Controlling the initial jump, the Magic fumbled under the basket, missing a two footer by three feet. Dallas countered with a brick. On return trip, Davis laid the first stone, securing his second in 60 seconds flat. Up four to zero, the Mavericks toss another brick.
After grabbing a solid defensive rebound, Afflalo, pretending to work in construction, plastered a sweet one from the side. Dallas hit their first basket after three minutes of blunders.
Seeking a more receptive foundation, Dallas called timeout at the 7:39 point, trailing 14 to 2. Seconds after inbound, the Magic were guilty of a 24-second violation. Fortunately for the home team, Dallas began the evening colder than Alpine in November.
J.J. Redick entered the game at the 4:45 mark and up by 12. Vince arrived for Dallas, swishing his first basket as if he once played on this very court… still not sure the reasoning for his departure.
Within a two-minute stretch, Orlando found their 12 point lead dwindle to three. Calling for a side-line chat, the Magic required a refocus.
Back from their first timeout, the Magic’s Redick rimmed a three point attempt. Elton Brand refused to take “no” for an answer, scoring effortlessly. With even less effort, Orlando missed another opportunity. Feeling the ill-effects of a quick lead, the Magic found themselves quietly down by three with 90 seconds remaining.
Ending the first with complacency, the Magic found themselves down 26 to 24
- Largest lead of the game: Magic held the Mavericks captive by 14
- After an icy start, Dallas morphed into hot, shooting 52%
- Dallas did NOT attempt any free throws throughout the first 12 minutes of play
After Orlando’s dialectic first quarter performance, Vince Carter slashed in for an easy two. Redick, slugging after transition, netted an extended three pointer, lifting the Magic up by one. Not wishing to be a forgotten shadow, Davis hurled an air ball just to hear the sweet sound of his name.
First time out of the second came after three minutes of play and Dallas up 32 to 31.
Little of importance occurred throughout the remainder of the half. As a team, Orlando frolicked like there was a tomorrow. Come to think of it, there will be a tomorrow… so why should the Magic play with anything but competitive pretend, bringing to memory a time in the not-so distant past….
More than a few years ago, Roger Waters and David Gilmour wrote the lyrics to “Comfortably Numb.” For those unfortunate enough to be too young to appreciate Pink Floyd, tonight’s Magic/Maverick game is dedicated to the musically challenged as we entwine lyric and sport into a cross-generational braid.
“Hello,
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?”
How does the first stanza correlate to a game of bouncing balls? Thought you would never ask… Over the past few years the Orlando Magic’s organization, players, staff, and administration, subscribed to a comfortably numb attitude and ethic (on and off the court).
As the first stanza asks: “Is there anybody in there?” Looking at the Magic this season, who is on the court? How does the team play… hard or soft? Hate to be the bearer of objective reality, but I am here to tell it like it is, though you may not like the answer and much prefer selective perception.
Let truth declare without Orlando’s myopic delusion…
After the end of 24 minutes, Orlando accepted personal fate, trailing 57 to 48:
- Dallas made 25 out of 43 shots for an impressive 58%
- Points in the paint: Dallas with 30, Orlando with 12
- Turnovers: Magic led with 7, Mavericks trailed with 4
Second half began with Dirk missing an uncontested jumper. Vucevic responded with a soft left handed hook. After another Dallas miss, Vucevic hit his second in as many tries. After four consecutive misses, the Mavericks tired of mediocrity, stole the ball, and greased a layup as if ready for the chase.
Orlando called their first timeout of the second half after two+ minutes of play, down by ten. Returning from the break, the Magic’s Davis leaned in a 13-footer. After a defensive rebound, Afflalo sliced for a reversal and two points of his own. Another turnover by Dallas and a three-pointer by Nelson suddenly found the lead dwindle to 4. Fifteen seconds later, Nelson tapped in another two… down by two, Dallas called timeout.
Back and forth, two teams of average depth and ability traded blows… neither landing more than a jab now and then. By the time the third shriveled to a crawl, I began to wonder how many more games Redick will play for the Magic.
At the end of 36, Orlando loosened the string, trailing 85 to 75:
- Both teams shot well: Magic hitting 49%, Mavericks at 53%
- Glen Davis led all with 21
Orlando began the fourth with purpose. Their shooting was spot-on. Unfortunately, their defensive play lacked polish. In under three minutes, Orlando skimmed the lead to seven until a momentary lapse overtook concentration and a resulting Maverick run.
Orlando called timeout with 8:44 to play, serving to derail a Dallas run.
