Orlando will win Game 2, if …
If you take a look at the way Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy chose to use their players in Game 1 of this series, it should be clear to see what Orlando needs to do this evening in order to head to Boston, for Game 3, tied 1-1:
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PLAYER USAGE, GAME 1
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Orlando Magic |
Boston Celtics |
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Pos |
PLAYER |
MP |
Pos |
PLAYER |
MP |
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STARTERS |
|||||
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PG OG |
Rondo R-Allen |
46 40 |
PG OG |
Nelson Carter |
38 41 |
|
SF |
Pierce |
42 |
SF |
Barnes |
15 |
|
PF C |
Garnett Perkins |
34 26 |
PF C |
Lewis Howard |
42 39 |
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KEY SUBS |
|||||
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G |
T-Allen |
17 |
PG |
Williams |
10 |
|
|
|
|
OG |
Redick |
19 |
|
SF |
Pietrus |
20 |
|||
|
PF |
Davis |
15 |
|
? |
? |
|
C |
Wallace |
20 |
|
Gortat |
14 |
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RESERVES |
|||||
|
PG |
Robinson |
DNP |
PG |
Johnson |
DNP |
|
G/F G/F |
Finley Daniels |
1 DNP |
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|
|
|
PF |
Williams |
DNP |
PF |
Bass |
DNP |
|
|
|
|
PF |
Anderson |
DNP |
BACK-UP GUARD
Although JJ Redick can do an adequate job, defensively, chasing Ray Allen around, using him for 19 minutes against a team like Boston – specifically, at the Off Guard position – significantly reduces Orlando’s overall effectiveness, when it comes to any “help & rotate”, “switch” or “rebounding” situation.
SMALL FORWARD
Matt Barnes, at the best of times, is ill-suited to match-up with an ultra-physical multi-dimensional player like Paul Pierce.
BIGS
Boston has decided to beat on – and beat up – Dwight Howard with a “4 Bigs” rotation of Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace. As long as SVG elects to only use a 3-man rotation of D-12, Rashard Lewis and Marcin Gortat, Orlando is going to come out on the short end of positional match-up.
Instead of following this recipe for disaster in Game 2, what Orlando needs to do instead is:
BACK-UP GUARD
Match up Vince Carter vs Ray Allen, almost exclusively; and, then use, either, Jason Williams or JJ Redick vs Tony Allen, but NOT both of them.
SMALL FORWARD
Insert Mickael Pietrus [6-6, 215] into their starting line-up, beside Vince Carter; and, match him up, almost exclusive, with Pierce [6-7, 235].
BIGS
Use D-12 [vs Perkins or Wallace], Rashard Lewis [vs Garnett or Wallace], Marcin Gortat [vs Perkins] and, either, Brandon Bass [vs Davis] or Ryan Anderson [vs Wallace], in a “4 Bigs” rotation.
If SVG and Co. make these adjustments tonight, then, the Magic should be able to even their series with the Celtics … AND cover the number [i.e. -7/-105], in the process.
Tags: Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Orlando Magic, Stan Van Gundy
May 18th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Orlando just took a tough loss, Howard stepped up but the Boston front court seems like it’s too much. Heading back to Boston now I think it’s way too hard for the Orlando to get back in the series let alone win it. The Magic just don’t have a clear cut leader and can’t match up against the Celtics especially with how well Rondo is playing.
May 19th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Magic in 6
May 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am
UDL90,
1. Welcome aboard!
2. Orlando is still quite capable of winning games in Boston. If they’re going to do this, however, they will need to implement the adjustments I’ve mentioned in this entry.
If they fail to do this … then, unfortunately for Magic fans, they will not be advancing to the NBA Finals this year.
Boston is playing too well right now … for Orlando to win games while [i] giving heavy minutes to players like Matt Barnes and JJ Redick over Mickael Pietrus, and [ii] sitting out players like Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass.
Similar to Boston’s series vs Cleveland, thus far, Doc Rivers is significantly out-coaching his counterpart.
May 19th, 2010 at 9:42 am
dean p,
1. Welcome aboard!
2. It is highly unlikely that Orlando is going to win the next 4 games in this series.