Coverage at 7:30 pm ET
Orlando: 3-0 (2-0 road)
Margin: +11.0
Pistons: 1-2 (0-1 home)
Margin: +1.0
Oppo research
Even without an injured Vince Carter and a suspended Rashard Lewis, the Magic are stacked. They have run the table since the pre-season, consistently sporting a win margin in the double digits.
Even though the faces have changed, the game plan is the same. Dominate in the inside (they have a center who is apparently pretty good) and use that dominance to earn quality looks from the outside. How effective is this tactic? Four players are averaging better than 50% from downtown, and Jason Williams (!) is shooting 54% from the field.
The Magic are a top three defensive squad, garnering extra possessions with rebounding and by forcing turnovers. They are content to allow opponents to beat them from outside, and perfectly happy to get in a long-range shooting match.
The Drama:
For whatever reason, we dominated this series last year. I can’t see any reason why that trend should continue, but Detroit has a great opportunity to sneak a win with Mickael Pietrus joining Lewis and possibly Vince Carter on the bench.
Keys for Detroit
Crash the boards: I have the feeling I can just cut and paste this one for the remainder of the season.
Get the long range game going: Teams have shot 44% from three point range against the Magic this year, and the Pistons should, hypothetically have the weapons to exploit this.
Sic Maxiell on Howard: He has been fairly effective, and should really be earning more minutes in this mediocre front court.
Question of the Game
Is Charlie V. going to show up tonight? The Pistons could really use a big game, or any sort of game from him. You can’t have a valley without a peak, right?
Update: No Tay, no Rip — for awhile. From MLive:
Prince will not travel with the team this week for games at Toronto and Orlando and will be re-evaluated Saturday, the Pistons said.
Pistons coach John Kuester said he does not expect guard Richard Hamilton to play on the two-game road trip either. Hamilton has not played since the season opener due to an injured ankle.
I’m just gonna keep saying “I’m calling 20-10 out of CV tonight” until it happens. Which could be March.
Hooray! Prince is going to miss the game, too!
Well, win or lose, this game could be fun– it’ll be interesting to see who gets burn in Tay’s place and how the team performs as a result. Daye, spotlight’s on you, buddy.
Oh shit, and that’s Prince’s consecutive start streak. 496 starts in a row…
Jerebko’s starting…
“I’m just gonna keep saying “I’m calling 20-10 out of CV tonight” until it happens. Which could be March.”
While wearing a different jersey.
All those years of being fortunate with injuries are catching up with the Stons.
Prince made 439 consecutive starts, tops in the league, and 496 consecutive games played, second in the league to Andre Miller.
QD: It could also be that any incentive to play through injuries has disappeared. Perhaps a combination of both.
I’m thinking if this season ultimately mattered, Tay would be playing.
I think it has more to do with the players getting older.
I, for one, can’t wait for November 6th. I’ll be bloody grateful that I’ll never have to hear this Don Henley bullshit during Pistons game breaks any more.
MP with a runaway lead to win the thread.
On the positive side, I’m glad we’re getting a chance to see Jerebko play in a regular season game with a significant role — at the 3, no less.
Time for my usual question: where can I watch this game at? God I need cable. Or to learn to drink more so I can go to a bar.
http://atdhe.net/
bookmark it, Terrence.
@br
Yeah, I tried that already. Says it’s blocked by admin.
@gulks:
bookmark it, Terrence.
Sounds like a line from a Quentin Tarantino film.
ATDHE is working for me, but only in IE.
I really hope Anderson doesn’t torch CV. That guy can score.
time to get beat by our little brothers.
Javie, Forte and Roe? It’s like a Neapolitan of Suck.
Lower back strain? Could be Tay is on his way out.
So I’m playing Fantasy Bsketball for the first time in about 5 years …
Gimme some help, wise ones.
God this stream sucks.
Is it going to be a tickytacky one, then?
That’s what I want to see CV!
I mean, what happens if 20 players foul out?
If Stuckey could play at this pace, with this much composure for 30 minutes per night, he would be brilliant.
I love the extra audio stream going on in the background on this stream… The hell?
Jerebko! He never stops hustling! He and Ben are working well in that department.
I like our starts. Jerebko looks like he belongs, playing within himself being smart and not trying too hard.
