Posts Tagged → J.J. Redick
J.J. Redick living up to his new billing
Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
It’s been said that money changes people.
Usually for the worst.
For J.J. Redick, after signing a three-year offer sheet worth a little more than $20 million, there were those that wondered if he would regress to the mean after a career year during the 2009-2010 season.
A slow start to the year for Redick only furthered fuel that sentiment.
But for the past month or so, Redick has found the shooting stroke that has made him one of the most efficient players in the NBA offensively. And looking back at the numbers, the game that catapulted Redick’s re-emergence on offense occurred when the Orlando Magic played the Miami Heat on November 24. Because Vince Carter was recovering from an injury, Redick was penned as the starter by head coach Stan Van Gundy and he did not disappoint. It wasn’t the best shooting performance by Redick, as he shot only 5-of-12 from the field. Nevertheless, it was an efficient outing for Redick because he was able to blend good three-point shooting with excellent free-throw shooting to score 20 points. Didn’t hurt that Redick was able to make some big shots in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Magic in their matchup against the Heat nearly two months ago.
From that game forward, Redick has been playing stellar basketball — including scoring a career-high 29 points on 12 shots against the Denver Nuggets.
The question, now, is whether or not — with the recent additions of Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu — Redick will continue to see a lot of playing time with a glutton of players at the wing positions for Orlando.
If the last few games are any indication, Redick’s role remains untouched by Van Gundy. Redick will continue to be the back-up shooting guard for the Magic and there will be times (like against the Boston Celtics on Saturday) when he’ll play alongside Richardson, as he did with Carter prior to the trades. And Van Gundy isn’t afraid to play Redick down the stretch, in place of Richardson, if the situation merits it. Considering that Redick, once again, is Orlando’s most efficient perimeter player on offense, minutes won’t be hard to come by for him.
| G | MP | TS% | eFG% | USG% | ORtg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 regular season | 82 | 22.0 | .606 | .540 | 18.3 | 123 |
| 2010-2011 regular season | 25 | 24.5 | .610 | .558 | 16.4 | 122 |
How is Redick so efficient?
A few things.
Redick rarely turns the basketball over. Part of it is because Redick, for the most part, finds himself in catch-and-shoot situations. But also, Redick does a great job of taking care of the ball when he’s scoring off the dribble or in pick and rolls. For Redick, he doesn’t try to do too much offensively. Because turnovers are rare occurrences for Redick, he doesn’t waste possessions.
The main reason why Redick is efficient, however, is because of his shooting prowess. Some may look at Redick’s field goal percentage (45.3 percent) and come away unimpressed, but they’re looking at the wrong statistic. When looking at True Shooting percentage, Redick ranks among the league leaders because of his proficiency to shoot threes and free throws at a high percentage.
It helps that Redick’s usage rate is low, too. That lessens the chances for Redick to put up more shots, which could potentially lower his efficiency.
All in all, there’s a long way to go but Redick has been living up to his new contract so far.
Recap: Orlando Magic 86, Boston Celtics 78
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
In their third consecutive Christmas Day game in as many years, the Orlando Magic were able to defeat the Boston Celtics by the score of 86-78. This is the first time the two teams met since the 2010 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. As has been the case the past few seasons, the Magic and Celtics engaged in a low-scoring defensive slugfest that was wildly entertaining to watch. Both squads took a hold of momentum throughout the game but in the end, it was a strong fourth quarter surge by Orlando that allowed them to prevail against Boston. In the process, the Magic became the first team in 13 years to snap 10+ game winning streaks in consecutive games. Orlando was led by a balanced attack, as five players scored in double-figures. Brandon Bass was a surprise contributor, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu had his best all-around game in his second stint with the Magic so far, chipping in with 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists. J.J. Redick had 11 points, including a clutch jumper in the late stages of the fourth quarter that allowed Orlando to come away with the victory. Ryan Anderson provided a spark off the bench, contributing with 10 points and nine rebounds. But the hero of the game was Jameer Nelson. Even though Nelson finished with 12 points, 10 of them came in the last three minutes of the game. Nelson was clutch for the Magic and one of the main reasons why they were able to win.
