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Short-handed Orlando Magic topple Toronto Raptors
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| Categories: Recaps With Vince Carter (ankle) and Mickael Pietrus (flu-like symptoms) being scratched from the lineup just before tipoff — and Rashard Lewis (suspension) and Adonal Foyle (knee) missing for other reasons — the Orlando Magic used all nine of their active players in a rag-tag rotation on Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors.
Thanks to some splendid shooting and efficiency, the Magic were able to outscore the Raptors 125-116.
Jameer Nelson (30 points), JJ Redick (27), Dwight Howard (24) and Ryan Anderson (20) carried the scoring load as the Magic built a 22-point first-half lead and were able to hold off a late charge from Chris Bosh and the Raptors.
Three seconds
1. JJ Redick played like a starting-caliber shooting guard. Maybe Redick just isn’t comfortable being a role player. In relief of Carter, Redick played more than anyone else in the game (44:50) and showed flashes of the all-American player he was at Duke. Redick went 5-for-8 from 3-point range on his way to a career-high 27 points, but it was more than that. He posted six rebounds, five assists, a steal and only one turnover, finishing with the game’s best +/- of 12. Redick proved on Sunday — even to the most passionate skeptics — that he belongs in the NBA.
2. Hedo Turkoglu played well, but he was kept in check. Turk likely isn’t having any regrets about today’s game, scoring 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He looked thin and in-shape. It’s easy to forget how fluid he is coming off the pick-and-roll and hitting that mid-range jumper — at times in the second half he looked really, really good.
3. The Magic shot the lights out; it was one of those games. Every so often, the Magic have a game where all the 3s seem to fall. When this happens, the Magic are nearly unbeatable and everybody talks about the team’s awesome ball movement. This was one of those games. The shots were going in tonight. There’s really no explanation, outside of that, A) the players were in rhythm and perhaps a bit more focused with so many starters missing, and B) the Raptors are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA.
What to like
You have to love how the team rallied together and beat an above-average team despite missing three starters, including two all-stars. All summer long we’ve been talking about the Magic’s jaw-dropping depth — tonight, we saw proof of it. You take three starters from any NBA team and they’ll struggle.
Jameer Nelson finally had his breakout game that we knew was coming, leading the Magic with 30 points and five assists. It’s official: he’s the same Jameer of pre-injury.
The Magic turned it over just nine times, playing efficiently and effectively. There really wasn’t anything to dislike offensively.
And the Ryan Anderson for Courtney Lee switch continues to swing in Orlando’s favor.
What not to like
Whenever you give up 116 points, you’re not happy. The Raptors are a good offensive team, but still — this Magic team wants defense to be its calling card. A game like this is not something they’re proud of. Chris Bosh played a ridiculous game (35 points and 16 rebounds), like he always seems to do, and Andrea Bargnani scored 26 points.
Allowing the Raptors to claw back in the game after trailing by three touchdowns early on isn’t something the Magic like. Again, it was a road game with three missing starters, but it’s worth mentioning.
Behind the box score: For his career, Chris Bosh is averaging 23.1 points per game against the Magic. The only team he’s averaging more points against is the Charlotte Bobcats (25.7).
Magic’s best: Redick, who played his best game as a pro. Nobody missed Vince Carter today (although we probably will tomorrow).
Magic’s worst: In 14 minutes, Marcin Gortat did almost nothing. It wasn’t that he looked bad; he just looked invisible.
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Plus, bringing back Gortat looks like a horrible move and I just hope we can move him. Isn't that why we brought him back?
A win is a win but I am severely concerned about our defense. We went up by 22 and suddenly stop playing defense or lost our focus, I don't know.
And, Gortat didn't look invisible to me on the court. He was hustling. Just no numbers in the box score. But to be fair, yesterday, Bargs and Bosh were a handful. Marcin still had a +2 for the game and even played some time alongside Dwight, which is not his most comfortable position. I hope we keep him for the season, he's may be the best combo of affordable, available, and reliable as a backup C in the league.
I hope JJ can keep it up when he's not playing vs. DeRozan(R), Wright, and Belinelli at the 2.
Good win!
Overall, still happy with the win, especially with the absence of 3 starters. It's nice having 11 guys who could start on an NBA team elsewhere (and yes, I suppose I'm including Redick in there too).
I would prefer Barnes at the starting 3 instead of Pietrus not because I like Barnes more as a player, but because I think Barnes fits in better as a role player/facilitator with the starters while Pietrus can be a gunner and run the floor with Jason Williams off the bench. Pietrus would be the finisher against teams with high-scoring wing players since he's a better defender than Barnes, but we'll see how the season goes. No one expected Courtney Lee to be the starter in the Finals when the year began.
Unless more injuries hit, there's no reason the starting lineup will change till Rashard comes back.
I tend to side with your way of thinking - I like Pietrus off the bench, and I think Barnes fits in better with the starting five because he doesn't need the ball in his hands. I wouldn't be shocked to see Barnes start for a significant stretch in this looong season.
But, for now, SVG likes MP as a starter and the coach has given us no reason to doubt him so far.
In pressure spots in the playoffs last year, he did reasonably well, I think (except Game 4 against LA). This game, he knew the Magic needed everything with the missing components and he seemed really locked in. Now he just needs that focus every night and for 48 minutes instead of 2.
I'm not done JJ bashing just yet....It's one game. As for Gortat, he along with Bass are our x-factors and why we will win it all (I hope).
Anderson is a freak....If he continues all year like he is "Hedo who" will have some real meaning.
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