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.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Magic fail to take advantage of fast start in loss to Lakers

The Magic (32-20, 13-10 home), notorious for their slow starts to games this season, shot a sizzling 75% from the field, including 8 made 3 pt FGs, to score a franchise-record 44 1st qtr pts to take a 44-33 lead against LAL (32-17). However, the Lakers proceeded to outscore the Magic 65-43 in the second and third qtrs to take an 11 pt lead entering the fourth. The Magic, though, made a run in that final qtr and took the lead in the last few minutes with their last lead at 112-111. However, the Magic missed their last 5 FGs and the Lakers went on to a 117-113 win.

Kobe Bryant (36 pts) and Pau Gasol (30 pts) were too much too handle for the Magic, as they combined to score 66 pts along with 19 rebs. Bryant continued to struggle with his jumpers, but was aggressive in driving to the hoop and went to the FT line 16 times, making 14.

Even though no Magic players scored over 20 pts, seven players scored in double figures, led by DHoward with 19 pts (8 of 8 FGs), 11 rebs; JNelson 17 pts (7 of 15 FGs), 9 asts, 0 TOs; RLewis 16 pts (5 of 11 FGs); HTurkoglu 16 pts (5 of 13 FGs), 6 asts; MEvans 12 pts (5 of 10 FGs); KBogans in reserve 11 pts (4 of 8 FGs); BCook in reserve 11 pts (3 of 4 3 pt FGs). Howard and Turkoglu were in foul trouble most of the second half.

The statistical breakdown:

FGs... LAL 41 of 77 (53.2%) ORL 40 of 81 (49.4%) ORL 95 LAL 92
3 PT FGs... ORL 15 of 32 (46.9%) LAL 10 of 20 (50%)
FTs... LAL 25 of 30 (83.3%) ORL 18 of 21 (85.7%)
REBs... LAL 40 ORL 35
AST/TO... ORL 25/10 LAL 22/9
BENCH... ORL 33 LAL 15

Magic fall to 1-2 on their 5 game homestand and have lost to the Lakers 3 times in a row at ORL. Magic have the weekend off before hosting CLE and LeBron James MON night.

posted by Mike from Illinois @ 10:26 PM  

10 Comments:

  • At 2:00 AM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    Quote from Magic coach Stan Van Gundy: "He (Gasol) was the guy that beat us. He did everything for them. He was scoring, passing and even getting our big guy (Howard) in foul trouble. We couldn't contain him at all."

     

  • At 4:32 AM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    If someone would have told me before the game that the Magic would shoot 49% from the field, 47% from 3 pt range, 86% from the FT line, and commit only 10 TOs, I would have guessed a win for the Magic. The Lakers were even better, shooting 52% FGs, 50% 3 pt FGs, 83% FTs, and just 9 TOs.

    It's too bad that Howard was in foul trouble most of the second half; the Magic could have gone to him more on offense as he was a perfect 8 for 8 in FG attempts. He played less than 30 mins for the game.

    It figures that Bryant would come alive against the Magic after two very mediocre games. Great trade by the Lakers getting Gasol... they are definitely a threat now in the West.

    At least the Magic got a solid game from Nelson at the point, at least offensively, with 17 pts, 9 asts and 0 TOs in 37 mins, even though he missed a jumper which would have given the Magic the lead in the final minute.

    Looks like Arroyo is the odd man out of the rotation now, as he was the only Magic player not to see any action. Heck, even seldom-used J.J. Redick saw 7 mins of action. Arroyo has gone from being a starter the previous 10 games to not even playing now... don't know if that's quite fair to him, but because we have such a surplus of guards, that's the way it is.

    Some +/- numbers for the game... Turkoglu +6, Dooling +5, Howard +2... Nelson, Lewis, Foyle all -9.

    Magic need to win the remaining two games against CLE and DEN for a winning homestand.

     

  • At 12:02 PM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    Hey i'll take a split,another west coast team im happy we dont have to play anymore. Alot like dirk,we dont match up well with gasol. Great game from jameer,and at least the guys played hard last night,if we can get that kind of effort from the guys against cleveland and denver we'll win both games.

