Orlando Magic News for November 7th: Hack-a-Howard Strategy is Frustrating Dwight; Additional Thoughts on the Magic's Win over the Pistons

Magic still looking for way to deal with opponents approach to Howard
Brian Schmitz talks about how the Orlando Magic are still trying to figure out how to combat what opposing defenses are doing to Dwight Howard game in and game out.

Van Gundy has long believed that referees allow defenses to pound on the bigger, stronger players inside while protecting perimeter players. "Little bit of a double standard," he said. "The league likes perimeter play."

Perhaps if Howard expanded his game outside the paint, he wouldn't be facing a steel-cage match every night. But Van Gundy says why should the 6 foot-11, 270-pound Howard give up his advantages in the post?

"They let LeBron (James) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) play to their strengths. You got to let Dwight play to his," Van Gundy said.

Lion Face/Lemon Face 11.6.09
Jared Wade of Hardwood Paroxysm points out what stood out in the matchup between the Magic and the Pistons last night.

Lemon Face: Detroit Free Throw Shooter and Perimeter Defender Guys

I didn’t watch much of this game but I know it was never close until a too-little-too-late comeback attempt in the fourth. So I started checking the box score figuring some Piston must have earned himself a Lemon Face. No candidate immediately surfaced. The team shot 51.4% from the floor (36.4% from three), turned the ball over an acceptable 11 times and only got out-rebounded by three (37-34). Ben Gordon kinda sucked efficiency-wise, ok, but that doesn’t exactly explain why you were down 18 at the half.