Fans Game Thread * Magic @ 76'ers * Feb. 1st

[jack daniel 999]

NBA Preview

 

Magic-76ers Preview

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer

Posted Jan 31 2008 8:22PM

 

 

The Orlando Magic have learned to feel at home on the road this season. To get a victory in their next stop, they'll have to beat a team fresh off its most lopsided win in 25 years.

 

Orlando looks for its sixth win in seven games on Friday when it travels to Philadelphia, where the 76ers are coming off a 43-point victory.

 

The Magic (29-18) have played - and won - more road games than any other NBA team, going 17-10 away from Amway Arena. However, they've had more trouble recently, with four losses in their last five road games.

 

Meanwhile, the Sixers (18-28) have won consecutive games for the first time in more than a month, including a 112-69 rout of Milwaukee on Wednesday night - their most lopsided win since Dec. 8, 1982.

 

"That was a great game for us from start to finish,'' Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said.

 

Orlando got 27 points and 12 rebounds from Hedo Turkoglu in its latest win, 107-91 at home over Miami on Wednesday.

 

"I hope to keep playing like I did (against the Heat)," said Turkoglu, who is averaging a career-high 19.4 points - nearly double his career norm. "Just to do my best for the team, to get a 'W.'"

 

During the Magic's last six games, Turkoglu has averaged 24.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, and he also hit a game-winning 3-pointer to beat NBA-best Boston on Sunday.

 

On Wednesday, Orlando got point guard Jameer Nelson back from a strained foot that had shelved him for five games. Nelson, who grew up in Philadelphia and was an All-American at St. Joseph's, came off the bench in his first game back.

 

Dwight Howard, the East's All-Star starter at center and the NBA's leading rebounder (14.9 per game), also leads the league with 41 double-doubles, including 11 in his last 12 games.

 

Howard had a career-high 26 boards against the Sixers on April 15, 2006.

 

Despite being 10 games below .500 and going 4-11 in January, the Sixers are within two games of a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference.

 

When it has won this season, Cheeks' team has typically done it with defense. Philadelphia is in the league's top 10 in scoring defense, allowing 95.8 points per game, and over its last four games has yielded an average of just 85.0.

 

One of the Sixers' big problems has been their woeful shooting from beyond the arc. They make just 31.6 percent of their 3-pointers, on pace to be the worst percentage in the league in the last three seasons.

 

Philadelphia leading scorer Andre Iguodala isn't any better from 3-point range - he's shooting 31.1 percent - but he hasn't had much trouble scoring, averaging 22.2 points over his last six games.

 

Samuel Dalembert, meanwhile, may be able to challenge Howard on the boards. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 12.0 points and 12.1 rebounds over his last 13 games.

 

The Magic have won four of five against the Sixers overall and three straight in Philadelphia.

 

Orlando Magic

Record: 29 - 18 (.617)

Standings: First, Southeast

At Home: 12 - 8

At Road: 17 - 10

Streak: W 2

 

Season

PPG: 103.3 Opp PPG: 99.9

FG%: .465 Opp FG%: .446

RPG: 42.6 Opp RPG: 42.0

 

Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 18 - 28 (.391)

Standings: Fourth, Atlantic

At Home: 9 - 13

At Road: 9 - 15

Streak: W 2

 

Season

PPG: 93.8 Opp PPG: 95.8

FG%: .448 Opp FG%: .459

RPG: 42.2 Opp RPG: 39.2

 

http://www.nba.com/games/20080201/ORLPHI/preview.html

[jack daniel 999]

Comparable Stats - ESPN

 

Last 5 Games

ORLANDO (ET)

Jan 30 MIA Win 107-91

Jan 27 BOS Win 96-93

Jan 25 @DET Loss 101-93

Jan 23 @MEM Win 112-85

Jan 21 DET Win 102-100

 

76'ers

Jan 30 MIL Win 112-69

Jan 26 @CHA Win 103-96

Jan 25 @NY Loss 89-81

Jan 23 DET Loss 86-78

Jan 21 IND Loss 110-103

 

Depth Chart

POS ORLANDO (PPG) PHILADELPHIA (PPG)

PG C. Arroyo 6.6... A. Miller 16.2

SG M. Evans 7.1... W. Green 12.9

SF H. Turkoglu 19.4... A. Iguodala 19.4

PF R. Lewis 18.3... R. Evans 5.2

C D. Howard 21.8... S. Dalembert 11.4

 

