Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 5:25 PM | 7 comments |
 
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A Blackberry snapshot of the t-shirted arena.

The most recent image of this nip-and-tuck series is Hedo Turkoglu's game-winning three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left on Sunday night. With that made shot, the Orlando Magic tied this series, 2-2. But what else did that shot ignite? By now, the play-by-play, and each team's thought process before and during, has been discussed. Here's the Cliff Notes: 

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told his two guys -- Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu -- that whomever ended up with Thaddeus Young guarding them would shoot the last shot. We know what happened, the question now is: Will that motivate Thaddeus Young? I have to think at this point in the season, with this game as important as it is, this story line will play zero factor in tonight's game. If Young holds Lewis to an 0 for 12 night, perhaps we'll discuss it again. (Okay, of course we'll discuss it again.) But for the most part, I think each team should have enough motivation for tonight.

This series has been, perhaps, the best of the first-round series. Although Boston vs. Chicago, depending on your allegiances, has also been darn fine. But if you're a Sixer or Magic fan, this series has been an adrenaline rush. What has also been interesting to watch is the slight changes each team has made -- especially the slight changes the Magic made for Game 4.

Here are a few: 

For the first time in the series, Orlando had center Dwight Howard play a key defensive role on the Sixers' pick-and-roll. From the start of the game, when a pick-and-roll involved Andre Iguodala and a Sixers' center -- Samuel Dalembert, Theo Ratliff, Reggie Evans -- Howard jumped out on Iguodala, trying to force him to pick up the basketball. After the game, Iguodala said his centers were telling him they were open on the roll. Obviously, with Howard and a guard on him, it wasn't the easiest pass for Iguodala to make, but he said he discussed this option with Dalembert before their game-tying play with 14.8 seconds left. Dalembert told Iguodala, if they ran a pick-and-roll, he should be open on the roll to the basket. It wasn't the cleaniest, safest play, but Iguodala drove off the pick to the right wing, leapt into the air, and fired an overhead pass to Dalembert under the rim. It was a difficult pass with Howard on him as well as the trailing guard defender. Yes, on this play the Sixers capitalized on Orlando's adjustment, but for most of the game, they forced Iguodala to pick up his dribble, pass the basketball. Iguodala had his lowest point total of the series, although he contributed with assists and rebounds. Tony DiLeo said he would expect Orlando to continue this defensive scheme, and that the Sixers would need to take advantage, more, of that roll to the basket. As well as swinging the basketball for open outside shots. (Can the Sixers continue to shoot well from the three-point line? That might be the key to this game. If the Sixers go 1 for 8 -- as they did many games during the year -- this game will be Orlando's.)

The Magic also made a slight shift on offense. (And I credit an emailer for pointing this out in-depth.) Through three games, the Magic couldn't get much for Lewis. But in that third quarter of Game 4, you may remember, Sixers guard Willie Green ended up trying to match Lewis on the post -- a number of times. One time in particular, both Green and Lewis' main defender, Young, both went to Lewis, then both left Lewis, who shot a short, wide-open baseline jumper on the play. Orlando seems to have started running away screens between a guard -- guarded often by Green -- and Lewis. Since the Sixers often switch these screens, it leaves Lewis, on the block, against a much smaller player. Orlando took advantage of this a number of times in Game 4, although Lewis did not score as often as he probably would like.

DiLeo said they noticed a number of slight adjustments they would make for Game 5. He would not, of course, outline those adjustments.

In that Game 4, the Magic came out of halftime and made their first 7 shots, including 3 three-pointers. In that quarter, you had to wonder whether Orlando was about to explode for a 12 for 18 quarter, or somewhere along those lines. We know this team is capable of such an explosion. But they didn't. After that surge, they missed 1 of their next 8, then went on to miss a number of open shots that you would expect a third seed to make. Will Turkoglu's three-pointer start a shooting resurgence for the Magic? Will Turkoglu finally wake up and score 25 in this game? 

Speaking with some folks down here in Florida, they have been very impressed with the Sixers' defensive effort -- heck, their overall effort -- and many surprised me by saying they believe the Sixers are a bad matchup for the Magic. This is surprising only because entering this series, there seemed to be a sentiment that the Magic -- their perimeter-oriented, three-point shooting -- were a bad matchup for the Sixers. Here was their thinking: The Sixers are only one of a few Eastern Conference clubs whose forwards can legitimately match up with Orlando's. And considering Orlando's forwards are responsible for creating their offense, it's been a huge issue for them. Through four games, the Iguodala and Young have outplayed Turkoglu and Lewis. Which duo wins the forward battle these next couple of games?

So here's the setup down south here at Amway Arena. The Magic marketing department has placed blue t-shirts over the seats of half the arena and white t-shirts over the other half. Everyone I've run into has mentioned trying to make it to tonight's game. It sounds, and feels, like this is going to be a very difficult environment tonight for the Sixers. But, as they have proven all season, they seem to respond well to challenges, seem to be resilient, seem to like when everyone starts counting them out.

