Denton: Magic Seek Retribution From Christmas Day
By John Denton
January 28, 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.
ORLANDO – Dwight Howard has a long memory and he won’t soon forget the embarrassing whipping that his Orlando Magic took on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics. Already he’s promising things will be different Thursday night when the Magic and Celtics meet in the rematch.
``Right now, we’re still trying to get ourselves back right and it starts (on Thursday). If we play the way that we know how to play, we’re going to win the game,’’ Howard said. ``I’m looking forward to the challenge because I know they will be hyped up and it’s a big game. We want to get better and build something.’’
The Magic (29-16) and the Celtics (29-13) collided in an epic seven-game playoff series last spring, with Orlando prevailing. The two games so far this season have been similar with Orlando winning a low-scoring, ugly game in Boston and the Celtics winning in Orlando on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Day loss was particularly galling for the Magic because they scored just 77 points and shot only 33 percent from the floor against the Celtics defense. Maybe just a coincidence or not, but the Magic slipped into a mild funk after that game, going just 7-9 since Christmas Day.
``I don’t think that game did anything to us in the long run,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``Both games so far have been similar in that they have been low scoring and both teams have had trouble getting the ball in the basket. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that this game will turn out the same way.’’
In the moments after the Christmas Day loss to the Celtics, Howard and Van Gundy met to hatch a plan of attack against the Celtics. Boston held Howard to just 16.4 points per game in the playoffs last spring and he’s mustered just nine and five points in two games this season against the Celtics.
Their conclusion: The Magic must push the ball in transition whenever possible and be patient in half-court sets by swinging the ball from side to make the Boston defense move around. The Celtics will send ace defenders Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett at Howard throughout the game, and because those defenders are so accomplished they likely won’t have to double-team off the Magic’s shooters.
Howard feels that there will be opportunities there against Boston, but his teammates have to continue to aggressively look inside and not just settle for the first jump shot that becomes available. ``I just have to be more aggressive, calling for the ball,’’ Howard said. ``If I’m not getting it I have to go get it off the glass and not let them stop me and my game. Last year, we believed we were going to beat Boston and everything we did was with the belief that we were going to get the job done. That’s what we have to do now.’’
Howard has been getting the job done offensively of late, attacking foes with a ferocity on the low block. Already the NBA’s leader in rebounds (13.3), blocked shots (2.6) and double-doubles (33), Howard has averaged 22.4 points and 14.6 rebounds over the last five games.
Howard was somewhat irked on Christmas Day about some comments that Perkins made about the Magic’s center pining to the officials for calls. Howard said he will use those comments for motivation tonight and the past two games against the Celtics for learning tools.
``He’s a big body, but I can’t allow what he does to influence my game,’’ Howard said of Perkins. ``I can’t allow his physicality to change how I play. A lot of guys are physical, but just certain guys get away with playing that way.
``I don’t think we played as well as we could (on Christmas Day), but we learned a good lesson,’’ Howard continued. ``We’ll come back (Thursday) and play better. We’ll run and move the ball and do the things that we need to do to win the game.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonJanuary 28, 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.
ORLANDO – Dwight Howard has a long memory and he won’t soon forget the embarrassing whipping that his Orlando Magic took on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics. Already he’s promising things will be different Thursday night when the Magic and Celtics meet in the rematch.
``Right now, we’re still trying to get ourselves back right and it starts (on Thursday). If we play the way that we know how to play, we’re going to win the game,’’ Howard said. ``I’m looking forward to the challenge because I know they will be hyped up and it’s a big game. We want to get better and build something.’’
The Magic (29-16) and the Celtics (29-13) collided in an epic seven-game playoff series last spring, with Orlando prevailing. The two games so far this season have been similar with Orlando winning a low-scoring, ugly game in Boston and the Celtics winning in Orlando on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Day loss was particularly galling for the Magic because they scored just 77 points and shot only 33 percent from the floor against the Celtics defense. Maybe just a coincidence or not, but the Magic slipped into a mild funk after that game, going just 7-9 since Christmas Day.
``I don’t think that game did anything to us in the long run,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``Both games so far have been similar in that they have been low scoring and both teams have had trouble getting the ball in the basket. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that this game will turn out the same way.’’
In the moments after the Christmas Day loss to the Celtics, Howard and Van Gundy met to hatch a plan of attack against the Celtics. Boston held Howard to just 16.4 points per game in the playoffs last spring and he’s mustered just nine and five points in two games this season against the Celtics.
Their conclusion: The Magic must push the ball in transition whenever possible and be patient in half-court sets by swinging the ball from side to make the Boston defense move around. The Celtics will send ace defenders Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett at Howard throughout the game, and because those defenders are so accomplished they likely won’t have to double-team off the Magic’s shooters.
Howard feels that there will be opportunities there against Boston, but his teammates have to continue to aggressively look inside and not just settle for the first jump shot that becomes available. ``I just have to be more aggressive, calling for the ball,’’ Howard said. ``If I’m not getting it I have to go get it off the glass and not let them stop me and my game. Last year, we believed we were going to beat Boston and everything we did was with the belief that we were going to get the job done. That’s what we have to do now.’’
Howard has been getting the job done offensively of late, attacking foes with a ferocity on the low block. Already the NBA’s leader in rebounds (13.3), blocked shots (2.6) and double-doubles (33), Howard has averaged 22.4 points and 14.6 rebounds over the last five games.
Howard was somewhat irked on Christmas Day about some comments that Perkins made about the Magic’s center pining to the officials for calls. Howard said he will use those comments for motivation tonight and the past two games against the Celtics for learning tools.
``He’s a big body, but I can’t allow what he does to influence my game,’’ Howard said of Perkins. ``I can’t allow his physicality to change how I play. A lot of guys are physical, but just certain guys get away with playing that way.
``I don’t think we played as well as we could (on Christmas Day), but we learned a good lesson,’’ Howard continued. ``We’ll come back (Thursday) and play better. We’ll run and move the ball and do the things that we need to do to win the game.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
