Tonight's Game: Portland Trail Blazers at Orlando Magic
by Ben Q Rock
on Nov 10, 2008 1:34 PM EST
in 2008/2009 Previews
81 comments
Portland @ Orlando
| 2008/2009 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
@ |  |
| 3-3 | 4-2 | |
| November 10th, 2008 | ||
| Amway Arena | ||
| 7:00 PM | ||
| NBA TV / Sun Sports | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Blake | PG | Jameer Nelson |
| Brandon Roy | SG | Mickael Pietrus |
| Nicolas Batum | SF | Hedo Turkoglu |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Rashard Lewis |
| Joel Przybilla | C | Dwight Howard |
I'm sick and have a ton of schoolwork to do, so please forgive me for cutting this preview short. Portland is a skilled, young team that's 3-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. And while it's also one of my favorite teams, I certainly hope that road record drops to 0-4 tonight.
Dwight Howard has, perhaps surprisingly, not played well against Joel Przybilla in his career. The Magic may find themselves having to rely on Hedo Turkoglu--who will likely be defended by the athletic rookie Nicolas Batum--and Rashard Lewis to score tonight.
Keep an eye on how Jameer Nelson plays, especially in the first three quarters. If the game is tight in the fourth, Portland will shift 6'06" Brandon Roy to point guard. The Magic will have to either cross-match him with Mickael Pietrus, leaving Nelson to guard Portland's shooting guard, or shift to a zone. My money's on the former option; have the Magic ever played zone under Stan Van Gundy?
Check out Blazer's Edge for a Portland perspective. In his wonderfully nuanced game preview, Dave has the quote of the blogging season so far:
The very first thing to know about the Magic is that Dwight Howard is destroying everything in his path like a tornado full of bazookas stuffed with pop rocks and diet coke.
Well done, sir.
Tip's at 7. Go Magic.
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I'm going tonight.
Magic better win, because I’m skipping out on studying for the GRE for them.
And who on earth gets outplayed by the Vanilla Godzilla? Come on, Dwight, really…
by TheGiantSquid on
Nov 10, 2008 1:03 PM EST
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Get well soon, Ben!
I had planned on going to this game, but with Oden out, it became less of a priority (though I’d mainly go to see Rudy and B. Roy).
by Marie on
Nov 10, 2008 1:55 PM EST
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should be a good game tonight
Can’t wait to get home and watch. Go Blazers.
by usmcr3049 on
Nov 10, 2008 5:14 PM EST
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Hope everyone had a good weekend
Ben, hope you’re feeling better; I’m looking forward to the Magic extending their winning streak to five against a good Portland squad tonight… I’ll be watching on NBA TV.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 7:17 PM EST
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Both teams shooting well
Portland at 60% from the floor and the Magic at 80%! Turk and Howard are a combined 6 for 6.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 7:24 PM EST
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Turk and Dwight...
have combined to score 19 of the Magic’s 23 points so far.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 7:32 PM EST
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our bench is awful.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 7:41 PM EST
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Blazers very impressive
…shooting 62% from the floor and 4 out of 5 from three point range. Magic are 11 of 13 from the free throw line to help keep them in it so far.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 7:41 PM EST
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what the heck was that
hell of a way to come out of the break
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 7:51 PM EST
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we’re paying how much per airball for lewis?
good thing turk and howard are dominating.
lee actually looked good defending out there!
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 7:56 PM EST
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what is with this terrible song nbatv uses going to and coming back from commercial?
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 7:57 PM EST
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Don't know
I’m watchin the game via internet stream with Turkish comentators. Needless to say I muted it.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 7:58 PM EST
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Dwight and Turk an awesome one-two combo tonight...
they’ve combined for 33 of the Magic’s 41 points! SVG using a 9 man rotation with Lee seeing some time off the bench… the Magic bench has been outscored 20-2 so far.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 7:57 PM EST
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Great job Hedo...
but it won’t last all night. Rashard has to get his $h!t together quick. Start attacking the Basket!!!
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:00 PM EST
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A double-double for Howard already...
