The Magic keep the score close, but lose their 8th game in a row. The New Jersey Nets beat the Orlando Magic 96-93. Carlos Arroyo played big minutes and closed out the game for the Magic. Arroyo just missed a late three point shot that would have sent the game into overtime. I was happy tosee Arroyo get 25+ minutes of playing time. Dwight Howard picked up two early fouls and did not play much in the first half. In the second half, Howard was not very effective on the boards.
Two main reasons the Magic lose this game. Number one is free throw shooting; they shot 19 for 31. That is ridiculous. Second reason is turnovers. Now, the Magic ended up with 16 turnovers - but I will give them credit here. At least 5 of those were offensive fouls and not ball mishandling.
On another note - who do I have to call to get Darko Milicic in the game? Are you kidding me? 0 minutes? Has someone fallen and hit their head? Pat Garrity was on the floor for 21 minutes; Mario Kasun for 8 minutes. Keyon Dooling gets a career-high 23 points in 42 minutes. Stacey Augmon plays 37 minutes - which I think doubled his minutes for the year. And Milicic does not play at all?
The fans are being robbed. Maybe not for this year, but in the years to come. This season is a wash. PLAY THE KID!!! If he fails miserably in the next 30 games - so what.
Friday night, I want to see Arroyo start at the point and Milicic first off the bench. Make it happen.
I don't understand why they didn't play Darko last night? Like you said, who cares if he looks bad could he be any worse than Augmon? Garrity? Come on, don't squash the kids psyche in the first couple of weeks he is with the team.
I agree. Let the kid play - I mean, Travis Diener plays more than Darko. I know a lot of people like Diener - but he's a waste of a roster spot. We don't need another short, under performing point guard (or any position for that matter) on this team.
D-A-R-K-0. D-A-R-K-O... come on everyone, let's start the DARKO chant...
Ya know, NJ is not a half bad team and for the magic to keep it that close w/ a 9 man skeleton crew is at least slightly encouraging. Rebuilding is sure a four letter word around here, but if it must be done we are doing it right. Even with extensions for Jameer and Dwight next summer, we will be able to pay big bucks to someone like Rashard Lewis. How we do in this years draft will also be a good indicator of things to come i think....
I'll take the rebuilding process - so long as they come out and say it. The team had great support in the Heart and Hustle days.
I'm holding out for Paul Pierce - maybe even get him in some kind of sign-and-trade deal packaging our 1st rounder for him. Not sure on the details of it, I'd have to dig in to it more. But, anyhow - it'd be nice to have a Lewis or Pierce alongside the group we have going so far.
By the way, I don't think Darko's lack of minutes are a negative, even with our thin roster. For all practical purposes, he is still a European rookie-he has nba bench time, but very very little court experience. His minutes are going to come, but it doesn't do anyone any good to throw him out there without knowing the plays. A vet like arroyo can pick up those things, but Darko's got to have a half dozen practices under his belt before he'll look comfortable in our scheme. Just a comment.
I like paul pierce's game alot, but he's in his prime years now and I'd be hesitant to give him a big contract in his late twenties- it hamstrings you in the future having a 34 yr old shooting guard making max $$$$.
I hear what you're saying about Darko - but still, come on - at least give the kid a couple minutes in each half. It's more the jesture that counts. Honestly, is Mario Kasun really running through any plays out there?
Who knows about Paul Pierce or Rashard Lewis? I just hope we're able to attract a couple big names. One big contract for a shooting guard and then a couple role players that want to win a championship.