Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder
by Evan Dunlap on Nov 12, 2008 8:28 PM EST
in 2008/2009 Previews
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PrintOrlando 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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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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
If he gets the minutes, he could wind up with 10.
Meanwhile, Westbrook has missed all 10 of his shots.
The Thunder are awful.
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
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
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
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
Double-double for Dwight...
just three more blocks for a triple-double!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply actions
Superman
Dwight is a man possessed tonight, goodness.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
What's the name of this blog?
Thunder went on a 29-11 run to cut their deficit to 16 points!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:56 PM EST reply actions
This means no J.J or Gortat or Cook...
until about two minutes are left :-(
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions
… nah, they’re just making the margin close enough so that there’s still a point for Howard to play and get his 10th block.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
I detect a little sarcasm there?
Good comment.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 9:59 PM EST reply actions
… yeah, I was just being sarcastic. I’m not pleased with the 3rd quarter, but I’m just trying to lighten the mood.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Rashard having another tough night...
just 4 of 12 from the field for 9 points.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:11 PM EST reply actions
If Dwight gets 30/20/10, I’ll … probably attempt to fly out my apartment.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
… come on, one more rebound for the vaunted 30/20/10.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Superman
Ah … Dwight’s night is done.
Man, he was in beast mode tonight. 30/19/10 … just disgusting. I’m clapping right now.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Dwight's having a hard time getting that one more rebound
bummer… he’s not gonna get it… here comes Gortat… but what a great night for Superman!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:23 PM EST reply actions
… hell no, but he might need to change it to Optimus Prime because he was in beast mode tonight.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
omg I'm so calling him that for now on!
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 12, 2008 10:25 PM EST up reply actions
… yeah man, Optimus Prime. Fits him well. He’s like a Transformer anyway, simply with his imposing figure and such.
I swear, as a Magic fan, we’ve been spoiled with two of the greatest Centers we’ll probably ever seen. Shaq & Dwight, just insane.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
I don't mind it much
I HATED it when Shaq called himself that, but for Dwight, there’s an actual reason for the nickname, instead of just being a douche.
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 12, 2008 10:25 PM EST up reply actions
oh boo, we ended up with 8
which is still amazing
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 12, 2008 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
Even better, Jameer had a 4/1 assist/turnover ratio tonight.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:27 PM EST reply actions
Good game ..
.. I’ll take the W.
Hopefully we can sweep our 3-game road swing and build some momentum.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Yeah...
hopefully the Magic can build off this.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:30 PM EST reply actions
lol me too
I don’t like the Celtics either, but the Hawks being unbeaten is just…wrong.
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 12, 2008 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
The second half collapse bothers me
because it seems to happen in every game, and that’s a serious issue when the scores are close. See: Trailblazers, Portland.
But we won and I’ll take it!
It was close though...
103-102 Boston.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:32 PM EST reply actions
The Magic are a game and a half behind Atlanta.
On to Dallas… a winnable game for the Magic. You guys have a good one… see ya here then.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 12, 2008 10:34 PM EST reply actions
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