Defense looks good so far…
Lots of empty seats at the Palace.
We’ve got Howard out of the game already. Wallaces must be his weakness.
Br,
You believe that if this season mattered, Tayshaun would be in there?
So after 3 games, this season doesn’t matter? wtf
There is a lot to like about Jerebko, eh?
Villanueva, that was the best pumpfake ever.
Jerebko on Barnes?
via DraftExpress:
Jerebko best case scenario: Matt Harpring.
Jerebko worst case scenario: Matt Barnes.
CV drawing the heck out of that foul.
Matt Barnes = crayons
AHH! Pull up for that 3 BG! You had Gortat on you!
Mike Payne,
Does this season matter? I seem to forget if it does or not…
We’re winning the rebounding war 15-6 so far.
OT: Belle Tire dude was my favorite character on Boy Meets World (kidding, actually it was Topanga)
As entertained by Jerebko as I am (good pick!), is Daye going to stay glued to the bench today? Because that would be inexcusable.
Looks like Wilcox is getting Maxiell’s minutes.
Why MFWB ever shoots outside of 12 feet I will never understand.
Is Kuester forcing Bynum to shoot jumpers?
Wait, I’ve never been on the internet before; does MFWB stand for Missed Fadeaway Will Bynum?
The shot from one foot within the three point line is The Worst.
This whole team is really Rick Rossin’ it today. If we can start getting our shots to fall, we might be able to keep this up.
Way to run the court Daye.
Welcome to the NBA, Austin Daye!
Wait a second, I thought Tayshaun wasn’t playing tonight?
What. The. Chuck.
Eat foul trouble, Gortat!
Is it just me, or does Chucky Atkins remind anyone else of Fat Kenny Smith?
Actually, I think it’s a good idea to bring Chuckles in. If there’s one thing he can do it’s shoot from the outside.
Late to the party, but even with the magic rally right now, its amazing how well Detroit handles this team all the time, its a weird matchup.
I expect a comfortable Pistons win
p_p, optimism?
except I dont think Chucky Atkins is going to be in any dunk contests
I leave for 2mins to get a coffee and THIS happens. C’mon Pistons, stop mucking around and start winning at stuff.
HAHAHAHA! That was such a pathetic flop!
Fucka you, Dwight Howard!
Quick Darshan
Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
p_p, optimism?
^^^^^^^
This team could win only 20 games this season and 3 of them would come against Orlando, its just a matchup thing I guess. Pressure Dwight with a committee of frontcourt players and do the smart thing of gaurding the perimeter and you can kinda beat them. Key thing: If you have a lot of big frontcourt players you’re good vs the Magic
McDonalds Fries Will Bynum!
our small ball is better than their small ball.
QD! You genius, you! Bynumite and Stuckey should NEVER be on the court together. EVER.
The offensive flow is so much better. Hopefully this is a sign that Q runs good practices.
I like how the NBA league pass broadband is in HD… I don’t like how jumpy it is
Brandon Bass is the exact type of player that Cleveland needed to compliment Shaq ironically enough….
As bad as it got when MFWB came in, Kwame’s flopping has been amazing so far. I count 3 fouls he’s gotten out of flailing his arms and shouting. If we can get a 4th foul on Howard in the first half, this game could actually be winnable!
If he could teach Wilcox the art of flopping, we will have a monster defensive front line
I like this whole Redick guarding Gordon thing.
Rodney Stuckey has been ownage embodied today.
Oh, and Wilcox has been the exact opposite.
MFKB!
Fundamental Cake!
I’m afraid Bynum has officially been exposed. Look how far the defenders sag off of him.
Kwame is playing very smart… and our small ballish lineup hasn’t hurt us yet.
The immortal Kwame Brown!
Knights of Kwame Rise!
Gordon needs more touches.
Waulie, no more so than Tony Parker. He just needs some shooters around him to free up some driving lanes.
God, Charlie likes to shoot the ball.
I don’t want to be all negative, but Orlando will start hitting threes. If our defense can’t figure out all these open looks they are allowing then we will lose.
good job drawing fouls tonite. if they can knock down the free throws that may tilt the game in our favor.
Sup with Mason this year?
I mean really no “deeeetroit” on that last possesion call?
