Time for Magic to take the next step

Last year when Orlando defeated the Toronto Raptors in Game Five, the feeling was relief. Relief that 12 years of playoff futility was finally overcome and that the Conference Semifinals were a reality.

It had been a long time since the Magic could play that deep in the postseason. The last time Orlando was in the second round of the playoffs, Dwight Howard was 12 years old. He and the Magic have done a significant amount of growing up since then.

That series with Detroit was a true growing experience for this young Orlando team. It was a taste of the kind of postseason success this team can have.

Now the Magic are back in the conference semifinals with a year of seasoning. And they get maybe the most seasoned team to test themselves with in Boston. The perfect test.

It will not be easy for Orlando to get past the defending champions. The Celtics are certainly a team that knows how to defend, execute and win.

It will not be an easy road through Boston to reach the team's first conference final since 1996.

But now is the time for the Magic to dig deep and do it. There are no excuses now.

The way the team played in the first round against Philadelphia will not make it against teams this deep in the playoffs. The effort has to be there the entire series in order to close this one out.

Orlando looked like it coasted through its first round series. That is not a championship attitude. The team and general manager Otis Smith has been talking about winning a title the entire season. Now is the time to play like it.

It is said to be the champs, you have to beat the champs. Right now, the Magic have the chance to dethrone the champs -- Kevin Garnett or not.

This is not a chance the team can let go.

I will admit, I do not think this is the year the Magic win their title. I do not think they have shown the maturity or have the seasoning to do it -- plus it does not have that special feeling. But Orlando has proven me wrong throughout the past two seasons. The team has found ways to win games and just grind its way through poor play.

The Magic cannot have this mentality anymore. Now it is time to win. As Dwight Howard says, it is time to dominate.

That is what it will take to make the next step.