Denton: Magic-Nets Postgame Analysis
By John Denton
November 13, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – When Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard met Friday prior to the Orlando Magic’s rout of the New Jersey Nets, naturally the loquacious head coach did most of the talking. Then, it was Howard who went out on the court and did all of the talking with his dominating, domineering play.
Orlando’s superstar center had his best all-around game of the season, throttling the Nets for 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in the Magic’s 88-72 defeat of the short-handed, winless Nets. Van Gundy left Howard a pregame note that read: ``There is no one better or smarter in the NBA. All you need to do is play with great energy and enthusiasm.’’ Then, a brief pregame meeting between the coach and the player sparked Howard to a breakout game.
``Me and coach talked a little bit and for our team to be successful, I’ve got to bring it every night,’’ Howard said. ``I was a little more active on both ends. It started with me on both ends. Everybody else came out and played good.’’
Orlando (7-3) bounced back from a bad loss on Wednesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers by limiting the Nets (0-9) to 32.9 percent shooting and 72 points. Better defense and rebounding have been Van Gundy’s points of emphasis of late, and the Magic got the message in Friday’s second half. Orlando allowed just 30 points in the final two quarters.
``I liked what we did defensively,’’ Van Gundy said. ``I thought Orlando was very, very good at the defensive end. I like the effort defensively, particularly in the second half. I don’t care who you are playing in this league, to hold a team to 30 points is really good.’’
THE GOOD
---- Matt Barnes was the only active Magic player with power forward experience, and he played big Friday night. He was his usual stat-stuffer self, contributing 13 points, a team-high 13 rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Barnes played plenty of power forward in Golden State and Phoenix prior to coming to Orlando, so making the switch from small forward to power forward. He had a scare in the second half when he severely jammed a finger. X-rays proved negative and Barnes expects to play on Monday when the Magic host Charlotte.
``I was just out there playing because I can’t hit a shot out there right now so I’m trying to get some rebounds,’’ Barnes said. ``I got a few lay-ins and I got lucky and knocked down that one three. I’m just trying to do it defensively, get my teammates the ball and rebound.’’
---- Howard entered the game having blocked just one shot in the past three games, but he was ``a beast’’ inside, according to Barnes. Howard demolished promising New Jersey center Brook Lopez, holding him to one of 12 shooting.
Said Howard: ``It wasn’t a statement. I was just coming out and being aggressive on both ends of the floor. Attacking at one end and dominating on the defensive end. I was just trying to hold my man to a low percentage.’’
---- Rafer Alston, who helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals last spring, came back to Orlando and had a big night. He had a career-best 10 rebounds and registered the first triple-double of his long career. Alston added 17 points and 10 assists to round out the career night. He said what is more important to him now is trying to get New Jersey’s young team turned around.
``The losing is not fun,’’ Alston said. ``Trying to defeat the odds is what’s fun for us. I think we are doing a good job of coming out and starting games and competing. We just let go of the rope, especially in the fourth quarter.’’
THE BAD ---- Orlando’s bench did not produce a point through the first three quarters of the game and didn’t scratch until Jason Williams strung together nine fourth-quarter points.
J.J. Redick had another dismal game, shooting off balance and uncharacteristically struggling with his jumper. He missed all six of his shots and failed to score in 33 minutes.
---- Lopez is one of the game’s best young players, but this was a night to forget for him. He missed 11 of his 12 shots and got to the free throw line just three times. Howard had a huge effect on Lopez’s performance, forcing him to hurry several shots from point-blank range.
Said Van Gundy: ``It’s no coincidence that New Jersey shot 33 percent on a night when Dwight blocked five shots. Blocking shots and playing Lopez tough, I thought Dwight was really good.’’
THE UGLY
---- Both teams were badly short-handed because of illness and injury, making this game more a battle of attrition than anything.
Orlando was without all its power forwards: Rashard Lewis (suspension), Ryan Anderson (sprained ankle) and Brandon Bass (flu). Center Adonal Foyle is still out following knee surgery and Anthony Johnson didn’t play, leaving the Magic with just eight players.
Remarkably, New Jersey was in even worse shape. Former Magic players Courtney Lee (groin knee strain), Tony Battie (arthritic knee) and Keyon Dooling (hip surgery) were out injured, as was Devin Harris (groin strain) and Yi Jianlian (knee sprain).
Lee, who started most of last season and in the playoffs for the Magic before he was included in the Vince Carter trade, was upset he was unable to play in New Jersey’s only trip to Orlando this season.
