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MickyEyez · 11-24-2007, 10:11 AM

@

Miami Heat (3-9) vs. Orlando Magic (11-3)

7:00 PM EST, Amway Arena

Miami Heat

Williams/Wade/Davis/Haslem/O'Neal

Orlando Magic

Nelson/Bogans/Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard

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Quote:

Stan Van Gundy's tenure as head coach of the Miami Heat ended before their championship run, creating unresolved questions about why his departure was necessary in the first place.

Van Gundy, who has quickly turned the Orlando Magic into a contender in the Eastern Conference, will compete with former mentor Pat Riley and the Heat for the first time in the regular season Saturday night.

Van Gundy worked under Riley for 12 years with the Heat, including two seasons as head coach when he barely missed an NBA Finals appearance in 2005. He resigned 21 games into 2005-06, when Riley returned to the sideline and led the Heat to their first NBA title.

Both sides insist the decision was mutual even though Van Gundy went 112-73 (.605), which is still the franchise's best winning percentage. Van Gundy took over as coach for Orlando (11-3) this past offseason, and has so far shown that his success with the Heat wasn't a fluke as the Magic have the second-best record in the East.

Miami (3-9), meanwhile, remains in last place in the Southeast Division despite an impressive 98-91 win over Houston on Friday night.

Although he knows the Heat better than almost anyone, Van Gundy says this matchup won't feel different.

"I don't think you can allow yourself for any reason in this league to put more importance on one game than another," Van Gundy said. "It's something that's going to lead you to problems because they're only going to give you credit for one win every night."

Van Gundy has been winning with an up-tempo style coupled with the interior presence of All-Star forward Dwight Howard. The bolstered Orlando lineup also features newcomer Rashard Lewis.

Lewis, second on the team with 19.9 points per game, was held to 12 on 4-for-12 shooting against Charlotte on Friday night. But Howard had 34 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and three steals to lead the Magic to a 105-92 win.

Orlando has won a franchise-high five straight games against Miami, with Howard averaging 17.2 points and 11.0 rebounds in that span.

The Magic won all four games against the Heat last season, holding them under 70 points twice and to an average of 80.8 for the series. Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, however, each missed three of those four games.

Wade, a rookie in Van Gundy's first season as Heat coach, says it will be strange to see him on the court again.

"We're going to hear some of the same things he used to say to us. It's going to be a challenge," Wade said. "He's a guy who's very much in the game. When he's coaching, he feels like he's part of the game. He sweats like we sweat. He's very emotional and that's what makes him who he is."

Wade is coming off his best effort since coming back, scoring a season-high 31 points and adding five assists against the Rockets. Miami is now 2-3 since Wade's return.

O'Neal has begun to pick up his play. He set season highs with 26 points and 14 rebounds in Friday's contest, two days after registering 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks in a loss to Atlanta.

"Guys were getting me the ball in a position where I can do something," O'Neal said Friday. "It was a good game for us, a must win."

Prediction: Magic 106 - Heat 94

GO MAGIC!

Idunkonyou · 11-24-2007, 01:18 PM

Magic should win this game and be 14-3 before they play the Suns for the last game in November.

Babir · 11-24-2007, 02:08 PM

Lewis was not playing very well the last couple of games, I hope tonight we'll see diferent player...
GO MAGIC!!!

Feed_Dwight · 11-24-2007, 04:11 PM

OMG, this game is on TWO florida sports networks and I still can't watch it! I hate you brighthouse!

**Ruff Draft** · 11-24-2007, 04:15 PM

May I ask what website those portraits are from?

**Brian34Cook** · 11-24-2007, 04:36 PM

End 1: Orlando 34 - Miami 28

Howard: 9 pts, 3 boards, 1 assist
Lewis: 2 pts, 1 board, 1 assist, 1 steal
Turkoglu: 5 pts, 1 assist
Bogans: 6 pts, 2 assists, 1 steal
Nelson: 6 pts, 1 board, 3 assists, 1 steal
Cook: 4 pts, 2 boards
Dooling: 2 pts

Babir · 11-24-2007, 04:58 PM

Lewis again is very passive...
we need him to make some shots!

