Boston at Orlando

Cloudy Currently: Orlando, FL
Temp: 66° F
  • Game info: 7:00 pm EDT Thu May 14, 2009
  • TV: ESPN

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer May 13, 6:39 pm EDT

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) wants the ball more. Stan Van Gundy is telling fans not to panic, and some Orlando Magic players think their series with Boston should already be over.

Orlando seems to be teetering on a Magic Meltdown.

Howard met with Van Gundy and apologized Wednesday—but did not retract his statements—after publicly challenging the coach’s strategy in their Game 5 collapse. The Magic center even added another bold comment as the Celtics look to close out Orlando in Game 6 Thursday and move on to the Eastern Conference finals.

“We can’t give up hope,” Howard said Wednesday. “We’re in this series to win it. We are going to win this series.”

That will take quite a turnaround.

It was the second time during these playoffs Howard has questioned why the Magic coach doesn’t run more of the offense through him, with the latest being the loudest and most direct. The two met privately Wednesday before the team’s film session and said they resolved their differences.

“Getting the ball shouldn’t be a big issue for me,” Howard said. “There’s more ways to dominate the game than scoring. Me and coach, we talked about that. I just can’t let my frustrations get to the point where I’ll say anything.”

Howard’s comments come in a season where Shaquille O’Neal(notes) criticized Van Gundy, his former coach with the Miami Heat. O’Neal, who openly complained about coaching decisions following Miami’s Game 7 loss to Detroit in the 2005 Eastern Conference finals, went as far as calling Van Gundy a “master of panic” and a “frontrunner” after the Magic coach insisted O’Neal flopped in a game in March.

Howard’s comments have caused enough uproar in Orlando that Van Gundy even suggested Wednesday that any Magic fans starting to panic need to keep their cool.

“If you’re an Orlando fan and you consider a loss like that on Boston’s home court humiliating, it probably speaks more to the fact that you haven’t seen enough playoff series around here in a long time,” Van Gundy said. “That kind of panic wouldn’t exist in cities that are used to having teams in tough playoff series year after year after year.”

The Celtics have to feel confident.

The defending champions took Game 4 on a jumper by Glen “Big Baby” Davis as time expired, rallied in Game 5 despite struggling for most of the night and have the Magic on the brink of elimination. Boston is 32-0 when it takes a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series.

“Are we fortunate to be ahead in this series? Yes,” Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine(notes). “Like Kevin Garnett(notes) says, ‘We make our own luck here in Boston.”’

The Celtics failed to close out the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 in their first-round series, a triple-overtime epic. The Celtics are 17-3 in Games 7s at home.

And watching the Magic’s infighting can only be more satisfying.

“Are we inside their heads?” Davis asked. “It’s still a series. We’ve got to go into their house where they’ll be fighting for their lives.”

Orlando’s problems all seem to revolve around Howard.

He didn’t take a shot after hitting a running hook with 6:50 remaining. He finished with 12 points on just 10 shots, with few touches late in the game. Then he fired off at Van Gundy’s strategy afterward.

“I will say it’s tough to win when all season long you play inside out and you trust one of the people that got you off to a good season,” Howard said after Game 5. “I think I’m capable of scoring in the post, so you know, I just don’t think 10 shots, I don’t wanna say it’s all about offense. You gotta dominant player, let him be dominant.”

Van Gundy did not take the comments lightly.

He insisted that Howard needs to be more adamant about demanding the ball with his play and would like to see his center maintain a high effort. While Van Gundy said he doesn’t let criticism bother him, he admitted he would like to keep those differences internal.

“Would you rather he didn’t say those things? Absolutely,” Van Gundy said. “At the same time, in some ways you’d be disappointed that there wasn’t any frustration after (Game 5). Now you got to put that frustration away and channel it in such a way that you’ll be ready to play.”

AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed to this story.

Updated May 13, 6:39 pm EDT
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Boston 62-20 1st Atlantic / 2nd East 100.9 93.4 Road 27-14 Won 2 8-2
Orlando 59-23 1st Southeast / 3rd East 101.0 94.4 Home 32-9 Won 1 5-5

Notes

F Kevin Garnett spent the entire game on the bench, mostly standing. In the opener, he was there for the first half but stayed in the locker room after intermission. ... Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Justin Masterson attended the game. Masterson was the winning pitcher in a 12-1 victory over Baltimore on Monday, allowing one run in 5 1-3 innings. ... Owner Wyc Grousbeck was at the game after finishing the Boston Marathon earlier Monday in 4:16:49. He sat next to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Apr 20, 11:42 pm EDT

April 22 C Dwight Howard's previous playoff high was 29 points against the Raptors in the first round last year. He had 31 points and 16 rebounds in his 15th career playoff game. ... Central Florida resident and the Magic's most famous fan, Tiger Woods, was sitting at his courtside seat across from Philadelphia's bench. ... F Rashard Lewis had missed the last three games with right knee tendinitis. F Hedo Turkoglu had been sidelined for the last two games with a sprained left ankle.

