2008/2009 NBA Regular Season | ||
---|---|---|
@ | ||
42-16 | 29-28 | |
February 28th, 2009 | ||
Wachovia Center | ||
7:00 PM | ||
Sun Sports / NBA TV | ||
Probable starters: | ||
Rafer Alston | PG | Andre Miller |
Courtney Lee | SG | Willie Green |
Hedo Turkoglu | SF | Andre Iguodala |
Rashard Lewis | PF | Thaddeus Young |
Dwight Howard | C | Samuel Dalembert |
Previous Meetings: | ||
November 6th: Magic 98, 76ers 88 | ||
November 26th: Magic 96, 76ers 94 | ||
The Orlando Magic's plane was "very quiet" after they lost to the Detroit Pistons. Kyle Hightower reports coach Stan Van Gundy is "tired of getting [his] ass kicked" and wants his team to stand up for itself. If the Magic take that statement to heart, the Philadelphia 76ers will be in for a long night.
Philadelphia is one of the league's worst offensive teams, but ranks sixth in defense, largely due to its ability to play the passing lanes. The 76ers' field-goal defense is only slightly above average, and they are only 3-14 this year against the league's ten most efficient shooting teams. That much favors the Magic. If they can keep from turning the ball over, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu should have a field day bombing from long-range. As long as the Magic don't let the 76ers. Maybe they can return to form defensively, too. As I noted last night, Orlando's defense has been putrid of late. A competent defensive effort should secure victory. Understandably, I'm not optimistic.