[JNice]

Game Preview: Orlando @ Boston


Boston is one of only two teams the Magic have played more than once and not beaten this season (Houston is the other), as the Celtics have taken home wins in Orlando and Bean Town this year. Boston has had their way with the Magic, putting up 117 and 119 points against the Magic in their two previous match-ups, which says a lot about a team that averages just 100.7 per outing. Every win in the second half of the season is important to Boston, as they are continually flip-flopping with Philadelphia for the lead in the Atlantic Division and a top three playoff seed. Considering that which ever team is second in the division is battling just to stay in the top eight says even more about the determination of the squad. Both the Celtics and the Magic have taken care of business lately, posting winning records in their last 10 efforts, but the two squads have also each seen a loss come at the hands of the Hawks in the last couple weeks. While the Magic’s last defeat from the Celtics was understandable due to the circumstances, Orlando needs to take care of business this time around.

The Magic responded to a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks with perhaps one of their best wins of the season against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night. Even the return of King James and his 28 points couldn’t deter the Magic, who got a whopping 30 points and 13 assists (which tied a season-high) from Steve Francis, after he tallied the Magic’s final 10 points of the game and outscored the entire Cavalier squad 10-5 in the final 4:04. Orlando also showed its ability to close out yet another close contest, improving to 10-2 when the game is decided by less than five points. This game way very well be a benchmark of sorts, as it has been a full 25 days since the Magic met the Celtics and traded Cuttino Mobley on that ill-fated game on January 10. It will be interesting to see the different dynamic of the team when they face Boston this time around, and if the defense they brought in with the trade will pay off.

Last Meeting: The Magic came out of the gates sluggish and stayed that way the entire night, falling 119-101 to the Boston Celtics on January 10 at the FleetCenter. Orlando announced they were trading Cuttino Mobley for Doug Christie just before tip-off, and the Magic responded by committing 22 turnovers, getting pounded on the glass 50-41, and falling behind by as much as 30 in the game. Orlando’s Steve Francis and Boston’s Paul Pierce led their respective squads with 18 points apiece.

All-Time Series: The Magic trail in the all-time series with the Celtics 27-36, including a 7-24 record in Boston. Orlando is 0-2 against Boston this season

[JNice]

Exciting game so far. Little defense. 39-38 Celts at the end of 1.

[JNice]

69-69 at the half. It has been a real grind it out game.

[hobojoe]

Man, Magic started out this quarter so well. Too bad the Celtics have made a little run here. We can't lose to Boston for the third time this season.

[hobojoe]

****, West and McCarty lead the charge back. We're tied again.

[JNice]

Game over. Boston sweeps us. I hope we don't end up playing Boston in the playoffs because for some reason they love playing against us. Not sure why, but we just don't seem to matchup well with them.

[YoYoYoWasup]

Boston isn't more talented than us, we have the better record and we play in a harder division, don't ask me why we can't beat them. Anyways, I'm going to get on Dwight for once, he played, aside from the Raptors game, his worst game of the season. He wasn't aggressive at all and managed only 4 rebounds against a poor rebounding front line.

[hobojoe]

Great play by the Celtics role players. I think they have the most underrated supporting cast in the league around Pierce. Ricky Davis played a very effective, smart game. Delonte West and Walter McCarty were huge in the comeback by Boston, and Raef LaFrentz played well and hit a very big 3 in the last couple minutes. They're a very deep team.

Francis went ice cold in the second half, and got robbed on his 6th foul. Horrible call.

Hill played a decent game, although he could never get his offense going. He did have 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

Turkoglu was on fire from behind the arc, solid 22 off the bench from him.

[JNice]

Originally posted by hobojoe!
Great play by the Celtics role players. I think they have the most underrated supporting cast in the league around Pierce. Ricky Davis played a very effective, smart game. Delonte West and Walter McCarty were huge in the comeback by Boston, and Raef LaFrentz played well and hit a very big 3 in the last couple minutes. They're a very deep team.

Francis went ice cold in the second half, and got robbed on his 6th foul. Horrible call.

Hill played a decent game, although he could never get his offense going. He did have 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

Turkoglu was on fire from behind the arc, solid 22 off the bench from him.

Grant looked a bit tired in this one. He was passing the ball real well, but fumbled his dribble away maybe 4 or 5 times.

And Stevie had a few pretty bad calls against him in this game.

But we really blew it late and Waltah was big for the Celts. He brought a ton of energy to them.

[Captain Obvious]

Maybe we don't want the sixth seed after all. I think Boston will win the Atlantic and I don't see us beating them in a playoff series. Hopefully we can steal another game in Cleveland tomorrow. Also, what's up with Cato not playing much? Is he still working his way back into shape?

[hobojoe]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious!
Also, what's up with Cato not playing much? Is he still working his way back into shape?

I'd assume so considering DeClercq played more than him tonight.

[JNice]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious!
Maybe we don't want the sixth seed after all. I think Boston will win the Atlantic and I don't see us beating them in a playoff series. Hopefully we can steal another game in Cleveland tomorrow. Also, what's up with Cato not playing much? Is he still working his way back into shape?

They said he is still weak from being pretty sick.

[Idunkonyou]

That was probably the most pathetic 4th quarter I have seen from the Magic this year. They basically said, we give up. You can have the game Boston.

Would some one fire Davis already.

[DwyaneWade4MVP]

Seems like Orlando can't win against Boston??? Playing against Boston I can only remember losses this season for the Magic...