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.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Magic end road trip on losing note

Despite a relatively flat performance against IND (10-10) that resulted in a 94-80 loss, the Magic (14-6, 7-5 road) finished their longest road trip of the season at a very respectable 4-2. They are 2 1/2 games ahead of DET and CLE in the Eastern Conference, and 4 1/2 games ahead of ATL in the SE.

DHoward led the Magic with 20 pts 8 rebs. GHill added 16 pts, but just 2 after the first quarter. JNelson scored 12 pts, and CArroyo led the reserves with 11 pts. However, Nelson and Arroyo had just 1 assist each. Darko was no factor with just 2 pts in 14 minutes. Rookie J.J. Redick saw 9 minutes of time and scored 4 pts. IND was led by Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson, who scored 26 pts each on 21 of 32 shooting. Jermaine O'Neal added 11 pts. 11 rebs, and C Jeff Foster had 18 rebs.

Not a good night for the Magic statistically. IND (37 of 77, 48.1%) outscored the Magic (30 of 73, 41.1%) from the field 81-61. The Magic were just 1 of 8 on 3 pters, compared to 7 of 16 for IND. The Magic (19 of 26, 73.1%) had the edge at the FT line (IND 13 of 17). IND dominated the boards 48-34, and had a much better assist/turnover ratio of 25-18, compared to the Magic's ratio of 12-14.

Not a good way to end a very good road trip for the Magic. They were pounded on the boards, did not distribute the ball well on offense with only the 12 assists, and shot poorly. The Magic have to like the position they are in now, however, being in first overall in the East, and with 12 of 15 games coming up at home, they can really establish themselves as a legit NBA power.

posted by Mike from Illinois @ 2:35 AM  

6 Comments:

  • At 8:25 AM, Blogger WeRDevos said…

    Make that 15 of the next 18 at home.

    I'd also argue that this road trip made them a legit NBA power.

    Last night they left their legs at the hotel. Hopefully after a night at home tonight they'll be fresh for Detroit.

    Detroit has lost two in a row, has to play at Dallas tonight which is the first of four tough road games. This trip should show us the real story on the new Wallace-free Pistons.

    Let's hope Dwight is up for the game tomorrow. He struggled to grab 8 rebounds in 39 minutes of play. Last night would have been a good time to give Garrity 15 minutes and let Dwight rest up.

     

  • At 8:41 AM, Blogger Matt said…

    I expected both teams to be weary but, surprisingly, only Magic was. We have been out-coached, as well. Harrington abused Hedo, and Trevor should have been playing majority of the minutes at the SF position. Jackson was hot and we could do nothing about it except for matching his output with Grant, whom disappeared after the first quarter (got unlucky too). May be Keith should have played more minutes than he was allowed to. I don't worry about Dwight's young legs. He should have been in there as long as there was a chance of pulling the game off.

    I look forward to the Detroit game. Beating Detroit would definitely be a good measure of Magic establishing their legitimacy in the league. I expect Magic to win a close game.

     

  • At 9:06 AM, Blogger Matt said…

    Otis Smith's last night interview re-affirmed my conviction that he has to limit his public appearances. Matt Goukas's soft questioning seemed staged. There was no question on Darko's starting but rather on his contract, and Smith's response was nonsensical. He seems to think that the worst case scenario would be that Darko having a successful season may command a higher salary. While I agree that is an acceptable scenario, I disagree with that being the worst case scenario. There are a lot of unforeseeable variables, especially when related to a young player, that could not be left to chance. It seems to me that he is more concerned with paying Darko a decent salary right now that could happen to be above his future worth, than locking him up without leaving any uncertainty for the future.

    I also disagree with his remarks on Fran Vasquez. When are we going to adhere to a high set of principles, so that nobody in the future could treat us like this moron did? If he is an asset for a trade, I don't want to hear about it in public. Do whatever you need to do in the background to trade this asset!!! for the best that you can get for him. Going to Spain to meet with the guy is another foolish statement. Oh boy! I was so enraged with this interview that I could not help but letting it out.

     

  • At 12:07 PM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    Matt i have to be honest,when i saw the interview i knew you'd be hot/madd,and most of the things you say i agree with (except for addressing making a change in the line-up while we're winning and obviously thats debateable),but otis is very much still a player in his mind,and it shows in his ability or lack there of to interview.

     

  • At 1:23 PM, Blogger Matt said…

    Big Figure, I can take the idea of not messing with the line-up while winning although I may line up a whole host of reasons why we should. I am glad that we are in agreement on the rest of matters noted.

     

  • At 9:06 PM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    WeRDevos, I double-checked the Magic schedule. It would be nice if we had 15 of the next 18 games at home, but we have to settle for 12 of the next 15. After that, the Magic have a tough 6 of 7 stretch on the road.

    During this upcoming 15 game stretch, 8 of those games are against teams that are currently below .500.

    The toughest games of those 15 will be against Cleveland (twice), Detroit, Phoenix, and the Lakers. Teams like New Orleans and the Clippers shouldn't be overlooked either.

    I expect the Magic to finish this 15 game stretch no worse than 10-5 or 11-4, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish at 12-3.

     

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