Preview: Magic @ Grizzlies vs <font color="Blue">Orlando Magic</font> at <font color="Green"> Memphis Grizzlies</font> When: Saturday, January 3 Where: The Pyramid Time: 8:00 ET TV: Local Records Grizzlies: 16-17 Magic: 8-25 Previous Games <u>Orlando</u> <ul>January 2, Loss 112-101 @ Miami December 29, Loss 114-86 vs New York December 26, Loss 98-83 @ San Antonio[/list] Last 10: 5-5 <u> Memphis </u> <ul>January 2, Won 100-88 vs Utah December 30, Loss 105-99 vs Seattle December 29, Loss 94-86 @ Indiana[/list] Last 10: 3-7 Probable Starters Andrew DeClercq vs Lorenzen Wright Juwan Howard vs Pau Gasol Gordan Giricek vs James Posey Tracy McGrady vs Mike Miller Tyronn Lue vs Jason Williams Injury List <u> Orlando</u> Pat Garrity Reece Gaines Grant Hill <u> Memphis</u> Troy Bell Ryan Humphrey Theron Smith Team Updates <u>Orlando</u> The Orlando Magic started the New Year with a 112-101 loss at Miami. Drew Gooden had a monster game with 29 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Juwan Howard added 22 points and 8 rebounds for the Magic as well. Tracy McGrady was questionable for the game, and played producing 22 points and 10 assists. Tryonn Lue is back in the starting lineup for the Magic, sending veteran Rod Strickland to the bench. The Magic are currently riding another losing streak with 3 in a row, and have dropped the past 4 of 5 games. If the Magic want to make a push at the playoffs, serious changes need to be made. <u>Memphis</u> The Memphis Grizzlies recently broke a 7 game losing streak with a 100-88 victory against the Jazz. Bonzi Wells came off the bench to score 21 points and dish out 6 assists on 8-16 shooting. Lorenzen Wright had a soild game with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Gasol had a near double double with 10 points and 8 rebounds on 5-14 shooting. If the Grizzlies take this game, they will climb back to .500 and look to extend their streak. [quoteright] "Winning is contagious, just like losing is. This win gives us confidence and gets the monkey off our back." ?Earl Watson[/QUOTERIGHT] Keys to the Game <u> Orlando</u> <ul>Contain Pau Gasol. The Magic always have a problem with big men out west. He will cause serious match up problems and could be one of the X Factors for the Grizzlies.[/list] <ul>Play Defense. The Magic have not played a solid defensive game since their classic victory against the Cavs on Christmas day.[/list] <ul>Get off to a good start.[/list] <u> Memphis </u> <ul>Set the tempo early. The Magic seem to have problems coming back in games because they often set themselves back so early.[/list] <ul>Feed it to Gasol; He is near impossible once positioned well down low.[/list] <ul>Organize the premiere defenders. Gordan, Lue, McGrady and Strickland are all capable of knocking down the 3's.[/list] Current Team Leaders <u> Orlando</u> <ul>Points: Tracy McGrady (24.3) Rebounds: Drew Gooden (8.2) Assists: Tracy McGrady (5.9) Steals: Tracy McGrady (1.2)[/list] <u>Memphis </u> <ul>Points: Pau Gasol (17.5) Rebounds: Pau Gasol (8.4) Assists: Earl Watson (5.5) Steals: Earl Watson (1.6)[/list] Key Bench Players <u> Orlando</u> Drew Gooden<ul>13.1 Points Per Game, 8.2 Rebounds Per Game, 1.3 Assists Per Game[/list] Rod Strickland<ul>6.3 Points Per Game, 2.3 Rebounds Per Game, 3.0 Assists Per Game[/list] Keith Bogans <ul>4.1 Points Per Game, 2.8 Rebounds Per Game, .6 Assists Per Game[/list] <u>Memphis </u> Bonzi Wells <ul>14.7 Points Per Game, 3.7 Rebounds Per Game, 2.5 Assists Per Game[/list] Earl Watson <ul>6.8 Points Per Game, 2.5 Rebounds Per Game, 5.5 Assists Per Game[/list] Shane Battier <ul>9.3 Points Per Game, 4.0 Rebounds Per Game, 1.4 Assists Per Game[/list] Key Matchup Pau Gasol/ Juwan Howard The Magic don?t have an answer for Pau Gasol. Juwan Howard must step up and try to defend him to his best ability. The 'X' Factor(s) <ul>Gasol/Wells: The Magic will have a very hard time containing both of them.[/list] What to watch for Mike Miller will return to play his against his best friend, Tracy McGrady. Ice's Take Grizzlies by 7 Recap and Boxscore following the game <font size="1">Go to NBA.com for the official preview</font>
Gasol will be too much for us. Whenever the opposing team has a weapon down low, our chances are slim. Memphis by 5+
I am going with my team no matter what. Tracy has Steve O a.k.a Mike Miller gaurding so he shouldn't be able to take that "wicked jump shot of his" causing him to go to the hole and scoring 30+ Magic in an upset to Grizzlies fans by 4.
