@ <span style="color:#3333FF">Orlando Magic (3-3)</span><span style="color:#000099">Jameer Nelson, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Battie, Dwight Howard</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players: Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling, Darko Milicic</span><span style="color:#000066">Minnesota Timberwolves(2-3)</span><span style="color:#000066">Mike James, Ricky Davis, Trenton Hassell, Kevin Garnett, Mark BlountKey Bench Players: Marko Jaric, Craig Smith, Troy Hudson</span>X Factors: We are going to need Hedo Turkeoglu to step up and play consistently the entire game. We don't need him to shoot lights out for a 5 minute span, and then to miss or not even shoot after that. His outside shot will be big for the Magic in this game. If he is hitting his shot, it will open alot for us on offense. Craigh Smith's banging and energy down low off the bench will be a big part of their success today. If he can play well off the bench against the Magic's low post rotation, then the Timberwolves will be looking good for the game. Key Matchup:vsThe battle between starting point guard's will be the determining factor in this game, in my opinion. Jameer Nelson and Mike James are going to both play hard no doubt, the big thing will be who can limit the other. I think Jameer Nelson can keep in front of Mike James and make it hard for him to score. This is the second of a three game road trip for the Magic, as they have lost the first game to Indiana. I'm expecting this to be a good bounce back game for the Magic. After one of the most misserable second half basketball displays this year, they will come out and play much better. I think we will win this game, off of a strong performance behind Hill and Turkoglu. I expect us to run when we can, and tighten up on the sloppiness that we have been displaying, and get Howard going early in the game.
Magic are going to win if they pass the ball and work it around for the open shot. The team has good young players and if they do there defence and play well on offence they have another win, and if Howard contrals the board they have evn a bigger chance of winning this game, but we'll never know till the game is over.
Here in the first half things are working nicely for the Magic, as they are winning 59-41. Grant Hill did not start tonight, Keith Bogans started in his spot. At the end of the first quarter the score was 29-20. The starters came out for both teams, and the reserve units went in for a long stretch in the 2nd quarter. The Magic reserves proceeded to build on our lead, meanwhile playing good defense. The game is really being started by our bigs tonight. The bench scored 24 points, and is a huge reason for how we are playing right now. Dwight Howard is being a monster right now, bullying everyone that plays him. In this first half he has 14 points on 7 of 9 shooting and 13 rebounds, while not missing a shot until the last 4 minutes of the first half. Darko Milicic is also playing very well tonight, rebounding isn't the strongest, but he was attacking the basket down low offensively with alot of confidence and assertiveness. He has 10 points, and 3 rebounds, He is also passing decently well out of the post, which is helping this team. Defensively the bigs are playing well, keeping in front of Garnett. Howard guarded him the entire first quarter almost, and in the second when he was in Milicic was guarding Garnett.
He absolutley is, 18 rebounds so far tonight! If the Timberwolves want to win this game they desperately need someone to step up and play soliddefense down low. Orlando is getting in the paint as they please, Nelson is driving through wide open, Dooling was doing the same when he was in. Darko, Battie, and Howard are roughing them up inside offensively. I'm just happy with this game so far.
The Magic came out tonight, and played outstanding basketball to win the game 109-98. There are alot of things we did good tonight, we rebounded well beating them 45-28 in that category, and shot a nice percentage(50%) taking alot of good smart shots and having nice shot selection. The thing that sticks out the most to me however, is 22/11, meaning we had 22 assists and only 11 turnovers which is very nice considering our average was 22 turnovers and 17 assists a game. Our bench was awesome tonight, scoring 52 points tonight.Dwight was a beast, with 21 points on 10 of 16 shooting and 22 rebounds, he completely dominated in the paint. Milicic offensively was commanding touches, and playing very well off the bench with 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting, and 5 rebounds. Downlow near the basket we completely tore up the T'wolves. Our guards got into the paint almost at will, our big men played near the basket without anyone even attempting to push them away from the basket. Nelson was outstanding running the offense while putting in 23 points. His penetration had this team going well, and when things got rocky he would get the ball and pull it out, taking over like a veteran in Grant Hill's absence. Another gem off the bench was Trevor Ariza who played outstanding defense, and was on the boards helping out alot on offense getting 3 offensive rebounds. He also shot very well scoring 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting. This was a great win for us as a team.Next we are at Boston, who may be down emotionally after that loss tonight and giving up that lead, before we return home from this three game road trip.
Dwight went crazy out on the court. Those 22 rebounds is what I'm wanting to see and Jameer had a good game to with his 23 points.
