Well another ugly game for the magic, unfortunately for them there's no win to show for it. Detroit was without 2 of their starters, Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshawn Prince (back, who missed his 1st in 496 straight games) and still got enough productivity from their teammates to squeak out the win while shooting a unimpressive 37.5% from the field, while not making a single 3 pointer the entire game. Well the magic on the other hand was still without Rashard Lewis again (5th out of his 10 game suspension) and Michael Pietrus was out with flu like symptoms. The Magic undershot the Pistons poor shooting of 37.5% with there own 36.7%.
Now a lot could be said about the officiating late in the game with MANY blown calls. I'm going to take the high road and put the blame on the Magic not being able to tough it out when needed to. Dwight Howard might as well missed the plane to Detroit because his 16 foul plagued minutes were pretty irrelevant other then a few impressive blocks early. After the Magic's 1st quarter total of ~14~ points. SVG got his role players involved and got the magic back in the game. Dwight Howard's absence in the 1st half was somewhat negated by the good play of backup center Marcin Gortat, but it didn't take long for him to get into foul trouble also. (Both Howard And Gortat Would Foul Out In The 4th) And the game wouldn't have been even that close if it wasn't for the magic streaking 3 point shooting that got hot and cold throughout the game.
Vince lead the team in scoring and looked pretty good in 30 minutes considering it was his 1st game back from his ankle injury, but even watching him you could tell he was in All-Star form, electing to stay outside and rely on jumpers and 3 point shots. But if there's ONE bright spot in this whole game. It was the the bench play of Matt Barnes. Looking at his stat sheet will not give the man his due. With 11 point and 7 boards in only 26 minutes. It was his hustle and his drive to lead the Magic to a close game late with clutch D and key shots and rebounds. Which if it weren't for, the game could have gotten out of hand.
Well its back to the drawing board for Stan and the boys because whatever it is he tried against Detroit, it didn't work. Other then Sundays game, Jameer has not looked like the All-Star he was last year. Maybe it could be because with injury's to his teammates everyone isn't on the same page. But they need to realize that there are 5 more games untill Rashard returns and just "waiting" it out is no way to play the beginning of the season, because injury's DO happen. Lewis can tear his knee up 2 games into his return. What would they do then? Give up?...That's no excuse for shooting like they have been. Like White Chocolate said at halftime 'If the Shots Aren't Dropping, You Can Still Play D'
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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