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, May 16, 2010

Game 1 ECF: Celtics 92, Magic 88... Celtics lead series 1-0


The Orlando Magic received a wakeup call Sunday afternoon as Boston led from start to finish and dominated the first three quarters, leading by as much as 20 points in the third quarter. The Celtics still led by 13 points with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before a frantic Magic rally pulled them as close as 2 points in the final seconds, but the Celtics were able to answer and hold off the Magic. Ray Allen led all scorers with 25 points while Vince Carter led the Magic with 23 points.

The Magic had quite possibly their worst quarter of the season in the first quarter, as they shot just 4 of 20, including 0 for 3 from long range, and committed 4 turnovers. The Celtics were held to under 40% shooting, though, in the first but led 22-14 going into the second thanks to the ineptness of the Magic. The Celtics extended their lead in the second to as much as 31-16 and were able to maintain a double digit lead for most of the quarter. The Magic were able to cut their deficit to single digits 41-32 at the half.

The Magic started quickly in the second half, cutting the Boston lead to 43-40 thanks to 8 points in two minutes by Jameer Nelson. It was 45-42 Boston when the Celtics went on a 20-3 tear in 5:24 to extend their lead to 65-45 with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter. The Celtics went into the fourth quarter with a seemingly comfortable 74-58 lead. The Celtics led by as much as 77-60 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, and 88-75 with 5:34 remaining. The Celtics then went 5:22 without scoring as the Magic scored 10 points in a row to cut their deficit to 88-85 before Paul Pierce's two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining. The Magic, trailing 90-85, then got a three point play the hard way as Vince Carter was fouled with 9.4 seconds remaining, made the first free throw, purposely missed the second with Nelson sneaking in for the tip to cut the Celtics' lead to 90-88 with 8.4 seconds remaining. Two Ray Allen free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining made it a two-possession game and effectively ended the Magic comeback attempt.

Magic leading scorers

Vince Carter: 23 points (9 of 18 FGs, 5 of 6 FTs), 5 rebounds
Jameer Nelson: 20 points (8 of 18 FGs, 2 of 7 3 PT FGs), 9 rebounds
Dwight Howard: 13 points (3 of 10 FGs, 7 of 12 FTs), 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 7 turnovers

Overall Game Statistics

FG%: BOS 44.6% (33 of 74) ORL 41.6% (32 of 77)
3 PT FG%: BOS 42.9% (6 of 14) ORL 22.7% (5 of 22)
FT%: BOS 76.9% (20 of 26) ORL 73.1% (19 of 26)
REB: ORL 45 (15 offensive) BOS 38 (7 offensive)
AST/TO: BOS 21/16 ORL 10/18
BENCH: BOS 25 ORL 24

Other game notes and stats:

-The Celtics had three players in double figures, led by Ray Allen with 25 points on 8 of 16 shooting with 7 rebounds; Paul Pierce added 22 points on just 8 shots, shooting 6 for 8, including 2 of 3 on threes, and 8 of 10 from the free throw line with 9 rebounds; and Rasheed Wallace added 13 points off the bench
-The Celtics' Kevin Garnett added 8 points on just 4 of 14 shooting, but grabbed 11 rebounds, and PG Rajon Rondo scored 8 points with 8 assists
-J.J. Redick scored 9 points off the Magic bench to lead the reserves, while Marcin Gortat scored 6 points, all in the first half along with 5 rebounds
-The Magic starting frontcourt were held to a combined 6 of 24 shooting (Lewis and Barnes 3 of 14), including 0 for 7 on threes, for 21 points; The Celtics' starting frontcourt combined for 34 points
-Lewis (o for 6) and Magic reserve Mickael Pietrus (1 for 4) combined to shoot 1 for 10 on three pointers
-Matt Barnes, who had a sore back coming into the game, played just 15 1/2 minutes and scored just 2 points along with 3 rebounds
-During the Celtics' 20-3 run during the third quarter, the Magic were 1 of 7 on FGs, 1 of 4 on FTs with 4 turnovers during this span, while the Celtics shot 7 of 8 FGs and 4 of 4 on FTs
-When the Celtics went 5:22 without scoring late in the fourth quarter, they shot 0 for 5 FGs and 0 for 2 FTs with 3 turnovers, but the Magic shot just 4 of 10 during that span with 2 of 2 FTs

The Magic will try and pull even in the series Tuesday night.

Here is the complete recap and box score from nba.com.

