Clippers/Magic preview
The Magic (18-14, 11-6 home, 6th East) start off the New Year hosting the LA Clippers (14-16, 2-10 road, 10th West). LAC have won 3 in a row and are coming off a 90-80 win over NY SUN. F Elton Brand led LAC with 32 pts and 8 blocks. The Magic have lost 9 of their last 13 games but are coming off their most dominant victory of the season over MIA.
The Clippers are led by Brand, averaging 19.7 ppg, 9 rebs. Former Magic G/F Corey Maggette is at 15 ppg; G Sam Cassell 13.4 ppg, but has been bothered by foot problems the last week and hasn't played. Former Magic G Cuttino Mobley 12.8 ppg (44.1% 3 pt FG); C Chris Kaman 10.1 ppg, 7.8 rebs; F Tim Thomas 9.7 ppg, and G Shaun Livingston 9.6 ppg, 5.3 asts. LAC averages 95.5 ppg while allowing 97.5 ppg. The Magic average 93.4 ppg while allowing 92.9 ppg.
LAC gave the Magic their worst loss of the year 116-91 in LA DEC 3rd. With the start of the New Year, the original basketball will replace the new basketball. The Magic are 4 1/2 pt favorites (www.pinnaclesports.com).
The Clippers are led by Brand, averaging 19.7 ppg, 9 rebs. Former Magic G/F Corey Maggette is at 15 ppg; G Sam Cassell 13.4 ppg, but has been bothered by foot problems the last week and hasn't played. Former Magic G Cuttino Mobley 12.8 ppg (44.1% 3 pt FG); C Chris Kaman 10.1 ppg, 7.8 rebs; F Tim Thomas 9.7 ppg, and G Shaun Livingston 9.6 ppg, 5.3 asts. LAC averages 95.5 ppg while allowing 97.5 ppg. The Magic average 93.4 ppg while allowing 92.9 ppg.
LAC gave the Magic their worst loss of the year 116-91 in LA DEC 3rd. With the start of the New Year, the original basketball will replace the new basketball. The Magic are 4 1/2 pt favorites (www.pinnaclesports.com).
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 4:15 AM
4 Comments:
At 11:10 AM,
Big Figure said…
The magic should get another victory tonight,the last time we played them elton brand went crazy and hit alot of tough shots,if the magic play better defensively against his teammates while making it tough again for him,we'll win.
At 11:27 AM,
Matt said…
Grant and Keyon are not playing tonight, and the absence of Grant is gonna affect the offense. Elton Brand is a load, and if we let Sam Cassel abuse our point guards, I don't see how we are going to win the game, except for having the shooters like J.J. and Travis to match up their output, since I don't believe that playing solid defense is gonna cut it, by itself.
Here is a recent quote from Hill:
"Magic fans have been waiting a long time for a legitimate winner, so I can understand how fans might react during a down stretch,... But it's a long season. You have to wait to the end before you can judge. At the end of the year, all that matters is how many you won, how many you lost and how deep you went in the playoffs."
He has no clue that in every business there is something called "progress review", and nobody is immune to it, with the exception of Enron executives and we know where they ended up at. What Hill is asking for is a CART BLANCHE towards the end of the season to continue with his autocratic approach, and by golly, it would be foolish to give it to him while his blunders magnified by pigheadedness are so outrageous.
At 12:56 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
The Magic will win tonight... because I'm gonna be there :-) The Magic have won their last 5 games I've attended over the last 2 seasons.
Actually, I wish it would be that easy against the Clippers, who have won 3 games in a row and gave the Magic their worse loss of the year last month, but I've been very encouraged by the play of the Magic over the last 2 games. If Grant and Keyon don't play tonight, I'm looking forward to Redick and Diener getting playing time.
At 9:50 PM,
Matt said…
Sorry, Mike. I should have had faith that Magic never loses when you are in the arena.
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