Apr 19, 10:33 pm EDT
NBA

152 Comments

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  1. Jessica
    152. Posted by Jessica Mon May 18 12:26am EDT

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    Boston lost....Celtic fans just crawl back into your hole.
  2. <i>rhorho_321</i>
    151. Posted by rhorho_321 Sun May 17 4:15am EDT

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    Hell yeah boston celtics...magic better watch out...cuz we got this on lock, game 7's are our times to take baby!!! i love boston celtics!!!
  3. Celtic hater
    150. Posted by Celtic hater Fri May 15 5:30pm EDT

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    Hey Gator Man and Bravefan0184,

    You guys are exactly right, last nights game the Celtics had 3 people mugging D. Howard under the basket, 1st mauling your like where's the foul. Then they mug him again and then he finally gets a call. I guess the refs will probably letting them get away with bringing a gun into the game and shooting other people or players now and not even getting called for a foul. The refs let the Celts get away with murder.

    On the defensive end, the Magic barely fart on their players and we get a foul. Oh yeah I see how that is fare, I forgot they are the defending champs and the refs are using every tactic they know to help them.
  4. Jose
    149. Posted by Jose Fri May 15 4:56pm EDT

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    damn! 23 and 22!! Dwight howard is a monster yo! Celtics better find a way to stop that mutha@#$%a!
  5. Kenneth
    147. Posted by Kenneth Fri May 15 3:58pm EDT

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    GO CELTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and Ray Allen
  6. Kenneth
    146. Posted by Kenneth Fri May 15 3:58pm EDT

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    GO CELTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and Ray Allen
  7. banks
    145. Posted by banks Fri May 15 3:14pm EDT

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    bravefan0184 ..
    well my friend..we dont lose in boston..thats all i gotta sayfor you..and who is more of a cry baby that dwight coward..dat big thing crys at every call..wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.waaaaaaaaahhh..and you fools call him superman..lol
  8. shayne hubby
    144. Posted by shayne hubby Fri May 15 2:39pm EDT

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    Go magic!!!!!!!!!!!
  9. <i>numbersgame57</i>
    143. Posted by numbersgame57 Fri May 15 2:36pm EDT

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    As soon as I saw Dick Bavetta I knew Orlando would be OK. Every time I see Bavetta I know there can be something fishy going on. Remember he was at the famous LA-Sacramento Game 6 in '02. In this case it was either Game 7 or a dark night on Sunday for the NBA. Orlando played well and deserved to win, but how can they be +18 in FT attempts last night and -9 on Tuesday night in Boston? Was the game played that differently to explain a swing of 27 in FT attempts?
  10. Cult Spyder
    142. Posted by Cult Spyder Fri May 15 2:27pm EDT

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    No way the Magic bench is better than the Cavs who have Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Szczerbiak, Pavlovic, and Gibson coming off the bench. All have been starters in the league. You are also jumping to wild conclusions if you think the best defending team in the NBA can not find a way to defend the Magic. The Magic have played inconsistently all playoffs, when did you all suddenly start believing them to be unbeatable?
  11. <i>watson.alexander20</i>
    141. Posted by watson.alexander20 Fri May 15 2:14pm EDT

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    Go orlando magic dwight howard please do me a favor and dunk on somebody for me orlando do your best next game
  12. gator man
    140. Posted by gator man Fri May 15 2:12pm EDT

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    eugene, how do you figure the refs are helping the magic? Did Magic shoot an airball to get overturned, shoot a two pointer that got called a three, get hammered down the stretch and not get any calls their way? Not to mention the previous series where Miller gets punched in the face, kirk gets thrown in to the scorers table, plus Petris gets elbowed in the neck and no suspension. Last time I looked two magic players got suspended and 0 for Boston. True, you guys are playing w/out Garnett but Magic are playing w/out Nelson who averages more points a game, and has just an important presence as garnett. Its going to be a good game 7 hopefully the refs will let them play...
  13. <i>bravefan0184</i>
    139. Posted by bravefan0184 Fri May 15 2:08pm EDT

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    I can not stand the celtics. Pierce is such a winer it isnt even funny. He cries to the refs about fouls they call on him, bue he well run into a player and act like her got hammered to get a foul called. Oh and Big baby they call him hes having his career series. I guess every player has there moment even when they suck as bad as he really does. @#$% the celtics Magic will win game 7. Oh yea one more thing Keven Garnett that @#$% has talked so much @#$% this series its not funny. If the Magic win Howard should get in his face and tell him whats up! LATE!!
  14. JohnnyBlue
    138. Posted by JohnnyBlue Fri May 15 2:06pm EDT

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    U can't call urself dominant when ur the 3rd option on ur team. Dominant players go for about 30 consistently. Superdud is just a screen-setter. He only had like 3 blocked shots and big baby went to town last game. Howard the Dud is most overrated player in the NBA. All hype. C'mon, the guy only dropped 23, and he carried the team? How many touches did he get in the waning minutes of this game? NONE. How many big shots does this guy take and make? NONE. He's not all that.
  15. Reggid R
    137. Posted by Reggid R Fri May 15 1:46pm EDT

