The Official Site of JJ Redick

Mon, May 18th 2009, 00:13

MAGIC SMASH CELTICS, ADVANCE TO EAST FINALS

BOSTON — This time there would be no Boston Celtics comeback, go Garden magic working its wonders on a helpless foe. That’s because Orlando delivered a start-to-finish beatdown rarely seen in New England and the Magic are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Orlando throttled the defending champion Celtics 101-82 Sunday night in a decisive Game 7 at TD Banknorth Garden by dominating the play on both ends of the floor.

Orlando made 13 3-pointers, shot 51.4 percent and suffocated the Celtics defensively to gain a rare victory in a Game 7 in Boston. The Celtics had been unbeatable in their illustrious history after jumping to a 3-2 lead in the series, going 32-0 in their history. And the Celtics were an impressive 20-5 all-time in Game 7s, including 17-3 on its famed parquet floor.

But the Celtics were no match against a Magic team on a mission.

``From the start of the game, we played great and we were able to maintain that for four quarters,’’ Magic starting shooting guard J.J. Redick said. ``I think the most gratifying part this time is that we put them away. It wasn’t like Game 1 where they came back and we put them away at the end.’’

The Magic advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where they will face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The series starts Wednesday in Cleveland at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando matches up well against the powerful Cavs. Orlando beat Cleveland two of three times this season, including a 29-point victory on April 3 in which the Magic led by as much as 41 points. Orlando has beaten Cleveland five of seven times the past two seasons and eight of 11 times in three-plus seasons.

J.J. said the Magic’s joyous locker room Sunday night quickly turned to thoughts of the Cavs. After all, the goal is to win a championship, not just to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

``It was enjoyment, but immediately there were four or five guys who said enjoy it tonight, but onto the next thing,’’ said J.J., who scored five points, hit a 3-pointer and handed out four assists. ``We’ve got another challenge in front of us. I think if you told us at the start of the season that we would get to the conference finals that we’d be happy, but that isn’t the end-all. When we started this season and started this playoff run, we wanted to The Finals and win the championship.’’

The Magic broke out of a mild shooting slump in the decisive Game 7, battering the Celtics with 3s all over the court. Five Magic players made at least one, led by Hedo Turkoglu’s four, Rafer Alston’s three and Mickael Pietrus’ three. The Magic made 13 of 21 (61.9 percent) 3-pointers.

J.J.’s primary role throughout the series was to check Boston all-star guard Ray Allen, who struggled throughout the series but did have 23 points in Game 7. Allen, who shot just 34 percent from the floor and 19 percent from 3-point range against the Magic, was highly complimentary of J.J.’s defense.

``His job the whole series was to not let me touch the ball,’’ Allen said. ``He trailed me in every pindown, and every pick and roll he stayed connected to me. They just didn’t want me to get rolling. I think J.J. did his job in exactly what their game plan was. I tried to make (J.J) think I was going one way and then go the other and he was always right there. I got off shots against him, but he always stayed connected and I thought he did his job.’’