jack daniel 999 27 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Scouting Report - Tim Povtak...Orlando Sentinel WHERE: Amway Arena RECORDS: Magic 33-39, Pacers 31-40 BROADCAST: TV -- WRBW-Ch. 65, ESPN; Radio -- 580 AM (WDBO); Spanish-language radio -- 1030 AM (WONQ) MAGIC UPDATE: Trevor Ariza (flu) and Darko Milicic (bruised thigh), who were unable to finish Wednesday night's game, should be available tonight. . . . The Magic are in the No. 8 playoff spot and would move back to No. 7 if they win and New Jersey loses in Detroit. . . . On Thursday, the Magic mostly watched video of their double-overtime loss to Boston. Many of the reserves also practiced. They have 10 games remaining, and four of the next five are against teams with losing records. PACERS UPDATE: This has been ugly. They have lost 16 of the past 18. . . . Although they initially played well after trading Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson to Golden State, things have fallen apart lately. Jermaine O'Neal (left knee, ankle), their best player, missed Wednesday's loss against New Jersey, and he is questionable for tonight. . . . Darrell Armstrong, the former Magic player, played well against the Nets, getting 11 points and three assists in 16 minutes. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Both teams still are in the playoff picture. A fast start by the Magic would discourage the Pacers, who have been having trouble keeping games close. If O'Neal plays, Dwight Howard and Tony Battie must do a good job defensively against him. The Magic also need the energy and offensive rebounding that Ariza often provides. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/...story?coll=orl-magic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manu Ginobili 61 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 I see a loss coming. We played so lousy the other day, we were horrible, and we couldn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jack daniel 999 27 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Orlando heads into showdown with Pacers reeling BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic spent most of Thursday with one eye on tonight's showdown against the Indiana Pacers and one eye on Wednesday's disastrous double-overtime collapse against the Boston Celtics. It was a fitting metaphor for the disjointed season -- one promising step forward, one clumsy stumble backwards. Any of the positive vibes the Magic might have culled from playoff-like defeats of New Jersey and New York were frittered away Wednesday night in a baffling 105-96 loss to the lowly Celtics. Orlando had the ball and a two-point lead at the end of regulation, yet it couldn't get the ball in bounds to Hedo Turkoglu and handed possession back to the Celtics. Similarly, Orlando was unable to protect a three-point lead at the end of the first overtime when Paul Pierce hit a game-tying shot. And unlike two nights earlier when he made the game-tying and game-winning shots in New York, Jameer Nelson couldn't come through for the Magic, twice missing final-second shots. Losing to a 22-49 Boston team that is merely playing out the string brought back to the surface of the Magic (33-39) playing some of their worst basketball against the NBA's dregs. Remarkably, Orlando has won the season series against Miami (3-0), Cleveland (2-1) and Chicago (2-1), but they have already lost or split series against Atlanta (1-3), New York (1-2) and Charlotte (2-2). "I can't give you an answer why," Magic coach Brian Hill said disgustedly. "Is it a focus thing? Is it a respect thing? Guys maybe feel more of a sense of urgency against some teams than they do against others. It has been a disappointing part of our season." Tonight's nationally-televised game (8 p.m., ESPN) against Indiana (31-40) should have plenty of intrigue. The Magic currently sit in the final playoff slot at eighth, 11/2 games ahead of the Pacers. Whereas the Magic have been hot-and-cold the past seven weeks, winning consecutive games just once during that stretch, Indiana has been in a hideous freefall for the better part of two months. The Pacers have dropped 16 of 18 games, putting their playoff streak of nine consecutive seasons in jeopardy. "We're competing against ourselves," Magic general manager Otis Smith said. "I don't think we're competing against the other team. Whether it's a good team or a bad team, the Magic are competing against the team in the mirror. We have to do a better job of executing and preparing ourselves to play. We just have to beat that team in the mirror and come to play." Smith credits the Magic's lack of a fiery leader with the team's inconsistent nature this season. He's been critical of the team's cavalier nature when it comes to winning and losing. He said he and Hill have spoken to the team repeatedly about bringing a consistent focus to games, but he pointed out that until it comes from a player, the Magic will likely continue to struggle from night to night. "Whether Brian (Hill) is saying it, I'm saying it or an assistant coach, it means something different when it comes from a player," Smith said. "We have good guys, they come to work and you're not going to hear about them in the paper (for breaking the law). "We're always talking about character around here, but this is a different type of character. When you lay down at night, does it bother you if we lost? I'm not saying it doesn't bother our guys, but it needs to bother them a little more." The Magic hope to get power forward Darko Milicic and small forward Trevor Ariza back tonight. Ariza, Orlando's best on-ball defender, was unavailable to cover Pierce down the stretch because of a migraine headache and nausea. Milicic was kneed in the thigh, but hopes to play. Despite their recent struggles, the Magic are comforted by the fact that the teams around them in the standings (New Jersey, Indiana and New York) have been just as inconsistent. And unlike last season, when Orlando made a stirring run to close the season only to come up short when other teams won, the Magic control their own destiny for the most part. "Last year we were on the outside looking in and this year we're on the inside," Nelson said. "We still control everything that we want to do. We want to get into the playoffs and make something happen." http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/...03300357/1002/SPORTS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nyce_1 311 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 quote: "I can't give you an answer why," Magic coach Brian Hill said disgustedly. "Is it a focus thing? Is it a respect thing? Guys maybe feel more of a sense of urgency against some teams than they do against others. It has been a disappointing part of our season." What a surprising quote and reason. Does this guy EVER know why we lose? He's not gonna get fired for being a bad coach, he's gonna get fired cause he doesn't know anything, lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
royce59 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 i see a loss bcos we won two in a row, so if the pattern is correct we should now lose two in a row (this being the second) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ibonedteribell 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 This game will be given through ESPN, I hope this doesn't motivate our players to play individually and forget about the team. Good luck guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
magicpanama 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 is there any link to watch the game? I know it is on ESPN, but not for latin america. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voltaire 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 My vote for the magic dancer went to DIENER Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manu Ginobili 61 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Any links to watch the game. I am in Argentina, and ESPN here shows Houston - Lakers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
random 19 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Hopefully waiting for a link as well! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThisIsTheYear 241 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Tinsley looks like Jordan out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manu Ginobili 61 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Please give me a LINK for the game!!! LINK LINK LINK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