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    Why is everyone acting like Dwight Howard played a great game? That was the WORST 20-20 game in the history of organized basketball. The guy plays 2 feet from the rim, but he throws up brick after brick, and his horrible free-throw shooting should have and would have cost Orlando the game, except Boston decided they wanted to suck even worse than Orlando in the last 4 minutes. Howard can rebound and dunk -- and that's it. He can't shoot from even 3 feet, and he can't pass. He's completely one-dimensional. Oh, but got his "touches" -- LOL -- as if that had anything to do with the win.
  16. Ebonypoolplaya
    136. Posted by Ebonypoolplaya Fri May 15 1:44pm EDT

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    Orlando definitely got a gift last nite! If Turkoglu made his last attempt on a 3 ball! Game 7, Orlando must come out with a ton of energy and make smart plays with the basketball! A.K.A. playing inside out! Keep feeding Dwight Howard! We haven't shot the ball well this series so I find it hard to believe we'll continue to keep shooting the 3-ball poorly! There are too many good shooters! on our team! Let's go handle our business in Game 7 MAGIC!
  17. Steven
    135. Posted by Steven Fri May 15 1:40pm EDT

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    p.young64 - you are so right, the Orlando Magic will win Boston and Cavs, as they have no answer to Dwight Howard. And where can you find two 6-10 forwards who can shoot the ball so well?
    Orlando all the way manz!!
  18. <i>jewbanksstephen</i>
    134. Posted by jewbanksstephen Fri May 15 1:23pm EDT

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    yea @#$% ya bouta lose ta ray allen
  19. <i>p.young64</i>
    133. Posted by p.young64 Fri May 15 1:10pm EDT

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    In the Cavs 2 losses vs Orlando, James went 10 for 27 (23pts) and 7 for 20 (26pts), pretty pathetic shooting or great defense. In thier one win at home, the cavs had to be bailed out by the refs in the final seconds, Howard was called for a 3 second violation which was one of the quickest 3 seconds in league history, james did have 43 points /half of the points scored by the Cavs. Orlando has a better bench and the cavs can't stop Dwight, Hedo nor Lewis which had big points in all three games.
  20. Eugene L
    132. Posted by Eugene L Fri May 15 1:08pm EDT

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    come on game seven hero you have to come in and shoot the ball well ray ray you have the heart to do it .and pierce needs you to be affective and help him. perkins and big baby need to hit the boards and block and do the low post stuff .and get open to be affective. rondo keep doing what you have been doing . not so many turn overs and fouls guys play smart you know reffs are calling bull calls so just play to win. i say celtics win 95 ta 89
  21. DAY W
    131. Posted by DAY W Fri May 15 1:08pm EDT

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    I tell ya one thing... the media needs to get off ofHowards log because players are out there on the court... not the coach. Granted he sees the floor in total, but howard has a point. if your 5 guys out there are getting the job done, why are you pulling people. When The celts played the bulls, and Salmons was hot, miller was hot, Gordon... all them cats were hot.. did Vinny Del negro pull them??? No! Keep Bussin Pierce's a$$.
    The media is getting on howard and twisting his comments to say that he wants the ball more and he's crying. NO! that was Jalen Rose bum a$$ saying that. Clearly he missed the point of what howard was trying to say, I guess thats why he's not playing. But back to howard.. he wasnt crying, he just said Van Gundy has to understand that if a group is getting the job done, leave them out there. People wanna drag howard thru the mud... and I'm glad he responded with a 20 pt 20 rebound game! Take that b!tc#e$!!
  22. consciousone
    130. Posted by consciousone Fri May 15 12:57pm EDT

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    Check this out......RONDO had sex with a BIG BABY & then asked if he could PIERCE his belly button so the two queers could walk down the street 2gether & catch a RAY of sunshine before they go back 2 the whoreHOUSE & play with each other's MARBURY.....and then they will catch a new disease called SCALABRINE!!!! F*ck the Celtics!!!!
  23. Shawn
    129. Posted by Shawn Fri May 15 12:46pm EDT

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    well my 2 cents good win for Otown last nite but they only player that svg is worry about right now is ray ray he know that there is a 35pt game somewhre in him and dont be surprise if it is on sunday shooting lights out all nite.
  24. Eugene L
    128. Posted by Eugene L Fri May 15 12:40pm EDT

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    i agree with donnie but they say celtics fans are whinny look at the faker fans they have all there stars playing and are still losing whe dont have powe or garrnet and the guys are playing good off the bench bigg baby didnt have a good game but i look 4 rondo ray ray pierce and bigg baby to cum up bigg on sunday they did the same thing last year and won a championship granite they had kevin and powe but i look for them to surprise people this year bigger than last year
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