Boston Celtics @ Orlando Magic 11-29-04 Preview

Boston 117, Orlando 101

<div align="center"></div>
<div align="center"><font color="DarkGreen">Boston Celtics (4-8)</font> vs <font color="Blue">Orlando Magic (8-4) </font>
Where : TD WaterHouse Centre
Date: November 29th 7:00 PM
TV: NBATVHighDef, Sunshine</div>

Coaches
Johnny Davis/ Doc Rivers


Probable Starters
Steve Francis/ Gary Payton
Cuttino Mobely*/ Paul Pierce
Grant Hill/ Jiri Welsch
Dwight Howard/ Raef Lafrentz
Kelvin Cato/ Mark Blount
Sixth Man
Hidayet Turkoglu/ Ricky Davis


Key Matchup


Magic Keys
* Get a good contribution from stars like Grant Hill and Steve Francis who combined for 55 points last game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday November 27th. Both Hill and Francis are averaging over 20 points this season for the Orlando Magic.

* Crash the board and keep big men out of foul trouble rookie Dwight Howard has only faled to reach double digits in rebounds two times this season once against the Portland Trail Blazers, and failed by one rebound in Atlanta on Friday November 26th. As far as keeping big men out of foul trouble goes last game agains the 76ers the Magic where down at half time mainly, because of foul trouble. Our two big men Cato and Battie at half time had combined for 3 points and 2 rebounds against a under sized Philly team.

* Control turnovers Steve Francis had only one turnover last game although in limited play due to foul trouble we need him to hold on to the ball against the glove/ Paul Pierce back court to win this game. Francis who is averaging around four turnovers a game this year finished that game with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

* Control pace of game. The last two games the Magic have played have been high scoring games in which there opponents have scored 99 points each time. This seems to be the Magics pace of game, because although they have allowed a lot of points they have consistantly scored more points by gettign into the open court.


Side Notes
*The Orlando Magic are 5-1 at home this season. They are undefeated at home against eastern conference teams. They are on a two game win streak and have won overall 4 out of there last 5 games.

* Cuttino Mobely may possibly miss the game with a strained groin if so he will be replaced in the stating lineup by Deshawn Stevenson.






Leo's Prediction
The Boston celtics are a team that barring there under .500 record are still possible of staying in a game every single night. Taking this team littly may cost us during this game. I see the Magic keeping the pressure on this team all game with Grant Hill scoring at will against Ricky Davis. Steve Francis will have a couple of turnovers this game, but in the end the I see the Magic using there fast pace, and deep roster to win this one by 8 points final score 102-94.

 

Nice preview and prediction...you didnt mention Doc coming back for his revenge

 

Yeah Doc coming back should be interesting. I think we will get the win in this game because Jiri Welsh can't contain Grant Hill. Also, they don't have many perimeter shooters and that can hurt them against our high scoring offense that drains three pointers all day long.

My Prediction is a Magic win 96-85. Grant Hill will score 24 points and Francis will score 26 points. Dwight Howard will score 16 points and have 12 rebounds. We will hold Paul Pierce to 21 points and 5 rebounds.

 

Nice preview. I think this will be another high scoring game with the Magic winning. I would say 107-99. D12 will have another double double. I'm gonna say 14 and 11 and 3 blocks. Franchise and Hill will put the game away again down the stretch. It will be a good game and it will be great to see Doc back.

 

37-20 after the 1st quarter. Magic have been shooting terrible while the Celtics are red hot with over 65% from the field. Hopefully the Celtics will cool down and the Magic will heat up. Usually the Magic get off to a slow start and spectacular finish. Im not too worried as long as they get within 10 before the half.

 

69-45 at the half

I dont think it is the magic's fault. I think it is a little bit of their defense and a whole lot to do with Celtics playing like never before trying to get a win after a 4 game losing streak. Celtics are shooting at about 60% while the magic at about 36-40% Celtics need to get cold for the Magic to win. I still have hope but yah...

 

Half Time


69-45

The Magic are struggling this game, because they have taken the Celtics littly also the Celts have come out focused on getting this win and are shooting very well like said before. Orlando needs to come out second half ready to play like they did vs Philly or this game will be over quick. Howard nly has 4 points, but 7 rebounds. hill as well only has 4 points. The Magics leading performers have been Francis(10 points) and Hedo(11 points). The Celtics leader have been Pierce with 15 and 6 rebounds, and Raef with 14 points.

 

The Magic are playing usually (other then Hill). The reason they are doing so bad is because of their FG% (34%) and the celtics FG%(58%) which is why the celtics are winning so badly. Mainly its that but the Magic havent played the best defense. Hill and Francis have to take over and make shots for them to have a chance at this game.

 

Did you really think the Celts would have come into this game with less confidence (as someone mentioned on the Heat board), most of the time after a heart-breaking loss, the team gains confidence., they want to win. At the half, by 24, Boston takes this...great win for Boston, bad loss for Magic, they can do better than this.

