decision-making was erratic. In particular, he was late on several entry passes to Howard, who was still getting solid post position on Laker defenders even if he was getting to his spots a second later than he had been in the first half, and although Nelson logged 26 minutes of total time on the floor, he only mustered a box score of two points, three rebounds, three assists and one turnover.  Plus, his failed rotations are what left Laker guard Derek Fisher wide open from three to hit two key three pointers in regulation and overtime that sealed the deal for the Lakers.

Despite the errors of the head coach, the Magic still could have won this game. If they shoot better than 22-37 from the free throw line, they win - in fact, if Hedo Turkoglu makes his 4 key free throws he missed in crunch time, this team wins. If Rashard Lewis can hit anything from the field (and, for that matter, if he takes more than 10 shots in 4 quarters and overtime) they probably score enough to win. If they don't commit 17 turnovers, leading, in part, to 19 Laker fast break points, they win. And, I will submit to you if someone in a white jersey runs the floor hard enough to follow up Mickael Pietrus' missed layup late in the 4th quarter, the outcome of the game may have been different.

(Contrast that play with a very similar play in the first half where JJ Redick slips on his way to an uncontested layup and is able to toss the ball over his head to a trailing teammate who is able to finish the play. Where was the trailer in the second half?)

If you live by the jump shot, you die by it, both offensively and defensively. The Orlando Magic have to do some soul searching between now and game 5 to see if they can find the strength and energy to play a full 48 minutes on both ends of the court with the same energy they were able to muster in the first 24. And they have to decide which point guard they believe can lead this team toward winning three games in a row against a very determined Kobe Bryant and the rest of this highly talented Laker team.

Unfortunately for them, they have no more room for error. One misstep, and it all could be over. While I am not totally ready to write off Orlando in game 5, I think it's pretty safe to say their days are numbered.

I blame everyone.

I blame the media.

I blame John Madden.

I blame the Green Bay Packers.

I blame the Green Bay Packer fans.

I blame Brett Favre.

I blame me and you and every sports fan I know.

Because we created this monster, and now it just won't go away. We're all Dr. Frankenstein, and this one man will haunt us until the end of our days. We let this man get bigger than the game, and now he has a franchise and essentially an entire state of people who put more stock in who is the quarterback of their football team than they do the actual issues of the world.

People protested at Lambeau Field last week. Brett Favre's interview last night wasn't on ESPN, or even Fox Sports. It was on Fox NEWS. And it was the lead story instead of an interview with current Senator and Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain. As oil prices skyrocket, the housing market plummets, people lose house and home and employment, Brett Favre is the lead story on Fox News.

What the hell happened to this country?

I am a sports fan. I am a pretty avid one, at that. But I also take the time to read and pay attention to other things, like politics, the economy, and paying my own bills. I write a sports blog because I enjoy writing and I think I am particularly good at it. But I will never protest at the Metrodome if somehow the Twins trade Justin Morneau in his fading years (assuming they even spend enough to keep him that long). I certainly wouldn't be the television producer who chooses to lead with an interview with Brett Favre over a Presidential Nominee, and I sure as hell don't see why Brett Favre should be pandered to like this.

He's only one man - a man who happens to play a game for a living, at that. A man who now, it seems, feels if his image isn't included in the NFL logo (a la Jerry West), or at least in the Packer logo, his legacy is tarnished.

This may be an exaggeration, but I really am not so sure anymore. Brett Favre has spent this whole off-season going back and forth as to whether or not he wants to play, only to come to the final conclusion that, indeed, he is 100% committed to football just a couple of weeks before the beginning of Packers training camp. And he is stunned when he's told, "Sorry, Brett, but we've moved on."

He says he's fine with them moving on. Yet, if he's okay with that, why all this?

This should be seen as nothing short of unacceptable. But, here we are, with millions questioning what the Packers should do. Here Brett is, demanding not a trade, but an unconditional release, as he feels he has earned that right. He feels the Packers are not telling the whole truth about him. And yet, after hearing his interview with Greta Van Susteren, I am not sure what that truth really is.

Consider that Van Susteren is, in fact, a Favre family friend and an admitted Packer fan who owns stock in the team. Not surprisingly, he really didn't have anything to say of any real consequence, for there were no hard questions forcing him to do so.

He said he felt pressured into giving an answer, an "honest" one, back in March. But he knew - he had to know - that if he made that decision at that time and were to change his mind later, it would create nothing but trouble. But he did not seem to take it into consideration. He says, "It's unfortunate that it came to this." But he does not make the connection, conveniently, that it came to this because of HIM.

