Denton: Lewis Remains Clutch
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.
ORLANDO – To be a great closer, you have to have something special. A swagger and a supreme confidence that no moment is too big and the ability to handle both the highs and the lows.
New York Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera certainly has it in baseball. Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning certainly possesses that killer instinct with the game on the line, the latest Super Bowl notwithstanding.
And with the Orlando Magic, standout forward Rashard Lewis is becoming that cold-blooded killer of foes in the fourth quarter and the team's big-shot-maker with games on the line.
Three weeks ago, Lewis calmly drained a clutch, go-ahead 3-pointer against the Washington Wizards. And this past Sunday, in an absolutely, positively got-to-have-it game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lewis delivered the knockout punch with a corner 3-pointer with 20 seconds to play.
In so many ways – spot on the floor, time in the game and opponent – the shot was reminiscent of the huge 3-pointer Lewis made in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring to beat the Cavs.
A Magic team that has superstar center Dwight Howard down low and historically prolific closer Vince Carter on the wing still depends on the mild-mannered Lewis often in the tense moments of games. And that's just the way Lewis likes it.
``You have to have that confidence to take those shots and I feel like I'm a guy who can make that shot that will get us back in the game or help us win,'' Lewis said. ``I've always been like that my whole career. For some reason, I step up to challenges. I love games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics – games where you have to step your game up to win those games.''
Lewis, who returns home tonight to Houston when the Magic (38-19) face the Rockets (28-27), has certainly stepped his game up of late. He has a run of 18 straight games of scoring in double figures and he's made at least two 3-pointers in 16 of the last 17 games – the only exception being the blowout in Chicago two weeks ago where he played limited minutes.
``He has shot the ball well and he's tried to be more aggressive,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of Lewis, who averages 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. ``The days when he isn't aggressive, that's when he doesn't get the ball early or get involved in the offense. That's something I need to watch. Because when he gets into the game, he can score without having to run a lot of plays for him.''
It's been anything but an easy, breezy season for Lewis. He was suspended the first 10 games because of a NBA-mandated suspension and getting back into rhythm hurt his shot. And he's had to get used to playing with Vince Carter instead of Hedo Turkoglu after forming such a close bond with the latter for two seasons in Orlando.
With Turkoglu, Van Gundy always kept Lewis on the play-making forward's right hand so that it was easier for him to drive the ball and kick to the corner for the open 3-pointer. Carter is more of a scorer than passer, so there was a trickle-down effect to the change for Lewis.
``It's most definitely been an adjustment playing with Vince,'' he admitted candidly. ``Vince is a guy who dominates the ball and shoots 20-plus shots and has the ball in his hands all the time. He's used to being the first option. It was an adjustment, but we're getting better and getting the chemistry down better.''
Teams have also worked to take away Lewis' 3-point shots from the top of the key, but Van Gundy said that has left more driving lanes open for Carter and point guard Jameer Nelson. As a result of getting more defensive attention Lewis now ranks fifth in the NBA in 3-point makes (115) and seventh in attempts (288) after leading the league in both categories last season.
But he's still there at the end of games for the big back-breaking 3-pointers that seal games or put the Magic ahead. Lewis actively looks for the big shots at the end of games, and his coach usually acts accordingly.
``Rashard has great confidence and absolutely no fear,'' Van Gundy said. ``He's made a lot of big shots in his career, certainly a lot of them for us. He likes having the ball in that situation and we try to get it to him.''
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.
ORLANDO – To be a great closer, you have to have something special. A swagger and a supreme confidence that no moment is too big and the ability to handle both the highs and the lows.
New York Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera certainly has it in baseball. Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning certainly possesses that killer instinct with the game on the line, the latest Super Bowl notwithstanding.
And with the Orlando Magic, standout forward Rashard Lewis is becoming that cold-blooded killer of foes in the fourth quarter and the team's big-shot-maker with games on the line.
Three weeks ago, Lewis calmly drained a clutch, go-ahead 3-pointer against the Washington Wizards. And this past Sunday, in an absolutely, positively got-to-have-it game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lewis delivered the knockout punch with a corner 3-pointer with 20 seconds to play.
In so many ways – spot on the floor, time in the game and opponent – the shot was reminiscent of the huge 3-pointer Lewis made in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring to beat the Cavs.
A Magic team that has superstar center Dwight Howard down low and historically prolific closer Vince Carter on the wing still depends on the mild-mannered Lewis often in the tense moments of games. And that's just the way Lewis likes it.
``You have to have that confidence to take those shots and I feel like I'm a guy who can make that shot that will get us back in the game or help us win,'' Lewis said. ``I've always been like that my whole career. For some reason, I step up to challenges. I love games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics – games where you have to step your game up to win those games.''
Lewis, who returns home tonight to Houston when the Magic (38-19) face the Rockets (28-27), has certainly stepped his game up of late. He has a run of 18 straight games of scoring in double figures and he's made at least two 3-pointers in 16 of the last 17 games – the only exception being the blowout in Chicago two weeks ago where he played limited minutes.
``He has shot the ball well and he's tried to be more aggressive,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of Lewis, who averages 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. ``The days when he isn't aggressive, that's when he doesn't get the ball early or get involved in the offense. That's something I need to watch. Because when he gets into the game, he can score without having to run a lot of plays for him.''
It's been anything but an easy, breezy season for Lewis. He was suspended the first 10 games because of a NBA-mandated suspension and getting back into rhythm hurt his shot. And he's had to get used to playing with Vince Carter instead of Hedo Turkoglu after forming such a close bond with the latter for two seasons in Orlando.
With Turkoglu, Van Gundy always kept Lewis on the play-making forward's right hand so that it was easier for him to drive the ball and kick to the corner for the open 3-pointer. Carter is more of a scorer than passer, so there was a trickle-down effect to the change for Lewis.
``It's most definitely been an adjustment playing with Vince,'' he admitted candidly. ``Vince is a guy who dominates the ball and shoots 20-plus shots and has the ball in his hands all the time. He's used to being the first option. It was an adjustment, but we're getting better and getting the chemistry down better.''
Teams have also worked to take away Lewis' 3-point shots from the top of the key, but Van Gundy said that has left more driving lanes open for Carter and point guard Jameer Nelson. As a result of getting more defensive attention Lewis now ranks fifth in the NBA in 3-point makes (115) and seventh in attempts (288) after leading the league in both categories last season.
But he's still there at the end of games for the big back-breaking 3-pointers that seal games or put the Magic ahead. Lewis actively looks for the big shots at the end of games, and his coach usually acts accordingly.
``Rashard has great confidence and absolutely no fear,'' Van Gundy said. ``He's made a lot of big shots in his career, certainly a lot of them for us. He likes having the ball in that situation and we try to get it to him.''
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.