Friday’s Magic Word
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic‘s recent blockbuster trades shocked many NBA observers, but in hindsight, those bold moves should not have surprised anyone. Last May’s Eastern Conference finals loss to the Boston Celtics exposed fundamental flaws with the Magic’s personnel on offense — defects that haunted the Magic intermittently during the first month and a half of this season. In a sport that’s all about matchups, Orlando did not have enough players who could create their own shot consistently. That shortcoming gave the Magic problems against superior defensive teams such as the Celtics and the Miami Heat. The additions of Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu create a fascinating subplot to this afternoon’s nationally televised game between the Magic and the Celtics at Amway Center. Will Arenas, Richardson and Turkoglu give Orlando the firepower it would need in a potential playoff rematch against Boston?”
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “With their season going South, the Magic opened a big ol’ package of hope, wrapping up their first win since the blockbuster deals with a stunner against the San Antonio Spurs. And it came just in time for the holiday season, with another decent team, the Celtics, in town today. After falling off the NBA’s elite-team radar, the Magic’s new cast showed what is possible despite just one practice together. (Maybe Allen Iverson was right. Maybe practice is overrated. Or as Stan Van Gundy joked, perhaps the Magic are better off without so much coaching.) Whatever, the Magic ran and scored and brought all the energy of a two-year-old bounding down the stairs this morning, making a beeline for the tree. There were few times this season in which we had seen so much electricity and firepower. The new Magic made the old Magic look tired and stale. Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson formally introduced themselves with big games. Hedo Turkoglu gave us flashbacks. And they all knew that the one basketball out there had to wind up mostly in Dwight Howard‘s hands. The Magic assembled at least an outline of the jigsaw puzzle.”
- Dwight Howard has nine technicals this season.
- Head coach Doc Rivers thinks the Orlando Magic are a better team now.
- Gilbert Arenas is rejuvenated. John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com explains why: “Arenas, more so than anyone, loves being loved again. He played to the fans outside the Magic’s practice court two nights ago, making shot after shot when they cheered for him and chanted his name. And he took it to heart when head coach Stan Van Gundy penned him a hand-written note before Thursday’s game, responding with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds off the bench in the Magic’s biggest win yet.”
- Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstriped Post poses a question: “[J.J.] Redick estimated last night the team ran just five different plays against the Spurs, meaning it will have to thrive in fastbreak situations in order to score on most nights, at least until the team develops better halfcourt chemistry. If they’re doing all this with an incomplete playbook, what might they do in two or three months from now, when everyone’s more comfortable within the offense and the team has developed more chemistry?”
- For the first time in a long while, the Magic had fun playing basketball.
- Quentin Richardon‘s role is up in the air.
- Marc Stein of ESPN.com wonders if Orlando is going to miss Rashard Lewis: “Lewis has undeniably dropped off in a big and scary way since helping Orlando go all the way to the NBA Finals in 2009, but Hedo Turkoglu’s reluctance to embrace playing time at the 4-spot for Alvin Gentry was one of the main reasons Phoenix was so eager to trade him. Playing Turkoglu at power forward against Boston for long stretches, furthermore, just doesn’t sound feasible defensively. So you can make the case the Magic will miss Lewis against the Celts … even this Lewis.”
- Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated has a few suggestions for general manager Otis Smith as he searches for a big man. This is a storyline worth keeping an eye on.
- Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk likes the Celtics to win in tomorrow’s Christmas Day game.
- Howard has something to say: “As for playing on Christmas Day, I know that some people in the NBA have had some negative things to say about it, but I consider it an honor. It feels good to play on Christmas because that’s a big-time game. I’m just happy to be a part of it. Families all around the world will be opening their gifts and watching us play, so I think that’s great.”
- The Magic have new options on offense, and they intend to use them.
- Orlando got the gifts they wanted for Christmas — new and better players.
- Bradford Doolittle of Basketball Prospectus: “The new-look Magic were scary good in sending San Antonio’s 10-game winning streak. Orlando posted season highs in Offensive Rating and eFG% and did it against the league’s 10th-ranked defense. Gilbert Arenas had an excellent game off the bench, the starting bigs (Dwight Howard and Brandon Bass) combined to shoot 19-of-24 and Ryan Anderson resumed his status as a productive member of a really promising eight-man rotation. We’re only three games into this new version of the Magic, but I’m loving the mix so far and did even as Stan Van Gundy worked out the kinks in two previous losses. Orlando outscored San Antonio 30-2 in fastbreak points.”
Second Look: Orlando Magic 123, San Antonio Spurs 101
AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “Gilbert Arenas walked into the Orlando Magic locker room Thursday afternoon and found a handwritten note sitting on his chair. It was from his new coach, Stan Van Gundy. Go out there and play your game. Don’t try to fit in. Push the ball. Arenas heeded that advice hours later, leading the Orlando Magic to a convincing 123-101 win over the team with the NBA’s best record, the San Antonio Spurs. [...] Arenas scored 14 points, dished out nine assists and collected six rebounds in easily the best performance of his brief tenure with the Magic. The note helped. [...] And, with starting point guard Jameer Nelson feeling sick, it was Arenas who provided the spark. Arenas entered the game late in the first quarter, with the Magic trailing 24-18, and made an almost immediate impact. The Magic cut the Spurs’ lead to 24-23 when Arenas dished to J.J. Redick for a 3-pointer. On Orlando’s next possession, Arenas swished a 20-foot jumper. On the possession after that, he drained a trey from the top of the arc to give Orlando a 28-26 lead. The Magic never trailed again.”
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “It was only one game, a big game given the circumstances, and maybe too early to draw conclusions. But you can see the writing. Not only on the wall, but on Stan Van Gundy’s clipboard. After six-plus seasons as Magic cornerstone with Dwight Howard, point guard Jameer Nelson probably saw what everyone else did. Gilbert Arenas has arrived (and didn’t set off any metal detectors). The only thing Arenas was packing Thursday night was an all-round game that sparked the Magic’s rout of the San Antonio Spurs. A Magic P.R. person came by in the third quarter to tell some of us media types that Nelson was sick, curious timing, given that Van Gundy had just pulled Nelson and he didn’t look happy. (He later played in the final period and didn’t appear to need Pepto-Bismol later). He might feel queasier today. Nelson could go from a full-time starter to a full-time bench player, all but completing a wholesale change in the Magic’s make-up after two trades.”
- Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel: “Gilbert Arenas’ 14-point, nine-assist performance against the Spurs Thursday night showed what Arenas can bring to this team — energy, smart passing and the ability to score quickly and in bunches. And it was also the type of performance that made some wonder how long the Magic can keep him out of the starting lineup. When Stan Van Gundy was asked about Arenas potentially starting over Jameer Nelson, he responded, ‘Could it change? Sure.’ Arenas, however, didn’t leave so much wiggle room. ’I’m coming off the bench,’ Arenas said. ‘Jameer’s starting and Jason [Richardson] … that’s the group. I’m coming off the bench and I do what I do. I don’t want to start. This team is too talented.’ ”
- John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com: “Gilbert Arenas came tearing off a screen and to his right he had Jason Richardson slashing along the baseline, to his left Hedo Turkoglu was positioned for a 3-pointer and down the middle Dwight Howard rolled to the rim. Arenas’ vision, the same one likely shared by Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith when he pulled off two blockbuster trades five days ago, finally came to fruition Thursday night, and a nationally televised audience and a sellout crowd at Amway Center got to witness it in all its glory. With Arenas sparking his new team with his shooting and playmaking, the Magic delivered their finest performance since adding four new players, throttling the red-hot San Antonio Spurs 123-101 in convincing fashion. Out of Washington and on a championship contender in Orlando, Arenas had to feel like a kid getting to open his Christmas presents early considering all of the weapons he had surrounding him.”
- Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstriped Post: “The potentially scary thought for the rest of the league is that the Magic have yet to reach their offensive ceiling. With more variety in their playbook and several offensive options, they’ll be among the league’s more difficult covers. But let’s not get carried away with ourselves, either: adding that variety, and becoming comfortable with it, will take a lot of time. Further, and as Van Gundy said, ‘we’re not going to be able to run up and down like that every night,’ so their games could get ugly without improved halfcourt offense. All that considered, tonight’s game demonstrates the frightening, ruthless efficiency with which the Magic can steamroll an opponent with their new roster, when given enough opportunities to push the pace.”
- Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News: “You could almost see a game like the Spurs’ debacle Thusday night in Orlando coming. A 10-game winning streak had masked the truth and caused many in Spurs Nation to gloss over how close some of those Spurs’ recent victories were — or some of the circumstances around them. Like beating Memphis when leading scorer Rudy Gay was out of the lineup. Or catching Phoenix without three new acquisitions were in the lineup. Or when Carmelo Anthony was missing from Denver’s lineup Tuesday night because of a death in his family. It finally caught up with them Thursday night when the new-look Orlando Magic blew the Spurs out with a convincing 123-101 victory that snapped San Antonio’s 10-game winning streak and also ended a four-game losing streak for the Magic.”
- Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News: “All-NBA center Dwight Howard, who remains the centerpiece of a team that was in the NBA Finals just two seasons back, was the most accurate of Orlando’s uncanny shooters. He made 11 of 13 shots and scored 29 points. He also grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots, as well as changing several more that turned into Spurs misses. [...] Howard had help from his new friends, especially Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson, the key pieces of the two separate deals Smith negotiated with the Wizards and Suns. Richardson, starting in the big-guard spot held by Vince Carter before the Dec. 18 deal, made 7 of 14 shots and scored 15 points, all in the first three quarters. Coming off the bench, Arenas scored 14 and added nine assists and six rebounds, altering the nature of a tight game with his play in the second and third quarters, when the Magic scored 34 and 35 points — both highs for Spurs opponents this season for those periods — to blow open a tight game.”
Recap: Orlando Magic 123, San Antonio Spurs 101
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Badly needing a win, the Orlando Magic were able to defeat the San Antonio Spurs by the score of 123-101 in front of a nationally televised audience and sellout crowd at the Amway Center. The Spurs entered the game with the best record in the NBA at 25-3 and even though they were playing on a back-to-back, there was no question they were going to provide the Magic with a difficult test. Needless to say, with their reconstructed roster, Orlando passed with flying colors and were able to blowout an elite team. The Magic didn’t just win, they ran the Spurs into the ground — literally — and left no doubt on the scoreboard.
30 fast break points for Orlando.
That’s the number that tells the story.
The Magic were led by a balanced attack, as seven players scored in double-figures. Dwight Howard continued to play like an MVP, finishing with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks. Gilbert Arenas provided a spark off the bench as the sixth man, chipping in with 14 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Brandon Bass and J.J. Redick each had 17 points, buoyed by efficient marksmanship from the perimeter. Jason Richardson had 15 points. Hedo Turkoglu had a simple but effective game with 11 points and six assists. And making his return from a sprained right foot, Ryan Anderson contributed with 10 points.
It’s been a while but Orlando has a performance they can be proud of.
Thursday’s Magic Word
- Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic are averaging 7.9 fastbreak points per game, which is, by far, worst in the NBA. That statistic is mostly with Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter on the wings. With Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson, the Magic have a trio of wing players who can push the tempo and really get out into transition. The new players bring new talents and more offensive power, and they also should significantly change the style in which the team plays. The Magic are ranked 19th in pace at 91.3 possessions per game, but they should move up in the league rankings in that category. [...] With Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis on the wings, the Magic played a slow brand of basketball and preferred to size up the defense before creating. Neither of those players are particularly fast, and they did most of their transitional work by shooting trailing three-pointers. Additionally, the only players that would bring the ball up the floor in fast-break situations were Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Chris Duhon and Jason Williams. If Lewis got a rebound, he’d look for one of the guards to pass off to. When Turkoglu gets a rebound, he’s comfortable dribbling the ball and pushing it himself. Same goes for J-Rich and Arenas. And all of those guys can receive an outlet pass from one of the big men if the situation is right.”
- Ryan Anderson is happy to be back from injury.
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic will start Jameer Nelson at point guard, Jason Richardson at shooting guard, Hedo Turkoglu at small forward, Brandon Bass at power forward and Dwight Howard at center against the San Antonio Spurs tonight at Amway Center. Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said he’ll likely use that same starting lineup for the ‘foreseeable future.’ ”
- Daniel Orton‘s knee surgery was successful.
- Evan Dunlap of SBNation.com chronicles the Orlando Magic’s sharp decline: “The Magic’s record will worsen before it improves. They host the Spurs tonight and the Celtics on Christmas Day and have only held one practice to go with two walkthroughs since their Saturday trades. The five other elites, as well as the second-tier teams such as Chicago, Atlanta and Utah, figure to keep distancing themselves from Orlando as the season wears on. But if the team manages to make gradual improvements, it’s likely to “peak at the right time,” as analysts and fans love to say, heading into the playoffs. In that regard, the risky deals may prove worthwhile for the Magic, who weren’t headed anywhere fast with the group they had prior to the trades.”
- Dwight Howard is keeping his hopes up: “We play San Antonio tonight and then the Celtics on Christmas Day. It will be tough beating them because they have the best two records in the league, but I feel like we’re going to get our chemistry down pretty quickly with our new guys. I’ve been telling the guys to hang in there and be patient and and that things will turn for the better.”
- Should the Magic tried harder to acquire Andray Blatche in the Rashard Lewis trade? M. Haubs of The Painted Area thinks so: “Acquiring Blatche would have made the Arenas acquisition more palatable to me. I feel like the Magic needed to take a gamble on young guys with potential as part of their bounty.”
- A look back at Gilbert Arenas’ legacy with the Washington Wizards.
Magic players spend the day “Decking the Halls” of Central Florida
Photo by Gary Bassing
Via the Orlando Magic:
On Wednesday, December 22, Orlando Magic players Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass “decked the halls” of Central Florida providing youth and families with gift cards for shopping sprees, coats, toys and holiday cheer. The day began with Howard distributing gift cards to 100 kids from Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida for a holiday shopping spree with the All-Star center at Toys “R” Us. Howard then provided 100 children from Community Concept Services, Inc. (CCSI) with the opportunity to select a new coat, courtesy of Burlington Coat Factory. Following that, Nelson distributed gifts to two local families. Nelson, along with the help of his family, went shopping for the gifts on December 15 from wish lists the children provided. To close out the day, Redick, Anderson and Bass took 75 youth from Boys Town to Target for a personal holiday shopping excursion with the three teammates.
Orlando Magic players and coaches celebrate the holidays with the Parramore community
Photo by Fernando Medina
Via John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com:
Orlando’s Patsy Jacob stood back a few feet behind 10-year-old Oskaria Houser and shook her head in delight as her daughter rode up on a shiny, new scooter before tearing into a box of new toys. Christmas was still more than a week away, but Jacob knew that this was going to be a good holiday season because of the good fortune being lavished on her family by the Orlando Magic.
“It’s truly a blessing what they have done for us. The Magic are spectacular the way they are helping these kids,” Jacob said as she watched kids riding new bicycles and scooters around the Magic’s practice court. “It’s a godsend them giving their time and money for something like this. These kids look up to these players. A lot of us already live in a bad community, but with the help of the Magic doing things like this, the kids won’t go astray. The staff at the New Image Center is excellent and with the Orlando Magic helping them they are just the best for these kids.”
The Magic’s players, coaches and staff held a holiday party on Friday for 55 families from the New Image Youth Center in Parramore. The families were first treated to a party outside of the Amway Center with Dwight Howard making a mock music video with kids, Rashard Lewis playing video football games with teenagers, Jameer Nelson doing face-painting and J.J. Redick running the snow cone machine.
The families were then taken inside to the Magic’s practice court where each of the children had a box full of toys, books and clothes waiting for them. And the grand finale was the Magic players riding out new bicycles and scooters for each child.
Second Look: Denver Nuggets 111, Orlando Magic 94
AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “Frustration oozed throughout the Orlando Magic locker room late Tuesday night. Stan Van Gundy dressed down his players after the final buzzer. Later, Jameer Nelson sat at his locker, read the postgame box score, crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it to the ground. In a postgame interview, Dwight Howard all but called out Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis by name for their terrible defense against Carmelo Anthony. The Orlando Magic had just concluded their dreadful West Coast road trip with a 111-94 loss to the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Magic performed just as poorly as they did in Portland, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. [...] The Magic have lost five of their last six games, a freefall that has prompted their fans to call for a major trade and the players themselves unable to explain why their defensive intensity has dropped off so badly.”