Gasol is too much. I think the bench depth will hurt.. They have Bonzi, Swift, Battier all ready to go in after Gasol and the starters work. If the Griz where in that losing streak, there may be a better chance at winning, but I think Gasol will be to much.. Unless Howard or Gooden do something about it..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimFlem:</div><div class="quote_post">I am going with my team no matter what. Tracy has Steve O a.k.a Mike Miller gaurding so he shouldn't be able to take that "wicked jump shot of his" causing him to go to the hole and scoring 30+ Magic in an upset to Grizzlies fans by 4.</div>Lets hope. <font size="1">Nice Gooden sig</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimFlem:</div><div class="quote_post">I am going with my team no matter what. Tracy has Steve O a.k.a Mike Miller gaurding so he shouldn't be able to take that "wicked jump shot of his" causing him to go to the hole and scoring 30+ Magic in an upset to Grizzlies fans by 4.</div> I go for the magic no matter what also. Their play has just been frustrating as of late and I can't think of better place to let out that frustration than here. T-mac looks great tonight so far.
1st quarter 29-23, Memphis <u>Orlando </u> Tracy McGrady- 11 Points (4-5 shooting) Keith Bogans- 6 Points <u>Memphis</u> Bonzi Wells- 10 Points Mike Miller-4 Points <u>Bench Production</u> 18-1 in favor of Memphis -------------------- Halftime 60-49, Memphis <u>Orlando</u> Tracy McGrady- 15 points Drew Gooden- 4 points, 5 rebounds <u>Memphis</u> Mike Miller- 13 points Bonzi Wells- 12 points Stromile Swift- 8 points, 7 rebounds Rebounds 28-17 in favor of the Grizz Assists 21-9 in favor of the Grizz It's pretty simple, the Magic don't know how to play defense -------------------- 3rd Quarter 92-72, Memphis <u>Orlando</u> Tracy McGrady- 26 Points Drew Gooden- 8 Points, 5 Rebounds <u>Memphis</u> Mike Miller-15 Points Pau Gasol- 11 Points --------------- Final Orlando 103, Memphis 112 <u>Top Scorers</u> Tracy McGrady-34 Points Miller/Gasol- 17 <u>Top Rebounders</u> Drew Gooden- 7 Stromile Swift-15 <u>Top Assists</u> Tryonn Lue- 8 Jason Williams- 10 <font size="1">Yet another Magic loss, and I wasted my Saturday night to witness it </font> Box Score
McGrady's Shot Chart looks ok.. Drew is putting up some friggin horible stuff.. hes taking outside jump shots from the chart i am looking at, and hes made one basket, a turnaround jumper.. Terrible.. They need to get some better shots off. And Miller is sticking it to the Magic.. Leading scorer for them.. Only Seven Points for Gasol.. Good job to whoevers holding him, keep it that way.. But Damn Bonzi..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DirtySouth:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Posey just elbowed t-mac on purpose in the nose.</div> On Purpose? If so, I hope theres a fine or suspension heading his way... http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/s...0040103_ORL@MEM oh go check that out too, choose drew gooden from the drop down menu and see how many ridiculous shots hes taking.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ZeroToOne50182:</div><div class="quote_post">On Purpose? If so, I hope theres a fine or suspension heading his way... http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/s...0040103_ORL@MEM oh go check that out too, choose drew gooden from the drop down menu and see how many ridiculous shots hes taking.</div> Yeah, david and jack magic annoucers even said it. He drove on t-mac who was going behind to block the shot and he just swung his elbow at t-mac's face. It happen so fast no one really seen it. But you plainly see it in slow motion.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice Breaker:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="1">Yet another Magic loss, and I wasted my Saturday night to witness it </font></div>Lol. I hate Gooden when he is like this. Always seems to shoot from where he received the ball. Why is he taking 22 foot baseline jumpers?
The only reason Gooden put up those bad shots was because he got fired up when he dunked. Did you see him he actually ran back on D after he dunked. Usually when they are losing like they was they'll wak on D and Offense. But good comeback Magic. we had them in the first but then they camback and held the league. Macgic need to get a spark going or something.
Welcome Tupac. Put yourself up on the "Magic Roll Call" thread. Like I've said before, we never seem to be able to play 48 minutes of solid basketball. The playoffs seem very far away now.
I'm glad I've been out of town the last couple of days. I didn't get to see us get cremated 2 games in a row. Hopefully we will somehow turn this slide around. Doesn't look likely though.
