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Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves

3qcrockjersey_tiny by Ben Q Rock on in 2008/2009 Previews Comment 312 comments

Orlando @ Minnesota


2008/2009 NBA Regular Season
Orlando Magic main logo
 @
Minnesota Timberwolves main logo
23-65-23
December 27th, 2008
Target Center
8:00 PM
FSN Florida
Probable starters:
Jameer Nelson PG Kevin Ollie
Keith Bogans SG Randy Foye
Hedo Turkoglu SF Ryan Gomes
Rashard Lewis PF Craig Smith
Dwight Howard C Al Jefferson
Previous Meetings:
December 3rd: Magic 100, 'Wolves 89

The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves played the Orlando Magic, they were on a two-game losing streak. They had lost eleven more consecutive games until last night, when they defeated the New York Knicks. In that same time period, the Magic have gone 9-1. Yup, definitely a Tale of Two Cities sort of thing going on.

Beating the Timberwolves should be pretty simple. After all, they lose almost five times as often as they win.

  • Shut down Al Jefferson--much easier said than done, to be sure, but Orlando has the personnel to do it;

  • Keep them off the offensive glass, where rookie Kevin Love excels (second among all qualified NBA players in offensive rebound rate);

  • and control the pace. Three of Minnesota's five wins have come against teams ranked in the top-10 in pace factor. The Magic fall into that category, so they must caution themselves against getting too shot-happy. Then again, given how horribly Minnesota defends in transition--remember Courntey Lee picking them apart earlier this month?--maybe they can afford to get out and run a little bit.

Tip's at 8 on FSN Florida. Check AM 580 WDBO for the radio broadcast if you're like every other cable subscriber in the Orlando area. For what it's worth, Minnesota fans can't always see or hear their favorite team in their own market, either. If Keith Bogans, who has shot 5-of-29 from the field for 15 points in his last five games, starts tonight instead of Mickael Pietrus, I will be very surprised.

Go Magic.

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Should be our seventh straight victory. The Magic are a perfect math for this team, they won’t be able to get anything going.

by magic fanatic on Dec 27, 2008 10:58 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic are 9 1/2 point favorites tonight

The Magic haven’t won 7 games in a row since Brian Hill was coach… March and April of 2006.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

hey!

I can’t believe they finally got past five! I thought that was a hurdle the Magic would never get past. :)

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:09 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

another bank shot from Dwight!

he did one at the Hornets game. Crowd went mad.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:12 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wow... another quick start for the Magic

… Turk, Nelson, and Howard with 5 pts each to lead the Magic as they lead 15-2.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 8:16 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Howard with a 17 foot bank shot

… according to Yahoo! Sports. That might be his longest make of the season.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 8:29 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh Gortat

I love you and your offensive rebounds.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:32 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

think I'll root for the Bulls

anything to keep the Hawks lower than the Magic in the standings :)

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:41 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Gortat's at the line o.O

and the fans howl along with the wolves DDD:

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:44 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

dammit

Wolves getting into it

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 8:51 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Rashard 0-6!

And the Wolves lead by 1!

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You guys are some real guards away .....

….from being really, really dangerous. How is Courtney Lee coming along? He looked good against the Wolves last time.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:12 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lee's awesome

Dumb turnovers (see previous travel) but overall he’s a plus defender. Good on offense, too, especially on the break.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 27, 2008 9:13 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

TWolves 4 of 5 from three point range Magic 5 of 11

SVG has got to be ticked about the Magic D… 33 points allowed in the second.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Wolves started out the season trying to be...

…a slow-paced defensive team under Randy Wittman. They have since given that up and are starting to rev things up a bit under McHale. They have 2 guards who can get into the lane (Bassy + Foye) and 2 guys who can really, really stroke the 3 (Miller + McCants). Orlando plays quickly enough where they can play the style of play that best fits what they should be doing.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:15 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hawks are about to beat the Bulls

… they lead 121-112, even though Rose has a career-high 27 points. Hawks continue to impress.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 9:24 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yeah, poor Wiz

only their 5th win :-/ alllmost beat the Cavs the other night, too.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:29 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

and the Wolves lead by 7

as the theme music from Back to the Future plays in the background

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:29 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

oooh ow hahahah

Dwight hit Foye RIGHT on his temple.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic on a 14-0 run

Damn, Stan sure knows how to flip this team’s switch, doesn’t he?

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 27, 2008 9:38 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You'd think that McHale....

…would have learned from the 1st quarter that his starting lineup doesn’t exactly match up well and we’re seeing a repeat of the game’s first 8 minutes. Craig Smith and Kevin Ollie don’t belong out there against these guys.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:40 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yes...

…Bassy is able to get into the lane at will against the Magic guards.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:41 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He's slowly developing...

….some shot discretion. He only took 1 three last night and got to the line 13 times. He’s given up the floater and done little more than drive, kick, or get to the line since he made his way out of the dog house.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:44 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Probably won't live up to the hype

But the way you tell it makes it sound like he’ll be at least a competent, replacement-level player.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 27, 2008 9:45 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He has the tools to be an above average starter....

…and I’m not comparing him to Parker, but he needs to take a page from the TP handbook: give up the 3 ball, get into the lane, and either go for the layup or the kickout. I think only TP and Westbrook are quicker with the ball than he is. With guys like McCants and Miller on the perimeter and Love and Gomes in the high post/mid range wing, he should be able to get 8-10 apg just by driving and kicking.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 9:48 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

well that was a lot of crap that just happened

missed lob by Dwight, Wolves advance, turn it over, but Johnson loses it, Wolves get it back, then make three attempts before scoring.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:42 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lewis with 20 now

after being stone cold in the first half

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Magic up, 79-74, going into the final period

It’s been a rough night. Dennis Neumann just said, “How has this team won only 5 games all year?”

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 27, 2008 9:53 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

T-Wolves 8 of 11 on threes

They shot them well last night against the Knicks also…. 13 of 27 I believe

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 10:00 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lee is making really stupid mistakes

fouled a shooter on a three point attempt

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 10:03 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's 80s night in Minny

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 10:14 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wolves are ranked 23rd in scoring and 29th offensive, yet have made eleventy billion threes

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 10:07 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

5:37 to play

if the Wolves keep drilling threes, that lead will evaporate quickly.

Then again, they have to be able to get actual shots off first.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Dec 27, 2008 10:12 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

true

ugh I hope our defense keeps up. This game is giving me heartburn.

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 10:13 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Al Jefferson is struggling

just 7 of 21 from the field for 16 points.

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 10:14 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

As someone who has been in a dunk contest...

…I don’t think that’s the thing you worry about. It’s the All Star game itself. so much more can go wrong. The guy pretty much puts on a dunk contest in warmups every night.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 27, 2008 10:23 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he's very determined to do it

I think he thinks it’s expected of him to defend his title, or something…

by TheGiantSquid on Dec 27, 2008 10:22 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Holy Crap... Jameer has 20 points now!

… after we were all teasing that the Magic should get rid of him\ because he’s a bum

by Mike from Illinois on Dec 27, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs