Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
By Brian Schmitz
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
SALT LAKE CITY - It's only one game, but given what the Orlando Magic are trying to build, it was arguably the franchise's most meaningful victory since they were the laughingstock of the NBA.
And that was just three seasons ago.
The Magic held off the Utah Jazz 88-75 on Monday night in an early showdown between the teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
Coming out of a joyous locker room, Magic General Manager Otis Smith chuckled after someone mentioned that Orlando needed to start planning a title parade rout.
The normally stoic Smith then did an about face and said, "This was big. Big."
How big?
The Magic (11-4) came in with the top record in the East and beat the red-hot Jazz (12-3), who had the best record in the West, at a crazed EnergySolutions Arena.
"We know what type of team we are. We're no fluke," point guard Jameer Nelson said.
How big?
The Magic prevailed on the road after going 0-10, 3-7 and 0-9 against Western Conference teams in trips West the past three seasons.
They started their six-game, 11-day trip West - their longest junket of the season - with a victory that required them to withstand the retooled Jazz's best punch after losing control of the game in the final period.
"We've showed we have matured," Nelson said of this young team. "Last year we might have kicked it away."
In fact, the Magic did just that last season, losing 90-85 and complaining about officiating down the stretch. This time, although they blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead, they hung on to increase their lead in the Southeast Division.
How big?
The Magic have been rebuilding since finishing dead-last in the league after the 2003-04 season in which they won just 21 games - and now the bull's-eye on their backs has grown.
"It's a real great win for our guys," Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "And anytime it comes on the West Coast you're happy. It's difficult to play out here, and we haven't had much success."
Now it's on to snowy Seattle to face the SuperSonics on Wednesday.
Orlando controlled the night until wobbling in the fourth quarter. The Magic have had some trouble closing out games on the road - and still do. Trailing by 21 with 5 minutes, 28 seconds to play, Utah cut Orlando's lead to 81-73 over the next three minutes, inviting a colossal collapse.
But veteran Grant Hill steadied the Magic, hitting a jumper with 1 minute, 26 seconds remaining to give them an 83-73 lead.
"We were shaky down the stretch against the zone," Brian Hill said. "We didn't get in the gaps and settled for jump shots. The big thing is that we got stops at the other end of the floor. We did the job on the free-throw line and offensive boards on a night we just didn't shoot the ball well."
Said forward Tony Battie, "We expected them to make a run. We grabbed the wheel of the car before it ran off the cliff."
The Magic came in ranked No. 2 in field-goal percentage but shot a season-low 39.5 percent. They countered by hitting 26-of-34 free throws and beating the Jazz on the offensive boards, 15-5, for second-chance points.
Dwight Howard led Orlando with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Hill added 16 points and Nelson 15. Point guard Carlos Arroyo, a former Jazz player, scored 13.
Jazz fans booed Arroyo when he entered the game and every time he touched the ball. His two-plus seasons in Utah ended with him feuding with Coach Jerry Sloan, as much a revered figure in Utah as Brigham Young. "It's always great to beat your old team," Arroyo said.
After falling behind 4-0 to start the game, the Magic never trailed and built huge leads throughout, turning to their second unit for big plays.
They have had some sizzling starts on the road, and they couldn't have asked for a better beginning, racing to a 19-6 lead after Hedo Turkoglu's 3-pointer. A great way to start a road trip - and perhaps - a playoff season as well.
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
SALT LAKE CITY - It's only one game, but given what the Orlando Magic are trying to build, it was arguably the franchise's most meaningful victory since they were the laughingstock of the NBA.
And that was just three seasons ago.
The Magic held off the Utah Jazz 88-75 on Monday night in an early showdown between the teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
Coming out of a joyous locker room, Magic General Manager Otis Smith chuckled after someone mentioned that Orlando needed to start planning a title parade rout.
The normally stoic Smith then did an about face and said, "This was big. Big."
How big?
The Magic (11-4) came in with the top record in the East and beat the red-hot Jazz (12-3), who had the best record in the West, at a crazed EnergySolutions Arena.
"We know what type of team we are. We're no fluke," point guard Jameer Nelson said.
How big?
The Magic prevailed on the road after going 0-10, 3-7 and 0-9 against Western Conference teams in trips West the past three seasons.
They started their six-game, 11-day trip West - their longest junket of the season - with a victory that required them to withstand the retooled Jazz's best punch after losing control of the game in the final period.
"We've showed we have matured," Nelson said of this young team. "Last year we might have kicked it away."
In fact, the Magic did just that last season, losing 90-85 and complaining about officiating down the stretch. This time, although they blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead, they hung on to increase their lead in the Southeast Division.
How big?
The Magic have been rebuilding since finishing dead-last in the league after the 2003-04 season in which they won just 21 games - and now the bull's-eye on their backs has grown.
"It's a real great win for our guys," Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "And anytime it comes on the West Coast you're happy. It's difficult to play out here, and we haven't had much success."
Now it's on to snowy Seattle to face the SuperSonics on Wednesday.
Orlando controlled the night until wobbling in the fourth quarter. The Magic have had some trouble closing out games on the road - and still do. Trailing by 21 with 5 minutes, 28 seconds to play, Utah cut Orlando's lead to 81-73 over the next three minutes, inviting a colossal collapse.
But veteran Grant Hill steadied the Magic, hitting a jumper with 1 minute, 26 seconds remaining to give them an 83-73 lead.
"We were shaky down the stretch against the zone," Brian Hill said. "We didn't get in the gaps and settled for jump shots. The big thing is that we got stops at the other end of the floor. We did the job on the free-throw line and offensive boards on a night we just didn't shoot the ball well."
Said forward Tony Battie, "We expected them to make a run. We grabbed the wheel of the car before it ran off the cliff."
The Magic came in ranked No. 2 in field-goal percentage but shot a season-low 39.5 percent. They countered by hitting 26-of-34 free throws and beating the Jazz on the offensive boards, 15-5, for second-chance points.
Dwight Howard led Orlando with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Hill added 16 points and Nelson 15. Point guard Carlos Arroyo, a former Jazz player, scored 13.
Jazz fans booed Arroyo when he entered the game and every time he touched the ball. His two-plus seasons in Utah ended with him feuding with Coach Jerry Sloan, as much a revered figure in Utah as Brigham Young. "It's always great to beat your old team," Arroyo said.
After falling behind 4-0 to start the game, the Magic never trailed and built huge leads throughout, turning to their second unit for big plays.
They have had some sizzling starts on the road, and they couldn't have asked for a better beginning, racing to a 19-6 lead after Hedo Turkoglu's 3-pointer. A great way to start a road trip - and perhaps - a playoff season as well.