Favre did his best to do a little damage control while clearly attacking Packers brass for lying to the media and, thus, the public about Brett Favre. In essence, he blames the Packers organization, specifically Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, for asking him for a decision too early for him to be able to make up his mind. Yet, he seemed pretty certain when he gave that tear-filled retirement press conference back in March.

Last night he was also abundantly clear on his current demands: "Give me my helmet, release me or attempt to trade me."

Van Susteren's comments to the AP ahead of the interview seem to indicate otherwise. From the AP story, Van Susteren said that, "while Favre said the Packers asked him for a list of teams to which he would accept a trade, he wants to be released to make sure he ends up on a competitive club."

Only in sports are employees remotely allowed to give demands of their employers. Even then, if they do make a demand, they should be prepared to get an answer they do not like (just ask Terrell Owens). However, Favre did not speak as if he were a subordinate. Favre spoke as if he were the owner of the Packers. He compared himself to Bart Starr in the interview and seemed to speak as if he were Vince Lombardi himself back from the grave.

This is partly true, if only because it is currently Favre who is haunting Lambeau Field.

As I said before, I do not just blame Favre for this mess. I blame us all for making deities out of mortals paid to play a game. I blame the "Brett Favre is Brett Favre" attitude people like John Madden trot out there not only to extol the virtues of a player, but to excuse their otherwise unacceptable behavior. And I blame everyone else connected to the sports world, for we have created the hype machine Favre is feeding off of, and nobody's truly called him out.

This may never happen, for Favre is insulated enough now to be able to pull a President Bush and choose who he speaks to and what softball questions he will answer, if any. Answers will never be extracted from this King of Beer Country. Why would you retire if you might have the itch? If you feel so entitled to making your own decision, why not tell the Packers you need more time and force them to leave the door open? Why agree to a press conference you know there's a chance will look like a sham within just a few months time?

Sadly, we know the answers, just as we all know where this is headed. Brett Favre will return to the Packers, lest the front office feel the wrath of their rabid fan base, willing to march on Lambeau Field rather than allow the team to make decisions on its own. And in a year, this whole drama will play itself out yet again, as the Packers wring their hands through another offseason and Favre sits in his home in Mississippi, sipping on a drink, riding his Snapper lawn mower, content to hold an entire organization hostage for one more year.

And the most we have gotten out of Brett Favre in this whole mess is a venting session with, basically, an influential fan....

They pressured me into a decision.

I wasn't committed then.

"Give me my helmet, release me or attempt to trade me."

Sounds like a lot of whining and demanding to me. This is, essentially, a tantrum from a 30-something millionaire quarterback. Brett Favre wants his way.When it's all said and done, Brett Favre will have whined his way back into a Packer uniform. Lucky for him, there's a lot of cheese up in Wisconsin to pair it with.

Good thing there aren't more important things going on in the world, huh?

Just when I think I can get a routine down on this whole blogging thing, life intervenes.

So, a day late and a dollar short, here it is...

I keep looking at this team, and I keep feeling something is missing. I know I have spent a lot of time talking about what the Twins could do to improve their chances of overtaking the White Sox and winning the division this year. It would be quite the feat to do so, considering all the talk that this team was "building toward 2010", and the simple fact that this team continues to hit insanely well with runners in scoring position without getting most of those runs off the long ball, which seems to be a staple of offense for every other team in the league.

Moreover, this team continues to win in spite of the continued struggles of Delmon Young, the undisciplined approach of Carlos Gomez and the disappointing year Micnael Cuddyer has had thus far, both from a health standpoint and a production standpoint . Plus, this team lost their set-up man for the year, forcing the rest of the bullpen to shift their roles and get used in situations they simply are not comfortable finding themselves in. Matt Guerrier is not a set up man yet. Brian Bass probably should not be in the majors. Jessie Crain probably should not be called upon as much as he has been, as this is his first season after major shoulder surgery.

Oh yeah, and this team has a ridiculously patchwork "platoon" manning third base.

Yet, here they are, within spitting distance of first place in the division, and most recently won 3 of 4 games against the Detroit Tigers, a division rival. This comes after a 3 game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox in Fenway. The bounce-back from that embarrassing series sweep might very well be a signal that this team is for real. However, the fact that they could not get a sweep of their own in the Detroit series, especially when they remained tied with the Tigers as they got into the 5th inning, shows there are still things missing from this ballclub.

I believe this team must address their killer instinct in the second half if they wish to propel themselves into the postseason and make any kind of significant run.

So, Bill Smith, GM of the Minnesota Twins, let's have a seat here. I would like to discuss a few things with you, if you don't mind.

