Denton: Magic-Rockets Postgame Analysis
By John Denton
February 24, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
With his 30 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday night, superstar center Dwight Howard set a new Orlando Magic record with his 19th consecutive double-double, eclipsing a record that had stood for 17 years.
And now here's the bad news for opponents of the Magic and Howard: This is no fluke or just a good stretch of basketball for the 6-foot-11, 270-pound beast of a center. He's just that good now, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said after Howard made all 11 of his shots and put up his usual double-double in Orlando's 110-92 demolition of the Houston Rockets.
``I don't think this is just a stretch. I think his game has matured,'' Van Gundy stressed. ``He's had stretches where he's played well, but he's changed the way he plays now. He's not forcing his way to the basket. If you take away his move across the middle, he'll counter. If you take that away, he'll come back again. He's not going to force through double teams.
``I'm not saying he's going get 30 (points) and 16 (rebounds) every night or go 11-for-11, but he'll play great. And he'll play consistently well and he'll play at a high level most of the time.''
Howard, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, bettered the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles originally set in 1993 by Shaquille O'Neal and equaled last season by Howard. And there appears to be no end in sight with the way Howard's offensive game has blossomed and his defense and rebounding has remained the best in the league.
How good was Howard on Wednesday night? He became the first player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds without missing a field goal (minimum 10 attempts) since Wilt Chamberlain did it on March 11, 1969.
`` He's been playing great and making his post moves inside,'' said Rashard Lewis, Howard's teammate. ``He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
And to think how good the night would have been had it not started poorly for Howard. He made it just 22 seconds before picking up two fouls and missed the rest of the first quarter. But he was an unstoppable force the rest of the night for the Magic (39-19). Howard said him breaking the record was never in doubt even though he got in early foul trouble.
``I thought they jinxed me today because before they said this would be the game and then I got two quick fouls and I was like, `Oh man, I hope I don't get any more (fouls),'' Howard said. ``But I just tried to come back and be aggressive on both ends.''
Orlando led by as much as 27 points early in the third quarter, but allowed the lead to shrink to 97-88 with 3:30 left in the game. But that free-fall got the attention of the Magic, who sealed the victory with an 8-0 run.
Here's a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly from Wednesday with a heavy focus on Howard's big night:
THE GOOD
---- Others had plenty of good things to say about Howard and here are just a few of the comments:
From Jameer Nelson: ``He's the most dominant player in the game, so when he's out there, he's such a presence that it makes everyone else's job easier.''
Said Rashard Lewis: ``He's been playing great and making his post moves inside. He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
Added Van Gundy: ``Dwight's by far the biggest reason why we're winning games and people need to start giving him more credit for it.''
---- Lost in the hype surrounding Howard's historic night was the play of Nelson, who has been really good of late. Nelson is playing more aggressively of late and has made it a habit of getting into the lane to create for himself and other Magic teammates.
These days, Nelson is seeking out shots and looking like the player who was an all-star last season before suffering a major shoulder injury. He had 17 points and nine assists Wednesday night and turned the ball over just once in 33 minutes.
How good was Nelson? The Magic were plus-26 on the scoreboard in Nelson's time on the floor.
---- Marcin Gortat saved the Magic while Howard was out early in the game, scoring seven points, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting a shot in 15 minutes. He also had a pick-and-roll dunk with Nelson that was one of the non-Howard highlights of the night.
THE BAD
---- Van Gundy was irate that the Magic went into shutdown mode after racing to the 27-point lead. Orlando went ice cold offensively and didn't do a very good job of closing out on the Rockets' 3-point shooters.
Houston burned the Magic for 34 points in the third period and hit 12 3-pointers in the game.
``We're not good with leads and we've got to learn to do a better job of closing out games,'' Van Gundy said. ``Not concentrating offensively – I'm not happy with that. You get the lead and you don't think this possession is important and they get it rolling. And we made zero shots. We were four for 18 from three in the second half, Dwight was making good plays out of the double team and nobody could knock anything in. It got to be a struggle.''
THE UGLY
---- The only negative for Howard in the loss was him getting hit with his 13th technical foul midway through the third quarter.
Howard can get just two more technical fouls over the final 24 games to avoid a NBA suspension. Players are suspended for one game after picking up their 16th technical foul. And they receive a game suspension for every other technical piled up beyond 16.
