Magic Wands: November 27, 2009

-There will be no league-wide retiring of Michael Jordan's number, per His Airness.

-Someone clearly lost a bet somewhere to a Dukie and was forced to write a bizarre description of last week's Magic-Celtics game.

-JJ Redick and Ryan Anderson's rap group has a name... and maybe a special guest singer.

-How did Dwight Howard get so strong? Chitlins.

-The manufacture of NBA jerseys could be moving overseas.

Missing Rashard Lewis

Stan Van Gundy spent much of his postgame press conference last night in Oklahoma City questioning the mental makeup of his team. Where was the commitment to defense that helped push the Magic to the NBA Finals last year? Where was the aggressive offensive mentality that made jacking up 20-plus 3-pointers a game acceptable because the offense would continue to produce even if they did not fall?

Where, in other words, was the Orlando Magic? Where have they been this entire season?

Just take a look at the first seven games of this season and it has become clear Orlando is riding its offense to a 5-2 record and not its defense.

There is no single cure to fixing this problem. But bet that the return of Vince Carter from injury will help immensely.

So will the return of Rashard Lewis from his suspension one week from today.

And it is the return of Lewis that I think will put the Magic back over the top and where they need to be for the rest of the season.

The extended absences Orlando has had to deal with this season have had a pretty big effect on how the team plays. Since Vince Carter's injury against the Nets a few weeks ago, Orlando has been stretched very thin by injuries and it is clear that the new players are still trying to figure out Stan Van Gundy's scheme.

But with Carter, Lewis and now Ryan Anderson out of the lineup, defensive worries have taken a backseat to making sure the offense still works.

Maybe that opening night blowout of the 76ers was a bad thing. Maybe scoring 125 points against Toronto and masking a defense that gave up 115 was a bad thing.

Maybe this Orlando squad needs more games where they struggle like in Detroit or like last night in Oklahoma City.

Maybe the Magic just need Rashard Lewis back and some order and stability.

Lewis' presence has been sorely missed these first seven games even if the Magic's record does not show it. With Lewis and Carter out, Orlando is a very young team, lacking the veteran poise needed to integrate and teach the team's newcomers.

Sure Ryan Anderson has been able to adequately replace Lewis beyond the arc. But has he been able to provide the versatile defense Lewis has or the understanding of Stan Van Gundy's defensive schemes? Not quite.

Has he been there to set the example for Carter and what Orlando Magic deefense means?

It seems clear to me that with all these players out with injuries that Orlando's bench is trying to do too much. Anderson is making his 3-pointers and taking shots when he gets them, but he is nowhere near the driver or shooter that Lewis is.

Lewis' return will be a stabilizing force for this team for sure. It will allow players like Anderson and JJ Redick to play more within their roles and not have to worry about the scoring load and making up for those player's production so much.

If you ask me, the reason Orlando got thumped by Oklahoma City was that Orlando's players psychologically felt they had to make up for load of lost offensive production. That will be different the second game without those three players.

With Lewis back, Redick and Anderson can focus more on their true roles for the team. They can provide the shooting that they are known for, but also the effort defensively.

This Magic team, despite the acquisition of Carter, is not a team that needs someone scoring 25-30 points a night. They need three or four guys around 20 points a game, so that the players can focus its energy more on defense.

More than anything, Lewis' return will take a strain off the offense and allow the players to refocus their efforts on defense. I am afraid that until next Monday, the team will continue to rely on its shot-making ability to win games and forsake defense.

Hopefully that bad habit will not carry over once Lewis and Carter return.

Oklahoma City Thunder 102, Orlando Magic 74

Circle November 18 on the schedule and get ready for Charlotte on Tuesday. That is about all Orlando can take out of tonight's crushing loss to Oklahoma City at the Ford Center. The Thunder took a close game in the second quarter and turned it into a rout, running and shooting circles around a short-handed Magic team for a 102-74 win.

The score, for once, is as bad as the game indicated.

Oklahoma City abused Orlando on offense, playing much the same way Orlando is accustomed to playing offensively. The Thunder hit a barrage of 3-pointers behind Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha before Kevin Durant took over in taking to the basket.

That formula persisted throughout the rest of the game as the Magic could not figure out how to make any baskets. And I mean ANY baskets.

Orlando had a 25-23 lead after one quarter and were outscored 79-49 in the next 36 minutes, failing to score 20 points in the final three quarters. This was a close game at one point, but the Magic just could not get into a flow offensively and the they continued to struggle defensively.

Clearly their offense cannot carry them all the way to victories on every night. The defense has to show up and play well on nights when shots do not fall.

Orlando was without Ryan Anderson and Vince Carter. And for the first time all season it certainly mattered. The Magic sorely missed their outside shooting ability as it was on Dwight Howard's shoulders to carry the team. He did fine in the first half, scoring 15, but he had only five points the rest of the way when fouls and frustration caught up with him.

No one else could really score as JJ Redick went cold going 2 for 11 from the field and Jameer Nelson, trying as hard as he could, only managed 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting. Orlando shot just 3 for 16 from beyond the arc.

On the other side, Oklahoma City had four players in double figures, led by Kevin Durant's 28, and hit 9 of its 16 3-point attempts after coming into the game shooting near 35 percent from beyond the arc. The defense struggled throughout the night containing Durant and the shooters and part of that can be attributed to a lack of perimeter depth. Part of it to something else.

This is the kind of game where everything went wrong and it affected every aspect of the game.

The bottom line though, is the defense has to improve. The Magic are not the same defensive team as they were last year. Part of that is fact Carter is not 100 percent. Part of it is something else. Tough for me to figure out since my free NBA League Pass ran out last week.

I do not want to be Charlotte on Tuesday night because Orlando tends to have very good games after performances like these. But it has been a long time since the Magic have been outplayed like this, and it has been a long time since they have given up on a game like they did tonight.

Either way, Stan Van Gundy will be recanting his statements from Tuesday night after the loss to the Pistons... this is the worst game the Magic have played since the 2003-04 21-61 season. Something needs to change.

Orlando Magic 125, Toronto Raptors 116

The offensive juggernaut known as the Orlando Magic rolled into Toronto minus three starters. The 3-pointers were falling and even Dwight Howard was making his free throws.

The defense? Still stuck in customs.

The Magic have certainly proved that they are an incredibly deep, offensive team, topping the Raptors 125-116 with Vince Carter out with an ankle injury and Mickael Pietrus on a plane back to Orlando with flu-like symptoms and a high fever. But the defense continued to be a source of concern as the Magic improved to 3-0.

A win is a win and you can take that for whatever it's worth. And the Magic did still manage to outscore the Raptors with Carter and Pietrus not in uniform and only nine guys available. But Toronto is not exactly known for its defensive prowess.

Orlando jumped out early, gaining a 22-point lead at one point in the second quarter. JJ Redick and Ryan Anderson were letting the 3-pointers fly and everything seemed to be rolling, even as Toronto shot nearly 60 percent in the first half.

The Raptors closed to within 11 by the end of the first half and kept the game within striking range for much of the contest. They never could close much closer than six, but the threat of Toronto loomed large throughout.

The team is much-improved on offense because of the addition of Hedo Turkoglu (19 points), but moreso because of the improvement of Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani torched the Magic with 26 points on four-of-five 3-point shooting. Bargnani was having a field day working switched between Howard and Anderson or the slow rotation to the top of the key of either Anderson or Brandon Bass.

Orlando really had no answer for any pick and roll involving him as the team just hoped he would cool down.

Fortunately for the Magic, the Raptors had no answer for them on the defensive end. Jameer Nelson played like an All Star, leading the team with 30 points and five assists. He hit a bunch of big shots with the Raptors closing in and had the ball in his hands late in the game with the decision still up in the air. Nelson attacked the hoop tenaciously and had his first really good game of the year.

No talk of the offense would be complete without mention sir Jeremy Clay Redick. JJ had 27 points and hit five of his eight 3-point attempts to help Orlando build its lead in the first half and maintain it throughout the second. He did a good job with shot fakes and drawing fouls (six of seven from the line on the day) and even attacked the basket.

This was a breakout performance for Redick and by far his best in a Magic uniform. He outplayed Matt Barnes throughout the night and even made some big steals late.

To be fair, Barnes is still the better defender and his size was more of a nuisance to Turkoglu than Redick was. Barnes also had six steal to go along with 12 points and nine rebounds. He did a good job poking at the ball and got his hands dirty on defense to come up with a few nice steals.

But the defense is still bothersome and makes this win bittersweet. As I explained to a friend, Orlando did score 125 points, but what happens when Boston holds the team to 93. Can the Magic hold the Celtics to 92?

At this point the answer is no.

It just looks like the team is not on the same page defensively yet. At least not for a full game. There were a lot of unusual combinations out on the floor tonight, but it looked like everyone was playing a little too overagressive -- especially Howard showing on the pick and roll. Rotations were late and players were left open for threes or given pretty open lanes to attack the basket.

Howard was not quite the deterrant he usually was as he was often pulled away from the basket to defend Chris Bosh or Bargnani. Howard was also clearly frustrated with the Raptors' physical play on him throughout the contest. He finished with a struggling 24 points, but only on five of 13 shooting. Luckily he hit on 14 of his 16 free throw attempts. No clue where the Magic would have been without that performance.

Bosh took advantage of Howard's frustrations and Toronto's versatility with 35 points.

Toronto is certainly a pesky team for Orlando and it always has been in the Bosh era. Bosh gives the Magic a lot of matchup problems and the lack of depth from missing Carter and Pietrus definitely hurt as Orlando tried to hang onto the lead.

The defense is still very concerning, but a win is a win at this point of hte season and there is plenty of time to get everything on the right page. The offense is clicking and that is enough to keep Orlando more than afloat at this point.

Magic Wands: October 30, 2009

-Um, so the rims have changed a little. Curious about what that could mean. And, yes, the black throwbacks are making a triumphant return!

-Looks like the injury bug has been making its way around the NBA this preseason. Magic, relatively unscathed -- except for Rashard Lewis' 10-game suspension.

-Rap world, meet JJ Redick. JJ Redick... good luck.

-And so the selling of the Amway Center begins...

-Dwight Howard, not as dominant around the basket as you think according to John Nichols writing for 3rd Quarter Collapse.

-If you are like me and live outside of Orlando, you probably did not get the Orlando Magic preview section in The Orlando Sentinel. Good thing it is online.

-Orlando is going to be involved in the U.S. bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup. Please sign the petition.

-Think you are athletic? Try a Russian athletic test like the Minnesota Lynx's Renee Montgomery did.

-Here are all the court designs for this year, if you were curious.

-Dwight Howard flew his one millionth follower on Twitter to Wednesday night's game against the 76ers. If I unfollow him and re-follow him, do I get a free trip too?

-ESPN Page 2 takes a different look at NBA logos. Twice!

I am probably nitpicking a little bit here, but pictures of Amway Arena that I have seen our old banners look... different. You have probably seen me tweeting that the Eastern Conference banner was clearly changed (the player's names no longer frame the banner). But this photo from The Orlando Sentinel made me think all the banners had been replaced. I am kind of angry about this. Are you? Discuss.

What they're Saying: Heat vs. Magic

-People are still wondering what effect Hedo Turkoglu's departure will have on the Magic's ability to win close games. So The Orlando Sentinel dug up this not-so-distant comparison of Vince Carter and Turkoglu's clutch abilities.

-It's tough to judge Vince Carter after one game -- and a preseason one at that -- but The Orlando Sentinel's Tania Ganguli asks: "What should Carter's role on the team be?"

-Stan Van Gundy said Matt Barnes was the best player for the Magic in Monday night's win. Barnes and fellow newcomer Brandon Bass will get inserted into the starting lineup for tonight's game.

-Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reviews the long and tumultuous journey of camp invite John Lucas III as he tries to make the Heat's roster.

-Heat center Jamaal Magloire is awaiting word from the league on whether he will be suspended after getting into a brief skirmish with the Pistons' Jonas Jerebko in a preseason game Monday.

-Anyone expecting a rematch of last year's exciting 3-point contest tonight will be sorely disappointed as Heat guard Daequan Cook will not play tonight after jamming his thumb in practice yesterday.

-Mario Chalmers knows for the Heat to make improvements on last year's fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference it will have to start with him. That's why, as Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports, Chalmers was taking a lot of the blame for the Heat's struggles against the Pistons.

-The theme of practices, it seems, is getting everybody accustomed to the Magic style of play. That's at least what I got from Third Quarter Collapse's recap of shootaround this morning.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily reveals that JJ Redick really grew and matured from his struggles his first two years with the Magic. Now he just wants a chance to play and prove what he is still worth.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Lakers Game Two

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily talks with Kurt Helin of Lakers blog Forum Gold and Blue in advance of Game Two.

-Hoops4Life of Bleacher Report says Rashard Lewis has earned his paycheck. With the clutch performances he has given this postseason and Orlando's presence in the Finals, it is hard to argue.

-A Lakers fan's suggestions on how the Magic can improve in Game Two.

-Mike Freeman of CBS Sportsline talks with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about the state of the 7-foot center in today's NBA.

-Oh how the mighty, or in this case JJ Redick and Adam Morrison, have fallen as Mike Freeman opines.

-Sean Deveney of the Baseline says Game Two is all about adjustments and offers his changes in strategy for the Magic for tonight's game.

-George Diaz of The Orlando Sentinel writes about the journey of Brian Shaw and how everyone wants to see him continue his success.

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel believe Orlando should go all in and start Jameer Nelson in Game Two.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel says momentum could swing to Orlando if the team can get a Game Two win. It would also set history as the Magic's first Finals victory.

-Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times is confident the Lakers will win the series, but remembers a time earlier this postseason when they blew out a team one night and then got beat the next. It has been a roller coaster ride to the Finals for Los Angeles.

-Mark Jackson, writing for The Orlando Sentinel, writes the Magic must get one of their perimeter weapons to produce to open up lanes for Dwight Howard.

-Lakers.com previews Game Two with assistant coach Brian Shaw.

-Forum Blue & Gold previews Game Two and makes some good points about Orlando's decision to attack the wings rather than hitting the Lakers right up the middle.

-Henry Abbott of TrueHoop gets Adonal Foyle to talk about Orlando's resiliency.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Cavaliers Game One

-Bleacher Report's Jared Wright gives five reasons why Cleveland will win the series. And Brandon Ribak gives his reasons why Orlando will win.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily lists three reasons why he thinks Orlando can defeat Cleveland.

-Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don't Lie asks five questions entering the Eastern Conference Finals.

-Matt Watson of NBA FanHouse, Cavs in four really? You said it yourself, Orlando seems to bug Cleveland more than any other team. You have to figure the Magic will push the Cavaliers even a little bit. I guess that is why they call it a FANhouse. It is full of goo-goo-eyed LeBron lovers who do not actually know anything about basketball.

-Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse says this series will determine which team got the better No. 1 pick. LeBron was taken No. 1 the year before Dwight Howard and the two have skyrocketed to the top of the NBA.

-The Cavaliers are learning their lessons from three tough games against the Magic this season, Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel reports.

-Courtney Lee will make his triumphant return to the starting lineup for Game One, according to The Orlando Sentinel. Once again, great job in the last series JJ Redick.

-A bunch of interesting side plots in this series. Including the matchup between father, Magic assistant coach Brendan Malone, and son, Cavaliers assistant coach Mike Malone. Also, former Orlando head man Chris Jent is an assistant with Cleveland.

-Remember when Dwight Howard said Orlando would win a title at the beginning of the season a few years ago? Well, the Magic are on the doorstep. And don't think they will let this opportunity slip. You never know when you will get back to this point.

-Cleveland fans know suffering, Kyle Hightower writes for The Orlando Sentinel.
Blogger: The Curse of the Big Aristotle - Edit Post "What They're Saying: Magic vs. Cavaliers Game One"
-Playoff basketball has brought the communities of Cleveland and Orlando closer together. Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel tells a great story of what Magic basketball has done for one area family.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily highlights how the Magic might cover LeBron James this series.

-Eight keys to winning the series from erivera7 of 3rd Quarter Collapse. Much more detailed than my three keys, but we highlight many of the same things.

-It may not mean anything, but Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse reveals that Rafer Alston loves playing against the Cavaliers.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Celtics Game 7

-Great video from Knicks blog Seven Seconds or Mess analyzing Boston's defense against Dwight Howard. It is no secret that Howard struggles against the Celtics, but this video does a great job breaking down exactly how they do it. More importantly it shows that Hedo Turkoglu has got to start hitting some shots.

-ESPN holds a roundtable answering the big questions before Game Seven.

-Somehow the Magic find a way even without a real threat to take over in the fourth quarter as Brian Schmitz writes in The Orlando Sentinel.

-The New York Times looks in to the JJ Redick vs. Allen matchup. Even with Redick's superb defense, Allen could still go off for 20 in the first quarter. But Redick has certainly set the tone for how the Magic defend Allen with his great play to open games.

-Patrick Ewing went on ESPN Radio in Washington D.C. and guaranteed a Magic win. Of course he thinks Orlando is going to win, but you don't say that on radio! Doc Rivers tells the Boston Globe that he is very happy that he did. Ewing does not have a good track record with guarantees.

-Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse says the Celtic mystique does exist if they find a way to pull out Game Seven. This series has been about the junkyard dogs of the Boston team and not the "Big Three."

-What Game Seven might mean for future of the Celtics.

-Michael White of The Orlando Sentinel is worried about JJ Redick starting Game Seven. But as several Magic fans, including myself, have tried to argue, Redick has not been horrible this series... at least on defense.

-Game Seven is a big turning point in the franchise according to Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel. This is Dwight Howard's NCAA Tournament. It is one-and-done for the teams.

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel tells Magic fans to disparage and ridicule their team. It might be the only way to give them the adversity they need to win.

-Mike Moreau of Scouts Inc. offers his thoughts on the adjustments each team should make. Expect Boston to stop the silly turnovers and space its shooters better with Orlando constantly double-teaming Paul Pierce. Orlando will probably continue to try to get Howard involved and increase his energy level. In the end, he thinks the experience and home court will win the Celtics this series. To me, that is shaky ground to stand on (it is not a basketball reason), so I would expect a close game.

-Adonal Foyle puts what Orlando has to do simply in his blog for The Orlando Sentinel.

-Orlando Magic Daily's Woody Womack tracked down some local NBA experts and got their predictions for the decisive Game Seven. As expected, they are all pretty split on the subject.

-Rajon Rondo is incredibly stubborn and expects greatness in everything he does. So much so that he refused training wheels when he learned to ride a bike at four and continues to be the perfectionist that makes Boston go.

-Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe says this game is anything but a foregone conclusion. History means nothing and both teams know they left opportunities out on the floor this series.

JJ Redick should be starting

It is no secret, JJ Redick had another bad shooting night in Game Six. He shot 0 for 7 and even missed a free throw. It has not been a great shooting series for him either. He is shooting at a 28.9 percent clip this series and averaging 6.5 points per game.

So why oh why would I continue to say Redick should start ahead of nearly season-long starter Courtney Lee?

Redick entered this league as a sharpshooter and that is still probably his best skill -- no matter how poorly he shoots. But he has developed into a pretty decent defensive player and the job he has done on Ray Allen has been quite good.

A look at Allen's stats, the player Redick has been assigned to guard at the beginning of games at least, reveals some of the answers.

Allen shot a paltry two for 11 in Game Six last night and is shooting 30.7 percent from the field in the series. He has hit on only 13.9 percent of his 3-pointers. This season, Allen shot 39.8 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and is widely considered to be one of the best shooters in the league right now (I know I marveled at his shot during pre-game warmups in Game Four).

The Connecticut product certainly had some big games against the Bulls in the first round and was certainly not slumping entering this series. So why has he struggled?

Part of the reason has to be Redick. Redick has done a great job keeping up with Allen as he runs off countless screens and has done a great job crowding Allen and forcing him to catch the balls in areas where he is not comfortable shooting or not ready to shoot.

Credit some of the team defense for that too. Dwight Howard, or whoever is guarding the last Allen pick on the perimeter has done a good job hedging out to him to discourage a pass or give Redick time to get to him.

Even when Allen has been open, Orlando has done enough to throw him off rhythm or even second guess himself. Allen certainly has not done a good enough job attacking the rim.

But Redick deserves more credit than I think a lot more people want to give him for his defensive job on Allen.

During the regular season, Redick had an allowed eFG% of 46.3 percent. Not too bad. And according to the stats used in a Fantasy League I am in that uses deeper level stats, he has had a -1.6 percent impact on opponent's eFG% (don't know if you will be able to access this, but there is the link anyway. If you are into this sort of things, I highly suggest contacting Ben and getting in one of the test leagues, it is a LOT of fun. The Web site is xohoops.com).

The +/- in this series has also been interesting to look at.

Redick has a +0 this series, including a +20 in Orlando's blowout win in Game Three. That is not great for a starter, but you are not expecting to get a whole lot of point production from Redick whether he is starting or not.

Ray Allen on the other hand has had some wild swings. Overall, he is -4 for the series. He had some great games, including a +19 in Game Two -- the only game really where he found it easy to score. But he also had some miserable games, including a -15 in Game One.

The bottom line is that it is tough to say whether the Celtics are getting more production with Allen on the floor. And that can be credited to the job the defense has done on him. It starts with Redick.

Now, Redick certainly should not be on the floor at the end of games. His shot is simply not falling right now and Courtney Lee is a much better (or more versatile) offensive option.

But Redick, I think, really sets the tone for the type of defense the Magic want to play against Allen. The fact that he himself is a shooter who uses similar strategies, I think, helps too.

There is no reasont to change what is already working. Redick will most likely return to the bench for the next round as Orlando will opt for the more physical Courtney Lee on LeBron James. But for now, Redick is doing a great job on Allen and is deserving of the playing time he is getting.

What They're Saying: Celtics vs. Magic Game Six

-Lot of consternation going on with Dwight Howard's comments about Stan Van Gundy after Game Six. Some believe the Magic might be crashing and burning before our very eyes. Either way, some weaknesses in the makeup of this team have been exposed this postseason and Otis Smith has his work cut out for him to fix it this offseason.

-Dwight Howard attempted to explain his comments on his blog Wednesday. I think he was just venting some frustration. You do not want to do that to the media, but in the end, Van Gundy WILL be the coach of the team next year and hopefully the team will be better for this experience.

-John Hollinger rips apart Dwight Howard's comments on Stan Van Gundy with some interesting stats. Not saying the Magic are better without Howard, but having him in the game changes sometihng for the worse.

-X's and O's of Basketball believes Stan Van Gundy may have lost the locker room in the wake of Game Five. Either way, he wonders why Howard vented his frustrations to the media instead of talking openly and honestly with the coach.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel has some interesting insight into Dwight Howard's questioning of Stan Van Gundy after Game Five. Van Gundy is apparently at piece that he will one day be run off by the superstar, Howard backed off his comments and takes his role as franchise player seriously and the two are prepping for Game Six tonight.

-erivera7 of 3rd Quarter Collapse goes over some keys for Orlando to force a Game Seven. Included in there: start Courtney Lee (not sure about that one as JJ Redick has played fantastic defense on Ray Allen this series), play Marcin Gortat (always a good decision) and make Rashard Lewis the No. 1 option on offense.

-Nate Jones of NBA FanHouse states what I think a lot of Magic fans were thinking after Game Five: We really miss Jameer Nelson.

-After 94 games this season, it could all end Thursday night in Amway Arena.

-George Diaz of The Orlando Sentinel says Superman cannot be super unless he delivers in the Playoffs. Right now, the Magic look like they are folding and playing soft. They will need to toughen up to force a Game Seven.

-Bob Ryan and Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe preview Game Six and the feud between Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy. They find it mostly unfounded and think the Magic will win... although the feud has brought in some doubts in their mind.

-Paul Ego of The Puns are Starting to Bore Me writes an open letter to Dwight Howard begging him to ignore his offensive struggles and focus on defense -- where he can make the biggest impact for his team.

-Ben Q Rock of Third Quarter Collapse breaks down Dwight Howard's touches this series and concludes that Howard has not been effective at all on offense this series -- outside of putbacks and offensive rebounds. The only fault with Stan Van Gundy is not involving him in the right kind of plays to get him points.

-John Hollinger wonders why all Orlando and Boston's 3-pointers are not falling. It is a good question or an explosion waiting to happen.

-Mike Moreau of Scouts Inc. says Orlando should get more drives off ball reversals in Game Six. Also expect Boston to focus more on defense and defending the pick and roll and those driving lanes. Moreau's prediction: there will be a Game Seven.

-Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe says the Celtics are preparing for a more focused and desperate Magic team tonight. The apparent divisions could bring the team closer.

-Kendrick Perkins expects a much better effort from Dwight Howard tonight. He has been up to the challenge so far.

