Orlando Magic News & Notes: SVG Not Happy With Orlando’s Performance
The Orlando Magic did not play very well but they still got a 97-87 win over the New Jersey Nets.
Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy was not happy.
"“All year losing the lead is how we play,” Stan Van Gundy said. “Give us a lead and we will play poorly at both ends of the floor. I have absolutely no idea how to fix it.”But it was a win, so Magic players laughed and joked with each other inside the locker room.“He’s always upset,” Rashard Lewis said. “No matter if we win by 50 or if we win by one. He’s going to stand on the sideline, he’s going to be mad, he’s going to be upset. You make one turnover he’s going to be mad. They make a basket he’s going to be mad. That’s just Stan Van Gundy getting us prepared for the playoffs.”"
Tania Ganguli has the story here.
Vince Carter and Matt Barnes talked about what they’re trying to accomplish down the stretch.
"“Our goal now is to take advantage of each and every game – I don’t care who it is, how good or how bad they are, but it’s about us,’’ said Magic guard Vince Carter, who scored 13 points and had a thunderous second-half dunk on Friday. “That’s what we’re trying to do … get better every game.’’Matt Barnes had 14 of his 16 points in the first quarter with his hustle, while Carter scored 11 of his 13 in the second half. Magic point guards Jameer Nelson (15 points and eight assists) and Jason Williams (13 points and one assist) pounded the Nets all night long and pushed the pace. And superstar center Dwight Howard racked up his NBA-best 49th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds and 16 blocks to go with his four blocked shots.“We can be so dangerous because we have so many weapons and we have the best center in the league and everyone around him is playing well,’’ Barnes said. “We’re a tough team, but we just have to keep playing defense and sustain our energy.’’"
You can read John Denton’s postgame analysis here.
Speaking of Barnes, he is exactly what the Magic needed.
Nets Are Scorching offers their quick recap.
"Statistically, Brook Lopez held his own against Dwight Howard tonight in the match-up of elite Eastern Conference centers. Brook finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block and Dwight finished with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks.The Nets got killed from long-range tonight, allowing 13 threes to Orlando, who shot 42 percent from beyond the arc."
Mark Ginocchio has that story here.
Van Gundy says that teams like beating the Magic up.
"Magic coach Stan Van Gundy gets a little confused when he hears about how great teams like Dallas and Denver are.“For some reason people get on our inconsistencies,” Van Gundy said. “I keep looking, then I read all the stuff about us and I go, ‘God, we got the 3rd best record in the league.’ People are like beating us up. I don’t hear the comments about Atlanta and Boston. Denver. In fact, Denver, everybody talks about their greatness. Dallas, everybody talks about their greatness. I don’t know.”Orlando trails Cleveland in the Eastern Conference standings, heading into Friday’s games, by six games. The Magic led Atlanta by two and Boston by 2.5."
You can read that and other notes here.
One Eastern conference scout gives their thoughts on the potential Dwight Howard-Shaquille O’Neal matchup.
"“Is Shaq in Dwight’s head? Yeah, somewhat. It kind of reminds me how Detroit used to give Dwight problems. But Shaq can only do it in spurts. Over the course of seven games, Dwight’s youth and athleticism takes over. The biggest X factor in a Cleveland-Orlando series is whether Vince Carter shows up. If he shows up, they’re a team that can go all the way. But Vince needs pats on the back and Stan [Van Gundy] is not that kind of coach. He takes every possession so personally.”"
Marc Stein has that story here.
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Twitter to follow him daily and you can get the HTD app here).