--Kate

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 5:25 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
7
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:01 PM, 04/28/2009
    I'm a Sixers fan on the west coast, and the playoffs have been my only opportunities to watch the team play. The tying slam by Dalembert was not the first time he and Iggy appeared in sync on offense. Got to credit Iguodala for communicating well on court with our biggest headcase and keep him involved. It shows the kind of leader he can become and is already on some nights. His shooting this series has also been a pleasant surprise. If that last second prayer had gone in to send game 4 to OT Iguodala's rise would be a national story right now. That will be the story if the Sixers pull off this series win.
    the_other_craig
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:09 PM, 04/28/2009
    kate: nice analysis over the last few blogs. and some in-depth numbers from statman. from this vantage point, a significant missed opportunity on sunday (despite the claw-back and exciting finish). how would you compare the mood of the two teams? regarding our pick-&-roll, hope we do adjust to take advantage if orlando continues to employ howard on the ball handler (it's difficult but again some essential bball). make orlando pick their poison if possible. lots of factors have to go right, but the sixers have proved they can battle the magic and should feel confident, despite giving back home court advantage. it'll be interesting to really see what adjustments we make and even though the atmosphere will be challenging, the players should embrace the excitment (at least some folks are paying attention, what with the nfl draft, baseball kicking in and even nhl playoffs...).
    127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:00 PM, 04/28/2009
    Great analysis, Kate (I agree with 127 that your playoff blogs have been packed with useful insights every game). Here's why I think the Sixers matchup well with the Magic (I said this before the series started, and it continues to hold true -- 6 games this year, and no game decided by more than 10). Defensively, the Sixers' weak spot all year has been at the guard spots, both point guard (where Miller is too slow and Lou often unwilling) and off guard (where Green, Lou, and Ivey are all below average, though Ivey has his moments). My observation is that the Sixers have MUCH more trouble defensively (overall and guarding the 3 ball) with teams that have good penetrating point guards who kick out for 3's (e.g., Calderon, Chris Paul, Devin Harris to name a few) than with forward-oriented teams like the Magic. It just so happens that the Magic's best creator, Turkoglu, is both hurt and being guarded by the Sixers' best defender, Iguodala. Rafer Alston is really below-average at both shotmaking and playmaking, so Miller's defensive deficiencies are minimized (though still there). Also, Thad, while not Iguodala, is probably the second best wing defender on the team. Thad's weakness is being able to stop dribble penetration, but Lewis is not by nature a penetrator (he's much more comfortable shooting when stationary). Thus, Thad's defense on Lewis has been more than adequate (Sixers just need to avoid leaving Thad on Turkoglu for long stretches). And finally, Sam gives Howard as much trouble as can be expected one-on-one, IF he can stay out of foul trouble. Add it all together and the Sixers are capable of defending the Magic well, as they've shown. The big change in Game 4 was that the Magic also ramped up their defense, and the Sixers had few answers. We'll see if Game 5 brings those answers (and hopefully the Sixers continue to play good D) ...
    Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:12 PM, 04/28/2009
    Well, the defense was still there, but I would say the Magic have figured out the Sixers offensively, which spells serious trouble for the Sixers. Game thoughts: (1) Sam made two incredibly stupid fouls 30 feet from the basket [including one to start the second half], which of course limited his playing time. Remarkably, the team was +1 when he was in. Someone needs to drill into him that ALL of his fouls should be on Howard shots. (2) Biggest change in this game was that the Thad-Lewis matchup tilted heavily in favor of Lewis. If Lewis is going to post Thad, Thad needs to be more physical. I'd like to hear from all the Thaddites now: *this* is the guy you want to trade Iguodala to make room for? (3) Miller looks like he's out of gas, similar to the way he finished the Detroit series last year. (4) Lou was uncharacteristically passive, and while he came up with 5 assists, there's not much reason for him to be out there if he's not attacking. (5) The whole bench gave the Sixers nothing, other than some yeoman work by Ratliff. (6) Nice start shooting by Willie, but I'm not sure why the offense revolves around him in the 1st quarter. I'd rather see Thad get some touches, make Lewis work early. (6) Iguodala played another excellent game overall, outplaying Turkoglu again. Without Iguodala, this game would have been a 20-point blowout, easily. On to Game 6, which I have the feeling will be higher-scoring. Thad needs to bounce back with a more physical game against Lewis, and Sam needs to eliminate the needless fouls. Let's just hope it isn't a blowout loss like last year ...
    Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 AM, 04/29/2009
    The bench need to step up there play it been horrible the last two games. and Statman I agree Thad will up and coming is not ready yet. We need Lou more than ever now Miller is running on fumes right now. Iggy I hope you have a triple double in you were going to need it LET GO SIXERS!!!!!
    eric300
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:58 AM, 04/29/2009
    Its not surprising at all that Magic fans say the Sixers are a bad match-up for them. Igoudala is a terrible match-up for a hobbled Torkuglu. Thaddeus Young is longer and more athlectic then Rashard Lewis. And Miller is a terrible match-up for the reed-like Rafer Alston. Also, the Sixers have a better bench although Louis Williams has disappeared which has really hurt that. Sadly though its looks like we are letting a winnable series slip away.
    brannigan73
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:58 AM, 04/29/2009
    Its not surprising at all that Magic fans say the Sixers are a bad match-up for them. Igoudala is a terrible match-up for a hobbled Torkuglu. Thaddeus Young is longer and more athlectic then Rashard Lewis. And Miller is a terrible match-up for the reed-like Rafer Alston. Also, the Sixers have a better bench although Louis Williams has disappeared which has really hurt that. Sadly though its looks like we are letting a winnable series slip away.
    brannigan73


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About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.

ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI

Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.

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