-Adonal Foyle provides his thoughts on what Orlando must do tonight to win. Surprisingly he does not suggest that he should play and get the ball. Foyle is cool like that. He will actually be blogging for The Orlando Sentinel from now on. Hopefully he will still be in a Magic uniform, he is a joy for the roster.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Celtics Game Five

-In the aftermath of a game-winning shot, Glen Davis pushed aside an innocent young boy. Now his father wants an apology. This has the opportunity to be the overblown mini moment of this series. Don't blame Davis for releasing his emotion, but give the kid a nice autographed basketball and a hand shake if he happens to be at Game Six. He has backed off some of those comments now. And Glen Davis apologized for hurting anyone after getting caught up in the moment. There all settled.

-Dwight Howard is keeping the faith that the Magic can close it out in six.

-No secret Glen Davis is not the greatest shooter in the world. Most of his makes are put backs and stuff around the basket. But as Henry Abbott of TrueHoop analyzes, Davis hit his big shot where he likes it most. It still needed a nice kick off the front rim to go in and completely change the complexion of this series.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel believes it is time for Stan Van Gundy to make a change and start Courtney Lee over JJ Redick and use Anthony Johnson more (although, it was peculiar that neither Johnson nor Rafer Alston were playing a lot in the fourth quarter Sunday). Redick has played superb defense on Ray Allen even though he is struggling to shoot. Might be a risky move although it would boost offensive production most likely.

-No easy task to beat the Celtics in Boston, but the Magic have to do it at least once to win this series.

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel looks to far ahead into the future and wonders if Orlando could still take Cleveland the way the team is playing. One step at a time... but the answer is, we will see.

-Woody Womack of Orlando Magic Daily wonders how much momentum the Celtics got from Glen Davis' shot. The best caricature? Instead of being asked about how the series is potentially over after Game Four, the questions were directed on their resiliency.

-Brian Scalabrine missed shootaround this morning with an undisclosed illness and Kendrick Perkins practiced the full time, according to the Boston Globe. I would expect both to play.

-Rajon Rondo is perhaps the most important player in the series for Boston, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes.

-Confidence is not an issue according to Stan Van Gundy.

-Leon Powe, who is out for the playoffs, received the NBA's Community Assist Award for the month of April. Thought I would recognize it.

-Boston did a rare thing Sunday, according to Zach Lowe of Celtics Hub. The Celtics won the game after hitting just one 3-pointer. It shows the value of the 3-pointer for both these teams as we enter the crucial Game Five.

-Making big shots is nothing new for Glen Davis and other notes from The Orlando Sentinel.

-Courtney Lee should be back in the starting lineup tonight according to the Boston Globe and other notes.

-Defense from the bench was a key to the Celtics win. Even when they are not scoring, their play is key to an undermanned Boston team, Frank Dell'Apa writes for the Boston Globe.

-Game Five is pretty big. Whoever wins, is one step away from going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com breaks down five keys to Game Five.

-Mike Moreau of Scouts Inc. says to expect the most physical game of the series as Boston has done a good job pushing Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis from their favorite spots. The Magic still got what they wanted offensively, don't expect them to shoot so poorly again.

-John Caroll of Scouts Inc. (Insider only) is scratching his head wondering why Orlando has allowed Boston to tie the series at two. As far as he is concerned, the Magic can be the much better team, but continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Sorry it is Insider only folks.

What They're Saying: Celtics vs. Magic Game 4

-David Whitley of NBA Fanhouse says the Celtics are running out of time. The Magic clearly have control of the series at this point with another game at home.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily has figured out what is wrong the Magic. They don't do so well with expectations. They are high now, time to perform and break that trend.

-This sounds real familiar. Road team gets upset win and then takes Game Three for a 2-1 series lead. The Magic learned from the last series against the 76ers, Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel reports, that this series with the Celtics is FAR from over.

-Physical? Stan Van Gundy says this series is not physical.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel reports: JJ Redick will start. Rafer Alston, maybe not. But he probably will.

-Matt Moore of NBA Fanhouse goes over five things to watch in today's Playoff games.

-Tim Povtake of NBA Fanhouse says the Celtics will go as Ray Allen goes. The sharpshooter needs to start hitting shots for Boston to move on.

-Comments before Game Four from the Magic.

-Bill Russell tells Marc J. Spears of the Boston Herald that the dragged out situation between Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks may have psychologically damaged the former All Star. Marbury responded by saying that getting those feelings out in words from a legend like Russell has helped him relax and integrate into his role with the Celtics.

-Doc Rivers tells his team the amazing is still possible, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports.

Game 2: Boston Celtics 112, Orlando Magic 94

Rafer Alston and JJ Redick both finished the game on the bench, but probably showed the most emotion and intensity of any players on the team in a disheartening 112-94 loss in Game Two.

Both were victims to the fiery play of Eddie House. House finished with 31 points on 11-of-14 shooting and making all four of his 3-pointers, bringing out the worst in Alston and Redick.

Alston slapped House in the back of the head after he hit a 3-pointer that pretty much buried the Magic under the Celtics' third quarter onslaught that led to as much as a 26-point lead. Redick against got frustrated and was ejected after receiving a technical foul on a foul for House.

At least those two had some fight, because no one else on Orlando had the intensity to compete with a much more focused Boston team in a night where nothing could go right.

From the tip, it was clear this game was going to be much different than the Game One performance that saw the Magic build a 28-point lead and hold on for a five-point win.

Rajon Rondo was much more aggressive getting into the paint and Orlando's rotations were too slow or completely ineffective to do anything about it. Rondo recorded his third triple double of this postseason with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 18 assists. He almost had a triple double by halftime as it was clear he was going to dictate the tempo.

Unlike the beginning of Game One, Rondo was not getting trapped or forced into areas where the Magic could trap him and limit his options. He got where he wanted on the court. When that happens, the Celtics are almost impossible to beat.

Impossible enough that Paul Pierce played only 16 minutes thanks to early foul trouble in both the first and second halves. It was effectively a night off for Boston's best player.

Orlando could not take advantage of Pirece's absence -- and actually did better when Pierce was in thanks to the hot shooting of Eddie House and Ray Allen's re-emergence.

The Magic did a poor job keeping the ball moving and could not get any consistency on offense. The Celtics consistently bottled up Howard and forced him into tough shots fading away from the basket. They let Rafer Alston do what he wanted and he failed to convert or make the right pass.