You were with this team back in 2006, as an assistant GM under Terry Ryan. You watched this team make an improbable run to the playoffs, winning the division and earning a postseason berth against the Oakland A's in the first round. To some, getting Oakland in the first round might have been the better draw than to be in the wild card slot, taking on the Yankees.

Back then, however, some of us felt differently. This team thrived on being the underdog, being the little team that could. Had they had the opening matchup against the juggernaut Yankees, I believe this team would have answered that challenge as yet another mountain to climb and would have won that series. But that's a lot of "what-ifs". However, I think this attitude may be pretty similar this year, if the Twins continue this run and manage to somehow make it into the playoffs without any changes to the lineup or pitching staff.

What this team needs to take the next step and get into the playoffs and beyond is an infusion not only of confidence, but killer instinct. The utmost belief that when you go out on that field, you're not just looking for a chance to win, you're looking to beat the other team. You're taking this game from them and they will have to fight tooth and nail to take it from you. This is what great teams do.

How do you accomplish this?

For one thing, listen to your manager a little: bolster this bullpen. You acquire a set-up man who can help shorten the game to get the ball to Joe Nathan with the lead in the ninth. This need is even more acute since you have a manager who refuses to use Nathan in any other situation that might stretch him beyond the obvious "save" situation. Giving Gardy someone else to call upon in the 8thwho can shut opponents down will take care of this problem.

Knowing that opponents only really have through the 6th or 7th inning to get ahead of you is a gigantic mental boost, and certainly can affect this team's confidence level. Plus, having one more shut-down guy along with Joe Nathan could really boost the killer instinct level in this pitching corps, something particularly lacking in that bullpen. As a fan sitting either at home on the couch or in the stands, I feel a large amount of uneasiness whenever Gardy goes to the mound to call upon the bullpen. If I do not have confidence, as a fan, how do the players feel?

I think it is also time to start punishing your young players for not playing up to major league standards. This is not necessarily your province, but you might want to suggest it to your Manager, after you listen to him a little.

When Casilla blows play after play at second, sit him for a day. Let him think about how important defense really is to this ballclub. The same should be true for Delmon Young. Make him work harder on his defense, make sure he shows improvement in the field and at the plate, or else send him down and keep Denard Span in the majors.

In fact, perhaps this should be done with Carlos Gomez. He's flailing at the plate. The patient approach Casilla shows at the plate clearly has not rubbed off on his best buddy on the team, and yet there has been no effort to minimize the negative impact his recklessness has on the rest of the lineup and thus, this team's chances of winning. Move him to the 9th spot until he figures it out, or demote him to the minors when Cuddyer returns.

Accepting anything less than a winning approach to the game is not something a team should do at any level, in any stage of a building process. If you do not show your players that their continued mistakes will not be tolerated, they will not learn. There must be consequences for a clear lack of willingness to learn from one's mistakes.

What might help mitigate these factors would be some added pop to the lineup, particularly against left-handed starters, as your manager suggested. Craig Monroe has shown signs of life, but clearly is not a guy who can be counted on to produce on a consistent basis against righties. Mike Lamb's acquisition has been a bit of a bust. Making a move to acquire, say, Adrian Beltre might be a worthy endeavor. You lose nothing in terms of defense, and you add a solid, right-handed power bat at a power position. Not a bad move, depending on what you have to give up to acquire him and how much of his large salary you can get the Mariners to eat.

Making this kind of move would signal the exact opposite of the signal sent in the second half of last year, when this team clearly threw up the white flag and traded Luis Castillo to the Mets for prospects.  This would be a boon not only to the fan base, but I think to the rest of the team. Certainly your stalwarts in the middle of the lineup, Mauer and Morneau, would know that they will not be the only ones carrying the load as this team starts the pennant race in earnest. More firepower in the lineup breeds further confidence and the belief that the game is theirs and you have to take it from them.

This is killer instinct. It starts from the top. Teams that win championships do so because their front office has that instinct - the willingness to make bold decisions to take advantage of opponents' weaknesses while mitigating their own. The rest of this division is weak this year. The Twins are pretty strong, Mr. Smith. Make your team stronger. Show that this is not a stepping stone year, that you're willing to throw it away if the team does not win as currently constructed. Some tweaks and a slight shift in thinking could have you, Mr. Smith, as the GM who finally made the Twins a champion.

The first step toward winning a championship is always made from the top. Show your killer instinct, Bill Smith. Make some moves, hold some guys accountable and see if you can make this team a contender a year or two early. You might be glad you did.

I think your phone is ringing. You probably want to get that; it might be the Mariners calling back...