Updates
Fri, May 8th 2009, 21:47
DEFENSE, HOT SHOOTING KEY BIG MAGIC VICTORY
Motivated by a poor, listless showing in Game 2, the Orlando Magic rebounded Friday with the kind of all-around performance on both ends of the floor that allowed them to rout the defending champion Boston Celtics.
The Magic made 59.1 percent of their shots – the best shooting night in franchise history in the playoffs – and played suffocating defense in a 117-96 pounding of the Celtics in Game 2.
Orlando’s defense was so smothering that they held Boston to 43 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers.
``We had great defensive energy from the start of the game and I really think we set the tone overall in the game with our defense,’’ said Magic guard J.J. Redick, who once again held Boston star Ray Allen to a poor shooting night. ``All of our guys played with a great sense of urgency and everybody seemed to step up.’’
The Magic got 28 points from Rashard Lewis, 24 points from Hedo Turklogu and an all-around effort of 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks from Dwight Howard.
And it didn’t stop there. Anthony Johnson filled in nicely for suspended guard Rafer Alston and scored 13 points, three assists and two steals. And rookie guard Courtney Lee played fearlessly despite wearing a hard-plastic mask to protect the broken sinus bone above his left eye, scoring 13 points, grabbing three rebounds and snatching two steals.
And J.J. made a 3-pointer, scored five points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out two assists. J.J.’s highlight moment of the night was when he snatched a rebound, started the fastbreak and deftly passed to a streaking Howard for a thunderous dunk. J.J. pumped his fist on the play as the crowd roared with approval.
``I didn’t have a great shooting night, but it’s not all about my shooting,’’ said J.J., who has played a major role in Allen shooting just 12 of 40 through the first three games. ``I thought I played a really good floor game. I just had two assists, but I thought a couple of times I moved the ball and made the pass that led to the pass that set up an open shot.’’
Next up is Game 4 when the Magic can truly put a stranglehold on the series and potentially go up 3-1. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy preached to the Magic after the game about making sure they don’t have a repeat of Game 2 when they let down mentally and got crushed.
``That was a great message,’’ J.J. said. ``Let’s be excited about winning the series and not excited about winning a game. We want to celebrate after we’ve won the series, not during the series.’’
Comments
Kestrel | on 12/5/09
JJ, Congrats on the win!!! you are doing so great, with everything, shooting, passing, moving without the ball, and defense (just to mention an few). even if you have an off night shooting, you do something else amazingly, that is what a great player does, congrats and keep it up! peace and love always kestrel
Philip | on 9/5/09
You may not have had a great night shooting, but you did everything else really well just ask Ray Allen lol.
Keep up the great work and continued success on and off the court.
God Bless