Updates
Thu, Apr 30th 2009, 22:36
J.J. KEYS BIG MAGIC WIN WITH 15 POINTS, 5 3-POINTERS
One 3-pointer fell for J.J. Redick in the early stages of the first quarter and then came another 3 from J.J. even farther out on the floor. And just like that the Orlando Magic had the fast start and the confidence they needed to pull off a shocker Thursday night. J.J. made a career-best five 3-pointers and scored a playoff-high 15 points in Thursday’s critical Game 6, allowing the Magic to rout the Philadelphia 76ers 114-89 and close out the best-of-seven series. Getting huge performances from Rashard Lewis (29 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks), Rafer Alston (21 points, 10 assists), Marcin Gortat (11 points, 15 rebounds and four steals) and J.J. (five 3-pointers, four assists and three rebounds),
Orlando was able to win without starters Dwight Howard and Courtney Lee. Howard was suspended for the game after elbowing Samuel Dalembert in the head in Game 5, while Lee was out because of a fractured sinus cavity that required surgery Thursday morning. The game was never in doubt as Orlando blew out to a 30-19 lead after one period, scored 62 points in the first half and flat-out embarrassed a Philly team that had given the Magic fits all series. For Orlando, it was especially gratifying to a game few gave them a chance to do so with Howard and Lee out.
``It feels really good,’’ J.J. said afterward. ``This was big for our team to close out a series and play so well. Without two of our big players we knew that everybody would have to play well and we all did.’’
The Magic are on to the second round of the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Orlando will face the winner of the Boston-Chicago series. Game 1 will start no sooner than Monday. J.J., who had struggled with his shot in the series as his playing time had fluctuated wildly, was dead on from the start of Thursday’s game. By the time the game was just four minutes old, J.J. already had two long 3-pointers and had the Magic up 11-5. They would never look back from there en route to a monumental victory for the franchise.
``The only thing I said in the locker room before the game was, `Be great tonight,’’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy recalled. ``Our guys have tremendous appreciation for what Dwight has brought to our team, but our other guys wanted to prove they could get the job done, too. We dominated the game from beginning to end. It was our best offensive game of the series and we were never threatened.’’
They were never threatened because Lewis dominated down low on the block, scoring almost at will against Thaddeus Young. And when the Sixers double-teams, the Magic made them pay with their long-range shooting. Orlando made 12 of 26 3-pointers, led by J.J.’s five of seven shooting from beyond the arc. J.J. picked up on a Philly weakness early in the series and put that scouting report to good use Thursday night.
``For the most part Andre Miller wasn’t guarding the (shooting) guards the whole series,’’ J.J. said. ``He was more concerned with digging down on the post guys, digging down on Dwight and Rashard. I got looks that way and in transition guys really found me.’’
J.J. and Gortat were under the most pressure filling in for two starters, but talked before the game about staying within themselves. Both were calm and confident and made the plays before them in Thursday’s huge victory.
``I talked to Marcin before the game about not trying to do anything crazy or anything outside of our role,’’ J.J. said. ``We just had to try and play our roles to the best of our abilities. For me, that’s taking open shots, playing solid and moving the ball on offense. Marcin filled in nicely for Dwight and I’d like to think I filled in well for Courtney, too. Hopefully we’ll get those guys back real soon.’’
Lewis credited J.J.’s outside shooting for jump-starting the Magic offense and giving the team a much-needed boost of confidence.
``We moved the ball around, nobody held it and we played with such a great rhythm,’’ Lewis said. ``J.J. hit those big 3-pointers for us and it seemed to just open everything up for the rest of the guys.’’