More impressively, the Celtics forced Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu into tough areas to shoot and pass out of. It was a great defensive effort for the Celtics and the Magic simply could not solve it -- or did not want to.

The bottom line, is the series is tied. Orlando has home court advantage for this series now. It would have been foolish to think the Celtics could not get this game.

It is frustrating to see the Magic play so poorly. This lack of effort is becoming a nasty habit and IS a source of concern against a team with so much experience and so much poise under pressure.

This was a game where Boston was clearly the aggressor early. Orlando did not have its shots falling early -- even good looks -- and kind of packed it in.

The Magic have to learn that this feeling of being able to turn the switch on and off is unacceptable and ultimately will not work. Not this late in the postseason. When Orlando does have the effort the team knows it can compete and win this series.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Celtics Game 2

-Kevin Robert of Bleacher Report writes that for JJ Redick, there is no time like the present. He wonders if what we saw from the three-year man out of Duke was an aberration or a signal that Redick has turned the corner.

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel is up to his usual gimmicky antics with a poem that places the Magic in history and plays off of another city's icon. Thank god a good, thoughtful writer like George Diaz has joined the Sentinel as a columnist.

-Stan Van Gundy is some kind of sadist. He was happy to see his team unsatisfied with its win in Game One. He believes that it will help them focus in Game Two. Hopefully enough to keep a 28-point lead in the second half this time.

-Courtney Lee arrived in Boston yesterday but is not expected to play in Game Two. The team greeted him to their team meeting with a round of applause, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel reports. Lee has been fitted with a mask to wear (our very own Richard Hamilton!) and is still adjusting to it and testing it out in workout situations. He could be ready to go this weekend. Lee might still be dressing out tonight, according to Brian Schmitz.

-Magic blog The Puns Are Starting to Bore Me found some interesting stats that point to Dwight Howard having the greatest rebounding postseason in NBA history.

-Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald writes about a few things: including Ray Allen's historical Game One struggles and the appeal of Brian Scalabrine (the best player on the court for his team, according to Doc Rivers).

-Murphy also adds that the Celtics take no moral victory from their Game One loss. Because really, what is the difference between the way they lost Monday and if they had lost by five in a close game?

-Dwight Howard certainly affected the Celtics' mindset going at the rim in Game One, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald reports. Offensively, that is probably the biggest adjustment Boston has to make for Game Two.

-Orlando has issues holding leads -- especially against Boston. Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald says the Magic also realize this problem and have (hopefully) learned their lesson if they gain a big lead the rest of this series.

-Henry Abbott of TrueHoop gets a look inside the mind of Stan Van Gundy... via his white board. I have seen an NBA white board and it is typically full of matchups and diagrams of plays (as Abbott reports). But Van Gundy's board seems to go beyond obsession. And Orlando is succeeding in part because of his attention to detail.

-There should not be any shock about anything that goes on in the Playoffs right now, every team left in the playoffs is capable of winning any game.

-Thoughts from the team itself before tonight's Game Two.

-Anthony Johnson wants to play three more years in the league and is still amazed by what the young players on his team can do. No doubt that this is the best chance the 12-year veteran has had at getting the title, reports Gene Sapakoff of The Post & Courier (Charleston, S.C.).

-Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe notes the eerily similar paths (and random crossings) in the careers of Dwight Howard and Kendrick Perkins. Also mentions Howard crossing paths with his original tutor, Celtics assistant coach Clifford Ray.

-Speed kills. And that is what is the Celtics did successfully against the Bulls. That is not what they did in Game One against the Magic, Frank Dell'Appa of the Boston Globe says. Rajon Rondo especially needs to move in fast forward for Boston to have success tonight.

-Stephon Marbury had a breakout game in Game One and somewhat vindicated himself, reports Marc J. Spears of the Boston Globe.

-ESPN delves into four key questions entering tonight's game.

-Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times gets inside the world of Rajon Rondo.

Game 2 Adjustments: Magic-Celtics

1) Attack the basket!: It does not get much simpler than this. Orlando succeeded offensively when the team got to the basket and kicked it out. It failed when it stood around the perimeter, or turned the ball over.

This is not even necessarily a "Get Dwight Howard the ball" statement. This is a get something moving toward the basket. Where were the off-the-ball cuts and picks in the second half of Game One? Where was the ball movement?

The Magic were highly successful getting to the basket and even getting themselves off the 3-point line. Rashard Lewis was fantastic at pump faking and hitting that mid-range jumper in Game One. It was a great weapon that opened up a lot of 3-point opportunities as the Magic built their lead.

But the team seemed more content to jack up 3-pointers in the second half than to try and work for a better shot.

Stan Van Gundy wants his team to run at the tired Celtics this series. It does not help the Magic to stand around and eat up precious shot clock waiting for Hedo Turkoglu to get just the right screen from Dwight Howard.

The pick and roll stuff worked great, but I want to see more action of Howard cutting across the lane for post ups, or Lewis getting the ball in motion toward the hoop.

Orlando just has to constantly be going after the basket. That is how space opens up on the perimeter for shooters and that is how the offense works best.

2) Defensive Fundamentals- It sounds so simple for an NBA player, but the Magic lacked some very fundamental defensive principles in the second half. They were not keeping their man in front of them and using their hands to defend instead of their feet.

Like the last game against Boston in April, Orlando probably played the best defense it could for a little more than 24 minutes. The rotations when guys got beat was good. The help side defense was good off of screens and pick and roll situations. Even JJ Redick did a great job tailing Ray Allen and making sure he had a hand in his face and very little room to operate.

The second half lacked a lot of this defensive energy and Rajon Rondo was able to pick apart Orlando's scheme.

Expect the Magic to find a way to keep Rondo out of the paint as that is where the Celtics did most of their damage in Game One.

Overall, Boston did not do a great job scoring in the paint. Orlando was happy to concede jumpers to players like Glen Davis and Rondo. But I would expect the Celtics to have a more complete effort in Game Two. The Magic will need to focus on the basics of defense to hold on again.

3) Take care of the ball/don't succumb to pressure- Orlando did a great job poking at the ball and getting in the passing lanes throughout Game One -- even when things were not going so great. But the Celtics also did the same.

The turnovers really fed Boston's comeback and enabled the team to get some easy points. Orlando had only 12 turnovers, but there were more than a few that came from Rondo sneaking in and swiping the ball while someone was driving the lane.

