The Lakers offense have been punishing Orlando for the last three games. All I can say is that the Orlando’s defense is struggling, badly.
The Magic played great in Game Three of the NBA Playoffs.
Dwight Howard was hitting way more free throws tan Kobe Bryant imagined. Then there was the record-setting 62.5 percent shooting.
Mikael Pietrus was owning the Lakers D, while Rashard Lewis was doing what he does best: three-point shooting.
It was Orlando’s night but, however, they almost lost. The Lakers offense was great too, shooting close to 50 percent in their last three games.
Sure, the Magic won, but they barely got away with it. They could have lost this game, easily.John Hollinger of ESPN says that the Orlando’s defense is struggling against the Lakers offense.
I agree.
So I, with a little help from John, will see the struggling defense of this Magic squad.
Let’s get a move on, shall we?
You might think I am a little crazy for saying the Magic’s defense is sloppy because they have Dwight Howard on the team, a goofy fellow who won the Defensive Player of the Year Award this year.
But if you have seen the Finals, they have been pretty bad.
Hollinger found out that the Magic’s D is number one in defensive efficiency and number two in playoff defensive efficiency.
Pretty good, huh?
But compare that against the Lakers third-ranked offensive efficiency. Even though the Suns and Blazers are ahead of them in that category, look who’s made the furthest.
Compare this: The Lakers average 109.8 points per 100 possessions. The Magic give up 98.9 points per 100 possessions.
And the Lakers have been dominant throughout the Finals, averaging 102 points per game, compared towards the Magic’s 93.Now you see where I am getting?
But it could be like what Bull4Ever said on one of my recaps when the Magic beat the Lakers, 108-104:
I’m sensing just another Dallas/Miami Finals, if y’all ask me, where
Orlando comes from down 2-0 and winning this series in six. And we all know
Orlando will win tonight no matter what happens during the next 3
games.
I could agree.
But if the Magic keep doing what they are doing with their defense, it WILL cost them an NBA Finals title.