I don't know if I jinxed him or what, titling the last post (Where Would We Be Without KG?) but that question was predictably answered yesterday afternoon in Orlando. Answer: not that far from where we've been the last few seasons (ie. the gutter). Oh sure, the Celts played admirably without their unquestioned leader and most valuable player and it took a fadeaway 3 by Hedo Turkoglu (the pride of Turkey) at the buzzer to beat them, 96-93 but you knew they weren't going to win this one from the start.
The Magic (28-18) are good, not great and they have enough talent to beat the Celts (34-8) in any game, especially one without Garnett. Paul Pierce (team-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals) was up to his usual ballhog ways from the last few seasons and Ray Allen (17 points on 7 of 18 shooting) looked awful on almost every shot. But then he drove to the hole and slammed one and with the Celts down three late, he hit a tying 3-pointer. Go figure.
I don't know if Doc was drinking Pina Coladas before the game or what (it is his hometown after all) but for some unknown reason he started Brian Scalabrine once he found out KG couldn't go (cause of the abdominal strain from the other night). Insert laugh track here. Scal did nothing but impress as he somehow played 22 minutes in an NBA game and his only recorded stats were a missed 3 and he made 1 of 2 free throws. He had nothing else, which takes some serious game.
Leon Powe (9 points, 9 rebounds) ending up playing 27 minutes anyway so I guess it doesn't matter but why even bother throwing Scal out there at that point. Just mystifying. Rajon Rondo (15 points, 6 steals, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) had a real nice game despite getting hurt in the third quarter. He came back shortly after. He took 16 shots which has to be a record for him. After missing the last three games, James Posey (16 points, 6 rebounds) also played well.
Boston led 23-19 after the first and 46-43 at the half. The third quarter was the turning point as Orlando bum Brian Cook came off the bench cold and proceeded to drop 11 points in his only 10 minutes of work. The Magic outscored Boston 32-19 in the quarter.
Quietly Turkoglu (game-high 27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) has become an All-Star caliber player while Rashard Lewis (15 points, 6 rebounds) continues to laugh on his way to the bank. Overrated doesn't to him justice. Dwight Howard had a good game (18 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks), the most surprising part being that he made all six of his free throws.
Orlando almost blew it late as their putrid guards, Carlos Arroyo (2 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 turnovers), Maurice Evans (11 points, 4 turnovers) and Keyon Dooling (8 points, 2 turnovers) did their best to hand it to Boston. Jameer Nelson is out but even with him back, the Magic stand no chance in the playoffs against teams with good guards (Boston, Detroit, Washington, Toronto, etc.).
Boston travels to Miami tomorrow night and it sounds like Garnett might be out for that one too. The Heat just broke their 15-game losing streak on Saturday so I hope the C's could still take them regardless of the Big Ticket's status.
No comments:
Post a Comment