     

  • At 1:55 PM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    This was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a while.

     

  • At 6:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I WANT TO MAKE A COMPARASON BETWEEN ARROYO AND NELSON, IN 14 GAMES THAT ARROYO HAD PLAYED MORE THAN 28 MIN, 12.2 PTS, 4.5 AST, 1.5 TO PER GAME AND THE MAJIC HAD WON 12 OUT OF 14 GAMES. YOU NEED TO CHECK ON NELSON STATS??????????????

     

  • At 6:31 AM, Blogger Matt said…

    As you all know, I am not a big fan of Carlos Aroyo but I think that is a legitimate question on how a player will go from a starter to a DNP player. Is there something happening in the practice or behind the scenes that we are not aware of? Does Otis Smith have to do something with this since Jameer has been his boy, all along?

     

  • At 8:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Otis Smith is probably the worst GM in the league, He has two small forwards and neither can guard anyone but I admit that they can score. He needs to move Turk or Lewis to the SG position and try to acquire a big power forward that can help HOWARD. Evans, Arroyo, Redick,and Nelson with his 35M , they all should be on the MARKET for a trade if they want to make a run. Everyone blames the PG GUARDS performance for the losses but it is far for the truth, the bottom line that the Magic can’t close games due to fact that Howard does not have any help inside. Arroyo is the only natural PG in the team. We will never know about Redick due the lack of playing time and I don’t blame him to try to get out, Dooling need to stay, he is a grate defender with a lot hart, Nelson is inconsistent and he‘s playing in the wrong position, he is a scorer. I hate to see Evans leaves but we need to a big man. Otis wake up and make a trade.

     

  • At 8:59 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Otis Smith is probably the worst GM in the league, He has two small forwards and neither can guard anyone but I admit that they can score. He needs to move Turk or Lewis to the SG position and try to acquire a big power forward that can help HOWARD. Evans, Arroyo, Redick,and Nelson with his 35M , they all should be on the MARKET for a trade if they want to make a run. Everyone blames the PG GUARDS performance for the losses but it is far for the truth, the bottom line that the Magic can’t close games due to fact that Howard does not have any help inside. Arroyo is the only natural PG in the team. We will never know about Redick due the lack of playing time and I don’t blame him to try to get out, Dooling need to stay, he is a great defender with a lot hart, Nelson is inconsistent and he‘s playing in the wrong position, he is a scorer. I hate to see Evans leaves but we need to a big man. Otis wake up and make a trade.

     

  • At 4:59 PM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    We can't close games? I seem to recall us closing more games out with W's than L's.

    With that said, I'd still be interested in seeing how Turk would look at the 2 spot. He has all the skills of a shooting guard. The problem he'd have is chancing a guy like Rip Hamilton. On the flip side, he has shown a solid post game, and he would have his advantages. Regardless, whether a starter or a bench player, the Magic do need 1 more big men.

    Otis Smith realizes this. He has been quoted saying he’s looking for another big man. It’s just a matter of him finding one. The latest rumor has Udonis Haslem coming to Orlando for JJ Redick and draft picks, or an expiring contract; although I’d be surprised to see Pat Riley helping us out in anyway.

    As for the point guards, Van Gundy has said that he can't play all 3 guys. As of now, he likes Dooling coming off the bench...period. The only question is who starts; Jameer or Carlos. The thing is they are both similar, in how they play and inconsistency. How they're not similar is the fact that Otis already paid Jameer, so he is the guy that they will force out on the floor so they can try and make him earn his pay.

     

  • At 6:57 PM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    The first "Anonymous" post had incorrect stats for Arroyo. For the record, Arroyo has played in 13 games when he has played 28 minutes or more a game; the Magic are 8-5 in those games (61.5%). Nelson has played in 30 games when he has played 28 minutes or more a game; the Magic are 19-11 in those games (63.3%).

    Like OVERWADED said, it all boils down to the big contract extension Nelson got before the season started.

     

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