Orlando Magic Blog

Group Blog talking about the NBA 2009 Eastern Conference Champions. Due to the amazing success of the 2009 playoff run comments are now frequently deleted to kill offensive comments, incoherence, or asininity. Comments can no longer be anonymous and require either a Blogger or OpenID account.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Howard's huge game leads Magic over MIN

Dwight Howard looked like he did against CHI on opening night, as he dominated the T-Wolves with 21 pts and 22 rebounds (and 0 TOs) in the Magic's 109-98 victory, their first road win of the season. ORL is now 4-3, MIN 2-4.

GHill was deactivated as a precautionary measure, but the other players stepped up. Five other Magic players (besides Dwight) scored in double figures, including 4 players off the bench. JNelson led the Magic with 23 pts on 8 of 13 shooting. Darko led the reserves with a season-best 15 pts, followed by PGarrity with 11 pts, and KDooling and TAriza with 10 pts apiece. KG led MIN with 28 pts 11 rebs, and Ricky Davis added 16 pts.

The Magic (41 of 82; 50%) outscored MIN (31 of 70; 44.3%) 85-65 from the floor, though the Magic shot just 3 of 11 from 3 pt range. MIN (33-37; 89.2%) had the edge at the FT line over the Magic (24 of 32; 75%), though the Magic shot FTs much better than they have been. ORL dominated the boards 46-28, and had their best assist/turnover ratio of the year at 21-11. MIN had a similar ratio of 20-11. The Magic bench came up huge, outscoring the MIN bench 52-23.

Nice to see BHill make much better use of the bench than he did against the Pacers. Darko was given 24 minutes of playing time and did very well, posing match-up problems for MIN. Even Garrity scored in double figures. Only 3 TOs by the starting five... and what a dominating performance by Dwight! Keith Bogans (5 pts 3 assists 2 rebs) was steady in replacing Grant in the lineup. A very encouraging win after a very discouraging loss the previous night.

posted by Mike from Illinois @ 12:23 AM  

5 Comments:

  • At 3:45 AM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    Garrity shot 7 FT's tonight, even though 3 of them came on a 3 point attempt where someone jumped at him. As always, our lead went down every time he was on the floor. Again, Darko should have been out there at the end. I understand taking him out because of the 5 fouls, but at some point he should go back in. The ONLY valid excuse for Garrity playing any 4th quarter minutes is if the Magic are up by 25, down by 25, or need a desperate 3.

    Brian Hill still sucks, but his rotations were a TAD better.

    I was happy to see Bogans getting some minutes rather than all of them going to Dooling.

    I'm really going to enjoy watching Ariza. I forgot how much I like his game. He could be a starter one of these years.

    Darko and Dwight continue to shine when they are on the floor together. How many times does Brian Hill need to be smacked in the face before he wakes up?

    I've been holding my tongue in regards to Grant Hill all year, but I think it's obvious that our team isn't used to having him in the starting 5 or playing with him at all. I also don't think Hill and Nelson compliment each other in the backcourt together. Hopefully it'll come with time, but right now that chemistry is not there. As far as Hill goes, he's looking great. But I wonder if his playmaking and rebounding will ever get back to where it used to be. A lot of factors in there; age, timing, and chemistry with teammates; and right now it's just not happening.

    It's good to see both of our young leaders step up!

     

  • At 11:01 AM, Blogger Matt said…

    As was the case in Indiana's game, as well as last night, when Darko was in instead of Battie or Garrity, the team was more dominant both offensively and defensively. Therefore, the question is: Why not start Darko? It is incumbent upon Otis Smith to impose the change on Hill. In all honesty I am losing my patience with or my confidence in Otis. Allowing Garrity to finish the game last night, where the lead was dwindled towards the end, while Darko still had one foul to give, was plain foolish.

     

  • At 11:15 AM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    The timberwolves are bad,and the magic did what good teams do,win the games you should win,i'm not gonna give a whole lot of credit to BSH for the victory,but the players need some recognition for not turning over the ball so much,on to boston another game the magic should win,but will they?

     

  • At 2:40 PM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    I read something funny that I thought I'd share with you guys. Over at OrlandoMagic.com on the message boards, the guy that was named as the "fan voice" had this to say.

    Player Spotlight
    Pat Garrity again had an off-night. But here is the funny thing about Garrity....yes, he takes some hits on the message boards, but I get the feeling that we, as fans, are just dying for this guy to succeed. I listened closely last night when Garrity had the ball, and the swell of crowd noise, the anticipation of his shot, was more than for any other player. Likewise, when he missed his threes, the groans were equally formidable. I think when Garrity hits a hot streak in a game, the O-rena will go nuts.

     

  • At 6:07 PM, Blogger Matt said…

    We don't have any ill will for Garrity, and yet we are logical about what is right for the team. If the bonehead coach is going to use him, we might as well wish for his success in hitting the shots when he is so open. However, the opponents are looking at the stats, as well, and since they know of his slump, he is not going to be of any use in spreading the floor. That may have been just about as much as he could help the team since his defensive liability wipes out his occasional shot making. It is that plain and simple.

     

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