Give every fan a noise maker for each hand and what do you get? Well you know the answer to that. The crowd at the Amway arena had a lot to cheer about during Orlando’s 112-98 defeat of Atlanta Tuesday night. But talks of a second round sweep might not be so loud for the next couple of days.
The first quarter was full of high-flying action, putting fans on their feet in raucous support of the home team. What the crowd was missing as the Magic put 32 points on the board in the opening act was that they allowed the Hawks to walk away with 27 points of their own. 27 points. In the first quarter. That means Orlando gave up more than a third of the points they allowed in game one in the first 12 minutes.
While this lapse might have been lost on the fans, Atlanta capitalized on it and two minutes into the second quarter the Hawks produced the first lead change of the game. When they are in control, Atlanta plays a different game, slowing down the pace, using up the clock, taking their time, and setting their shots. About half way through the second, the first cries of “De-fense….De-fense…” swept through the Arena, almost like everyone finally remembered that was an important aspect of the game as well.
Everyone but the Hawks, who had already figured it out. They didn’t lead by more than eight in the first half, but they only allowed the Magic 17 points to their 30 in the second quarter. Needless to say, Atlanta showed up in game two and made a stand. Orlando went to the locker rooms trailing 49-57 at the half.
The third quarter was a back and forth tug-of-war between the two teams, producing nine lead changes and loads of nails chewed to the quick in the packed stands. Fans were jostled between moans and groins and boisterous celebrations. A buzzer-beating three-point shot by Jameer Nelson put the Magic up by one going into the last act.
In the final quarter, Orlando did not disappoint the fans who had endured on the edge-of-their seats thus far. With seven minutes left, they captured a double-digit lead, the first of the night. By the time the scoreboard read 109-92 with three minutes left to the play, the stands started to clear as people got a head start home. Only a half-empty arena saw the final seconds click off the clock and the 112-98 final score, but it was a happy night in Orlando all the same.
Yet, the Hawks certainly gave the Magic some things to think about and some things to work on before the game three match-up in Atlanta.
The same team that set a new record for three-pointers made in a season only put down 39% of their attempts in this game. Did Atlanta find the answer for Orlando’s outside game? Does it matter? Four starters still put 20 points or more on the board with Dwight Howard leading the pack at 29.
No, the more important question is can Coach Stan Van Gundy find the same recipe on defense the Magic had in game one or will they allow Al Horford and Jamal Crawford to combine for another 47 points all on their own?
As the Magic go on the road, talks of sweeps might be quieter today, but down by two in the series, Atlanta still has a lot of work to do.
Kimberly Sarmiento