Quietly down by 13, Davis cut the lead to 11 with a swooping underhand one foot away. Vince Carter responded with a two; Afflalo replied with a three. Seconds later, leading by ten, two teams broke into their respective corners for a strategic tune-up.
What happened next? You really need to ask…really?
Missing defensive strength, the Magic confirmed suspicion…
After 48 minutes of WTH (if you have to ask, don’t), Orlando Magic finished the evening with 105 while the Dallas Mavericks forgot hospitality and concluded with 111.
With a score in the books, a wall no longer standing, and lyrics refusing exodus, I depart with the final stanza and the knowledge that the Magic are comfortably numb.
“I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I… Have become comfortably numb”
Waiting for a Pulitzer, I am
Danny Huffman
West Orlando News Online Event and Career Columnist
Shadow me on Twitter: @dannyatecs
I truly like the way the article was written and how it makes sense to the people like myself who really don’t understand what ,how, or who is playing it gives us a better prospective of baskeball and the true understanding of what was going on. Thanks Danny Huffman!!
Thank you Sophia for your comments.
I look forward to reading your extended critical evaluation.
It seems to me that the Magic are in desperate need of a leader, a veteran who can lead by example and push these players to their maximum effort. Defense comes with hard work and it seems like these players don’t know the meaning of it. Just playing for a pay check!
This is a very interesting article. I am not a big sports fan but I like how you used humor and the references to Pink Floyd’s song to compare with the Orlando Magic’s performance. I think they need some reorganization within the team and to show more enthusiasm.
Greg and Wanda, it is obvious you two are adept critical thinkers, and I feel confident many great things are in store for you both. Glad you enjoyed the article. Regarding the Magic play, they seem to lack leadership and drive to perform more than the minimum required.
Good article, nice way to explain the game to beginners. The Magics are coming along.
Hey Huffman, not a bad article. Do you do other games? Well i guess if you need one or two words to describe the Orlando Magic, “comfortably numb” would unfortunately describe there current track record. See you in class.
Hey, I totally agree with the analogy of the Orlando Magic being comfortably numb. The lack of intensity is obvious. The fact that they had a substantial lead over the Mavericks and losing the way they did is pitiful.
see you in class Teach. my name is Marcello Gonzalez. That last post was mine. Forgot to put my name.
Like the article I totally agree with you 100% about Magic they don’t have an pulse along with no heart. It’s seems like this franchise is an accident waiting to happen. Unable to keep an superstar over the years.
Good article. I think the Orlando magic have some critical thinking to do. being comfortably numb it’s not going to help . They have to get out from the dark side of the ball and move on to the yellow brick road and do some serious achievements. Maybe if they use the W.I.S.E. approach, The Orlando Magic will have a wonderful conclusion.
It seems to me that every time we get a good thing going with the Magic, someone leaves shortly thereafter so we never really get a great quality team for any lengthy period of time so the team can get in sync and gel. It’s hard to keep building up a team, keeping a captive audience and then letting someone go and have to start over again.
TOMMIE HILL
February 11, 2013 at 5:03pm
Olando Magic has become a team with no motive to acheive their goal in
winning the NBA tittle.Without a leader for their team, they can not
rely on each other for support. Numb is totally the word to use when
there is no star.The author correlated the team effort with Pink,
meaning there’s no one home, please answer the door and acknowledge
that we are here and hard to handle.
I agree with this article. Numb is a good word to describe this team they do not seem eager to want to make it to the top they are very much comfortable with how they perform. It’s like they lost the passion for the game.
Nelly Coro
While obvious sports jargon usage is somewhat confusing to a baskeball novice, the Pink Floyd verbiage analogy is perfectly clear indicating the author’s reaction to the game’s season. This is an interesting insightful article from someone intricately familiar with the team, its players and history.
Mr Huffman I loves some of your verbs you used such as swished and slashed. It make it very exciting, for those sports fans.
The fact is that I hate basketball. I think it was a well written article but I could not really get in to it. Sorry don’t give me a F.
Good article even it took me time to understand it and I’m not a sports fun but yeah I think Orlando magic needs to work more and think critically in order to be successful. Paola Holguin
ctsportsmom aka C. Taylor, As a sports fan not and not a true Magic fan, I felt the article didn’t flow, it seemed kinda choppy.
We all know that the Magics lost Dwight so it’s expected for them to flip flop a little. But do to repeated complacency they lack team work and management isn’t making matters any better. This article is comical and good, but cut them a little slack if their management could teach them a little bit about data triangulation while watching plays they would correct errors extensively to become more selective in their plays on the court.
Thanks K. Williams
Basketball isn’t really entrusting to me but it has a nice.flow!