Rondo did a great job pressuring the Magic's point guards and making them initiate the offense in bad positions and with less time on the shot clock. Figuring out how to get around the on-ball pressure is going to be critical for Orlando.

Usually with pressure, you try to attack it. That is what Rafer Alston is going to have to do in Game Two. He has to use Rondo's aggressive defense against him and try to get by him or create space to initiate the offense. He cannot dribble into corners or into traps or get stuck with the ball though.

This is going to be a tough problem to solve. And Alston may have to hit a few jumpers to get Rondo off his back.

Turnover-wise, the Magic just have to protect the ball better and value possessions more. It is clear even with a 28-point lead, every possession counts.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Celtics Game 1

-Courtney Lee is still apparently not feeling well despite being cleared to play, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel reports. He did not make the trip with the team to Boston on Sunday, but might be flying up after Monday's game.

-Three questions for the Magic entering this series from Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily.

-Dwight Howard is done tweeting and ready to start playing again, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel reports.

-Brandon Ribak of The Bleacher Report previews the Magic's series with the Celtics.

-10 keys to the series from erivera7 of 3rd Quarter Collapse. All valid points for what the Magic have to do in the next two weeks.

-Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse reports JJ Redick is ready for the challenge of guarding one of his idols in Ray Allen. Interesting that two players are playing their idols in this series. Well that is if Dwight Howard gets the chance to play Kevin Garnett.

-Magic players talk about the series on OrlandoMagic.com

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel, speaking on behalf of all Orlando area fans, says: BRING ON THE CELTICS! The Magic are certainly ready for them.

-The Magic and the Celtics are not as healthy as they should be, but both teams still expect to get to the conference finals. Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel also reports how excited the Magic are to be facing the defending champs.

-The headline of Kyle Hightower's story in The Orlando Sentinel tells it all: "Celtics: Magic will be Tough." Boston knows Orlando beat them both times when Garnett sat out.

-Tim Povtak of NBA Fanhouse says the Magic are not afraid of the Celtics' mystique. More imporantatly, Stan Van Gundy says: "For opposing players now, I don't think the Celtic mystique carries much sway. That's something guys our age (49) are aware of, but when these players grew up, the Celtics weren't the Celtics. They weren't Red Auerbach's Celtics, or even Larry Bird's Celtics. Our guys didn't grow up thinking the Celtics were anything above the rest of the league." Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel disagrees with this sentiment.

-Matt Moore of NBA Fanhouse offers his thoughts on the series (including a prediction of Magic in six).

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily sits down with Zach Lowe of Celtics Hub and clears the air about Orlando's next opponent.

-Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe introduces Celtics fan to the matchup nightmare that is the Orlando Magic. First you have to deal with Dwight Howard, then you have to pick your poison on the outside with Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Glen Davis cannot keep up with one of those guys, but he will be guarding one of them.

-John Denton of Florida Today reports Orlando players were excited to find out they were getting Boston in the second round.

-Michael White of The Orlando Sentinel is quite angry about Kevin Garnett's actions on the sideline this postseason. If Boston wants a physical series, Orlando should give it to them, he says. Honestly the Magic should just ignore Garnett and his antics and play the game. This is a winnable series.

-Jareth Cutestory from The Puns are Starting to Bore Me says all eyes are on JJ Redick now that he has the opportunity to start and play in the playoffs. His role has been uneven at best this season, but it is clear the Magic need him more than ever at the start of this series.

-Kendrick Perkins is ready for the challenge of guarding Dwight Howard after the physical series with the Bulls, Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel reports.

-William C. Rhoden of the New York Times profiles Stephon Marbury and the transformation he has had to make to adjust to his secondary role. He is apparently happy in that role and is now out of the first round for the first time in his career.

-Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald says the bench finally stepped up in the Celtics' Game Seven win over the Bulls. Now coach Doc Rivers will rely on them even more against the Magic.

-Even without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics have shown no quit and believe they can repeat as champions, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald says.

-Flipping it back, Zach Spears of Celtics Hub talks to Magic blog 3rd Quarter Collapse and Orlando Magic Daily.

Game Six: Orlando Magic 114, Philadelphia 76ers 89

The Magic advanced to their second consecutive conference semifinals with a surprising 114-89 rout at the Wachovia Center in Game Six on Thursday night.

I thought Orlando would need a very focused and energized effort to pick up the win. And even then it would be a close game.

That prediction could not be more wrong as the Magic blitzed the 76ers from the beginning. They took a 30-15 lead after one quarter thanks to some nice hustle plays from Marcin Gortat and a great scoring effort from Rashard Lewis.

Lewis finished with 29 points and seven rebounds. Gortat had 11 points and 15 rebounds in Dwight Howard's place. The big news was how Rafer Alston and JJ Redick stepped up. Alston scored 21 points and dished out 10 assists and Redick added 15 points.

This was by far the Magic's most complete offensive effort. They shot better than 50 percent and hit 12 3-pointers in scoring more than 100 points for the first time all series.

Orlando worked hard without Howard and even played decent defense. Andre Miller scored 24 points and Andre Iguodala had 20 points but the team shot only 40 percent.

The Magic took care of business Thursday night. They finally played like the team that won 59 games this season.

The offense has definitely took the turn for the better in the last two games this series. It will be interesting to see how things carry over during the break before the second round.

Orlando pulled through in this series and got the job done. That is the bottom line.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Sixers Game 6

-Apparently, Dwight Howard should have been ejected for that elbow he threw at the beginning of Game Five. It is leading Henry Abbott of TrueHoop down some interesting ethical questions. There was lots of consternation and uncertainty about Howard's situation.

-Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo complained in his postgame press conference about Howard camping in the land on offense and defense. To which, Stan Van Gundy replied: "Am I supposed to talk about game or am I supposed to come up here and lobby for the calls I want next game? Is that what it's about now? We're going to sit here a lobby for the calls that we want the next game?" As Woody Woomack of Orlando Magic Daily writes, now Game Six gets interesting.

-Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel reports JJ Redick and Mickael Pietrus are ready to go if Courtney Lee cannot play Thursday. They will get their chance as Lee was ruled out for Thursday's game Wednesday morning with a fracture sinus, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

-Brian Schmitz, of The Orlando Sentinel, expected Dwight Howard to be suspended between Games Five and Six and maps out what Marcin Gortat has to do in his stead.

