Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks
by Evan Dunlap on Nov 14, 2008 8:50 PM EST
in 2008/2009 Previews
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PrintOrlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks, Nov 14, 2008 8:30 PM EST
| 2008/2009 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
@ |  |
| 5-3 | 2-6 | |
| November 14th, 2008 | ||
| American Airlines Center | ||
| 8:30 PM | ||
| Sun Sports | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Jameer Nelson | PG | Jason Kidd |
| Mickael Pietrus | SG | Gerald Green |
| Hedo Turkoglu | SF | Josh Howard |
| Rashard Lewis | PF | Dirk Nowitzki |
| Dwight Howard | C | Erick Dampier |
Tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks will be a huge test for the Orlando Magic. Don't be fooled by the fact that Dallas has lost 4 straight games to fall to last place in the Southwest Division; it's still very talented, with two sure-fire Hall-of-Famers in its starting lineup and the same group of players that won 51 games last season. It's also a team that's built big leads in some games this year, only to let them slip away. To wit, courtesy of Dallas Basketball:
*Close game with Houston. Rox win with a16-2 fourth-quarter run.
*Close game with Cleveland. Cavs win with a 13-0 fourth-quarter run.
*Close game with the Clippers. Clips with with a 13-0 fourth-quarter run.
You know what's coming, right?
*Close game with the Lakers. Close? That's one way to put it; Dallas was up 77-67 with 1:51 left in the third. What happened then was sadly predictable: LA stormed to a 20-4 run between that 1:51 mark of the third and the 8:14 mark of the fourth to take an 87-81 lead. Ballgame.
Four out of five losses, directly attributable to the Mavs being completely dominated for an extended streak in crunch time.
I'd say it's incredible, but when it happens four out of five times, it becomes pretty credible.
And last night, against the Bulls, Dallas built a 24-5 lead... and still lost the game. Via Mavs Moneyball, SB Nation's Mavericks blog:
Here's something you don't want or expect to hear from the broadcast crew when your team is up 24-5: "Dirk scores and the Dallas lead swells back to three", "Bulls lead at the half", "Bulls by 10", "the Mavs are hanging around", "Dallas desperately needs a good fourth quarter", "Chicago wins"
Indeed, I'm especially curious what will happen if the Magic fall behind early. Will they keep scrapping, as Houston, Cleveland, both L.A. teams, and Chicago did? Or will they fold? The Magic showed a lot of resiliency last season, especially on the road. If they fall behind, I hope they have it in them to stay competitive. But, honestly, I'd rather the Magic jump on the Mavs early and run them out of the building. Obviously, that's easier said than done. The Magic have never won a game at the American Airlines Center and have not won in Dallas, period, since 1997. No, I can't believe it either.
Let's hope Jason Kidd takes it easy on Jameer Nelson, and that Dwight Howard does not take it easy against Erick Dampier. Above all, let's hope Rashard Lewis is able to keep Dirk Nowitzki in check.
Tip's at 8:30. Go Magic.
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Dallas
… I suppose the Mavericks constitute the ‘Fourth Quarter Collapse.’
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
I prefer 'First Quarter Juggernaut'
But they’ve been miserable late…
by DitchThePlaybook on Nov 14, 2008 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
Secret Weapon for Kidd
We have Beetlejuice on our team! He dropped 40 on Kidd before, Jason wants no part of No Neck Johnson!
This one should have some national tv exposure. Oh well, I’m gonna try and find a stream online and join the discussion tonight. Let’s try and keep it optimistic for once fellas.
If you find a stream
Please do share with the masses.
by eltharion_doa on Nov 14, 2008 8:34 PM EST up reply actions
Awful game so far
Interesting that Lee beat Bogans and Redick as the first two-guard off the bench.
Neither team can buy a bucket right now.
If you haven't seen too many Mavs games of late....
….don’t count the Magic out.
Mavs are leaving them open, they’re just not falling. That stands to change.
by DitchThePlaybook on Nov 14, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
I try to avoid Mavs games if possible
I don’t dislike them, but I don’t particularly like them, either. Not a compelling team.
Magic are fortunate to be trailing only by 4
…shooting 6 of 24 from the field and being outrebounded 21-12 by the Mavs.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:07 PM EST reply actions
Dallas isn't exactly lighting it up either
…shooting just 9 of 24 from the field.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:08 PM EST reply actions
14 three point attempts by the Magic already
… out of 31 shots. I think they should start looking for DH down low more.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:17 PM EST reply actions
Terrible start for Nelson
…0 points on 0 for 3 shooting, and a turnover. A far cry from the game against OK City when he scored 12 first quarter points.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:20 PM EST reply actions
Dallas has 6 free throw attempts, the Magic 4 FT attempts
Magic need to get more aggressive offensively.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:26 PM EST reply actions
The Magic need to stop sucking
s’all I’m sayin’
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 14, 2008 9:29 PM EST up reply actions
This is normal. We’re terrible ballhandlers.
by eltharion_doa on Nov 14, 2008 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
Bad defensive effort by the Magic in the second
…allowing Dallas to score 35 points on 14 of 23 field goal shooting. 56 points total in the first half by the Mavs.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:39 PM EST reply actions
You will be if the Magic don’t pick it up in the third quarter!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:40 PM EST reply actions
Easy to see why the Magic are losing...
