Fans Game Thread *Magic vs. Hawks* Mar. 10

[Erk5]

magic 111, hawks 98

 

jj = 0.41 min,2 points and 1 rebound

[jack daniel 999]

 

By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com

 

SHOOTAROUND

Despite having a record of ten games below .500, the Atlanta Hawks (26-36) currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference and are a team which has given the Magic problems of late.

 

The Magic have lost four out of their last five meetings with the Hawks including a 98-87 loss at home in the two teams' only meeting this season.

 

Head coach Stan Van Gundy and the Magic are well aware of Atlanta's talent and Monday morning's shootaround at RDV Sportsplex was focused on coming out ready to play.

 

"We just have to come out focused and ready to play against a team who we have struggled against recently," Rashard Lewis stated.

 

"They are a good team," added Hedo Turkoglu. "It will be a good challenge for us because they are a young and athletic team who likes to run. We have to come out, match their energy, and outplay them at home."

 

Young and athletic were the two words the Magic used the most in describing the Hawks as Van Gundy commented on Atlanta's ability to defend near the rim.

 

"The Hawks are a very long, athletic team who is very tough to score on around the basket."

 

Atlanta ranks third in the league in blocks per game at 5.72 led by the league's second best shot blocker, forward Josh Smith who averages 3.1 rejections a night.

 

"He (Smith) is one of the best shot blockers in the league, and is very active defensively giving great help," commented Van Gundy. "He is very tough around the basket."

 

As stated below, Smith tore up the Magic in the two teams' last meeting but Rashard Lewis, who will check Smith for most of the night has a game plan to try and contain Smith.

 

"with Josh Smith we need to keep him out of the paint and force him into jump shots."

 

Shooting has not been the Hawks' forte this season as Atlanta ranking 21st in field-goal percentage, but got some help in acquiring a proven shooting point guard in Mike Bibby.

 

Turkoglu, who spent two seasons as Bibby's teammate in Sacramento, knows Bibby's abilities better than anybody and states what the Magic must do to contain him.

 

"He (Bibby) is a good player. He can hurt a lot of teams because he is a good shooter and passer and works well off the pick and roll so we need to just be physical with him to deny him of what he wants to do."

 

Van Gundy echoed Turkoglu's comments, "He gives them a veteran leader who can shoot the ball, and shooting has been a problem for them, so then instantly improve."

 

Another reason for Atlanta's improvement this season has been the play of rookie Al Horford.

 

Horford, Atlanta's third overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft, just grabbed Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for February and is averaging 9.7 points and a team-high 9.9 rebounds in his first season.

 

"He's had an unbelievable rookie year and he is guy who plays hard, runs the floor, gets after it defensively, and works the glass," stated Van Gundy. "On top of all that he can score, so he is a guy who doesn't really have many holes in his game."

 

Van Gundy and the Magic seem to have their work cut out for them as they go for their 41st victory of the season.

 

PREGAME

The Orlando Magic seek to increase their Southeast Division lead Monday night as they gear up to host their divisional rival the Atlanta Hawks at Amway Arena.

 

The Magic look for revenge against the Hawks who came into Amway in mid-December and handed Orlando a 98-87 loss in the two teams only meeting of the season.

 

Atlanta held the Magic, who rank fifth in the league in team field-goal percentage at 47 percent, to just 39 percent shooting while keeping Dwight Howard in check with 14 points.

 

Josh Smith filled up the stat sheet tallying a game-high 25 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, and four blocks, while teammate Joe Johnson added 24 points in leading the Hawks to victory.

 

Johnson (21.0 ppg) and Smith (17.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.1 bpg) lead a very young and talented Atlanta squad who just overtook the New Jersey Nets for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 26-36 record.

 

Atlanta's youth has been exploited on the road this season as the Hawks are just 7-24 away from Atlanta.

 

On February 16th, the Hawks made a move toward experience and added a much needed veteran backcourt leader when they acquired point guard Mike Bibby in a trade with the Sacramento Kings.

 

Although Atlanta is just 5-8 with Bibby, who has averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 assists since joining the Hawks, the team has all the pieces in place to make a run toward the post-season.

 

Orlando (40-24) hopes to slow down Atlanta's run as the Magic aim to distance themselves by increasing their 13 game division lead on the Hawks Monday night.

 

MAGIC INJURY REPORT

Tony Battie

[magicdepth]

quote:

Originally posted by Gruden:

Arroyo DNP Coach decision.

 

Nelson missed practice sunday with a sore foot and is Day to Day....I see Arroyo getting some PT

 

JJ will miss tonight because of his brothers surgery...so Bogans will get JJs minutes...ohh wait...nevermind...

Magic Win

 

114 Magic

99 Hawks

[Brian_Cook_Phan]

good no JJ fans today!!!

[~O~]

Magic have lost what was five straight to the Hawks. I'm the only person here who knows why the Hawks have such a fury when they play against us.

[jack daniel 999]

quote:

Originally posted by O-dub:

Magic have lost what was five straight to the Hawks. I'm the only person here who knows why the Hawks have such a fury when they play against us.

 

And why's that ?

[Captain Hi-Top]

quote:

Originally posted by jack daniel 999:

quote:

Originally posted by O-dub:

Magic have lost what was five straight to the Hawks. I'm the only person here who knows why the Hawks have such a fury when they play against us.

 

And why's that ?

 

We showed them up before

[ironarrow]

quote:

Originally posted by sunlfy:

hey fans..I ve noticed in warriors game... in any of regular possestions Rashard did pass ball to Hedo even Hedo was at right position..I dont know this might be due to the set or ball rotation..but it might be signs of a in-team conflict as well..i m gonna check this in hawks game..

 

I noticed that too.. At first I thought "No, Why would he do that" but then he did it many times..

 

I am just gonna keep an eye on him tonite..

 

Anyway, I really hope I am not right..

 

We will win this one..

[alex30]

quote:

Originally posted by ironarrow:

quote:

Originally posted by sunlfy:

hey fans..I ve noticed in warriors game... in any of regular possestions Rashard did pass ball to Hedo even Hedo was at right position..I dont know this might be due to the set or ball rotation..but it might be signs of a in-team conflict as well..i m gonna check this in hawks game..

 

I noticed that too.. At first I thought "No, Why would he do that" but then he did it many times..

 

I am just gonna keep an eye on him tonite..

 

Anyway, I really hope I am not right..

 

We will win this one..

 

 

my wishes for my team is foor everyone to be healthy and for stan van dumby to realize arroyo is our back up at least for this year,play dooling with either meer on the court or arroyo,i didnt think we need a science guy to figure this one out but i noticed it hurts the team when we got dooling playing point.

[gporter]

I learned that you cannot bet on your team or they will lose. I was at the Atlantis in the Bahamas on Saturday night and bet the underline on the magic game. I won that bet, but at the expense of our teams loss.

 

I don't expect us to lose this game though, in fact, I am hoping for a big win!

 

Go Magic!

[sharp/7/shooter]

quote:

Originally posted by Brian_Cook_Phan:

good no JJ fans today!!!

 

come on man, show some respect

[zava]

game is on NBATV so there will not be a league pass broadcasting which means lower quality third party streaming for those who cannot watch on TV.here are couple of options:

http://www.ivyonline.info/sport/index.php?id=7

 

and

 

http://www.janeironation.5gigs.com/cc.html