Magic try to move a game closer to Wizards
The Magic bring a road record of 6-15 (19-26 overall) to WAS, which has a 14-9 home mark (22-23 overall), and has won 3 home games in a row. The Wizards have a 3 game edge over the Magic for the last playoff spot in the East, and are a 6 pt favorite (www.pinnaclesports.com) to win tonight.
The Magic is 2-1 this season against WAS, and their 2 wins have come in part to a great defensive effort on Wizards' leading scorer Gilbert Arenas, who has shot only 28% in the 2 Magic wins, and has averaged just 20 pts per game in those 2 Magic wins, well under his 28 pts per game season average. Antawn Jamison averages 19.3 ppg and 10 rebounds, while Caron Butler averages 16.2 ppg. Dwight Howard has struggled against the Wizards in the 2 Magic wins, scoring a total of only 14 pts on 4 of 13 shooting. Thanks to his recent strong play, Steve Francis is averaging 17.3 ppg, and Howard is averaging 15.3 ppg and 12.6 rebs.
This game starts a five-game stretch for the Magic in which they play 4 on the road, with the lone home game against the Pistons. It looks like both JNelson and GHill will miss at least another few games. BHill will have to continue to make better use of the bench, and make better coaching adjustments during the game if necessary.
The Magic is 2-1 this season against WAS, and their 2 wins have come in part to a great defensive effort on Wizards' leading scorer Gilbert Arenas, who has shot only 28% in the 2 Magic wins, and has averaged just 20 pts per game in those 2 Magic wins, well under his 28 pts per game season average. Antawn Jamison averages 19.3 ppg and 10 rebounds, while Caron Butler averages 16.2 ppg. Dwight Howard has struggled against the Wizards in the 2 Magic wins, scoring a total of only 14 pts on 4 of 13 shooting. Thanks to his recent strong play, Steve Francis is averaging 17.3 ppg, and Howard is averaging 15.3 ppg and 12.6 rebs.
This game starts a five-game stretch for the Magic in which they play 4 on the road, with the lone home game against the Pistons. It looks like both JNelson and GHill will miss at least another few games. BHill will have to continue to make better use of the bench, and make better coaching adjustments during the game if necessary.
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 4:20 AM
3 Comments:
At 9:50 AM,
Matt said…
We match up well against the Wizards. All left is mental preparation and a good defensive scheme from the coach. What we need to avoid is to fall behind early having to compromise defense for more offense.
At 3:48 PM,
Big Figure said…
I always say that winning for us is more about us playing our game,and not about how good or bad the opposing team is,dwight and tony set the tone in every game we play,when they play like their capable,the rest of the magic usually follow along,partly b/c the other team see's that they are being dominated in the post and then their guards start help defending,well thats what opens it up for hedo,pat & trav,which also makes for good driving lanes for deshawn,steve & keyon,if dwight and tony play inspired tonight,there's no doubt in my mind we'll get the win!
At 4:03 PM,
Big Figure said…
When the magic wins,its b/c the guys are figuring out their opponent on the go in the middle of games,and what brought me to that concluson is the fact that when we start games,it doesnt seem like we have a set offensive scheme,in the begining i was happy about the hiring of BS HILL b/c he brought with him the princeton offense,but he scrapped it before the whole team was healthy,which is why i believe coach has no backbone,and isnt tough enough mentally b/c of what happened here in orlando before,and its leaving our team with no direction from night to night,when we win the guys get all the credit!
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