Magic Deliver Postseason Message
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April 4, 2009
ORLANDO -- The Magic sent a clear message to the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff contenders on Friday; watch out.
After nearly two weeks of lackadaisical starts, Orlando came out with a distinct sense of purpose and dismantled the league-leading Cavaliers, 116-87, at Amway Arena.
If there was any talk still lingering about the Magic not being able to contend with the top teams in the NBA, it was surely erased in front of national audience on ESPN.
"That’s what it's going to take going into the playoffs," the Magic's Dwight Howard explained about his team's effort against Cleveland. "I was kind of upset about losing, but we're going to lose games. It's how we're going to come back from it. We came back and got a good win."
The Cavaliers came into the contest as the league's best defensive team, allowing only 90.9 points per game. But the Magic outhustled them on the glass and forced them to take jumpers from the perimeter. When Cleveland missed, Orlando quickly broke out into its transition offense, moved the ball and put points on the board. In total seven Magic players scored in double figures.
"That's the way we have to play from start to finish," Magic point guard Rafer Alston said after the game. "Come out and set the tone and pace of the game, get up and down the court and get into the game defensively. Let our defense feed our offense instead of trying to do it the other way around."
After the team's loss to the Raptors on Wednesday, a number of Magic players questioned their collective effort and focus heading into games.
So before a highly-anticipated matchup against Cleveland, Orlando called a players only meeting to try and right the ship.
Howard explained to the media before the game that he was looking for an increased focus during shootarounds and warmups to prevent slow starts in the first and third quarters.
His method translated into results on the court.
"Our meeting yesterday really helped," said the All-Star center, who notched 20 points and 11 rebounds. "Everybody came into shootaround focused and ready to go."
His teammate echoed his sentiment.
"We kind of slacked off a little bit and everybody has to pick it up," explained All-Star forward Rashard Lewis, who led Orlando with 22 points. "Look at yourself in the mirror; there's no pointing fingers. If everybody does there job to make this team better, we should overall become better."
With the playoffs right around the corner, the Magic realize it's going to take this type of effort every single night if they hope to bring a championship to Orlando.
"You have to play defense in the playoffs," Lewis said in the locker room following the matchup. "I think that's going to be the key to winning ballgames. Our opponents are going to know what we're running and we're going to know what they're doing. So we have to play good defense."
If the Magic can bring that type of focus and energy into the postseason, no team is going to want to face them, including the Cavaliers.
"They are a tough matchup for us because they've got a lot of guys that can spread the court," MVP candidate LeBron James admitted. "We try to control the interior and they've got a lot of guys that can shoot, so they kind of exploit us."
It appears that the Cavaliers heard the Magic’s message loud and clear.
