Denton: Magic-Nuggets Postgame Analysis
By John Denton
January 13, 2010
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.
DENVER – Dwight Howard spun and fell flat on one failed post move, had the ball wrestled from his hands by a tiny point guard on another possession and misfired again and again during other stretches of the game.
No player epitomized the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of the up and down Orlando Magic from one night to the next more so than the superstar center.
And Howard’s frustration level, as high as it was on tough night, paled in comparison to Rashard Lewis’s uneasiness over his lack of shots in the offense.
A night after Howard and his Magic pounded the Sacramento Kings with some of their best basketball of the season, Orlando fell apart in Wednesday’s second half of an ugly 115-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
And after Lewis, the NBA leader in 3-pointers made last season, got just nine shots and three 3-point attempts in another offensive struggle, he vented about the Magic’s lack of flow and rhythm.
``Every night in order for me to have a good game I feel like I have to make every shot, every last one of them because I’m not getting very many of them,’’ said Lewis, who had just six points. ``Not to blame it on me not getting shots because we’ve still got to play defense, but we’re just not getting in a good offensive rhythm as a team.
``It’s a different feel,’’ Lewis continued. ``I don’t like to complain too much about not getting shots at the offensive end, but if you’re losing ballgames and struggling then you might have to go say something.’’
Orlando (25-13) made plenty of errors (19 turnovers) and rested and ready Nuggets (25-14) made the Magic pay to the tune of 33 points of those gaffes. The game was so sloppy on the Magic’s part that it almost morphed into somewhat of a layup and dunk line for Denver, which hit 60 percent in the second half and 55.8 percent for the game.
``Our turnovers were awful and we couldn’t play their post-ups,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy fumed. ``Double teams they scored every time and when we didn’t double they scored every time. We turned the ball over and we couldn’t find any offense to run. We were ineffective in the post, we couldn’t exploit their switches, we couldn’t beat anybody off the dribble and we couldn’t get any stops. We got totally dominated in every phase of the game in the second half and I’m very disappointed.’’
Howard battered the Kings for 30 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals a night earlier, but he missed six of his seven field goal tries on Wednesday. He couldn’t even get a field goal try in the second half because the Nuggets sent him to the free throw line. Howard finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, but also turned the ball over five times.
``We’ve got to do a better job of fighting when things are going wrong,’’ Howard said. ``They started hitting shots and we kind of gave up and we can’t be doing that if we’re going to talk about winning a championship.’’
When Jameer Nelson scored just eight points, Lewis had only six and Howard struggled through an off night, the Magic’s offense collapsed completely in the second half despite leading by three points at halftime.
The Magic (25-13) get a much-needed day off on Thursday and resume the roadtrip Friday in Portland in a nationally televised game. After that, Orlando has two days to prepare for its NBA Finals rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
The Magic were without shooting guard Vince Carter for a third consecutive game because of a mild shoulder separation. Carter could possibly get in a workout today and might play Friday in Portland.
Here’s a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly in a game that badly deteriorated as the night went on:
THE GOOD
---- Stop me if you’ve heard this one before Magic fans: Chauncey Billups had another good game against Orlando. He made eight of 14 shots, by posting up Nelson and Jason Williams. He hit two threes, sank six free throws and handed out five assists.
``We beat a really good team,’’ Billups said. ``They came into this building last year and kind of embarrassed us. We don’t forget things like that and we wanted this one tonight.’’
---- As has been the case much of the season, Orlando got a big night from a role player, but failed to get all of their key players going at once.
Matt Barnes played his best game of the season on Wednesday, scoring 28 points, grabbing nine rebounds and swiping three steals. But Barnes said it was difficult to enjoy the big night because of the lopsided loss. Remarkably, he had a big game despite spending most of the night in foul trouble.
``It’s really bittersweet because we didn’t win the game,’’ he said. ``I played well and had a good game, but when you don’t win it just doesn’t matter.’’
THE BAD
---- The third quarter was a disastrous stretch for the Magic and it ultimately cost them any chance they had of their third straight win.
A Magic team that could do no wrong a night earlier in Sacramento came unglued just after halftime and couldn’t get it turned around. Denver scored 12 straight to start the third period, going from three down to nine up.
And from there, it only got worse for the Magic as the Nuggets scored easily on one dunk or layup after another. The Nuggets made 11 of 19 shots in the third period to run away from the sluggish Magic. Orlando kicked the ball away five times in the quarter, leading to 12 Denver points.
