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The Magic finished their season as the number one team in the East with over 60 wins. Ion missed six regular season games due to a right ankle sprain, an injury that had cropped up several times throughout his career, a small concern but one the team doctors still kept a close eye on.
Falls was one of the best players on the planet, but even so there were many holes in his game. Despite having the ball-handling abilities to not get stripped (ball-security 90) and make accurate passes (90) Ion still never took his defenders off the dribble (average or poor dribbling abilities), instead probing for unforced defensive mistakes rather than trying to create them with isolation moves. With a one-dimensional post game consisting mostly of the post fadeaway (great) and everything else being average, and electing for wide open jumpers or a fadeaway shots (great) he still could not shake the reputation that dogged him all those years ago as a rookie; Falls settled for non-aggressive, “soft” moves that took him away from the basket.
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Reunited with Howard, Ion took full advantage on the court, looking for his big man to finish alley-oops from everywhere on the floor. Half court or in transition, it didn’t matter, the two seemed to have a near-psychic connection. Their chemistry on the hardwood translated off of it as well, often appearing together in endorsements and at community events. They were generally regarded as the most dynamic duo since Jordan and Pippen and one of the most media-friendly pairings of teammates ever.
21 ended the regular season as the repeat MVP and winner of the league’s Most Improved Player for the third time.
He was the league leader in assists at 8.6 per game. Most of these came off of pick and rolls with Howard, Love, their back up big man Gale Estrada, acquired from Cleveland in the previous year’s trade and athletic role-player Earl Clark. Falls would also post up, as in previous years, and when the opponent brought the double team he could kick out to shooters like Ryan Andersen, Love and Willie Warren. Falls was also very good at keeping his head up off of defensive rebounds, which he excelled at (8.3 tRebs), to hit his wings in transition for quick threes.
Defensively his game had reached a new level. His length and quickness allowed him to disrupt passing lanes and his matchup against big men let his quicker hands poke away the ball. He averaged 2.7 steals per contest that year, leading the NBA, and almost 2 blocks (1.9 blks/game). He trusted his teammate more and stayed home on his man, not giving up those wide-open shots he did so often during his early years in the league. Being named Defensive Player of the Year was something many around the game of basketball never predicted for Falls.
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The Magic roared into the playoffs on an eight game win-streak. For the post-season Falls dyed his mohawk blue to match the colors of the Magic franchise.
It must have worked because Orlando stormed the finals enroute to a 4-1 series victory over the Kevin Durant-led Phoenix Suns for the Magic’s second championship in three years and third consecutive for Falls. Once again named Finals MVP Ion Falls was a happy man at the top of the basketball world. His past was bright but his future looked brighter still, as a part of a seemingly unstoppable one-two combo with super-star big man Dwight Howard. The Magic, to all the world, looked poised to create the greatest Dynasty since the six-time champion Bulls over two decades before.
It was all that promise of greatness that made it hurt so much when everything fell apart.
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