[stlrebfan]

Originally posted by <b>shonin</b>!
Hughes was more of the 'Player of the Game' than Jamison. he contributed in every category.

Agree! Although Antwan came up big with the 3 pt play when we were up 2 I believe.

[JNice]

Originally posted by <b>twinz2gether</b>!
Yeah, haha you got me there. Grant hill did really impress me tonight, he's going to help them this season. Dwight Howard was doing okay, he contributes pretty little i think though, Turkoglu is really good, i like him a lot. Tony Battie is just okay at best.

But i still don't think they will make it to the playoffs, they still aren't very good on the offensive end, and their defense is pretty horrible (Mavericks game i think was a fluke). We are definately better than them on the offensive end and probably = on the defensive end.

You are obviously basing that all off this game though, in which both our best perimeter and interior defenders were out. And let me tell you and hobojoe would agree with me on this, Orlando looks so much better with Dwight Howard in the game. This was definitely his worst game so far, mostly because of fouls. You saw very little from him tonight because he was in foul trouble the whole damned game. I agree Battie is just okay, which is good for a big man who is supposed to be the backup.

[twinz2gether]

Originally posted by <b>JNice</b>!


You are obviously basing that all off this game though, in which both our best perimeter and interior defenders were out. And let me tell you and hobojoe would agree with me on this, Orlando looks so much better with Dwight Howard in the game. This was definitely his worst game so far, mostly because of fouls. You saw very little from him tonight because he was in foul trouble the whole damned game. I agree Battie is just okay, which is good for a big man who is supposed to be the backup.

Mobley is your best perimeter defender or are you refering to someone else? I'm not really sure how good mobley is, cause i didn't watch the rockets last year, but i haven't really heard of him being good. I'm guessing that you are a magic fan and would know better than me though.

Dwight Howard i pretty much am refering too what i know about him based on the draft and what i saw in him in the game. Yeah this was definately his worst game. But being guarded by ruffin or jamison i would think he would have a pretty good game, and he didn't.

Also 7 offensive rebounds was impressive by him, but the fact that he only had 2 FG's off of them is not (yeah he did get 2 of them off those 2 misses where one of them he was probably fouled, but thats still 5). Yeah and it is only one game so we will see i guess.

In your opinion though, who will have the better record, the Magic or the Wizards?

[jazzy1]

I was at the game tonight, great win.

Hughes - made me mad, angry, spitting hot, frustrated, jubilant, happy and proud papa glad. His inability to pass the ball in transition is incredible he will not pass the ball but his defense and ability to create his shot were key tonight.

Arenas- was dormant most of the night, seemed as if his foot hurt most of the night. He was controlled but was clearly hobbled.

Jamison- moved his game back to the block and took control. He was very smooth around the basket.

Haywood - if not for foul trouble offensively he was on his game jump hook is unblockable if we give him more touches. Defensievly he was a step slow reacting to rebounds.

Hayes and Dixon were okay. Dixon has improved tremendously from a playmaking perspective. He is really playing well.

Overall some of EJ's coaching decisions were questionable at one point playing Hayes as a pf.

Orlando Magic.

We are a better team than the Magic they talk of how the were missing Mobley and Cato but we were missing Blake, kwame and Etan so I think we had key players out also so I'd make the game even.

Dwight Howard is explosive but he doesn't have any offensive moves at all, all garbage rebounds and transition stuff.

He looks alittle plodding the way he plays, not as graceful as I thought he was.

[twinz2gether]

But just to add a point, i'm not trying to take this away from Howard, but i'm going to he was holding down our PF's the entire game on the offensive glass and he was 3 in the key way too much without it being called.

[JNice]

Originally posted by <b>twinz2gether</b>!
Mobley is your best perimeter defender or are you refering to someone else? I'm not really sure how good mobley is, cause i didn't watch the rockets last year, but i haven't really heard of him being good. I'm guessing that you are a magic fan and would know better than me though.

A lot of people consider him an underrated perimeter defender. He's no Ron Artest, but he is way better than DeShawn Stevenson or Steve Francis defending at SG.

Dwight Howard i pretty much am refering too what i know about him based on the draft and what i saw in him in the game. Yeah this was definately his worst game. But being guarded by ruffin or jamison i would think he would have a pretty good game, and he didn't.

Also 7 offensive rebounds was impressive by him, but the fact that he only had 2 FG's off of them is not (yeah he did get 2 of them off those 2 misses where one of them he was probably fouled, but thats still 5). Yeah and it is only one game so we will see i guess.

Definitely don't base an opinion on this game. This was by far his worst game so far. He was only in the game 3 mins before he had to sit with 2 fouls.

In your opinion though, who will have the better record, the Magic or the Wizards?

I honestly think Orlando will based on Grant Hill being healthy and getting better every game. But really, who knows. I think the Wizards have more overall talent, although with Hill healthy, that may not be true anymore.

[Shanghai Kid]

My Thoughts-

Larry Hughes- I think Larry should of stayed in College another year or two because in that one year in College he developed way too much of a scorers mindset. I remember he led his conference in scoring that one year in St. Lous. He's lacking in serious fundamentals of team basketball. At one point he had two guys completely wide open under the basket and took a midrange jumper instead. Having said that, their's two things you know your getting out of Larry Hughes. Defense, and by defense, I mean he gets steals by playing man to man defense and stripping his man (leads the league in steals btw), and clutch scoring. He was clutch last year, and he's been clutch this year.

Jamison- More of an impact player than I expected. He really does hit big shots, and his post game is legit. Has been nothing but a positive this year, but as Jazzy said, he really needs to stick to the inside and stop taking so many outside jumpers.

Arenas- Still waiting for him to be more aggressive, but tonight other guys were hitting shots and he took a step back and didn't force anything. I'm guessing his foot is bothering him like Jazzy said, but one of these games he's going to go off for 30-35. He did have some clutch assists in the 4th.

Hayes- Minor point on Hayes, will this guy ever shoot a good percentage? He really does need alot of shots to be effective. He got hot in the 3rd, I just question his shooting.

Haywood/Dixon/Ruffin- Solid, solid roleplayeres. Will be interesting to see how things shakeup when Blake/Etan/Kwame get back, our rotation is going to be stacked.

[MJG]

Ha this just came back to me. Was going to post it as it happened, but must have slipped my mind. Did anyone else catch Buckhantz's quote on Hughes? He said something along the lines of "I really think that Hughes is just one of the most under control guys on the team if not the league when it comes to the fast break." It was one of the most stunning things I've heard one of our guys say, ever.

[hobojoe]

Originally posted by <b>JNice</b>!


You are obviously basing that all off this game though, in which both our best perimeter and interior defenders were out. And let me tell you and hobojoe would agree with me on this, Orlando looks so much better with Dwight Howard in the game. This was definitely his worst game so far, mostly because of fouls. You saw very little from him tonight because he was in foul trouble the whole damned game. I agree Battie is just okay, which is good for a big man who is supposed to be the backup.

You're definitely right about the Magic being a lot better team when Howard's in the game. It's been blatantly obvious the past couple games especially. Cato had been playing very well for the Magic too, it was a bummer that he had to get injured and miss this game.

[hobojoe]

Originally posted by <b>MJG</b>!
Ha this just came back to me. Was going to post it as it happened, but must have slipped my mind. Did anyone else catch Buckhantz's quote on Hughes? He said something along the lines of "I really think that Hughes is just one of the most under control guys on the team if not the league when it comes to the fast break." It was one of the most stunning things I've heard one of our guys say, ever.

I didn't hear the guy say it, nor do I know who he is, but is there any chance he was being sarcastic? I don't know, from how you put it I don't think it was, but I just can't even begin to fathom how anyone who's even watched Larry Hughes lead a fastbreak once could say that.