``We weren’t ready to play there to start the second half,’’ Barnes said.
---- Denver coach George Karl, never one to shy away from giving his opinion, gave an outsiders’ prospective of what he sees as the differences between last season’s Magic team and this year’s. He said he sees pluses and minuses of the Magic being without Hedo Turkoglu and with Carter.
``It seems like there’s less fluidity to their offense, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be as effective,’’ Karl said. ``I believe Vince (Carter) is a better player than (Turkoglu). Turkoglu had an offensive cuteness to his game that made them really good. But with him gone, Howard is getting it more. Offensively now, you see him do some things and you say to yourself, `Wow, he didn’t have that last year.’ Sometimes when personalities change like theirs have, one window closes and a couple of more of them open.’’
THE UGLY
---- Anthony was steaming after a first half in which he made just three of eight shots and scored just 10 points. He missed his last three shots of the half, including a 3-pointer at the halftime horn.
Anthony, the NBA’s leading scorer coming into Wednesday, was whistled for a technical foul late in the second quarter for arguing a no-call after he was stripped of the ball by Matt Barnes.
When Anthony’s buzzer-beating shot rimmed out just before the half, he flung his headband across the floor and ripped off the whit shooting sleeve on his arm.
But a motivated Anthony responded in the second half, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He scored against single coverage and beat the Magic’s traps with pinpoint passing for several dunks to J.R. Smith (17 points), Nene (14 points) and Keyon Martin (11 points).
----Starting games in place of Carter isn’t agreeing with Redick, who is having trouble with his starts.
Starting his second consecutive game in place of the injured Carter, Redick missed all three of his shots in the first half and both of his 3-point tries. A night earlier in Sacramento, he had a two of seven first half and missed all four of his 3-pointers.
---- Funny behind-the-scenes moment before Wednesday’s game – well, not too funny if you are a Nuggets fan, but certainly telling. Before running on the floor for pregame introductions, the Nuggets team came together into a huddle and in unison chanted, ``Together.’’
Seconds later, enigmatic Denver guard J.R. Smith came walking up and ran onto the court with his teammates. Smith has butted heads with Denver coaches and players through the years because of his selfish ways.
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 DentonJanuary 13, 2010
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.
DENVER – Dwight Howard spun and fell flat on one failed post move, had the ball wrestled from his hands by a tiny point guard on another possession and misfired again and again during other stretches of the game.
No player epitomized the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of the up and down Orlando Magic from one night to the next more so than the superstar center.
And Howard’s frustration level, as high as it was on tough night, paled in comparison to Rashard Lewis’s uneasiness over his lack of shots in the offense.
A night after Howard and his Magic pounded the Sacramento Kings with some of their best basketball of the season, Orlando fell apart in Wednesday’s second half of an ugly 115-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
And after Lewis, the NBA leader in 3-pointers made last season, got just nine shots and three 3-point attempts in another offensive struggle, he vented about the Magic’s lack of flow and rhythm.
``Every night in order for me to have a good game I feel like I have to make every shot, every last one of them because I’m not getting very many of them,’’ said Lewis, who had just six points. ``Not to blame it on me not getting shots because we’ve still got to play defense, but we’re just not getting in a good offensive rhythm as a team.
``It’s a different feel,’’ Lewis continued. ``I don’t like to complain too much about not getting shots at the offensive end, but if you’re losing ballgames and struggling then you might have to go say something.’’
Orlando (25-13) made plenty of errors (19 turnovers) and rested and ready Nuggets (25-14) made the Magic pay to the tune of 33 points of those gaffes. The game was so sloppy on the Magic’s part that it almost morphed into somewhat of a layup and dunk line for Denver, which hit 60 percent in the second half and 55.8 percent for the game.
``Our turnovers were awful and we couldn’t play their post-ups,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy fumed. ``Double teams they scored every time and when we didn’t double they scored every time. We turned the ball over and we couldn’t find any offense to run. We were ineffective in the post, we couldn’t exploit their switches, we couldn’t beat anybody off the dribble and we couldn’t get any stops. We got totally dominated in every phase of the game in the second half and I’m very disappointed.’’
Howard battered the Kings for 30 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals a night earlier, but he missed six of his seven field goal tries on Wednesday. He couldn’t even get a field goal try in the second half because the Nuggets sent him to the free throw line. Howard finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, but also turned the ball over five times.