Got a little sloppy on both ends of the court at the end, but overall a good half.
You still gotta like the tempo of the game. Orlando didnt run the floor and get a higher scoring half and the Pistons have been hanging keeping it close without the key players.
I still like the Pistons in this..
Gordon should have alot more attempts then 5 at the half, just as many as Bynum.
Especially with Rip and Tayshaun out.
But, at some point, the refs are going to try to even out the foul disparity at least a little bit…
I mean, it’s one thing if Miami, LA, or Cleveland racks up 25 more foul shots than the other team, but Detroit?
will bynum seems to be hitting a wall, not playing so hot as of late
i think stuck got robbed on his last drive to the basket - looked like total goal tending to me.
solid half.
so based on the season so far they have assumed they won and are taking shots of everclear in the locker room. if they come out and score 22 second half points we’ll know whats up
br,
the guy has taken 6 shots.
Yeah Mason has been lackluster this year and last. No more B-B-B-Billups or McDiggitydiggityDyess in the intros leaves for a boring occasion the lack of “Detroit Basketballs” is noticeable.
Holy Christ. Three assists in the first half?! That’s unreal.
Of course, it appears that passing the ball to Charlie V ipso facto eliminates any possibility of an assist being credited. But other guys are on the court, too, right?
b23
Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
But, at some point, the refs are going to try to even out the foul disparity at least a little bit…
^^^^^
Im not sure Orlando is aggressive enough inside to take advantage of any calls the refs may give them
Ok, so I have only watched about 3mins of the Cavs/Wizards but I have one very important question: Why the hell did the Cavs trade for Shaq?
iverson is a little bitch
no offense to lovers of the question
so glad he is gone
Vince looks a little gimpy, re-injured the ankle?
Did Dwight hurt his shoulder? Orlando could have a problem.
@QD: Please don’t compare Bynum to Tony Parker anymore. It’s just not fair.
Bynum has comparable speed and ability to finish at the basket. Is he as good? No. Are they guarded the same way? Yes.
Thats some hustle
lol…god damn Ben
Good D, maintain the effort guys.
How nice would it be to hand the magic their first lost?
BG time baby! I feel it
Loving CV’s offensive moves right now.
Dwight could be done for the game.
CV’s forced a couple, but overall he’s played very well on both ends of the court.
I agree QD, Charlie has been solid and limited his turnovers. I only wish he would stop losing his man on screens.
lol live by the 3 Orlando..
Dwights back.
Good work by Chunky Charlie.
at least this third quarter looks better… less one-on-one.
It would be nice to see a little more ball movement on our part. Bynum has read the Lbron chapter of Qsters playbook.
CV doesn’t seem to be as afraid of rebounds as he was reputed to be…
How is that not a flagrant one?
What’s the matter Jameer? Couldn’t sweep his leg?
what the bloody fuck, that’s a clear flagrant!!
Get Kwame or Wilcox out there RIGHT NOW. WE NEED THEM TO KILL JAMEER.
+1 at QD, Chauncey must feel a shot up his hammy right now
Jameer likes hurting Pistons guards…
anyone got a decent stream? adthe and rwb sports stopped.
I’m impressed with our rebounds and the ability to draw fouls. this game has W all over it.
Jameer is an absolute thug.
why I love Blaha: he takes the high ground, every damn time.
It’s not a flagrant one when you throw a guy down by his neck? What counts, then? Do you have to use his sack?
maybe he can reform the bad boys, and get Dwight to fight with KG
@ thom
Jerebko or Daye
If we put Maxiell in the game, there’s always the chance he might mistake Jameer for a baby. I mean, he’s short enough.
If one of our bigs doesn’t just absolutely murder JN when he’s back in the game, I’m going to be a little disappointed.
Jason should just roll up Jameer and dunk him on D12
@brm
The Monstars did it!
Our best 3rd Q of the year. That’s not saying much though.
that bobblehead looks nothing like rip.
Pistons got this.
Do we not have a single made 3 yet?
what happened? did jameer throw one of our guards down?
Hooray! No crappy third quarter!
Jameer forgot what sport he was playing. It was a nice takedown though, in rugby.
Our best 3rd Q of the year. That’s not saying much though.
I think it says a lot when you are playing arguably the best team in the league. It shows that we are not cursed, and it is something that we just need to be able to transition into after halftime.
