Ignore Courtney Lee at Your Own Risk

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 19, 2009 1:01 AM EDT in Analysis Comment 10 comments

The book on the Orlando Magic this season is that they're a one-dimensional, three-point shooting team that struggles to win when their threes aren't falling: In a post called "Die By It," Depressed Fan points out that Orlando shoots 40.5% from three-point range in its wins and 31.5% in its losses. While I don't believe their fortunes are inextricably tied to the three-point shot, it is indeed an important part of their offense, to say the least.

And it will be even more important in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando's biggest advantage over Philadelphia is its ability to bomb away from beyond the arc. In the regular season, Orlando averaged 10 made treys per game, while Philly averaged just 4. If those figures hold up in the postseason, the Sixers will have to make up for an 18-point deficit from the perimeter alone. That's a tall order, especially against Orlando's elite defense.

So the conventional wisdom is that the Sixers need to stay at home on the Magic's multiple three-point shooters, particularly Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, who average 4.5 triples per game between them. If they do that, they can live with single-covering Dwight Howard and letting him eat them alive. But if, for whatever reason, they do decide to double-team Howard, at least one Philadelphia fan thinks they'd be wise to leave Courtney Lee open. Here's Jeff McMenamin of the blog Philadunkia:

As for the two spot, Courtney Lee doesn't really impress me so unless he starts hitting all of his shots this is where Thaddeus Young and Sammy D can double team Dwight Howard down low and keep the Magic's biggest threat in check all game.

Were I a Sixers fan, I'd advise against this course of action. Apart from the fact that Lee led the Magic to a come-from-behind victory over Philly in February with a barrage of fourth-quarter treys he is, on a percentage basis, the Magic's best three-point shooter at 40.4%. That's slightly better than Lewis (39.7%) and much better than Turkoglu (35.6%). Yes, both those players are more prolific, but Lee is more efficient. And in the playoffs, he figures to get more open looks than in the regular season. His season-long performance suggests that he's make the most of those opportunities, yet there is cause for concern: he struggled mightily in April, shooting 29% from three-point range after four consecutive months of shooting no worse than 42%. If he rounds back into form, he'll give the Magic yet another three-point sniper, and give fans yet another reason to believe Orlando will end the series early.

So keep an eye on Lee tomorrow, because if the Sixers don't, they could be in for a long afternoon.

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Yeah, leaving C. Lee open from three isn't smart, at all.

After reading an ESPN Insider article a few days ago, consider this .. Lee is efficient from three-point range because he thrives shooting the corner three.

For the season, Courtney is 43-98 (43.9%) from the corner. If you look at his shot chart on NBA Hot Spots, you’ll notice that Lee shoots most of his threes from the corner .. and for good reason, because he makes them at an excellent rate. Another good reason is that the corner three is the easiest/shortest long-range shot.

Think of Courtney Lee as a Bruce Bowen 2.0, in that regard.

.. and Lee isn’t alone. The Orlando Magic, as a whole, attempted the most corner threes this season.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on Apr 19, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

hey, if they want to leave CLee alone

who am I to stop them?

In other news, poor Portland o.O

Obey the hat.

by TheGiantSquid on Apr 19, 2009 1:32 AM EDT reply actions

Courtney is primed to go for a career-high night in this series. I can feel it.

This post was bought to you by British beer, cured meat products and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje: the player so good, they named him twice.

by big aaron on Apr 19, 2009 3:22 AM EDT reply actions

I beleive youmeant SHORT afternoon lol!

The 76’s couldbe in for a SHORT afternoon ; )

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(22 years and counting)

by Aleta on Apr 19, 2009 3:24 AM EDT reply actions

ANYBODY ALIVE OUT THERE?!??!?

Lets get this done, I’m jucied baby, amped up and ready to go, the sixers don’t want want it, going to play some ball before the game today rocking my magic playoff shirt from last year, just wish that ‘Mo’ was replaced with ‘Lee’ and ‘Jameer’ replaced with ‘Skip’ (the latter for accuracy purposes only, of course, easy ervis ! =)

Sports Picks 365
"Shoot first, ask questions last" Rafer Alston

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Apr 19, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

How bout it, in the 2nd quarter of game 1!

I think C-Lee’s answered his detractors. I’m not sure I bite yet, but my cousin’s convinced we’ve got our pure scorer, along the lines of a Kevin Durant level talent… I still love him (my cousin) and we’ll see. I’m excited though.

by farfromfl on Apr 20, 2009 3:28 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, Courtney had a phenomenal performance in Game 1.

Once the first playoff game jitters went away, Lee looked real comfortable out there.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on Apr 20, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Dwight comments on his blog about last night's game

WE GOTTA BOUNCE BACK
April 20th, 2009

I’m as upset as anyone that we let an 18-point lead get away from us on Sunday and lost Game 1 to Philly. We normally don’t do that sort of thing and have been really good this season at closing teams out, but we let the Sixers get the momentum in the fourth quarter and we just couldn’t stop them.

I felt going into the game that everyone was ready to play. I think we kind of got worried about the offensive side too much. We knew we could score, but we have to stop the other team if we want to win. Philly can put up good numbers. They shot the ball well and Donyell Marshall p layed 25 games all season and he hit some big threes. We can’t let a team keep their confidence going.

When we come out in the next game on Wednesday, we have to let those guys know that we’re going to dominate from the tip.

Our effort has to be better, especially on the defensive end. Our defensive effort, as a whole, wasn’t there. There were a lot of the plays that gave Philly momentum and those six or seven points throughout could win a game or a series. For Game 2, we have to have a better effort on the defensive end and everyone has to know what certain players do.

There’s no need to panic. It’s just the first game. But we do need to come out with a better effort on the defensive end. We have to get back on defense and cut our turnovers down because Phi lly loves to run. And we have to keep both Andres out of the paint.
We’ll be much better in Game 2, trust me. And we won’t be letting another 18-point lead slip away.

CHILL. — DWIGHT

by malars on Apr 20, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions