Gamethread Nov. 22: Magic vs. Rockets @ 7PM

[AddiFB 429]

Added ticket information to first post

[AddiFB 429]

# Magic player to watch: Hedo Turkoglu. Orlando's multi-dimensional small forward hasn't played particularly well so far this season, but he has come on of late as the Magic's go-to scorer in the fourth quarter. He ranked third in the NBA in that category last season, trailing only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. He had a big fourth period Sunday in Charlotte and he poured in 16 fourth-quarter points in Tuesday's win against Toronto. Turkoglu went into Friday's game with 76 fourth-quarter points, averaging 6.9 a game in the final period.

 

# Rockets player to watch: Tracy McGrady. It's almost unfathomable that McGrady, twice a NBA scoring champion, is now averaging less than 16 points a game. He never averaged fewer than 25.6 points a game in his four seasons with the Magic, but age and a nagging left knee injury has sapped some of his athleticism away. Maybe even more troubling for the Rockets is the fact that the career 44 percent shooter is hitting 39.5 percent of his shots this season. McGrady might have to carry more of the offensive load tonight if Yao is unable to play because of lingering pain in his surgically repaired foot.

 

# Next for the Magic: Monday, vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m., Sun Sports Network

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081122/SPORTS16/811220332/1002/SPORTS

[jack daniel 999 27]

I love the way you handle your thread

 

it's the best I've ever seen

 

you take HONOR in doing it and that's what it's all about...

 

you are a true MAGIC FAN my friend.

[AddiFB 429]

Wow thank you JD! That

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Game notes:

 

Hedo: 2008-09: 16.7 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 4.0 apg., 1.25 stlpg.

 

Led (or tied) the team in scoring four times, in rebounding once and in

assists five times

[Emory889 353]

Really nyce game thread man.

 

This game has loss written all over it. The guys just won a really tough emotional overtime game last night and now they have to travel back home to play a loaded Rockets team. Fortunately, the Rockets also played a close game last night as well.

 

This game is going to come right down to the wire. I'm honestly not sure which team is the favorite.

 

Look for Hedo to get up a lot of shots tonight after a difficult Friday. I'm not sure if that is a good thing.

[AddiFB 429]

Houston game notes:

 

Houston is an even 20-20 in the all-time series with Orlando. The Rockets are 12-8 at home against the Magic and 8-12 on the road. In the first meeting last season, the Magic erased an 11-point deficit to take a 44-40 halftime lead en route to a 97-92 win at Houston (12/19/07). Rafer Alston

[Skywise316 211]

Wow Addi... this really is the best overall Game Thread I've seen ever in the 2 seasons I've posted, and the season before that when I lurked.

 

Your players to watch and my X-factors are one in the same... usually it's top of the line role players, but in this case it's up-and-down star players. T-Mac's been scoring 30 points one game, and then like 9 the next. Plus we all know about Hedo's struggles.

 

And its not just about scoring. If the shot (or also vertical lift in T-Mac's case) is off, will they find other ways to affect the game like good passing, key rebounds, getting steals, etc.?

 

For the longest time I thought I would pick Houston to win this game for the sake of not picking a Magic victory every single time, but you know what... the Magic are at home and we couldn't possibly be playing Houston at a better time short of one their key players actually being fully out and inactive.

 

My gut says after a bad second quarter, a resurgent third quarter, a "cardiac kids" 4th quarter, and after a defensive struggle throughout:

 

Houston Rockets 82

Orlando Magic 88

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ESPN.com gives us a 63% chance of winning

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=281122019

 

Injury report by ESPN:

 

HOUSTON

 

 

[jack daniel 999 27]

be carefull or they might get on you like they did on me...

 

HAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaghaha

 

KEEP IT COMING ...

[AddiFB 429]

Haha Get on me how?

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Live Baseline Blog

 

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/GameNight_7_pm_112208_O-290392-66.html

 

Preview:

The Magic are back home tonight to take on the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. Both teams will be playing in the second night of a back-to-back and are traveling to Orlando after Friday night games on the road. Orlando defeated the Indiana Pacers and Houston won over the Washington Wizards.

 

Tracy McGrady, who played four seasons in a Magic uniform and still holds many records here, and Yao Ming have seen their offensive production slip this season but the team is still competing at a high level. The Rockets enter tonight