``It feels kind of good walking back into the arena,’’ Lee said. ``It’s a good feeling. To be able to play here, be embraced by fans, playing with good guys, it’s something I don’t want to forget. I get to see the visitors’ locker room, and it ain’t so pretty.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonNovember 13, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – When Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard met Friday prior to the Orlando Magic’s rout of the New Jersey Nets, naturally the loquacious head coach did most of the talking. Then, it was Howard who went out on the court and did all of the talking with his dominating, domineering play.
Orlando’s superstar center had his best all-around game of the season, throttling the Nets for 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in the Magic’s 88-72 defeat of the short-handed, winless Nets. Van Gundy left Howard a pregame note that read: ``There is no one better or smarter in the NBA. All you need to do is play with great energy and enthusiasm.’’ Then, a brief pregame meeting between the coach and the player sparked Howard to a breakout game.
``Me and coach talked a little bit and for our team to be successful, I’ve got to bring it every night,’’ Howard said. ``I was a little more active on both ends. It started with me on both ends. Everybody else came out and played good.’’
Orlando (7-3) bounced back from a bad loss on Wednesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers by limiting the Nets (0-9) to 32.9 percent shooting and 72 points. Better defense and rebounding have been Van Gundy’s points of emphasis of late, and the Magic got the message in Friday’s second half. Orlando allowed just 30 points in the final two quarters.
``I liked what we did defensively,’’ Van Gundy said. ``I thought Orlando was very, very good at the defensive end. I like the effort defensively, particularly in the second half. I don’t care who you are playing in this league, to hold a team to 30 points is really good.’’
THE GOOD
---- Matt Barnes was the only active Magic player with power forward experience, and he played big Friday night. He was his usual stat-stuffer self, contributing 13 points, a team-high 13 rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Barnes played plenty of power forward in Golden State and Phoenix prior to coming to Orlando, so making the switch from small forward to power forward. He had a scare in the second half when he severely jammed a finger. X-rays proved negative and Barnes expects to play on Monday when the Magic host Charlotte.
``I was just out there playing because I can’t hit a shot out there right now so I’m trying to get some rebounds,’’ Barnes said. ``I got a few lay-ins and I got lucky and knocked down that one three. I’m just trying to do it defensively, get my teammates the ball and rebound.’’
---- Howard entered the game having blocked just one shot in the past three games, but he was ``a beast’’ inside, according to Barnes. Howard demolished promising New Jersey center Brook Lopez, holding him to one of 12 shooting.
Said Howard: ``It wasn’t a statement. I was just coming out and being aggressive on both ends of the floor. Attacking at one end and dominating on the defensive end. I was just trying to hold my man to a low percentage.’’
---- Rafer Alston, who helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals last spring, came back to Orlando and had a big night. He had a career-best 10 rebounds and registered the first triple-double of his long career. Alston added 17 points and 10 assists to round out the career night. He said what is more important to him now is trying to get New Jersey’s young team turned around.
``The losing is not fun,’’ Alston said. ``Trying to defeat the odds is what’s fun for us. I think we are doing a good job of coming out and starting games and competing. We just let go of the rope, especially in the fourth quarter.’’
THE BAD ---- Orlando’s bench did not produce a point through the first three quarters of the game and didn’t scratch until Jason Williams strung together nine fourth-quarter points.
J.J. Redick had another dismal game, shooting off balance and uncharacteristically struggling with his jumper. He missed all six of his shots and failed to score in 33 minutes.
---- Lopez is one of the game’s best young players, but this was a night to forget for him. He missed 11 of his 12 shots and got to the free throw line just three times. Howard had a huge effect on Lopez’s performance, forcing him to hurry several shots from point-blank range.
Said Van Gundy: ``It’s no coincidence that New Jersey shot 33 percent on a night when Dwight blocked five shots. Blocking shots and playing Lopez tough, I thought Dwight was really good.’’
THE UGLY
---- Both teams were badly short-handed because of illness and injury, making this game more a battle of attrition than anything.
Orlando was without all its power forwards: Rashard Lewis (suspension), Ryan Anderson (sprained ankle) and Brandon Bass (flu). Center Adonal Foyle is still out following knee surgery and Anthony Johnson didn’t play, leaving the Magic with just eight players.
Remarkably, New Jersey was in even worse shape. Former Magic players Courtney Lee (groin knee strain), Tony Battie (arthritic knee) and Keyon Dooling (hip surgery) were out injured, as was Devin Harris (groin strain) and Yi Jianlian (knee sprain).
Lee, who started most of last season and in the playoffs for the Magic before he was included in the Vince Carter trade, was upset he was unable to play in New Jersey’s only trip to Orlando this season.
``It feels kind of good walking back into the arena,’’ Lee said. ``It’s a good feeling. To be able to play here, be embraced by fans, playing with good guys, it’s something I don’t want to forget. I get to see the visitors’ locker room, and it ain’t so pretty.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