20 and 10!
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:12 PM EST
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23 and 12
awesome
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 8:15 PM EST
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Jesus
Only Dwight. That’s what is great about being a Magic fan.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:18 PM EST
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55-54 Portland at the half
Both teams shooting 49% from the field, but Blazers are 6 of 7 from three point range compared to 3 of 11 for the Magic. Blazers also 7 of 7 from the FT line but Magic are 15 of 19 on free throws. Magic are outrebounding Blazers 22-16, but Blazers have a 10/2 assist/turnover ratio with the Magic at a 9/5 assist/turnover ratio.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:18 PM EST
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Howard's stats...
7 of 9 from the field and 9 of 12 from the FT line with 12 rebounds and a blocked shot… other than that, he hasn ’t done much (j/k).
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:21 PM EST
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Anyone know off the top of their head the last time someone had a 40/20 game?
It’s a valid question at this point, it could happen tonight. I know Dwight has had 30/25 before. we’ll see…
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:24 PM EST
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I'm sure Wilt Chamberlain had quite a few
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:27 PM EST
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Shaq did it a bunch
Webber had a 51/26 game with the Kings. Wow, forgot how good he was then.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:29 PM EST
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Wow... didn't know that about Webber
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:31 PM EST
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According to the washington post they lost that game by 2.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:34 PM EST
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anytime shard wants to step up here..
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 8:43 PM EST
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Pietrus...
had 3 fouls in the first half in just 7 minutes. He’s looked a lot better in the third quarter with 5 points to help the Magic take the lead. Lewis is still struggling badly… just 1 of 7 from the floor, 0 for 4 on threes.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:43 PM EST
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RASHARD!
heating up, or making shots finally. Whatever you want to call it
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:48 PM EST
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Blazers really cooling off from the floor...
… shooting just 43% now. Magic at 48%.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 8:52 PM EST
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Has the bench role stunted Outlaw's growth as a player?
It just seems like he has the talent to be so much better than he is, just never been given the keys to the Benz.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 8:59 PM EST
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Blazer fan here
Most of us here in Blazerland perceive Outlaw to be more effective off the bench. It’s well-documented on Blazer’s Edge that his basketball IQ isn’t exactly through the roof, and as such he tends to play better as part of a bench unit that is more energy-based. It also seems like whenever he starts he tries so hard to score early that he takes focus away from the rest of his game.
Jerry Sloan is a complete and total smeg head.
by GustyJ on
Nov 11, 2008 2:50 AM EST
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73-72 Magic heading into the fourth
… hopefully the Magic can finish them off. Dwight should be ready to return after resting the final four minutes of the third.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:00 PM EST
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Blazers only have 2 turnovers through 3 quarters
Magic have 8 turnovers, which isn’t bad.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:02 PM EST
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Portland scored the same amount of points in the first quarter as they did in the second and third combined.
It’s almost like two different games. I just wish we could have stepped on their neck in the 3rd.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:02 PM EST
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way to start the 4th..
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:03 PM EST
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does every player on the bench have to hang their head's when Dwight goes to the line?
Can’t be good for confidense.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:08 PM EST
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game’s over.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:08 PM EST
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you mean to tell me at no point tonight could they have even TRIED using jj?
just ridiculous. lewis couldn’t hit the ocean from the fucking beach.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:11 PM EST
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this team, as is, may miss the playoffs. i’m 100% serious.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:17 PM EST
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dude, it's one game
or one quarter I should say. We’ve won four straight.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:19 PM EST
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we have NO bench. our point guard play is inconsistent at best, nonexistent at worst. johnson looks completely lost.
rashard looks happy to be jacking 3’s, despite him being way, way off.
we wasted a monster game by dwight tonight.
never should have got rid of dooling.
and again, i ask, with rashard playing like utter shit, why not try to find a spark on the bench? it’s puzzling.