THE GOOD
---- Others had plenty of good things to say about Howard and here are just a few of the comments:
From Jameer Nelson: ``He's the most dominant player in the game, so when he's out there, he's such a presence that it makes everyone else's job easier.''
Said Rashard Lewis: ``He's been playing great and making his post moves inside. He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
Added Van Gundy: ``Dwight's by far the biggest reason why we're winning games and people need to start giving him more credit for it.''
---- Lost in the hype surrounding Howard's historic night was the play of Nelson, who has been really good of late. Nelson is playing more aggressively of late and has made it a habit of getting into the lane to create for himself and other Magic teammates.
These days, Nelson is seeking out shots and looking like the player who was an all-star last season before suffering a major shoulder injury. He had 17 points and nine assists Wednesday night and turned the ball over just once in 33 minutes.
How good was Nelson? The Magic were plus-26 on the scoreboard in Nelson's time on the floor.
---- Marcin Gortat saved the Magic while Howard was out early in the game, scoring seven points, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting a shot in 15 minutes. He also had a pick-and-roll dunk with Nelson that was one of the non-Howard highlights of the night.
THE BAD
---- Van Gundy was irate that the Magic went into shutdown mode after racing to the 27-point lead. Orlando went ice cold offensively and didn't do a very good job of closing out on the Rockets' 3-point shooters.
Houston burned the Magic for 34 points in the third period and hit 12 3-pointers in the game.
``We're not good with leads and we've got to learn to do a better job of closing out games,'' Van Gundy said. ``Not concentrating offensively – I'm not happy with that. You get the lead and you don't think this possession is important and they get it rolling. And we made zero shots. We were four for 18 from three in the second half, Dwight was making good plays out of the double team and nobody could knock anything in. It got to be a struggle.''
THE UGLY
---- The only negative for Howard in the loss was him getting hit with his 13th technical foul midway through the third quarter.
Howard can get just two more technical fouls over the final 24 games to avoid a NBA suspension. Players are suspended for one game after picking up their 16th technical foul. And they receive a game suspension for every other technical piled up beyond 16.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes'' segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.'' mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonFebruary 24, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
With his 30 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday night, superstar center Dwight Howard set a new Orlando Magic record with his 19th consecutive double-double, eclipsing a record that had stood for 17 years.
And now here's the bad news for opponents of the Magic and Howard: This is no fluke or just a good stretch of basketball for the 6-foot-11, 270-pound beast of a center. He's just that good now, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said after Howard made all 11 of his shots and put up his usual double-double in Orlando's 110-92 demolition of the Houston Rockets.
``I don't think this is just a stretch. I think his game has matured,'' Van Gundy stressed. ``He's had stretches where he's played well, but he's changed the way he plays now. He's not forcing his way to the basket. If you take away his move across the middle, he'll counter. If you take that away, he'll come back again. He's not going to force through double teams.
``I'm not saying he's going get 30 (points) and 16 (rebounds) every night or go 11-for-11, but he'll play great. And he'll play consistently well and he'll play at a high level most of the time.''
Howard, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, bettered the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles originally set in 1993 by Shaquille O'Neal and equaled last season by Howard. And there appears to be no end in sight with the way Howard's offensive game has blossomed and his defense and rebounding has remained the best in the league.
How good was Howard on Wednesday night? He became the first player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds without missing a field goal (minimum 10 attempts) since Wilt Chamberlain did it on March 11, 1969.
`` He's been playing great and making his post moves inside,'' said Rashard Lewis, Howard's teammate. ``He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
And to think how good the night would have been had it not started poorly for Howard. He made it just 22 seconds before picking up two fouls and missed the rest of the first quarter. But he was an unstoppable force the rest of the night for the Magic (39-19). Howard said him breaking the record was never in doubt even though he got in early foul trouble.
``I thought they jinxed me today because before they said this would be the game and then I got two quick fouls and I was like, `Oh man, I hope I don't get any more (fouls),'' Howard said. ``But I just tried to come back and be aggressive on both ends.''
Orlando led by as much as 27 points early in the third quarter, but allowed the lead to shrink to 97-88 with 3:30 left in the game. But that free-fall got the attention of the Magic, who sealed the victory with an 8-0 run.
