Orlando @ Oklahoma City GameThread, Nov 12, 2008 8:00 PM EST

Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 8:28 PM EST in 2008/2009 Previews Comment 90 comments

Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder, Nov 12, 2008 8:00 PM EST

2008/2009 NBA Regular Season
	@
4-3		1-6
November 12th, 2008
Ford Center
8:00 PM
Sun Sports
Probable starters:
Jameer Nelson	PG	Earl Watson
Mickael Pietrus	SG	Jeff Green
Hedo Turkoglu	SF	Desmond Mason
Rashard Lewis	PF	Nick Collison
Dwight Howard	C	Johan Petro

UPDATE 2: Brian Schmitz confirms that Durant is out tonight. Bullet dodged.

UPDATE: Darnell Mayberry of NewsOK.com reports that Kevin Durant is a game-time decision due to a sore left ankle.

The Orlando Magic take the floor of the Ford Center tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that figures to finish at or near the bottom of the Western Conference, if not the entire league, this season. Despite the vast talent gap between these two teams, there's plenty to watch for tonight, at least from a Magic fan's perspective.

First, it's ball movement. Kyle Hightower of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic spent almost all of yesterday's practice working on that skill. How they respond will give a good indicator of their attitude and approach.

Second, it's Rashard Lewis, and not for the reason you might expect. I'm sure there'll be a few stories today about Lewis' playing against his former team for the first time since it relocated, but that's not what I'm interested in. Rather, it's how he plays after shooting 5-of-22 in his last two games. John Denton says Lewis, who lead the Magic in preseason scoring and vowed to be more aggressive this season (last bullet), is unhappy with his role in the offense. Denton proposes a solution:

Because of his laid-back nature and willingness to fit in (almost to a fault sometimes), I think Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy should start games by calling post-up plays for Lewis. It could help jump-start him offensively and make sure he's focused on getting to the rim rather than simply launching jump shots.
Lewis did have back-to-back post moves in the third quarter Monday to put Orlando up 72-68. Then, they went away from him and didn't score another field goal for an 11-minute stretch.

Whatever Lewis does tonight, he'd be hard-pressed to perform as poorly as he did in his last game against the Thunder...er, SuperSonics: 9 points on 3-of-19 shooting in 40 minutes. Gulp.

But his services may not be needed. Make the jump to learn why.

The third thing to watch out for is another instance of Dwight "tornado full of bazookas stuffed with pop rocks and diet coke" Howard doing what he does best. The Thunder are long on depth but short on talent at the power positions, and are possibly the team most poorly equipped to defend Dwight Howard. In that same game against the Thunder in which Lewis struggled, Howard shone with a career-high 39 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. Robert Swift prays for rain... or to come down with "flu-like symptoms."

Finally, I want to know how the Magic plan to defend Kevin Durant, last year's Rookie of the Year. The best idea seems to be to make him settle for outside shots, since he shot 39.7% eFG on them last year, but he's upped that mark to 42.2% this year. That improvement, coupled with the fact that he's taking fewer three-pointers, doesn't leave me with much hope for tonight. I imagine Lewis, who most closely matches Durant in frame, will get the assignment. Good luck with that.

The Magic might be able to let Durant go off. They have no other reliable scorers. Of course, speedy rookie point guard Russell Westbrook is the sort of player who would light-up the Magic in the past, but he's shooting poorly (32.4% from the field) to start the season. However, he seems to be the most likely Thunder player, other than Durant, to have a monster game. I'm afraid that speaks more to the Thunder's talent than to the Magic's defense, however.

Tip's at 8 on Sun Sports. Go Magic.

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Comments

Should be a win

But it does look like the Thunder play descent defense, so if Westbrook and Durant get it going, anything could happen.

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Nov 12, 2008 11:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pleeeeeeeeeeeease win

Whodathunk OKCity would ever have a team…so weird!

I think the Magic can pull this one off. I really hope so, anyway.

Good news is that I won’t be able to watch the game tonight, so they just might win! Go Magic.

by TheGiantSquid on Nov 12, 2008 2:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I live in CT so I don't understand the whole TV situation down there

but doesn’t it just make sense to buy the NBA package? I mean, it’s really cheap $140 for the entire season off every game, unless the Magic games are blacked out in that area, then that REALLY SUCKS.

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Nov 12, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the games are blacked out in League Pass

It’s too difficult to switch cable providers just for this purpose. You shouldn’t have to, in any case. They just need to sort this whole mess out.

by Marie on Nov 12, 2008 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

On paper, it looks like a win

But we know how this team can be inconsistent, in reality. Dwight is going to play, but I hope his sore knee will be fine.

by Marie on Nov 12, 2008 4:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good start tonight...

Nelson in double figures already, Magic are shooting 65%.

I kinda wish Durant was playing tonight; I would have liked to see how the Magic would have defended him. Anyway, the Thunder are ripe for a blowout loss tonight without their star.

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 8:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no durant = automatic win.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Nov 12, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Best quarter for the Magic this season so far...

37 points on 56% field goal shooting; 6 assists, only 1 turnover. Nelson and Howard both in double figures.

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 8:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

AJ Dunks!!

by josh99 on Nov 12, 2008 8:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

dwight w/ another monster first half.. 6 blocks already

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Nov 12, 2008 8:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If he gets the minutes, he could wind up with 10.

Meanwhile, Westbrook has missed all 10 of his shots.

The Thunder are awful.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 9:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Could be a triple-double for Dwight tonight

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great first half by Nelson too

…15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and just 1 turnover.

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And I thought our bench was bad

Thunder’s bench: 0-for-15 for 3 points.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 9:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ha Ha!!

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We might have ourselves a J.J. sighting tonight, the way this one is going.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 9:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

71 points in the first half for Orlando

Jeez.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 9:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

DEEEEEECENT

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Nov 12, 2008 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Best half in a long, long time

71 points on 26 of 48 field goals… 6 of 11 3 point field goals… 26 rebounds…. and a fantastic 13/3 assist/turnover ratio!

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now we just need to keep this up for the rest of the season.

by josh99 on Nov 12, 2008 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who wants to start the WE WANT J.J. chant?

Or WE WANT MARCIN.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Nov 12, 2008 9:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I want to see Marcin....

But I would rather have Lee than JJ playing.

by josh99 on Nov 12, 2008 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just shows how good the Magic look when they all play the way they're capable of

… and the other team is missing their star.

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope we dont have a 3QC.

by josh99 on Nov 12, 2008 9:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

put jj in for christ’s sake

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Nov 12, 2008 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If my memory is correct...

didn’t the Magic score 74 first half points against the Lakers in a game last season, only to completely collapse in the second half and lose the game?

Anyways, we’re not gonna lose this one.

by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs