Denton: Magic-Lakers Postgame Analysis
THE GOOD
---- Nelson is showing once again why he was an NBA All-Star last season and seems to have regained that elite form this season following shoulder and knee surgeries.
The Lakers seem to bring out the best in the Magic’s point guard, and clearly Fisher and Jordan Farmar are no match for Nelson in the pick-and-roll game. Nelson was locked into attack mode all day, getting in the lane for scores for himself or open shots for others.
``Our team’s goal is to win a championship, so no, this game doesn’t win us the trophy,’’ Nelson said. ``During the next few weeks will determine which level we will be at. It matters how hard we work and how committed we need to be. We need to work as a team, play well together and win some games.’’
---- Barnes often gets overlooked on the Magic because he is the only starter on the team who hasn’t made an all-star game. But his toughness, hustle and nastiness made him a central figure for Orlando on Sunday. He simply wouldn’t let the Magic roll over and lose once the Lakers made their run.
By getting into Bryant on the defensive end, he forced the reining MVP into a 12 of 30 shooting day. He ran the floor hard for 10 points and his 3-pointer with 1:10 to play put Orlando up 93-87. And he didn’t mind mixing it up with Bryant while the two were fighting for position, fighting for loose balls and nearly just flat-out fighting.
``I mean that’s fine as long as it goes both ways. I respect Kobe with the upmost respect, but when people start throwing elbows, you know if we can go both ways, it’s fine,’’ Barnes said. ``It is what it is. You have to bring that edge. It’s an honor to guard the best players and it’s a challenge. You know we had a good game. I just try to make it work and make them take some tough shots.’’
---- Carter was in attack mode from the start of the game, getting to the free throw line 10 times in the first quarter alone. He had attempted just nine free throws in the previous four games combined.
THE BAD
---- Ron Artest showed up at Amway Arena with a comical hairdo on Sunday with the majority of his hair painted gold and the rest covered in purple swathes and symbolic characters.
The outlandish hairdo was the only statement made by Artest on Sunday. On the court, he was a nonfactor for a Lakers team that needed another perimeter player to take some of the load off the shoulders of Bryant.
Artest jacked up one forced shot after another early in the game and disappeared late. He made just two of 10 shots and was outplayed most of the game by Mickael Pietrus (seven points) and Barnes. The Magic certainly didn’t mind seeing the Artest addition what with the way Trevor Ariza burned Orlando in three games of the NBA Finals last spring. Ariza, who left in free agency for the Houston Rockets last summer, led L.A. to big comebacks in Games 4 and 5 last spring – something Artest couldn’t do on Sunday.
---- The afternoon was hardly a classic one for Dwight Howard, but the Magic’s superstar center made the best of it by continuing to fight in the post, rebound with power and swat shots all over Amway Arena.
Howard had his first two shots blocked by Andrew Bynum, picked up two fouls in the first quarter and was limited at times by persistent foul trouble. But Howard kept on clawing and fighting for position in the post and salvaged a good game out of a rocky start.
He finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds for his NBA-best 50th double-double of the season. He also added two more blocks by swatting the shots of Lamar Odom and Artest near the rim.
Howard said more than anything this win was about showing plenty of fight and not backing down from the mighty Lakers. The Magic not only showed the basketball world their worth as championship contenders, but they also proved something to themselves, Howard said.
``We knew that we were going to get the Lakers’ best shot considering the fact that they had just lost two in a row,’’ Howard said. ``We just tried to be very aggressive. …Hopefully we can just keep this thing going now.’’
THE UGLY
---- Howard and Bryant are two of the game’s biggest stars, but they also have issues when it comes to their interaction with the officials. Both players were hit with technical fouls early in the second half on Sunday, bringing them one step close to a NBA-mandated suspension.
Howard was whistled for his 13th technical foul when he argued with referee Tony Brothers over a non-call in the post. Bryant was hit with his 12th technical foul when he went nose-to-nose with Orlando’s Matt Barnes after the two got tangled up under the rim.
The bad news for Howard and Bryant is that players will be suspended for one game following their 16th technical foul of the regular season. A game suspension comes after every other technical foul beyond 16.
Said Howard: ``I try not to think about it, but I understand the consequences of what can happen. When you are out there playing, as physical as the game gets sometimes, emotions fly and I think the referees and people have to understand that. I’m just going to keep playing and hopefully not get so frustrated.’’
Fortunately for the Magic and Lakers, the technical foul count is wiped clean and starts over in the playoffs.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY >>>
THE GOOD
---- Nelson is showing once again why he was an NBA All-Star last season and seems to have regained that elite form this season following shoulder and knee surgeries.
The Lakers seem to bring out the best in the Magic’s point guard, and clearly Fisher and Jordan Farmar are no match for Nelson in the pick-and-roll game. Nelson was locked into attack mode all day, getting in the lane for scores for himself or open shots for others.
``Our team’s goal is to win a championship, so no, this game doesn’t win us the trophy,’’ Nelson said. ``During the next few weeks will determine which level we will be at. It matters how hard we work and how committed we need to be. We need to work as a team, play well together and win some games.’’
---- Barnes often gets overlooked on the Magic because he is the only starter on the team who hasn’t made an all-star game. But his toughness, hustle and nastiness made him a central figure for Orlando on Sunday. He simply wouldn’t let the Magic roll over and lose once the Lakers made their run.
By getting into Bryant on the defensive end, he forced the reining MVP into a 12 of 30 shooting day. He ran the floor hard for 10 points and his 3-pointer with 1:10 to play put Orlando up 93-87. And he didn’t mind mixing it up with Bryant while the two were fighting for position, fighting for loose balls and nearly just flat-out fighting.
``I mean that’s fine as long as it goes both ways. I respect Kobe with the upmost respect, but when people start throwing elbows, you know if we can go both ways, it’s fine,’’ Barnes said. ``It is what it is. You have to bring that edge. It’s an honor to guard the best players and it’s a challenge. You know we had a good game. I just try to make it work and make them take some tough shots.’’
---- Carter was in attack mode from the start of the game, getting to the free throw line 10 times in the first quarter alone. He had attempted just nine free throws in the previous four games combined.
THE BAD
---- Ron Artest showed up at Amway Arena with a comical hairdo on Sunday with the majority of his hair painted gold and the rest covered in purple swathes and symbolic characters.
The outlandish hairdo was the only statement made by Artest on Sunday. On the court, he was a nonfactor for a Lakers team that needed another perimeter player to take some of the load off the shoulders of Bryant.
Artest jacked up one forced shot after another early in the game and disappeared late. He made just two of 10 shots and was outplayed most of the game by Mickael Pietrus (seven points) and Barnes. The Magic certainly didn’t mind seeing the Artest addition what with the way Trevor Ariza burned Orlando in three games of the NBA Finals last spring. Ariza, who left in free agency for the Houston Rockets last summer, led L.A. to big comebacks in Games 4 and 5 last spring – something Artest couldn’t do on Sunday.
---- The afternoon was hardly a classic one for Dwight Howard, but the Magic’s superstar center made the best of it by continuing to fight in the post, rebound with power and swat shots all over Amway Arena.
Howard had his first two shots blocked by Andrew Bynum, picked up two fouls in the first quarter and was limited at times by persistent foul trouble. But Howard kept on clawing and fighting for position in the post and salvaged a good game out of a rocky start.
He finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds for his NBA-best 50th double-double of the season. He also added two more blocks by swatting the shots of Lamar Odom and Artest near the rim.
Howard said more than anything this win was about showing plenty of fight and not backing down from the mighty Lakers. The Magic not only showed the basketball world their worth as championship contenders, but they also proved something to themselves, Howard said.
``We knew that we were going to get the Lakers’ best shot considering the fact that they had just lost two in a row,’’ Howard said. ``We just tried to be very aggressive. …Hopefully we can just keep this thing going now.’’
THE UGLY
---- Howard and Bryant are two of the game’s biggest stars, but they also have issues when it comes to their interaction with the officials. Both players were hit with technical fouls early in the second half on Sunday, bringing them one step close to a NBA-mandated suspension.
Howard was whistled for his 13th technical foul when he argued with referee Tony Brothers over a non-call in the post. Bryant was hit with his 12th technical foul when he went nose-to-nose with Orlando’s Matt Barnes after the two got tangled up under the rim.
The bad news for Howard and Bryant is that players will be suspended for one game following their 16th technical foul of the regular season. A game suspension comes after every other technical foul beyond 16.
Said Howard: ``I try not to think about it, but I understand the consequences of what can happen. When you are out there playing, as physical as the game gets sometimes, emotions fly and I think the referees and people have to understand that. I’m just going to keep playing and hopefully not get so frustrated.’’
Fortunately for the Magic and Lakers, the technical foul count is wiped clean and starts over in the playoffs.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY >>>
