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Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics

3qcrockjersey_tiny by Ben Q Rock on in 2008/2009 Previews Comment 166 comments

Orlando @ Boston


2008/2009 NBA Regular Season
Orlando Magic main logo
 @
Boston Celtics main logo
13-416-2
December 1st, 2008
TD Banknorth Garden
7:30 PM
NBA TV / Sun Sports
Probable starters:
Anthony Johnson PG Rajon Rondo
J.J. Redick SG Ray Allen
Hedo Turkoglu SF Paul Pierce
Rashard Lewis PF Kevin Garnett
Dwight Howard C Kendrick Perkins

Well, it took a little more than a month, but it's finally here: the Orlando Magic's first game against a contending team. Prior to tonight's game, the Magic had not played any team that 100% of sane NBA observers would endorse as legitimately elite. Apologies to the Houston Rockets, of course.

Facing the World Champion Celtics at full strength is tough enough, so imagine the consternation the Magic face at having to Unfortunately, the Magic are well below full strength. Their top three guards--Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, and Keith Bogans--will all miss tonight's game due to various injuries. Indeed, their backup backcourt of Anthony Johnson and J.J. Redick will have to tangle with the Boston Celtics' first-string backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. Unenviable, to say the least.

Keeping the score respectable should be seen as a net positive. Allen will probably torch Redick, and although rookie Courtney Lee has shown signs of being a well above-average defender, he's still susceptible to picking up dumb fouls. Basically, I'm trying to keep my expectations low so if Orlando manages not to get blown-out, I can look at the game as a net positive.

Tip's at 7:30 on NBA TV nationally and Sun Sports locally. If Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu get it going, maybe the game won't be such a laugher. I don't hold out much hope, though.

Go Magic. Keep it close. Or, even better, win. Upset the champs. Yay!

UPDATE: Here's CelticsBlog's take on the game. The featured matchups are Howard vs. Perkins and Turkoglu vs. Pierce. I'd argue that Johnson vs. Rondo is even more important, at least from Orlando's standpoint. I don't know how Johnson plans to stick to Rondo, one of the league's quickest players, defensively, but he's going to have to give it his all. I'm ridiculously afraid of him.

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Lets do this!

JJ has to to make Allen work on defense. He has to make his open looks and run like crazy when the Magic have the ball. I actually want to see a lot of Lee guarding Rondo and Turk playing the point. Add to the fact that its a cruddy MNF game and this one (hopefully) should be entertaining.

by L Magico on Dec 1, 2008 2:58 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

J.J. needs to run Allen through a ton of picks

Unfortunately, Dwight doesn’t get the chance to set many picks off the ball, so it’ll be up to Hedo and Rashard to lay Allen flat.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 1, 2008 5:08 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

this game could get real, real ugly.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 6:52 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I have my hopes but they aren't high

Seriously though, if they won it would be something great to build on.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 7:28 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Well... that was quick

getting ugly quick, Time out time…

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 7:48 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sucks we have to listen to Tommy

dude is the biggest HOMER in professional sports!

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 7:53 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Jesus, That was wide open Anthony

You gotta make that every time, your an NBA freaken player

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 7:57 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ouch

Maybe we can catch Boston off guard

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:01 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

not quite the epic match-up I was hoping for

even if we do pull it together in the second, we’ll still be playing catch-up the rest of the game :-/

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 8:03 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ahhhhh

Garnett on the bench

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:06 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic are lucky to be down just ten

… They are shooting a woeful 6 of 23 from the field and 1 for 6 from three point range; Boston’s shooting 12 for 20 from the field.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:09 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And free throw shooting

has been horrendous all year and last year.

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wow

Tony Allen got hacked and didn’t get the call

got hurt on the next play

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:19 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

6-0 run

deficit down to single degits

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:20 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Time Out Celtics

Lets hope they keep their foot on the gas

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:23 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yep, 2 T's from the bench

figured he wasn’t going to play, so wanted to go chill in the locker room and drink some brews.

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 8:29 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cassel mouthed off from the bench

… must have included profanity to get tossed like that.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:34 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Celtics announcers are questioning the integrity of these Referees

because the magic have shot 15 more free throws. Keep repeating, “something is amiss”

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 8:37 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

48-46 Boston at the half

Magic on a 24-11 run after trailing 37-22.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:39 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

well that's certainly an improvement

let’s hope the break doesn’t break their rhythm too much :-/

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 8:41 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

anthony johnson is getting abused by rondo, but so is anyone they put on rashard.

heinsohn’s constant whining is hilarious.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Celtics have 8 turnovers also

… to 6 TOs for the Magic. Rebounds are even at 21.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:42 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

wow, that's all for us?

I really, really, really hope that low TO rate keeps up

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 8:45 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

battie looks like a man possessed.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 8:43 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Play one quarter at a time

They crushed us in the first but we won the second. Now lets win the third and the fourth.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 8:43 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Battie

… 7 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:44 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ray Allen has 14 points to lead the Celtics

… Rondo had 10 points. KG has 6 pts and Pierce just 5 pts.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 8:49 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Leave Lewis at the 3. That means more Batman. Just tonight though.