Naw that’s a wrestling move, clearly a headlock
KOKB!!!!
Kwame, way to flop! We’re in Howard’s head!
Now Pistons really got this
FANTASTIC D on Dwight by Kwame to draw the charge! Big Ben looked pleased.
We are the Knights of Kwame Brown. We are pleased.
Other teams take note: Will Bynum does not like it when you throw him to the ground. Do not make him angry.
anyone have any idea why wilcox is out there? 0 points, 1 rebound? Is he doing something thats not showing up in the box?
That spot right there belongs to MFWB.
Even though he’s hitting the jumpers, does anyone else feel uncomfortable that MFWB is taking all the shots? I kinda would rather have Gordon in control now, he’s got 19 off 7 attempts
I just realized how good we look with no paper-thin players out there. No offense to Rip and Tay though.
Sir Kwame has certainly pleased.
We lead the league in flops.
not to mention the low scoring output by orlando. it’s been customary for them to score 60 in the first half. here it is the 4th qtr. Our D. is tenacious
What does MF stand for now?
Most Fabulous!
@Drew - intimidating socks.
is it just me or is rodney stuckey out of shape? that’s the only reason that I can come up with, as this is third game in row where all his shots have fallen short in the second half after a great first half.
anyone else got a thought on this?
and why the hell can’t we hit any wide open 3s!?!
Those aren’t flops. Those were legitimate charge calls.
Bynum’s about ready to lick his finger, touch his arm, and go “szzzzzzz”
God Ben is still huge.
I was just thinking that we need to change-up our look and in comes Big Ben. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a coach!
Bynum just got hit in the face! What the hell?
what the fuck, MFWB is taking a beating out there
This is fucking ridiculous. Bynum is getting manhandled out there.
That’s a five point swing. No foul call and a three point play on the other end. Fucking bullshit.
Malfunctioned Focal Will Bynum
Nice non-call, refs.
LeAVE mfwb ALONE! i’M SERIOUS!
I can understand a few blown calls, but this rediculous. First no flagrant on Jameer, then Howard slaps a few guys on the head with no calls, and now this? You could hear Will crying, that’s some serious bullshit.
that was retalitory for that push off of Jameer. that hurts! now we go… BIG?
Hope that was nothing serious.
DO IT FOR WILL! Magic have acted like thugs this entire game!
Thanks to Amare, I’m paranoid that every eye injury is a detached retina. Ugh.
Willuminati only needs one eye for the pyramid
Lets hope its not the full moon. but OKC is looking to beat the lakers also.
Holy shit, this kid D-Howard has like no post moves in an actual game sometimes…
Man, my free feed is choppy. I’m am not getting my money’s worth.
@Garrett:
Thanks to Amare, I’m paranoid that every eye injury is a detached retina. Ugh.
I was thinking the same thing.
I don’t understand why at the very least a warning is not issued to the Magic for unsportsmanlike conduct
Swelling is good. Means he got muscle.
The Bootleg feed is more smoother than the league pass feed lol
Oh shit… Will’s eye is bleeding.
Thank you for clearing that up Kevin, the amount of visible blood had me worried
Is it just me, or are the Pistons guards 20 times more active on the boards than last year? Stuckey and Bynum have been Rondo-esque chasing down some loose balls.
If you guys are watching the Raps game tomorrow, keep an eye out for my Free Amir sign!
shit, that’s some serious balls to return
Shout out to Ryan Anderson for doing his worst Rasheed Wallace impression this quarter
YESSSS!!!
MFWB got Howard to foul out!!!!!!!!
MFWB with some MF Karma!
and the Bynumite vs. Superman poster has now come true.
Great win for the fellas tonight…great win.
Oh yeah, I’m putting it out there now.
WOW, how about Will taking it right to Howard after I was afraid he was missing an eye!
@prophecy
I thought that you were supposed to miss the 3s?
I’ve never understood why more players don’t do what Bynumite just did. Especially back in Shaq’s heyday, when he’d have 4 fouls but 300 points. Just throw your body into him and get him out of the game!
Will and Ben need to be in destroy mode now. REVENGE!
MFWB KOs “Superman”!
Bynum is playing pissed-off basketball right now, and it is beautiful.
The Master of Panic is about to lose his team the game.
Matt Barnes is a bitch.
do not fuck with will.
How ANYONE other than Orlando fans could root for the magic in this game is beyond me. Lots of heart from the guys tonight.
This is the worst advertising ever for league pass. Why would I buy something that freezes every 9 seconds? Srsly.
FUCK YEEAH!!!
Stuck with the rebound and got Gortat to foul out!!!
Most Frightening Will Bynum needs not his eye.
Greg Kelser with the Win:
“They’re gonna have to put Patrick Ewing in the game.”
“They’re going to have to put Patrick Ewing in the game!” I love Greg Kelser.
I’m calling it: night of magic. tell your momma, your cousin, and your sister.
GORTAT IS GONE!!! Where’s Adonel Foyle?
Awesome, the Pistons can patrol the perimeter from here on out.
Again LMAO@ bootleg feed being 10 times better..
And Rodney puts Gortat on the bench. Our little guys have some serious balls.
any time a gaurd gets a double doulbel ala Stuck, that should be a gauranteed win.
It’s amazing the good things that happen to you when you turn the ball over fewer than ten times and stay competitive on the boards…
Pistons are pretty deep at guard! Wow.
Chunky Charlie running the floor!
Boy is Charlie out of shape lol. At least that means that he’ll only get much better as the season progresses.
AHAHAHAHAHA! FUCK YOU JAMEER! FUCK YOU!
Will Bynum’s sack must be the size of AI’s ego
“AND THERE’S THE STEAL BY VILLA–”
*buffering*
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/4074146352_af5fa96761_o.jpg
Wait, what was that about Basketball Gods…?
Orlando is losing their composure fast here.
Man are we good at drawing offensive fouls.
Will Bynum is beyond angry. He’s hulking Nelson right now.
CV with the great D!
MFWB do hood rat shit with his friends.
BEN WALLACE
and they collapse from the pressure!
I’m fired up right now! What a great game.
GREAT F’n DEFENSE!!! THAT. IS. PISTON. BASKETBALL.
Props to Prophecy for calling it early.
it used to be when we’d get fouled, it was chauncey… at that point, i’d just get up and get a sandwich cuz i’d know we got two more points… now, however, we can’t seem to get those free throws…
Great defense by CV! Never thought I’d say that…
Why we own Orlando so very very badly truly is a mystery to me.
Do we just psych them out that bad or what?
Best comment from Third Quarter Collapse:
Want the beat the Magic?
Wear a Pistons uniform.
CV WITH THE D!!!!!111!!
Freedom!!!!
NIGHT. OF. MAGIC.
STONES!!!!
nice D
we own orlando like china owns the usa
This was a great game, talk about how good our defense was. I think there is definitely a lot of hope for this team. The magic were averaging like 110 points and we just held them below fucking 80 for their first loss since the finals. Just imagine, what can happen when we get rip back and start scoring 100 per game.
I kinda like having Jerebko in the starting lineup. Orlando didn’t have Lewis, so its a tough call how well he’d do against an uber athletic 3, but I definitely liked what I saw.
Dammit, I like this team.
They shot 35 threes?
I stand corrected, we held them to 80. But was it just me or did Rodney purposely throw the ball out of bounds?
THANK YOU ROB G!!!!!
The most 3’s ever shot by a Pistons opponent? Whoa.
So do we still get a share of the East just by default of us owning Orlando like a house?
No Rip, no Tay, no problem!
and my neighbor brought me cake. oh, hell yes.
WHere the heck was carter in the last quarter? Was he on the court? If he was he disappeared like a fart in a fan factory.
THE MIKE PAYNE FRONTCOURT SCORING WATCH
Detroit Pistons: 22 points
Orlando Magic: 25 points
That’s like, a bagillion points less of a margin than normal.
Vince must have been hurt. It was Jameer, JJ, Bass, Barnes and Anderson down the stretch.
Heck yeah!
I like Ben Gordon.
And the one eyed wonder scores the post game interview. Well earned Sir Will, AKA Mother Fuckin’ Will Bynum
Ben Gordon likes magnets.
an eye for a win. this shit’s biblical, son.
How often does a team take have more three point attempts than two point goals made? (And, if you can decipher that question, congratulations).
According to Yahoo:
FG: 29-79
3PT: 10-35
That’s insane. 35 attempts? And you only make 19 field goals from within the arc?
Was this some kind of crazy VanGundy experiment? Like, he figured, “Look guys, we’re going to lose to Detroit regardless. You know it, I know it, and the American People know it. So, fuck it, if we’re known as a perimeter team, let’s just go for it. Let’s see how many we can hoist. And you: Anderson - I want you, in particular, out there jacking these things up. Double digit attempts, minimum, okay?”
Damn, I’m pissed I missed this game. Good to see that the guys pulled out a win with out Tay and Rip against arguably the best team in the league.
as far as the 3pntrs that is right around whatOrlando is doing right now. the other nite they hit 17 and were gloating like it was some big thing. % wise this game, they still hit them at a pretty good clip. DO NOT CHEAPEN THIS VICTORY IN ANY WAY!
So where are all the people that posted novel after novel this summer about how “once a bad defender, always a bad defender” (or some other preposterous shit)?
Through the first four games of the season, we’re the second best (after tonight) defense in the league behind Boston. Right around ~84pts/gm, 38%/fg, 28%/3pt.
What does this say? Everyone’s bought in. We don’t play even slightly competent offense right now but our defense is SO good that it’s keeping us in games we have no business being in. Can you imagine what we’re going to be like when people are comfortably running offensive sets? When people have defined roles they’re confident in? When people are finally in game shape (outrun the white guy you hairless chunk)? When we’re healthy? Defense is the hard part. Defense is what 25 of team’s coaches are trying to make their group of fucktards understand and give effort on. Defense is the nasty shit that no one wants to do. AND WE’RE ALREADY DOING IT ALL. Every single guy.
Just wait for when we start averaging 100pts/game. It’s going to happen.
Weird but very satisfying — and OK, I’ll say it, at least for me surprising — win. Just looking at the box score, you would question the reffing: Detroit took 22 more FTs and scored 19 more points on FTs. But Orlando had no inside game.
I’m still not sure this “guards score a lot with 1-1 offense (Detroit had 8 total assists)” is going to work consistently in the long run, but a lot of really gutsy play by a lot of guys tonight. Ben Wallace rules.
Joel…Good point about the defense. One thing to remember is that in the one game we had Rip we did score at a clip of 118 points per 100 possessions. It was against Memphis and it was only one game, but I hope once he comes back our offense improves while we still maintain the same level of defense.
Our offense is baaaaaad without Tay and Rip, that’s for sure. I don’t know if I witnessed a single assist– oh I’m sure there are some in the box score, but I don’t remember seeing one. But I guess when you only have 3 competent offensive players on your gametime roster (CV needs to earn the title “competent” before he gets it), I suppose you just put your head down and barrel into the lane looking for fouls. It worked. I have no idea why, but it worked.
Is it just me or does Stuckey not really know how to do a layup? It’s like he flies at the basket and then shoots jumpers from 6 inches out, where normal people do these “layup” things. He has literally negative finesse around the basket, like some type of Special Olympics D-Wade.
I’m DVR’ing the re-broad on 201 FSNHD. Way to go Pistons!
WALLACE #6
@Joel: Um, Stuckey was killing it on drives, going right at the opposing bigs and scoring. If you only saw the last quarter you could be forgiven for thinking he didn’t do much, but the guy had a very solid offensive game.
As for our defense, I am pleased so far but not yet convinced that we have been anything more than average. CV for example still loses his man far too often for example.
Aside from that, this was a very good win for us.
For example, I sometimes use for example too much for example.
In a season that apparently doesn’t matter, the team played it’s best defensive game that I’ve seen since before the Billups trade.
But what do I know, this season doesn’t matter… let Tayshaun not play because this season doesn’t matter
/backwards assed view of things’d
Great win, but anyone else think Chris Wilcox just stinks? I think we have an 8 man rotation once the playoffs come.
@Laughton
I watched ever second of the game. Stuckey was great. Fact remains, he has about as much finesse as a bowling ball and is one of the worse finishers I’ve ever seen for how easily he gets to the rim. Guys like Mayo and D-Rose are lightyears beyond him as far as finishing at the rim– they just don’t have his size. If you’ve seen any of Tyreke Evans yet, that’s the closest guy I can compare Stuckey to. Just literally not a speck of touch on the ball, but through sheer physical will they still manage to get the ball in the basket. It’s gonna be scary when Stuck’s offensive game starts to catch up to his physical tools.