**Brian34Cook** · 11-24-2007, 05:12 PM

Halftime: Magic 59 - Heat 49

Magic:



Name  	Min  	FG  	3Pt  	FT  	Off  	Reb  	Ast  	TO  	Stl  	Blk  	PF  	Pts 

Turkogl 16 	4-7 	2-3 	0-1 	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2 	10 

Lewis 	18 	3-5 	0-0 	0-0 	0 	1 	2 	2 	2 	0 	1 	6 

Howard 	19 	6-7 	0-0 	2-4 	2 	7 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1 	14 

Bogans 	14 	2-3 	2-3 	1-2 	0 	0 	3 	0 	1 	0 	0 	7 

Nelson 	16 	2-3 	0-0 	2-4 	0 	2 	3 	2 	1 	0 	2 	6 

Cook 	7 	2-4 	0-2 	0-0 	0 	3 	1 	0 	0 	0 	1 	4 

Dooling 10 	1-3 	0-0 	2-2 	0 	0 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0 	4 

Foyle 	4 	1-1 	0-0 	0-0 	1 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	1 	2 

Arroyo 	6 	1-2 	0-0 	0-1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	1 	0 	1 	2 

Evans 	5 	2-4 	0-0 	0-0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	4 

Totals 	115 	24-39 	4-8 	7-14 	3 	15 	12 	6 	6 	1 	9 	59

Heat:



Name  	Min  	FG  	3Pt  	FT  	Off  	Reb  	Ast  	TO  	Stl  	Blk  	PF  	Pts 

Davis 	20 	5-8 	3-4 	2-2 	0 	3 	1 	2 	0 	0 	1 	15 

Haslem 	17 	3-5 	0-0 	2-2 	2 	3 	2 	1 	1 	0 	1 	8 

O'Neal 	15 	5-8 	0-0 	2-3 	1 	4 	1 	2 	0 	0 	2 	12 

Wade 	20 	4-9 	0-1 	2-3 	1 	3 	6 	3 	1 	0 	1 	10 

William 16 	0-2 	0-1 	0-0 	0 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 

Mourning 7 	0-1 	0-0 	0-0 	0 	4 	0 	1 	0 	0 	1 	0 

Parker 	 9 	1-2 	0-1 	0-0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	2 	2 

Hardaway 7 	0-0 	0-0 	0-0 	0 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0 	2 	0 

Blount 	 6 	1-3 	0-1 	0-0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	2 

Totals 	117 	19-38 	3-8 	8-10 	4 	21 	12 	10 	3 	0 	12 	49

Idunkonyou · 11-24-2007, 05:19 PM

Magic didn't play much defense in the first quarter, but turned up the D in the 2nd quarter. Howard already on his way to another double/double and the bench, for the first time this year, is having a very good collective night with 16 points so far. Evans has already become my favorite player off the bench. The guy just comes in with energy, hustle and attacks the rim. Lovely.

Babir · 11-24-2007, 05:40 PM

we need to improve our free throw shooting, turk, bogans, jameer, arroyo they are all missing their attempts!

Idunkonyou · 11-24-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babir

we need to improve our free throw shooting, turk, bogans, jameer, arroyo they are all missing their attempts!

They have been making them in the 3rd, but yes. If they would have made them early on, the Magic would be up near 25 points right now, instead of just 17 points. Ball movement is great though. 19 assists to only 9 turnovers.

Idunkonyou · 11-24-2007, 05:59 PM

LMAO at Wade and Mourning. Complain over nothing, getting right in the refs face complaining and yet neither one has been tossed. That is 3rd time Mourning has done it and he hasn't even got a T. Wade has one though because the little baby isn't getting every call his way.

Babir · 11-24-2007, 06:04 PM

up by 15 with 11 minutes to play...we need to stay focused and make plays!

Idunkonyou · 11-24-2007, 06:06 PM

I just love how Shaq can stay in the lane for 10 seconds and nothing is called, yet Howard can go in and out, yet he gets called for it all the time.

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