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Dec 1, 2008 8:55 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic have gone cold again

… shooting 0 for 6 to start the third.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 9:00 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

anthony johnson should be nowhere near the court. he’s a liability out there.

lineup of lee/redick/turk/lewis/dwight was workin

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I agree

but he looks good coming off the bench. He is not as much of a liability in limited minutes.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 9:14 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Johnson...

did well the previous two games but is not doing well tonight. Just 4 points on 2 of 9 shooting and just 2 assists.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 9:14 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Otis

I hope this game makes him realize that he needs to bring in a third point guard soon. Cook sits on the bench, are you seriously telling me that nobody in the league would give a pg for him. We’re not asking for much, just someone better than Johnson. WE NEED HELP!!!!!

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 9:25 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Leon Powe just pushed Lee around after a rebound and it turned into two points. Get tough Lee

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 9:26 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Boston announcers are going nuts

crying that the refs are favoring Orlando HARD

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 9:27 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

....Boston's WINNING the GAME

they’ll complain about anything, my God…

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 9:28 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

"tony allen is getting wacked all over the place"

“and they’re calling chicken fouls at the other end and you gotta bleed at boston’s end” This is very unprofessional .

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 1, 2008 9:28 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

they don't care

and this is why I moved away from there

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 9:29 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

game over. i can’t listen to heinsohn anymore.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

tommy heinsohn has no idea what a celtics foul looks like.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 9:31 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You know what this means, don't you?

‘Round the clock remarks about how the Magic aren’t really that good b/c they haven’t won against “real” teams yet and that their record is a fluke.

Sigh…

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 9:34 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

no one expected us to win, our top 3 guards are out, other than the one run in the second quarter, we’ve been dominated, and rightly so.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 1, 2008 9:39 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yeah

This should have been expected, even from die hard Magic fans. No team can lose their top three guards and expect to win against the Celtics.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 9:40 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Redick and Johnson have combined for just 10 points

… on 4 of 12 shooting. Boston’s starting guards, Rondo and Allen, have 31 combined points on 13 of 21 shooting.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 9:40 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

you suck, JJ

and you too, No Neck. We were rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!!

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 9:41 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dude

You can’t qoute Tyra on a sports board. Not cool.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 9:42 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm a devoted follower of America's Next Top Model

So feel free to reference that here. I don’t judge. Just don’t spoil Cycles 6-9 for me. I haven’t seen them.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 1, 2008 11:13 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Takes balls to admit that son

you must be very devoted. I must admit that I’ve seen a few episodes, but only cause of the girlfriend. I swear.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 11:20 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

it's addictive, isn't it

My roommate made me watch it when we lived together in Boston, and I’ve loved that wretched show every since.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 2, 2008 8:20 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

omg we shot 18.2% from beyond the arc

I think the Thunder have a better percentile than that :(

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

T's

Did these teams not like each other before tonight?

If you're not having fun, stop participating.

by redandblue on Dec 1, 2008 9:49 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Did anyone really expect the Magic to win tonight?

… playing the defending World Champs on the road, and the Magic without three key players.

I was hoping the game would be closer, but I won’t lose much sleep over this one. They are not going to beat many teams shooting 42% from the field and 5 of 26 (19%) from three point range like tonight.

 Magic have two winnable games coming up at home against Minnesota and Oklahoma City.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 10:00 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not only key players but our 3 best backcourt options. We started our fourth and sixth best guards tonight against the best team in the leagie.

I’m sorry, but Reddick and Johnson have to be the worst starting backcourt in the league today.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 10:03 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

and thus begins the gloating of sports commentators

oh well. I’m sure when Boston comes to our home court, we’ll want a little retribution. *cracks knuckles *

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 10:03 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic play Boston three more times

Jan. 22nd in Orlando, March 8th at Boston, and March 25th in Orlando.

Hopefully the Magic will be 100% healthwise then.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 1, 2008 10:07 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hey Be, open thread idea

What do you think about starting Lee over Johnson. Johnson isn’t a completly terrible player but he is only affective when given limited minutes. He may be the worst starting point guard in the NBA right now. That’s not an exageration by any means. Why not start Lee? We’ll be playing Minnesota at home, what’s the risk? If you start Johnson, Foye is going to burn us. If you start Lee, he can hold Foye and Turk can be the main distributer. Make it happen SVG, I can’t stand to watch No Neck start for this team any longer.

by magic fanatic on Dec 1, 2008 10:21 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I say start Lee and Battie, and even when Nelson comes back start Battie

Just until Bogans and Pietrus get back that is. This will get Gortat into the game and we’ll see less of JJ, hopefully. He is not shooting and that’s all he is good for. He may not have the psyche for the NBA.

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Dec 1, 2008 10:49 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wait to you guys see the Celts Off Efficiency

Their big 3 ate us alive. That is why they are the best, they have three guys that can score efficiently any given night, and tonight we got them all. Plus Rondo came to play. So yeah, that deck was stacked.

A side note, it does not seem like Hedo likes playing with JJ. He never seems to find JJ when JJ is open, he’ll take horrible shots instead or turn it over even. I don’t get it.

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Dec 1, 2008 10:46 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that's odd

they always seem to have a really good rapport before/during games.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 1, 2008 10:52 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i don’t mean to defend jj with every post i make, but the kid has been open numerous times and no one has given him the ball. he looked good on the dribble tonight, especially finding the open man cross court when he penetrated inside. the shots will fall with a larger role in the offense.

truly believe he can give quality minutes off the bench.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Dec 2, 2008 12:27 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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