KS’s preview: “Even without an injured Vince Carter and a suspended Rashard Lewis, the Magic are stacked. They have run the table since the pre-season, consistently sporting a win margin in the double digits.
Even though the faces have changed, the game plan is the same. Dominate in the inside (they have a center who is apparently pretty good) and use that dominance to earn quality looks from the outside. How effective is this tactic? Four players are averaging better than 50% from downtown, and Jason Williams (!) is shooting 54% from the field.
The Magic are a top three defensive squad, garnering extra possessions with rebounding and by forcing turnovers. They are content to allow opponents to beat them from outside, and perfectly happy to get in a long-range shooting match.”
Spot on.
Our offense is baaaaaad without Tay and Rip, that’s for sure.
Our backcourt players still combined for 63 points tonight on 51% shooting. I don’t think our offensive failures have anything to do with Tay and Rip. Not to be a broken record (kidding, I’m totally fine being a broken record about this), but our problem remains as frontcourt scoring.
As goes Charlie V, so goes our offense.
Impressive win.
Was at the game tonight. I was surprised Tay was out but even more surprised at the lack of Maxiell. Weird thing that both were out because I was thinking of a trade last week involving both going to POR for Pryzbilla and another contract (e.g., Rudy,Outlaw, Blake…) Great game though.
What a fun night…truly a night of magic, Mr. G. My observations:
- For those of you who got a Pistons feed, holy god is Ben Wallace enormous. That compression shirt he was wearing during practice looked like it wanted to cry. I honestly felt bad for it.
- Is Ben Wallace, you know, Ben Wallace? Fourth game in a row he’s been terrific.
- I still think teams have Bynum figured out…I think he and Villanueva have been our worst players so far. Love the late-game heroics, but doesn’t it seem like our offense often bogs down when he subs in?
- I am digging the Ben Gordon era
I wouldn’t say teams have MFWB figured out. he atoned for himself tonite, 20 pts, 2ast, 2 stl, 2 to. He did exactly what he is here to do. Dont forget that Orl. is one of the top defensive teams. this is just gonna be an up and down season. but this game right here… is a nice high after losing to the bottom feeders.
Even during a great game, Stuckey managed to shoot barely over 33%. He needs to finish more consistantly.
Ben Gordon is awesome, and he really is an awesome offensive player. I saw a few good moves from CV in the post as well.
Someone also posted how they thought Wilcox looked horrible, and I COMPLETELY agree. I hate the dude as of now. He literally tried to throw a pass through someone’s leg. (not legs, but tried to somehow dissolve the ball through a leg”. Instead, it bounced off the leg, and caused a turnover. What the fuck? You can’t just throw a pass wherever you want. It has to be AWAY from defenders. I almost threw my remote at the screen because it may have been the dumbest play I have ever seen.
“Willuminati only needs one eye for the pyramid” -Rob G
Nice.
Man what a game. It was great to see us pull it out after things got gritty. We showed heart out there tonight. CV did a little something, defense was energized, the offense, while still not fluid was much less stagnant.
I’m glad Bynum was able to knock down some shots. I’m more comfortable with his outside shooting than Stuckey’s. I’d rather have Gordon be the one taking 20 shots than Stuckey. Somebody should tell him about the Dish part of Drive and Dish. He’s like a race horse with blinders on.
League Pass Broadband sucks the big one this year. Crappy feed all game long. The price went up, the plan is more limited and the quality dropped substantially. Fuckers.
The rules changes mean that it’s no longer possible to win a championship with defense alone, but is it possible to at least make the playoffs? I’m more excited about this team than I’ve been since the Nameless One missed Thanksgiving practice.
Rotten Atom: I agree.
Stuckey won’t be a top tier player in this league until he learns to pass. He made some really nice players tonight, but still only shot 7 for 20 with 3 dimes. He could easily turn that something along the lines of 6 for 14 with 6 dimes if he just passed the ball more.
Jason Maxiell eats…benches?
