Orlando Magic News for May 20th: More on Dwight Howard's Offense, Lineup Suggestions, Concerns about the Bench, and More
by Evan Dunlap on May 20, 2010 6:00 PM EDT
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- Conference Finals: Dwight Howard’s Post Game Adjustments | Hardwood Paroxysm
Zach Harper of Hardwood Paroxysm breaks down Dwight Howard's post game. Harper says Howard has a different build than most other dominant, low-post centers, which hurts him on offense. "Considering he has to make due with the way he’s built," Harper concludes, "I’d say he does a pretty good job scoring inside."
- How the Magic Can Bounce Back - Off the Dribble Blog - NYTimes.com
Stats guru Wayne Winston, whom the Dallas Mavericks used to employ in their analytics department, has some ideas about lineups that might help the Orlando Magic get back into their series against the Boston Celtics.
- 2010 NBA playoffs: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns have favorable bench matchups, but they're not paying off - ESPN
A major reason for the Magic's disappointing Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, John Hollinger writes, is that their bench has not produced enough.
Mickael Pietrus in particular seems off, shooting just 2-of-8 from the field and scoring only nine points in 36 minutes -- well off his norms and a far cry from what he did to Cleveland in last season's conference finals. Another bench ace, sharpshooting power forward Ryan Anderson, hasn't played a minute because of matchup concerns.
- Video Highlights: J.J. Redick | Magic Basketball
Here's Eddy's highlight reel of J.J. Redick's play against the Celtics. Redick's been the Magic's lone offensive contributor off the bench in this series.
- Twitter / Tania Ganguli
Tania Ganguli of the Orlando Sentinel tweets that coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged the Magic are better with Redick on the floor in this series, but that he will not change his starting lineup.
- NBA.com: Blogger Q&A with TNT analyst Doug Collins
In a q-and-a with bloggers covering teams still in the championship hunt, former NBA head coach and current TNT analyst Doug Collins answered my question about the effect a long layoff between series had on the Magic heading into the Conference Finals.
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JJ the starter
He didn’t respond to well to that role during the season.
I would like to see RA early in this game if Shard is still off or timid.
FEED THE BEAST!!!
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Looks like you guys are going to see what it feels like to get swept
Normally I wouldn’t rub it in, but being that you guys were sooo welcoming ;)
Getting swept wasn’t to bad for Charlotte fans who were just happy to make the dance! But you guy’s team might fall apart if Boston knocks you out. Of course then we can grab some of your shooters and make a deeper run next year. So thanks in advance.
Great minds talk about ideas, small minds talk about people" - Eleanor Roosevelt
Panic! We Suck! Trade Everyone!!!
Why wouldn’t we fall apart if we lose!!!!!
Things don't always go well
When teams have high expectations yet fall way short. Guys get bitter, start complaining etc. Of course maybe you bring in a guy like Chris Bosh and create a better dynamic… but even then you probably have to let somebody go.
Great minds talk about ideas, small minds talk about people" - Eleanor Roosevelt
Orlando won't contend for a major free agent, and Otis Smith is among the most patient GMs in the league. He's not going to utterly dismantle the team.
Or fire Stan Van Gundy, as some people (not you) have suggested.
by Evan Dunlap on May 21, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
And you wonder why we "were sooo welcoming"?
Look at your post. This was the same kind of crap you were posting during our series with your team.
I'm a girl too.
Haters gonna hate.
Hmm..
wishful thinking I believe from the Bobcat fanbase ;) even if our shooters did decide to leave, their first response won’t be “hey, let’s join the team we swept in the first round, that’ll be grand!” :P just saying…
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Good Points from Zach Harper
The Harper piece is really sharp, good points about how Dwight’s top heavy frame affects his post game. I’ve said this to my pals before, but I think his massive arms and upper body strength is a huge reason why he’s a shitty FT shooter and has no “touch” around the basket. He’s simply too strong to be flinging the ball around at short ranges. Ever try a jump shot from like 5 feet away from the basket? It’s surprisingly tricky.
Folks; read between lines...
Van Gundy will start with Barnes; but don’t be surprised when he calls on Redick UNDER two minutes after the start of the game. It WILL be Redick who will get the starter minutes; NOT Barnes. Barnes will come off the bench if Pietrus gets into foul trouble.
Also, look for a changing rotation that includes BOTH Pietrus AND Redick, with Redick at the 2-spot and Pietrus at the 3. guarding either Pierce or his sub. Redick will stick like glue to Paul Allen. He will also help Nelson to shut DOWN the entry lanes for Rondo at the top. He will also greatly help to improve ball movement around the perimeter, as well as making the sharp, precise inside pass to Howard for a quick two.
Agreed.
I was thinking last game that Barnes should start, and JJ play the larger share of the SG minutes and move Carter either to the 3 and/or bench (a little bit, not the whole time) and have Shard play the 3 and Hammer at the 4, but again, that should only be spot minutes, not the majority. I do believe that JJ does a tremendous job of hounding Jesus and consequently forces him to chase JJ around screens and all over the floor as well at the other end. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody though as JJ did the same thing last year in the conference semis vs. Allen. Barnes starts, JJ EARLY off the bench, 30+ mins. He has great conditioning, and it might even make him more effective offensively because he will have longer to get into a rhythm.
“There’s no reason to say we’re not going down without a fight, because we aren’t going down.”
Agreed.
Besides… no comment that starts with…“Looks like you guys are going to see what it feels like to get swept”, is worth the price of the ink it is printed on. That and statements like… “There is NO hope”, reveal a TOTAL disrespect towards ALL sports fans in general, and the Magic fans in particular.
We are COMMITED to a HIgher standard in public discourse… on ANY subject.
have a strong gut feel...
i really dont believe in jinxes but for those who do, i’ll keep my gut feel where it is at the moment! go magic!!!!!
Van Gundy
“Tania Ganguli of the Orlando Sentinel tweets that coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged the Magic are better with Redick on the floor in this series, but that he will not change his starting lineup.” Does he want to win the game or just get Barnes playing time? Yeah, keep everybody on the bench. Good decision 0-2…..
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