For the first half, the Magic shot just 36.9% from the field, 29% from three point range, and 57% from the free throw line, and are being outrebounded by the Mavs 31-22. Meantime, the Mavs are shooting almost 50% from the floor, and 87% from the line.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:44 PM EST reply actions
So anyone catch the shuttle launch?
I can see it from my house in WP. It was really beautiful tonight, especially with the moon. :)
A little too far for me here in the Chicago area
Bet it was really cool to see. Way better than the Magic game so far!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 9:55 PM EST reply actions
haha yeah, probably a little too far
It was very cool, though. Hadn’t seen a night launch in ages :)
But yeah, it was more interesting than this game >:(
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 14, 2008 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
I don't get why Howard doesn't see the ball every trip down the floor.
He was abusing Dampier earlier.
by DitchThePlaybook on Nov 14, 2008 10:01 PM EST reply actions
He should see it more often, yeah
DH is 5 for 11 from the field so far. Magic can’t seem to cut into their deficit at all.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:07 PM EST reply actions
Well, they gotta start picking it up defensively… they are being outrebounded 37-25 by the Mavs and the Mavs are shooting over 50% from the field. Magic are shooting just 39% from the field.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:15 PM EST reply actions
Meantime, Denver’s beating Boston 86-84 with 2 and a half minutes remaining in the game. I’m checking that out on ESPN.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:21 PM EST reply actions
Magic trail by 8 entering the fourth
The Magic can still pull this one out… it’s a long way from being over. The Nuggets are leading Boston by 8 also late.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions
Our bench is doing awful again
… a combined 3 for 16 for 8 points!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:26 PM EST reply actions
Magic are making their run
… only trail by three points! Could this be another fourth quarter collapse by the Mavericks?
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:30 PM EST reply actions
Four of the five starters in double figures for the Magic
… but Turk is having a quiet night with just 7 points.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:31 PM EST reply actions
Magic only down by 4 with 5:15 remaining
Three Mavs with 20 or more points… Nowitzki, Howard, and Terry.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:42 PM EST reply actions
Magic need to turn up the defense now!
The Magic with the lead!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:49 PM EST reply actions
'Meer
He’s having a hell of a second half.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
oh no, I didn't know Hedo had fouled out! :(
And not so great a night, point-wise, for Bogans, but still an all right contribution. Nice to see Rashard and Jameer pulling their weight.
Who do the Magic go to here??
Down by one with 26 seconds left.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:55 PM EST reply actions
Nelson was open... he just missed it.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 10:57 PM EST reply actions
… it’s about to be game.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
… nice steal of a victory for the Magic. They went 3-0 on the small roadie. That’s what I hoped for, though I figured if there was a game the Magic would lose, it’d be Dallas. But they stole won.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
and the first time they've won there since '97!
by TheGiantSquid on Nov 14, 2008 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
congrats, Magic
in other news, holy crap: Rockets 75 , Spurs 77. What an awfully low-scoring game o.O Also, haha, Tracy McGrady.
If they can win at CHA on Sunday, it'll be a 3-0 roadie
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions
Right. I’ll assume they get the W, but you never know.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
… I mean to say they’ll go 3-0 on the roadie, barring something ridiculous at Charlotte.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
yeah, the long drought in Dallas is over!
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, hopefully the Magic show up and take care of business Sunday at Charlotte.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 11:08 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, they should. We’ll see … I’m not underestimating Charlotte but we need to win the games we’re SUPPOSED to win and go from there.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Exactly
Nice comeback win tonight after being down 83-72 early in the fourth… You guys have a great weekend, and see ya here Sunday night after the football games are over.
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 14, 2008 11:11 PM EST reply actions
Oh my freaken jesus!
What a win. Good teams win when everything is going wrong. That is what the Magic did tonight.
Agreed. Good teams find ways to win … and that’s what the Magic did, as you’ve alluded.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
Reshard's defense late in the game
I know people like to rip Lewis for everything, but I’m gonna stand up for him before anything is said. The last bucket by Dirk was his patented shot. I feel for Shard on that play because Dirk’s fade away jump is impossible to defend. Nobody guard him on that play.
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