Also, i’m starting to truly believe this 3 guard lineup + Bynum will work. Ben Gordon got 23 points on 10 shots…really? that’s just awesome. Last game he had 26 on 15 shots, the game before that was difficult, but the first game he had 22 points on 12 shots. 3 out of 4 games he was EXTREMELY efficient.
One more good thing: Masada Basketballer Will Bynum’s drive to the hoop halfway into the second quarter (the 6:30 mark or so). He dazzled and confused the bajeezus out of the two Orlando guys circling him.
Oh, and I’m glad people are feeling the same pain trying to watch the terrible NBA broadband feed. I’m sure that it’s primarily because of the free trial that it’s choppy and inconsistent, but the NBA has to have better resources than some kid with a DVR and a dream. I didn’t much like the interface, anyway. I had considered purchasing the smaller broadband package, but I think I’ll just take my chances with the usual streaming suspects.
I won’t be the first to say this, but MFWB is a MAN. An excerpt from the NBA.com game recap:
Bynum showed plenty of moxie in the fourth quarter. Bynum, who had retinal surgery last year, temporarily lost his vision after Marcin Gortat swatted him on a drive and briefly went to the locker room.
Moments after returning to the game, he drove to the basket and drew Howard’s sixth foul with 3:41 remaining.
“I couldn’t see nothing,” he said. “Just white. I was praying all the way (to the locker room).”
Bynum not only made both free throws to tie the game, he also hit a clutch jumper with 1:34 left to give his club a four-point advantage.
“I was kind of down on myself with the way I’ve been playing the last couple of games,” said Bynum, who was 10-for-29 from the field entering the game. “Once I kind of smelled blood, I just wanted to keep attacking.”
http://www.nba.com/games/20091103/ORLDET/recap.html
scntfc - my point isn’t that Bynum stinks or that he isn’t a great 4th guard. I just think he has gotten a little overrated…hell Hollinger made some reference to us not playing our most efficient player. When he sinks the jumper like he did in the 4th, he’s good. When he doesn’t, people sag off him, the ball stays on one side of the court, and you get lots of crazy drives and blocked shots that lead to fast breaks. I don’t think it’s a total accident that he finished -4, while the starting backcourt was each + double digits. (I acknowledge +/- in a 1 game sample isn’t the best stat…)
All that said, I love anyone in red blue and white who wants to play that hard.
Gortie w/the shaq beard looks ridiculous
@Forty, my man:
I think after two bad games (and a great preseason), it might be a bit premature to pass judgement on MFWB. Granted, I’ve been pissed about all of his jumpers, but maybe there’s a story behind that we’re not in tune with?
It could be that MFWB spent his summer working on that jumper, extending his range, as it would make defenses a bit less likely to leave him alone at 20 feet (thus enabling him to drive more). It could be that his jumper was great in training camp and preseason (it was in preseason) and Kuester has given him the greenlight or even the mandate to take more outside shots.
We could be witnessing what you suggest– teams figuring out Bynum and adjusting to his game. But there’s as much evidence to support that MFWB is developing his game to add an outside shot, and it just hasn’t sparked as quick as it should. Note that, when it came down to it tonight, he went back to his old ways of taking that goddamn ball to the goddamn rack. And Orlando couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
In short, I think it is too soon for any of us (myself included) to worry about MFWB. His recent midrange game could be a new element to his repertoire that may or may not fail. But when he goes back to his deadly drives, he’s still un-mf-ing-stoppable.
NBA using new rims:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4620192&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
@Joel: I do have to agree with you on the finesse point. I would hope that as his game matures and his basketball IQ does as well, he takes that next step we all want him to take.
at the half: “so based on the season so far they have assumed they won and are taking shots of everclear in the locker room. if they come out and score 22 second half points we’ll know whats up”
I think they did score 22 third quarter points. I guess they beat the third quarter funk this game?
“It’s like he flies at the basket and then shoots jumpers from 6 inches out, where normal people do these “layup” things. He has literally negative finesse around the basket, like some type of Special Olympics D-Wade.”
That’s the best description ever.
Peter I think they beat the funk. Even though 22 points is considered fairly average, look at the defensive end too. They played extremely hard, even when Orlando looked like it was about to pull away. I have to think Big Ben had a lot to do with that.