``We’ve got to do a better job of fighting when things are going wrong,’’ Howard said. ``They started hitting shots and we kind of gave up and we can’t be doing that if we’re going to talk about winning a championship.’’
When Jameer Nelson scored just eight points, Lewis had only six and Howard struggled through an off night, the Magic’s offense collapsed completely in the second half despite leading by three points at halftime.
The Magic (25-13) get a much-needed day off on Thursday and resume the roadtrip Friday in Portland in a nationally televised game. After that, Orlando has two days to prepare for its NBA Finals rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
The Magic were without shooting guard Vince Carter for a third consecutive game because of a mild shoulder separation. Carter could possibly get in a workout today and might play Friday in Portland.
Here’s a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly in a game that badly deteriorated as the night went on:
THE GOOD
---- Stop me if you’ve heard this one before Magic fans: Chauncey Billups had another good game against Orlando. He made eight of 14 shots, by posting up Nelson and Jason Williams. He hit two threes, sank six free throws and handed out five assists.
``We beat a really good team,’’ Billups said. ``They came into this building last year and kind of embarrassed us. We don’t forget things like that and we wanted this one tonight.’’
---- As has been the case much of the season, Orlando got a big night from a role player, but failed to get all of their key players going at once.
Matt Barnes played his best game of the season on Wednesday, scoring 28 points, grabbing nine rebounds and swiping three steals. But Barnes said it was difficult to enjoy the big night because of the lopsided loss. Remarkably, he had a big game despite spending most of the night in foul trouble.
``It’s really bittersweet because we didn’t win the game,’’ he said. ``I played well and had a good game, but when you don’t win it just doesn’t matter.’’
THE BAD
---- The third quarter was a disastrous stretch for the Magic and it ultimately cost them any chance they had of their third straight win.
A Magic team that could do no wrong a night earlier in Sacramento came unglued just after halftime and couldn’t get it turned around. Denver scored 12 straight to start the third period, going from three down to nine up.
And from there, it only got worse for the Magic as the Nuggets scored easily on one dunk or layup after another. The Nuggets made 11 of 19 shots in the third period to run away from the sluggish Magic. Orlando kicked the ball away five times in the quarter, leading to 12 Denver points.
``We weren’t ready to play there to start the second half,’’ Barnes said.
---- Denver coach George Karl, never one to shy away from giving his opinion, gave an outsiders’ prospective of what he sees as the differences between last season’s Magic team and this year’s. He said he sees pluses and minuses of the Magic being without Hedo Turkoglu and with Carter.
``It seems like there’s less fluidity to their offense, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be as effective,’’ Karl said. ``I believe Vince (Carter) is a better player than (Turkoglu). Turkoglu had an offensive cuteness to his game that made them really good. But with him gone, Howard is getting it more. Offensively now, you see him do some things and you say to yourself, `Wow, he didn’t have that last year.’ Sometimes when personalities change like theirs have, one window closes and a couple of more of them open.’’
THE UGLY
---- Anthony was steaming after a first half in which he made just three of eight shots and scored just 10 points. He missed his last three shots of the half, including a 3-pointer at the halftime horn.
Anthony, the NBA’s leading scorer coming into Wednesday, was whistled for a technical foul late in the second quarter for arguing a no-call after he was stripped of the ball by Matt Barnes.
When Anthony’s buzzer-beating shot rimmed out just before the half, he flung his headband across the floor and ripped off the whit shooting sleeve on his arm.
But a motivated Anthony responded in the second half, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He scored against single coverage and beat the Magic’s traps with pinpoint passing for several dunks to J.R. Smith (17 points), Nene (14 points) and Keyon Martin (11 points).
----Starting games in place of Carter isn’t agreeing with Redick, who is having trouble with his starts.
Starting his second consecutive game in place of the injured Carter, Redick missed all three of his shots in the first half and both of his 3-point tries. A night earlier in Sacramento, he had a two of seven first half and missed all four of his 3-pointers.
---- Funny behind-the-scenes moment before Wednesday’s game – well, not too funny if you are a Nuggets fan, but certainly telling. Before running on the floor for pregame introductions, the Nuggets team came together into a huddle and in unison chanted, ``Together.’’
Seconds later, enigmatic Denver guard J.R. Smith came walking up and ran onto the court with his teammates. Smith has butted heads with Denver coaches and players through the years because of his selfish ways.
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.