Here is an article from cbssports.com detailing how rusty the Magic were for much of Game 1, and Magic coach Stan Van Gundy's take on the game.

posted by Mike from Illinois @ 11:21 PM  

5 Comments:

  • At 3:46 AM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    So much for the idea that Boston's too old and would be too worn out from the six game series against the Cavs.

    It's amazing that they can play Dwight so well one on one and not double him; 7 turnovers from D12 is absolutely inexcusable, as is his 3 of 10 shooting. Heck, he missed just 5 shots the whole 4 games against Atlanta.

    To me, the most amazing stat of the game is the 6 of 24 shooting from the Magic's starting frontline... incredibly bad.

    Only 10 Magic assists on 32 FGs to 18 turnovers... very bad also.

    Rondo and Garnett just had ordinary games offensively, but the other Celtics' guys really came through... Pierce, Ray Allen, and reserves Rasheed Wallace and Tony Allen.

    I can't believe the Magic came out so flat... making just 4 of 20 FGs in the first quarter. The Magic had been so focused in the playoffs before Sunday.

    Give Boston credit; even though the Magic did not quit and made a terrific comeback attempt late, the Celtics were the better team and the better coached team Sunday. However, it's only one game and only one loss for the Magic; they are more than capable of winning a game in Boston to take back the home court advantage; it may very well be a long series.

    I cannot imagine the Magic's starting frontline playing so poorly again, and I can't imagine the Magic starting the game so poorly again.

    J.J. Redick played very well off the bench and gave the Magic a big spark in their comeback attempt late; I wonder if Van Gundy would consider starting Redick at SG and switch VC to SF. Last season during the playoff series against Boston, Redick started most of those games and did a good job guarding Ray Allen.

     

  • At 1:26 PM, Blogger Matt said…

    This was an old-fashioned beat down; plain and simple. Although it is too soon to disregard the fact that BOS is old (they are old)- and may wear out -, I admit that they were energetic in this game, and that was evident in their short (8-man) rotation.

    Our offense was inept, particularly due to: 1) Dwight rushing his shots and missing some at point blank; 2) Rashard having an off night; 3) turnovers; and 4) not moving the ball for getting good looks in rhythm. BOS executed their offensive scheme well but we did not.

    Our defense was average especially on the perimeter due to: 1) Matt's hobbling; 2) bad rotations between Pierce and Allen leading to defending none well (defending one out of two could have been acceptable). The defense was also bad in the paint allowing dribble penetration to the guards, as well as leaving their bigs open for a put in or short jumpshots.

    I was surprised how poorly coach Van Gundy adjusted during the game. We basically lost the game in the first and third quarter when Matt was on the floor, and it was not until 4th quarter that the coach put J.J. in which helped in two regards; 1) guarding Allen better; and 2) moving the ball. The coach has to monitor Matt's conditions, and if necessary start J.J., or put him in quickly if Matt did not get it going.

    Let's not fool ourselves by the result; this game was not really that close. The positives, however, are: 1) I still believe that BOS would wear down, as they did in the 4th quarter going 5+ minutes without a field goal, and if Doc Rivers is forced to go deeper to his bench our superior bench should have its effects; 2) With Rashard and Dwight, doing as bad as they did, there is no way for the Magic but up; and 3) Coach Van Gundy is very good in his between the games adjustments.

    Coach Van Gundy needs to use J.J. more, as well as considering to use Ryan or Brandon - if not both. We need to concentrate on two elements: 1) Match BOS's physical play, which may lead to wearing them down, as well; and 2) Move the ball more efficiently to have better open looks.

    This is too early to panic since Magic is a superior team but obviously they were not prepared for a grinding game. I liked coach Van Gundy's statement about "adversity crap". There is no adversity here. Only that the team needs to play to its potentials, and be ready and patient to grind it out! GO MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!

     

  • At 2:12 PM, Blogger MadaLoosh said…

    Superman...what a beast
    http://stacktv.stack.com/video.aspx?videoID=1369818620_109

     

  • At 2:18 PM, Blogger MadaLoosh said…

    Redick can close out. love him.
    http://stacktv.stack.com/video.aspx?videoID=1699238655_374

     

  • At 8:41 PM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    Very good analysis of the game, Matt.

    I hope the Magic can involve D12 in more pick-and-rolls offensively, so he's not always in the low post getting the ball with Perkins right there on him.

    Can't wait to see the adjustments the Magic make for Game 2.

     

<< Home