-Rashard Lewis broke out in Game Five, Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily says, and is going to be very important for the rest of the series -- heck, the postseason.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel says no one should question Howard's manhood or toughness anymore. "And if it gets to a Game 7 in Orlando, look out."

-The 76ers general manager joined in the Dwight Howard debate calling for his suspension for Game Six, as Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel reports.

-The mood in the locker room was "chipper" according to Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily. That probably changed Wednesday when Howard was suspended for Game Six. It appears many in the Magic locker room would have disagreed with the decision.

-George Diaz of The Orlando Sentinel was the first to report (or tweet) that the NBA suspended Dwight Howard for Game Six. Thanks to J.E. Skeets of Ball Don't Lie and erivera7 of 3rd Quarter Collapse for re-tweeting it and getting the news out. Twitter is quite a beautiful thing.

-Blame the refs: the official excuse of a team about to lose. Woody Womack of Orlando Magic Daily got reaction from the Sixers after Game Five and the Tony DiLeo-Stan Van Gundy spat.
Blogger: The Curse of the Big Aristotle - Edit Post "What They're Saying: Magic vs. Sixers Game 6"

-Reaction to Howard's suspension from TrueHoop. More fallout from the Howard suspension from Kyel Hightower at The Orlando Sentinel plus Courtney Lee might not be available for a Game Seven and might even need surgery for the fractured sinus he suffered in Game Five.

-With Howard out, Rashard Lewis is going to have to earn his contract. As Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse puts it: "You're move, Rashard Lewis."

-Everyone forgets with Howard out that Courtney Lee will also miss tonight's Game Six. erivera7 of 3rd Quarter Collapse goes over the impact Lee has had on this team compared to his backups. Now Lee is officially undergoing surgery to repair his fractured sinus and will be out at least a week, maybe the entire postseason.

-Mike Bianchi explains why Magic fans should be thanking (that's right thanking) the NBA for levying the suspension on Howard in Game Six rather than ejecting him in Game Five. True, that would make things very different.

-Kyle Hightower of The Orlando Sentinel has reaction from the Philadelphia side of the Dwight Howard suspension.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily reviews the games the Magic played this season without Dwight Howard.

-Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the series would be going much better for the 76ers if they had Elton Brand responsible for Dwight Howard. Aimless speculation, indeed.

-The 76ers say the Magic "are a different team without Howard." It makes the return trip to Orlando a little easier to manage, Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News writes.

-Bob Ford writes in his blog on philly.com that Howard probably deserved not to be ejected from Game Five (but the suspension was warranted) because of the physical play Samuel Dalembert was using leading up to the incident.

-Samuel Dalembert has taken a lot of heat from Sixers fans and Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News thinks it is undeserved. Dalembert knew what he was up against in this series and is trying his best to slow down Superman. Plus, anyone remember when the Lakers lost Kareem Abdul-Jabbar but still completed the NBA Finals sweep at the Spectrum with Magic Johnson and Jamaal Wilkes?

-David Thorpe of Scouts, Inc. breaks down the adjustments for Game Six and predicts Orlando to defeat a tight, maybe overconfident Philadelphia team tonight.

-The Orlando Sentinel reports JJ Redick and Marcin Gortat will get the starts tonight.

-John Denton of ESPN.com writes about Stan Van Gundy and how his personality may or may not affect the team. I will have more thoughts on this as the offseason draws near, but your true colors are always shown in the postseason. That is all that needs to be said.

What They're Saying: Sixers vs. Magic Game 1 4/19

-Dwight Howard was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week for their NBA Playoff preview. The headline: "Too Much Fun: Can the Magic's Dunk Machine Get Serious for a Moment?" has caused some stirring within the Magic organization to defend their fun-loving behemoth in the middle. Chris Ballard of Sports Illustrated does a very good job describing Howard and how he does not quite fit the mold of the typical dominating center, but yet cannot escape the shadow of the previous dominating center, Shaquille O'Neal.

-But back to the headline. Stan Van Gundy has slammed it, but The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi says the Magic should embrace it. Who says a guy who smiles cannot win a title? Look at Magic Johnson.

-Whether he likes it or not, this postseason is going to be a big judgment of Dwight Howard. He is the presumptive Defensive Player of the Year, an Olympic gold medalist and the leading vote getter for the All Star game. But as Ballard mentions in his article on Howard, none of it matters unless he wins in the postseason. Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel sets the table for what could be the Playoffs of Dwight Howard.

-Not speaking of Howard, JJ Redick has gotten coach Stan Van Gundy's confidence. He has played more minutes this season than in any other of his career. But his trademark shooting has been, well... not so good. Redick knows he is going to have to be better this postseason for his team. As he tells The Orlando Sentinel, maybe he should watch his Better Basketball shooting videos.

-David Whitley of The Orlando Sentinel says it is time to party like it is 1995! And after Boston struggled in an overtime loss to Chicago yesterday, why not believe the Finals are realistic for this team?

-Frank Seravalli of The Philadelphia Inquirer enumerates the many different options the Sixers have at defending Dwight Howard. And none of them look promising. But they have to give it the old college try.

-With Derrick Rose going off this afternoon, it is clear rookies are going to have an impact on this postseason. Courtney Lee's impact might be muted, but he certainly deserves more respect than a certain Sixers fan gave him. Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse quietly reminds Philadelphia fans not to sleep on the rookie from Western Kentucky.

-I suggest you scroll through Orlando Magic Daily for the past couple days. Zach McCann and all the guys over there have done a great job previewing this series. Included in the preview: a position-by-poistion matchup breakdown and interviews with NBA experts including former Magic beat writer Tim Povtak. He also talks to some Philadelphia bloggers to clear the misconceptions about our opponents.

-Bill Simmons of ESPN, not so much a fan of this series.

-Sixers blog Depressed Fan (sounds like us... hmm) makes an interesting point about the Magic's record. 59 wins sure is impressive. But the 23 wins in 36 games does not impress him that much. Especially since Orlando went 9-8 against playoff teams in that stretch. Philly? The Sixers went 8-9.

-Jeff McMenamin of Philadunkia details the Sixers struggles with perimeter defending. That is something very important entering the series today.

-Sixers coach Tony DiLeo told Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer: "I think the team is ready to play. You can see it in their faces. They're ready to play." Lets get it on.

-Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer assures Philadelphia fans that there is some hope their team can pull off an upset.