Team Stat Leaders

ORLANDO PHILADELPHIA

Points D. Howard 21.8... A. Iguodala 19.4

Rebounds D. Howard 14.9... S. Dalembert 10.1

Assists J. Nelson 5.8... A. Miller 6.2

Steals R. Lewis 1.1... A. Iguodala 2.2

Blocks D. Howard 2.6... S. Dalembert 2.4

 

Today's Line

FAVORITE OPEN CUR UNDERDOG O/U

ORLANDO -4 -4 @PHILADELPHIA --

 

ATS Orlando Philadelphia

Record: 29-18-0 (.617) 18-28-0 (.391)

As Favorite: 20-10-0 (.667) 8-6-0 (.571)

As Underdog: 9-8-0 (.529) 10-22-0 (.313)

At Home: 12-8-0 (.600) 9-13-0 (.409)

On Road: 17-10-0 (.630) 9-15-0 (.375)

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280201020

[jack daniel 999]

Game Notes

 

Orlando Notes

Jan 30 The Magic have now won five straight games at home, their longest home winning streak of the season. Orlando improves to 12-8 at the Amway Arena while being 17-10 on the road. ... The Magic remained perfect against Miami this season with a third consecutive victory in '07-08. Orlando has now won eight in a row against their in-state rivals. ... F Hedo Turkoglu, recently named Eastern Conference Player of the week, has now scored 20 or more in all three games vs. Miami and is averaging 25.3 ppg during those contests. He has now led the Magic in scoring for six consecutive games with Orlando being 5-1 in that stretch. ... The Magic set a season-high in free throws made, finishing 33-of-40 (82.5%) from the foul line.

 

 

Philadelphia Notes

Jan 31 The 43-point win over the Bucks was the Sixers biggest since a 47-point margin vs. Atlanta on December 8, 1982 (132-85). ... The two-game win steak is the first win streak for Philadelphia since a three-game string from December 22-28. The club closed the month of January with a 4-11 record. ... The Sixers had seven players score in double figures for the first time this season.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008020120

 

_______________________________________________

 

Three Things To Note

 

*Magic PF James Augustine (flu) is not on the two-game trip to Philadelphia and Indiana.

 

*Orlando, 5-1 in its last six games, is looking for its 18th road win. The Magic won 15 road games all of last season.

 

*The Sixers, led by Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller, are 9-13 at home. Dwight Howard vs. Sam Dalembert could turn the game into a shot-blocking contest.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/...eb01,0,2207819.story

 

__________________________________________________

[gporter]

Now that Hedo didn't make the All-Star team, he won't be taking as many shots to sell his case.

[CigarKing]

For some reason ladies and Gentlemen I am a little worried about this game... AI I love the guy so I think he will be a big problem for us tonight... If we do not stop him and he has 30+, I think we loose by 5 if we hold him under 25 we win 113 to 109... nonetheless I think this is going to be a close one... Philly is not a team to underestimate

[jec]

quote:

Originally posted by CigarKing:

For some reason ladies and Gentlemen I am a little worried about this game... AI I love the guy so I think he will be a big problem for us tonight... If we do not stop him and he has 30+, I think we loose by 5 if we hold him under 25 we win 113 to 109... nonetheless I think this is going to be a close one... Philly is not a team to underestimate

 

Agreed. They just got done wiping the floor with Milwaukee by 43 points, the have a decent lineup but lack a go to scorer, but someone could get hot. Also, they play their games close, even if they are losing. Sammy Dalembert has given us trouble before as well.

[FreedomFighter420]

Let's start off the new month with a BANG!

 

We'll get win number 30 tonight in another close one.

 

Magic win 103-99

[Chaz]

I think we'll win this. Probably by between 5 and 10, something like 102-95 or something along those lines.

 

Flying over to Canada in the morning, hopefully there will be NBA coverage over there than here in England. I'm used to the ice hockey over there, but at least they'll show highlights of the NBA.

[bballbabe]

the streak continues...we got this. GO Magic!!!

[ThisIsTheYear]

I gotta disagree with you guys, I don't see this one coming close at all. I predict that they stay with us early on, but we break free half-way into the 2nd quarter.

 

Magic win 100-83

[Jameera Nelshon]

I have the feeling that we win tonight's game by at least 20 pts. This game should be a special game for Jameer and, for that reason, for all of his teammates that feel for him after his loss.For Jameer it is the first game in Phill. where his Dad will be absent. The rest of Jameer's family will be present and the Magic as a whole should play as if giving a homage to Jameer's Dad. I do not know what you guys think, but if I were a Magic player who cares about his teammates, tonight I would play my heart out!

[gporter]

if SC doesn't mention the whole first game in Philly w/o dad present thing, I'll be mad because that is a good story.