 

OgmaXify, the game isnt over

dont call it a great win when it is just halftime magic are only down 21 now (lol)

Dont ever make comments like that till the game is over

 

Prediction...

 

Sorry, it seemed like you were already calling the game for the Celtics. (I believe the Celts will win this but i believe the Magic can still come back) The magic are only down 15 now. Yes the magic can do better. But its not the Magic. It is the Celtics who shot like hell in the first half. The Magic are doing their average.

 

END OF 3rd

Celtics 92 - Magic 76

Magic are playing great and having an average night. As ive said before it has just been the Celtics when they had their hot hands in the first half. Magic have to control the 4th. I think the Magic can at least get this game close. I dont mind losing this game but losing this game by more than 15 is unacceptable. The Magic had a pretty good 3rd quarter after being down 24 they are now only down 16.


EDIT: Now they are only down 12. MAGIC IN THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cato and Battie are both having a great game

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OrlandoMagicFan:</div><div class="quote_post">END OF 3rd

Celtics 92 - Magic 76

Magic are playing great and having an average night. As ive said before it has just been the Celtics when they had their hot hands in the first half. Magic have to control the 4th. I think the Magic can at least get this game close. I dont mind losing this game but losing this game by more than 15 is unacceptable. The Magic had a pretty good 3rd quarter after being down 24 they are now only down 16.</div>
Shouldnt double post bro just edit your post. I do it some times to its no big deal just saying it for future references. Either way I do see this game as a game that is still withen reach right now. The score is 96-82 right now. Bright side if this game turns out a lose. Howard had another double double. cato also had a double double and surprisingly is having a good offensive game.

 

Geez I am very frustrated right now. We were missing rebounds and being outplayed. This is a hard game to watch...

 

Yah, i noticed my double posts. I dont understand why double posts are such a big deal in forums. Im not really trying to increase post count or anything and it isnt spam.

I would just rather have my posts divided rather then having to edit every 4 minutes.

(spelling is references)



FINAL:

Magic 101 Celtics 117


Overview:

Magic played a great game but could never really get it started after falling down by 17 in the first quarter. One thing that killed the Magic is 4 Technical Fouls. Also Francis fouled out of the game with 6 PF midway through the 4th. The Celtics shot 60% after the first half which helped them with their strong lead. The magic had 6 players in double figure points but NO player scored 20 or more. Turkoglu had the most points with 18 followed by Francis and Hill with 14 a piece.

The Magic rebounded extremely well again with 56 rebounds. They also recorded a whopping 11 blocks. Tony Battie registered his 500th block against the team he played 5 years with before leaving. Cato, Howard, Turkoglu, and Kasun added 2 blocks too the block count.

All-in-all i think it was a much better game then the final score reveals. The Magic played great defense in the second half. Cato and Howard both recorded double-doubles. Stevenson plays another great game with the abscence of Mobley with 11 points and 8 rebounds. One real killer was Francis and Hill. Francis only had 3 rebounds and Hill only had 4.

Congrats to the Celtics for a great win.

Even though this is a loss on the scorecard, i believe this is more of a win. in 5 minutes coming off the bench Brandon Hunter scored 7 points and drew 2 fouls with 2-3 shooting. He also finished with 2 rebounds. Kasun also played a good game with 4 points, 2 blocks and 5 rebounds in 9 minutes.

 

Magic lost 117-101.

 

Dwight Howard and Kelvin Cato both had double doubles and all of our starters and our sixth man had 10 or more points. Steve Francis had 5 turnovers. The Magic are now 8-5 and their next game is against the Raptors this Wednesday.

 

Final


Boston 117, Magic 101

First off I would just like to congradulate the Boston celtics on a great win, and wish them luck with the rest of there season. This was a very dissappointing game for the Orlando Magic the Celtics came in to TD Water House centre with a less then impressive record, but as a team that can stay in games. While the Magic 8-4 had only one loss at home this season. Seemed sort of a david vs Goliath matchup, but in the end the Magic could not pull out a win.

A main reason for there loss was lack of defensive pressure the Celtics had there way with the Celtics in the first half of basketball just getting any shot they wanted at will. Though the Magic came out strong in the second half cutting Bostons lead to 16 in the third they just did not have enough steam to come back all the way.

On the bright side for the Magic though. They had two players with double doubles, and Hedo came off the bench to score 18 points and lead the team in scoring keeping up his good play. Now on the sad part after combining for 55 points last game Grant Hill and Steve Francis only combined for a total of 25 points this game both failing to reach there season average in points this game.

Also another thing that dissappointed me was as it seemed that Jameer Nelson was gaining confidence his minutes where cut again this game to only 10 minutes in which he scored 4 points on 2/7 shooting. Hunter showed a little bit of offense for the Magic scoring seven points off the bench. Also Stevenson had another good shooting night 5/9 from the field, but in the end just was not enough. Looks like Doc got his revenge.

 

(read my overview as well pplz, thank you)

Pretty good overview pure skillz but you have no points scored or more information. And not much of a bright side . I think there was a pretty good bright side and i feel so good about the magic right now.