- John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com: “Short-handed because of injuries at absolutely the worst position to have them on this night and dragging at the end of a long and frustrating roadtrip, the Orlando Magic suffered a fourth-quarter meltdown on Tuesday that likely could be felt from the Rocky Mountains all the way back to Florida. And when Denver’s 111-94 demolition of Orlando was complete late Tuesday night, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was irate and threatening changes, Jameer Nelson wadded up a stat sheet and fired it across the floor and disgusted star Dwight Howard fumed over his team’s defensive lapses and talked of just wanting to get back home again. When Orlando got outscored 32-16 in the final period – getting shredded defensively and coming unglued offensively — it undermined a career night from shooting guard J.J. Redick and a solid effort through three quarters by the team. And it left a Magic team that has openly talked about being on a championship-or-bust mission since training camp somewhat in shambles as far as their confidence is concerned. Orlando (16-9) limped back to its plane for Florida following a disappointing 1-3 record on this four-game, seven-day roadtrip. Orlando lost in Portland, Utah and Denver, but did enough to beat the Clippers in Los Angeles on Sunday night.”
- Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstriped Post: “Against a tough home team like Denver–which is now 11-1 at Pepsi Center–opponents already have a small margin for error. Orlando’s margin shrunk when it learned it would not have the services of [Mickael] Pietrus or [Quentin] Richardson this evening. Overcoming those deficits with only an eight-man rotation–Malik Allen and Chris Duhon did not play–would have been a tall task. The Magic’s performance through the first 36 minutes suggested they were up to it, but the Nuggets doubled them up, 32-16, in the fourth quarter. To fall so hard like that must sting, especially when Redick’s remarkable five-point play gave the Magic a one-point lead with 11:02 remaining. Smith senselessly fouled Redick on a made three-point basket, then earned a technical foul for protesting non-call that occurred on Denver’s previous possession. Redick drained both foul shots to complete the rare feat, but for the rest of the game, Denver stole the show, to the tune of 29-11.”
- Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post: “The postgame commotion Tuesday night had a something’s-going-down feel to it. After the news conferences, Nuggets executives Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke bounced from room to room in the bowels of the Pepsi Center searching for their star player. Carmelo Anthony emerged from an interview room with NBATV, and the trio disappeared into the Nuggets’ training room. [...] The vultures are circling. Anthony played as well as he has all season long in the Nuggets’ 111-94 win over Orlando, the team’s 10th straight home victory. His 35 points and 11 rebounds represented his sixth double- double of the season. And all anyone wondered is if his next double-double will come in a different uniform. [...] While the Nuggets were beating Orlando, the New Jersey Nets were making moves believed to be in anticipation of putting together a package strong enough to make another run at the Nuggets star. The impending three-team trade between themselves, Houston and the L.A. Lakers, which can be made official today, features draft picks that may be enticing to a Nuggets organization faced with the realization that Anthony is going to have to be moved or it risks losing him for nothing at the end of the season.”
Recap: Denver Nuggets 111, Orlando Magic 94
AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
When the Orlando Magic embarked on their four-game road trip to the West Coast, it was said that the players would learn a lot about themselves and as a whole, they’d figure out where they stand vis-a-vis the rest of the NBA elite — the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the San Antonio Spurs.
After the Magic went 1-3 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets, one thing has become clear.
Orlando isn’t an elite team or a championship contender.
Something is missing from the roster. Against the Blazers, the Magic couldn’t score if their lives depended on it. Against the Jazz, it was a lack of defense. Against the Clippers, after a brilliant first quarter against one of the worst teams in the league, complacency and consistency cropped up as ever-too-familiar issues.
Against the Nuggets? There was little to no defense present from Orlando but more importantly, there was a lack of mental toughness and fight that has plagued the roster since the season began. When the going got tough in the fourth quarter, the Magic wilted and displayed a body language that emitted negativity.
Denver was able to defeat Orlando by the score of 111-94 in a game that was close for 42 minutes. After Vince Carter made a three-pointer at the 6:05 mark of the fourth quarter to pull the Magic’s deficit to one point at 92-91, the Nuggets went on a 19-3 run to turn a competitive game into a blowout. Carmelo Anthony led the way for Denver, putting up 35 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony got plenty of support from his supporting cast, with five players for the Nuggets scoring in double-figures. Orlando was led by J.J. Redick, who had a career-high 29 points on 12 shots — an excellent performance. Dwight Howard finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks. Carter chipped in with 18 points. Unfortunately for the Magic, it was a three-man show offensively between Redick, Howard, and Carter. No one else for Orlando was able to make a significant impact on the game, at least on the offensive side of the ball. The defense?
That was a different story altogether.
