Inconsistency, thy name is Orlando.
After the Magic posted a huge come from behind victory against the Miami Heat on Thursday, Orlando looked to keep the good fortune going against the 42-18 Chicago Bulls.
Unfortunately for the Magic, Chicago had other plans as they dropped Orlando 89 -81. MVP hopeful Dwight Howard had a respectable showing as he posted 20 points and 10 rebounds while point guard Jameer Nelson added 14 points six assists and Brandon Bass and Jason Richardson both chipped in with 16 points a piece.
In the end Orlando’s ineptness on the glass was what killed any chances the team had at winning. Chicago’s bigs beasted everything the Magic had to offer as the Bulls Omer Asik, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah all had at least 6 rebounds in aiding Chicago to reach 50 total boards for the night.
The Magic’s best effort came from Howard as he hauled in 10.
But as Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy said in his post game press conference, they just didn’t get the job done on the glass.
“They had three guys with five offensive rebounds and we don’t have a guy with more than five defensive rebounds. We didn’t get the job done on the glass and we all deserve a lot of the blame there and that’s where the entire game was decided,” added coach Van Gundy when asked why his team had such a bad night rebounding.
The bad news started early for the Magic as center Dwight Howard was whistled for his 16th technical foul late in the first half. Pending league review Howard will be suspended one game, possibly for Monday’s contest against Portland, and fined $5,000 dollars. Needless to say, Coach Stan wasn’t too pleased.
When asked about Dwight’s 16th tech Stan stated that he “didn’t want to give the league $35,000 dollars.” Stan is referring to the fine amount he would be subjected to if he were to give his honest opinion about the way his star player is treated by league officials.
For the visiting team, Chicago’s Derrick Rose finished with 24 points and four assists as he continues to make his case for the league’s best player. Rose scored 10 of his game high 24 in the first quarter to bring the Bulls back from their largest deficit of the game, which was eight points.
In the loss Orlando had six second chance points to Chicago’s 23, the Magic shot a paltry 26 percent from three point land while the Bulls landed 36% of their three bombs.
Orlando lives and dies by the three point shot and tonight they were laid to rest.
Next up for the Magic are the Portland Trailblazers at the Amway Center. That game is scheduled for a 7pm tip-off.
