Savage: Magic-Nets Postgame Analysis
Related Images
By Dan Savage
December 27, 2010
NEW JERSEY -- The weather outside was frightful, but the Magic’s performance on the court Monday absolutely delightful.
Orlando had to fight through snow covered New Jersey streets during an hour and a half bus ride to the Prudential Center, but still managed to turn on the heat upon their arrival.
Seven Magic players scored in double figures as Orlando used a balanced offensive attack and staunch defensive effort in the second half to pull past the Nets for a 104-88 road victory.
Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard once again fought through first-half foul trouble, only to provide an enormous lift to his team after the break.
Orlando’s Superman exploded for 17 of his 19 points in the second half, while also notching an astonishing six blocks and 13 rebounds.
“When Dwight got to play in the second half he was dominant,” Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy said. “That’s what really turned the game around.”
Along with Howard’s gritty second-half effort, the Magic got help from a new addition with a familiar face.
Hedo Turkoglu delivered a tremendous performance, notching a team-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.
“He’s played well,” Van Gundy explained. “He looks quicker to me, even though he’s older. He looks like he’s got his quickness back and is down 10 pounds from where he was before. I think that’s really helped him.”
Although Turk's magnificent stat-line gave Orlando a huge boost, it was the Magic’s increased defensive energy and effort in the second half proved to be the difference maker in the contest.
“We tried hard in the second half,” Van Gudy said. “As the game went on, our guys got into it pretty well.”
With Orlando’s third straight victory now behind them and a tough test awaiting in Cleveland, let’s take a look at what went right, what went wrong and final observations from New Jersey.
READ THE REST OF SAVAGE'S ANALYSIS
Follow Dan Savage on Twitter here
December 27, 2010
NEW JERSEY -- The weather outside was frightful, but the Magic’s performance on the court Monday absolutely delightful.
Orlando had to fight through snow covered New Jersey streets during an hour and a half bus ride to the Prudential Center, but still managed to turn on the heat upon their arrival.
Seven Magic players scored in double figures as Orlando used a balanced offensive attack and staunch defensive effort in the second half to pull past the Nets for a 104-88 road victory.
Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard once again fought through first-half foul trouble, only to provide an enormous lift to his team after the break.
Orlando’s Superman exploded for 17 of his 19 points in the second half, while also notching an astonishing six blocks and 13 rebounds.
“When Dwight got to play in the second half he was dominant,” Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy said. “That’s what really turned the game around.”
Along with Howard’s gritty second-half effort, the Magic got help from a new addition with a familiar face.
Hedo Turkoglu delivered a tremendous performance, notching a team-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.
 Dan Savage |
Although Turk's magnificent stat-line gave Orlando a huge boost, it was the Magic’s increased defensive energy and effort in the second half proved to be the difference maker in the contest.
“We tried hard in the second half,” Van Gudy said. “As the game went on, our guys got into it pretty well.”
With Orlando’s third straight victory now behind them and a tough test awaiting in Cleveland, let’s take a look at what went right, what went wrong and final observations from New Jersey.
READ THE REST OF SAVAGE'S ANALYSIS
Follow Dan Savage on Twitter here
