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Oddly Enough, the Orlando Magic are Defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Strength of Their Third Quarter Play

A running joke among commenters at this site after any game in which the Orlando Magic make a decisive run in the third period is to suggest I change its name. I get that. It comes with the territory, just as how the folks at WaitingForNextYear might consider a URL change if a Cleveland sports team finally wins a title. But after four games in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, four games in which the Magic have poured it on against their opponent, it's becoming painfully obvious that I need to address the Magic's performance in the penultimate periods of this series, as well as this site's name.

First, and more importantly, let's talk basketball. The Magic have outscored the Cavaliers by a scant 12 points in this entire series, which might understate the extent to which they've handled Cleveland. Orlando has led at the 47:59 mark of regulation in each game, as John Hollinger pointed out during Game 4. But more telling about this series is Orlando's +28 mark in third quarters, having outscored Cleveland by at least 4 points each time. Here's a look at the four factors, considering only the third quarters of games in this series:

TeamPaceEfficiencyeFG%FT RateOReb%TO Rate
Cavaliers8596.441.7%20.519.514.3
Magic128.562.3%24.719.415.3

Orlando is, quite simply, killing Cleveland immediately after halftime in this series. One can posit any number of reasons, including: freshness on Orlando's part; complacency on Cleveland's part, as it has led at halftime in 3 of the 4 games this series; great adjustments by Orlando's Stan Van Gundy; poor adjustments by Cleveland's Mike Brown, etc. Regardless of how or why, Orlando's third-quarter strength is a key factor that might propel it to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1995.

The whole thing makes me look like a fool for naming the site after the Magic's tendency to wilt after halftime. In my defense, I started this site when Brian Hill was head coach, and specifically after this embarrassing loss to the Sacramento Kings in which the Magic managed just 12 third-period points, turing a 10-point halftime lead into a 3-point deficit after three period. That team featured less-polished versions of Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson; an ill-used version of Hedo Turkoglu; and perhaps the world's most predictable offense. The Detroit Pistons swept it in the first round of the playoffs. I mean, this is not the 2000 L.A. Lakers we're talking about. This is a team that had to go on a 10-5 tear to end the season just for the honor of getting broomed in the first round.

But more recently than that team, the Magic have struggled--relatively speaking--in third quarters. According to 82games.com, the Magic placed 9th in the NBA in third-quarter scoring differential this season, at +0.7. They were also 9th in third-quarter win percentage, outscoring opponents in 54% of third quarters this season. The Magic's third-quarter performance in both categories is, by a wide margin, their worst of any other quarter. In other words, if the current Magic team is going to disappoint its fans, it'll probably be in the third quarter.

The whole thing has been turned on its head this series, at least as far as the Magic are concerned. The Cavs are no stranger to third-quarter disappointments, winning only 50% of their third quarters and holding a mere +0.6 differential, also their worst in any quarter. What it's come down to, in that sense, is a war of attrition between two teams that tend to underachieve in that period. And so far, it's the Magic that have come out on top, in those quarters and, as a result, in the Conference Finals as a whole.

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Irony is good.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can't ever change the name

Can’t forget where this team came from. The Magic were painfully mediocre for a LOOOOOOONG time.

Quick question Ben, how much does it suck that you can’t cheer on press row. I mean, being there must be nice, but it had to suck not being able to go nuts when Rashard’s late 4th quarter three went in. Honeslty, I don’t think I have the strength.

One Freaken Second

by magic fanatic on May 28, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's not hard at all.

I’m usually not much of a celebrator anyway.
You can see me in this photo of Turk celebrating Lewis’ big 3, for instance. I’m just sitting there. I think all I did was say, “wow.” After, you know, I totally called it. Ask Zach of Orlando Magic Daily. He can vouch for my calling the three-pointer good as soon as it left Lewis’ hand.

by Ben Q Rock on May 28, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Look at Hedo's celebratory pose! His stance is .. perfect.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I still loved that Hedowned pic you post over at the Hype a couple of years back

The one with the 2 boston fans at the O-rena lol

"My features are that of a god, its not a facade these rappers wanna be NaS"- Nasir Jones QB's Finest

Kristin Kreuk is teh love.

Still miss em: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvvgVn0gg1E

by Wasabi Steak on May 28, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well said, man.

Never forget where this franchise came from .. ashy to classy.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best title, ever.

Great post Ben, and very interesting read- succinct.

We miss the LOLcats. Always timely, never in excess…

by fwedo on May 28, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Great post, indeed.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

So, it's not so much that we're good in the third quarter

as much as it is that we suck less than Cleveland in the third.

I can live with that.

"And this he knows if nothing more
That waiting in the dark like destiny
Are those who kissed the dogs of war
And there is no tomorrow."

by The Dark on May 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Something like that.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was gonna same something about the blog title....lol..a bit negative for a Magic fan blog for my liking...

…but i didn’t know how long the blog had been up…and i figured it was a touchy subject considering the way they have mastered the 3rd quarter in the playoffs…i’d love to see their number for all 3 series if you have them Ben.

  As for the name….still not that big a fan….and while i do believe in remembering where you came from…i am a far greater fan of positive thinking….How about Third Quarter Craziness…if you wanted to keep the same initials….that would denote neither a collapse nor success and would be good for all games.!!

  Or..if our great team does happen to go all the way…in their honor i vote(not that i have one..lol) that we memorialize this year by changing the name to Fourth Quarter Finishers!!!:) If would be a great and inspiring story to tell IF they ever suck again..lol..would it??

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 28, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

please stop

the blog name affects nothing, it works. chill.

by fwedo on May 28, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Omg..W AK

…forgive me please for trying to be funny and positive….i hope your not offended….:(

"if you're going to cry...go cry to your mama"

by MagikFanatic on May 28, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The blog name is a funny little title

Let it live

"My features are that of a god, its not a facade these rappers wanna be NaS"- Nasir Jones QB's Finest

Kristin Kreuk is teh love.

Still miss em: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvvgVn0gg1E

by Wasabi Steak on May 28, 2009 4:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Fo sho.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

it could not be better. draws attention,c'mon,it's a trademark now we're famous :). that said

i don’t like this “we are bad,but they are worse” talk about 3rds. if that is really a fact,stan van gundy has got to come up with something,fast. that isn’t the right attitude for contenders to have.

by Dzogi on May 28, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I've said it before! I love the title....

This playoff series has been a First Quarter (through most early indications) Collapse… I love the name of the site. I even love our older history of being swept in the finals and by Detroit a few in a row, if we finally take things!

by chiefs_55 on May 28, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's always good to keep things in perspective.

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

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on May 28, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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