Here's a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly from Wednesday with a heavy focus on Howard's big night:
THE GOOD
---- Others had plenty of good things to say about Howard and here are just a few of the comments:
From Jameer Nelson: ``He's the most dominant player in the game, so when he's out there, he's such a presence that it makes everyone else's job easier.''
Said Rashard Lewis: ``He's been playing great and making his post moves inside. He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
Added Van Gundy: ``Dwight's by far the biggest reason why we're winning games and people need to start giving him more credit for it.''
---- Lost in the hype surrounding Howard's historic night was the play of Nelson, who has been really good of late. Nelson is playing more aggressively of late and has made it a habit of getting into the lane to create for himself and other Magic teammates.
These days, Nelson is seeking out shots and looking like the player who was an all-star last season before suffering a major shoulder injury. He had 17 points and nine assists Wednesday night and turned the ball over just once in 33 minutes.
How good was Nelson? The Magic were plus-26 on the scoreboard in Nelson's time on the floor.
---- Marcin Gortat saved the Magic while Howard was out early in the game, scoring seven points, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting a shot in 15 minutes. He also had a pick-and-roll dunk with Nelson that was one of the non-Howard highlights of the night.
THE BAD
---- Van Gundy was irate that the Magic went into shutdown mode after racing to the 27-point lead. Orlando went ice cold offensively and didn't do a very good job of closing out on the Rockets' 3-point shooters.
Houston burned the Magic for 34 points in the third period and hit 12 3-pointers in the game.
``We're not good with leads and we've got to learn to do a better job of closing out games,'' Van Gundy said. ``Not concentrating offensively – I'm not happy with that. You get the lead and you don't think this possession is important and they get it rolling. And we made zero shots. We were four for 18 from three in the second half, Dwight was making good plays out of the double team and nobody could knock anything in. It got to be a struggle.''
THE UGLY
---- The only negative for Howard in the loss was him getting hit with his 13th technical foul midway through the third quarter.
Howard can get just two more technical fouls over the final 24 games to avoid a NBA suspension. Players are suspended for one game after picking up their 16th technical foul. And they receive a game suspension for every other technical piled up beyond 16.
THE GOOD
---- Others had plenty of good things to say about Howard and here are just a few of the comments:
From Jameer Nelson: ``He's the most dominant player in the game, so when he's out there, he's such a presence that it makes everyone else's job easier.''
Said Rashard Lewis: ``He's been playing great and making his post moves inside. He's really been working on it and it has really been showing in the games. His offensive game has really been coming on.''
Added Van Gundy: ``Dwight's by far the biggest reason why we're winning games and people need to start giving him more credit for it.''
---- Lost in the hype surrounding Howard's historic night was the play of Nelson, who has been really good of late. Nelson is playing more aggressively of late and has made it a habit of getting into the lane to create for himself and other Magic teammates.
These days, Nelson is seeking out shots and looking like the player who was an all-star last season before suffering a major shoulder injury. He had 17 points and nine assists Wednesday night and turned the ball over just once in 33 minutes.
How good was Nelson? The Magic were plus-26 on the scoreboard in Nelson's time on the floor.
---- Marcin Gortat saved the Magic while Howard was out early in the game, scoring seven points, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting a shot in 15 minutes. He also had a pick-and-roll dunk with Nelson that was one of the non-Howard highlights of the night.
THE BAD
---- Van Gundy was irate that the Magic went into shutdown mode after racing to the 27-point lead. Orlando went ice cold offensively and didn't do a very good job of closing out on the Rockets' 3-point shooters.
Houston burned the Magic for 34 points in the third period and hit 12 3-pointers in the game.
``We're not good with leads and we've got to learn to do a better job of closing out games,'' Van Gundy said. ``Not concentrating offensively – I'm not happy with that. You get the lead and you don't think this possession is important and they get it rolling. And we made zero shots. We were four for 18 from three in the second half, Dwight was making good plays out of the double team and nobody could knock anything in. It got to be a struggle.''
THE UGLY
---- The only negative for Howard in the loss was him getting hit with his 13th technical foul midway through the third quarter.
Howard can get just two more technical fouls over the final 24 games to avoid a NBA suspension. Players are suspended for one game after picking up their 16th technical foul. And they receive a game suspension for every other technical piled up beyond 16.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes'' segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.'' mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