this was a very, very winnable game- a game we probably would have won last year. we have no depth and aren’t sneaking up on anyone this year.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:29 PM EST
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We've gone 4-1 (soon) over the last 5 games
That is nothing to frown about. No need to be a debby downer. We were bound to lose eventually and Portland was bound to get a road win. Should they have won tonight, sure. But every team is going to have those kind of games. Chill.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:33 PM EST
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we’ve played no one, philly being the most-hyped. chicago, sacramento, and washington?
losses to memphis and atlanta? 4-3 is pretty awful at this point.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:45 PM EST
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Magic 4 of 19 on threes
… when they’re not hitting their outside shots like tonight, especially this fourth quarter, it’s not pretty. Look at the season opener against Atlanta, Magic were ice cold from the outside.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:20 PM EST
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Blazers have 5 guys in double figures
… just Howard and Turk in double figures for the Magic.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:23 PM EST
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thats right, off the fake
forgot that one
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:26 PM EST
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Magic have twice as many free throw attempts than Blazers
… but Blazers are outscoring the Magic 79-59 from the field to more than make up for the Magic advantage from the line.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:31 PM EST
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Howard's been pretty quiet in the second half...
just 6 points and 6 boards after a monster first half.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:37 PM EST
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Can't believe we have more points this quarter than the 3rd
guess it all came too late
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:40 PM EST
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Wish we could have made some of those threes earlier
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:42 PM EST
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Blazers awesome from the FT line
… 26 out of 30.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:44 PM EST
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tonight came down to the third quarter
If we would have taken advantage of their scoring lapse in the latter half of the thrid quarter than this would have been a W. We went on a similar scoring struggle and they pounced. That’s the story of the game.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:45 PM EST
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…i’d say the first minutes of the 4th, actually.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
by mhetrick14 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:46 PM EST
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true, but it wouldn’t have mattered if we could have taken advantage of that long stretch in the 3rd where they couldn’t score. We should have had a double digit lead going into the fourth.
Oh well, still 75 games left to play this season. Now let’s go and win 4 out of 5 again.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 10, 2008 9:49 PM EST
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Not a good way to end the homestand
…still, the Magic won 4 out of the 5 games. Portland is a quality team and were the better team tonight. Awesome games from Dwight and Turk but no one else really helped.
A three game road trip coming up against OK City, Dallas, and Charlotte… the Magic should win at least two of those three games.
You guys have a good one… see ya here Wednesday night.
by Mike from Illinois on
Nov 10, 2008 9:50 PM EST
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aaaaaaaaand I'm never going to a game again ;_;
In fun news, a 7ft guy sat next to me in the stands. When he stood….ahh butt in face. Good times.
Let’s hope Magic can win against the Thunder, for heaven’s sake.
by TheGiantSquid on
Nov 10, 2008 10:09 PM EST
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Blazers playex one of their best games of the season
With only 6 TO’s and a solid first and fourth quarter, they earned the win. Orlando had great individual performances, but the team needs to come together and define roles.
Just an observation though.
"if i started a beer company and sold one beer for every time he(timbo) replied to himself, i'd be a millionaire, check that, a billionaire". - prezofdeath
"14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, no turnovers. Standing ovation for Travis tonight." - Dave
by Outlaw is Rejector on
Nov 11, 2008 3:17 AM EST
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great analasisisisisisis!!
enjoy’d it alot. thanks!
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
by faith on
Nov 11, 2008 7:56 AM EST
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I dont know why not many people attend ORL games
"All our holes," says shooting guard Brandon Roy, a surprise All-Star last year in his second season, "are holes that Greg is going to plug."
by bowdown on
Nov 11, 2008 1:46 PM EST
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The Arena was surprisingly sparse, which honestly, isn’t that common. I think the fact that the game was on a Monday night, plus how much tickets actually cost, affected how many people were going than anything else. Plus, seats in the “O-zone” can really suck, depending on location.
by TheGiantSquid on
Nov 11, 2008 4:42 PM EST
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Even when the place is packed, it is still one of the worst crowds in the league. Pitiful, a fan should never feel out of place when he goes bonkers for his team.
by magic fanatic on
Nov 12, 2008 12:21 AM EST
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