Magic win over Lakers would vault Magic to near top of NBA
A win by the Magic over the LA Lakers Friday night (which will be nationally televised by ESPN) would put the Magic ahead of everyone in the NBA except Cleveland, who would only be percentage points ahead of the Magic, pending the outcome of their home game against New Orleans Friday. Even if the Cavaliers beat the Hornets, the Magic, if they can beat the Lakers to advance to 32-8, would be one-half game ahead of Boston (32-9), Los Angeles (31-8), and tied with Cleveland (31-7).
The Magic are coming off a 139-107 pounding of Sacramento Tuesday night, as the Magic set the all-time NBA record for most three pointers made in a game with 23, and shot a phenomenal 62% from long range. This post from Third Quarter Collapse examines the Magic's red-hot three point shooting the last 21 games, and how much better they have been from long range than in their first 18 games.
The Lakers come into the game averaging a league-best 107.8 ppg, but allow 99.2 ppg, while the Magic average 102.0 ppg and allow just 93.6 ppg.
An update on former Magic F Trevor Ariza's season stats: 9.2 ppg on 48.1% FG shooting, including 30.7% on three pointers and 68.3% FT shooting; 5.2 rebounds, and a team-leading 1.8 steals per game. Ariza is the Lakers' leading scorer off the bench, and averages 24.8 minutes per game.
The Lakers have lost back-to-back games only once this season, last month to the Heat and Magic. The Lakers are a 3 1/2 point favorite.
For the complete game preview from Yahoo! Sports, click here
The Magic are coming off a 139-107 pounding of Sacramento Tuesday night, as the Magic set the all-time NBA record for most three pointers made in a game with 23, and shot a phenomenal 62% from long range. This post from Third Quarter Collapse examines the Magic's red-hot three point shooting the last 21 games, and how much better they have been from long range than in their first 18 games.
The Lakers come into the game averaging a league-best 107.8 ppg, but allow 99.2 ppg, while the Magic average 102.0 ppg and allow just 93.6 ppg.
An update on former Magic F Trevor Ariza's season stats: 9.2 ppg on 48.1% FG shooting, including 30.7% on three pointers and 68.3% FT shooting; 5.2 rebounds, and a team-leading 1.8 steals per game. Ariza is the Lakers' leading scorer off the bench, and averages 24.8 minutes per game.
The Lakers have lost back-to-back games only once this season, last month to the Heat and Magic. The Lakers are a 3 1/2 point favorite.
For the complete game preview from Yahoo! Sports, click here
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 4:25 AM
2 Comments:
At 4:51 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
The Cavaliers got some really bad news when G Delonte West went down with a fractured wrist against the Bulls and will miss some significant time. I thought West really fit in well with Cleveland, and he was having a decent year at SG. They will miss him, and I believe the Magic can pass the Cavs in the standings since the Cavs are also missing "Big Z".
LBJ looked like a mere mortal against the Bulls, shooting just 8 of 28 and missing the potential game-winner at the end of regulation.
They won't get any sympathy from the Magic though, as the Magic have been without Mickael Pietrus for much of the season, and also have been without Keith Bogans, Jameer Nelson, and Dwight Howard at one time or another this season due to injury.
This should be an outstanding game tonight against the Lakers; if the Magic can play well defensively they have a great chance of coming away with the win.
When will the Magic start coming back down to earth with their great three point shooting? Hopefully, they can keep it going for a while.
At 11:06 AM,
Big Figure said…
The magic seem to play their best when someeone other than dwight gets us going on the scoreboard to start the game. Against SA jameer lead with a three pointer and the magic never looked back,so i think jameer (and hedo) being aggressive is the key. Kobe is gonna try and will his team to a victory,CL is gonna have his hands full but i'm excited to see what he can do against him. Magic won close at home so i'll go with the lakers close at their house(obviously i hope i'm wrong).
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