1st Preseason Game - Hawks @ Magic, 10/8, 7 PM, Amway Arena

Photoshopped? No.

Dwight's form looks good. If he develops consistency and gains confidence on that jumper he will be unstoppable.

He looks like a young and more athletic version of Patrick Ewing on that jumper.

This post has been edited by gomagic33 on Oct. 8, 2007 09:31 PM

[Shameless plug]I've got the recap post up over at the new Third Quarter Collapse. Update your bookmarks.[/shameless plug]

I voted that I was indifferent to tonight's loss. I mean, I can't just go and say I'm not even a tiny bit concerned about losing to the Hawks, but we were beating them most of the game until the end when SVG put in a bunch of 3rd stringers.

But still, Arroyo was craptacular in the clutch, so yeah, a little bit concerned. Also, the fact that Bogans didn't do much, when he's supposedly going to be our starting SG...

Got a few pictures and a 5-minute (sorry a lot of delays) video with the last moments of the game from Section 105.

'Shard scared me a bit as he stayed on the court for a while, but walked around on his own power (never went back to the locker room, just sat himself on the bench). Still did good considering he got injured I believe in the 2nd quarter.

Dwight was a beast as he was scoring in single, double, and triple coverage.
HE'S MAKING HIS FREE THROWS. Props to the free throw coach (who has a youtube video somewhere of Dwight making 50 straight free throws during the summer) for changing Dwight's free throw shooting as he now doesn't hesitate when he's about to go up to release his shot, it's all one quick and fluid motion. :clapping:

ARROYO CHOKED THE GAME AWAY IN THE LAST 2 MINUTES (As the video will show). Still, Stan wasn't too concerned about the last few minutes of the game as he stuck with a lineup of Arroyo, Ariza, Torrell Martin, Gortat, and Augustine.

ARROYO, HEDO, AND TREVOR COULDN'T HIT FREE THROWS OR JUMPERS TONIGHT (Stan will punish them for that). ADONAL AND DWIGHT SHOT SUPERBLY FROM THE LINE.

Trevor was getting killed going up to the hole whether he got fouled or got blocked (he still doesn't have the explosiveness he had early last year). Hopefully it's just him getting back in playing shape.

ADONAL FOYLE!!! :noworthy: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON, THE GUY IS FOR REAL!! He's a banger and I love how he chugs down the floor. :lmao: Showed us that offense too with a few hook shots.

Back to Dwight: HE MADE 4 JUMP SHOTS BETWEEN ABOUT 12-17 FEET!!! :clapping:

Gortat only had one jump shot and barely missed, but he at least showed that hustle along with Augustine on both ends of the court.
James couldn't make a jump shot but he did pretty good in the paint using the backboard (missed a gimme that SVG will rub in his face).

I'm proud of Jameer, didn't force anything (except last shot of the 1st half) and just looked to pass to the other weapons on the court (Great alley-oop to Dwight in the 3rd quarter).

JJ had both his good and bad moments where his shot would look fluid, then he'd get packed in the paint (stay to running to a spot on the court).

Torrell Martin is FAST AS HELL! :shocked: That dunk at the end was special too.



Can't feel too bad about the loss as I blame Carlos (held on to the ball too much throughout the game again; at least he had some nifty assists).
We were ahead after each of the 3 quarters, so no problems there.
Also Atlanta kept starters in at the end.


WILL GLADLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

This really jumped out at me in your post. Its gotta be the most important thing to the season. Dwight sure happens to look like an absolute beast out there, most likely because of the Olympic Games this offseason. But anyway, its most important that he make those free throws and learn that jumpshot because thats how he will cut his turnovers. Instead of standing in the lane he can back up a little more and either take the jump shot or scare the coach into staying with 1on1 coverage instead of doubling. If this can be consistent (his jumpshot that is), then we shoud see his ppg go up, double teams still will come, but most importantly his turnovers will go down. Of course his passing out of the double teams is equally important to getting those turnovers down.

I thought he had some big defensive potential and im just hoping to god that he can take battie spot because we need a guy who can do the things battie did. Losing a guy of his caliber and a leader like him is worse than many are thinking. But having adonal step up is a blessing and i sure am on the bandwagon!

Yeah by the radio and stats, it sure seemed like Trevor was having a tough time. Hopefully were just looking at him getting back into game shape because he is our X factor. If he can get back to the way he played last season, and get himself a nice jump shot, then we have an all star in the making you can quote me on it.

TOs werent too bad but they still have alot of work to do in that category but SVG looks to be on the right page so far there.

Free throws, free throws, free throws.... boys boys... how hard do you have to make it... Man it just sucks so bad to have the "easiest" shots go to waste. We have great shooters who cant stand still and make them in for anything. SVG said that the big men shot a better percent from the stripe than the wing players and guards did.

Leaned on Arroyo too much at the end. But with Ariza, Augustine, Gortat and MArtin. They really had no choice. Gortat or Augustine wouldn't roll on the pick and role, and Ariza looked disinterested. Of course everyone failed to mention that arroyo played well most of the game. Not to concerned about the arroyo's bad plays towards the end as he probablly wouldnt have been in that situation in a game that close and expected to carry the team. Needless to say the missed free throws are unacceptable. Our PG's still played well considering. Arroyo had Hawks on skates especially that behind the back pass to Adonal.

They looked confused when running the plays and about 4 different times on the break arroyo had to actually slow down b/c nobody was running with him. Stan WAS PISSED!!!! Jameer did okay but was in foul trouble. Redick was playing some sticky defense, but Joe just easliy shot over him a couple times without even trying.

I liked Adonal's offensive game, nothing flashy, simple veteran post moves. I think we'll be fine with Adonal starting. Dwight's jumpshot was nice. His FT form looks less like a goose neck and more like a free throw attempt.

Don't get me wrong, Trevor and Hedo were still getting to the boards and that's what we really need from them when they can't hit their jumpers.

HERE'S THE VIDEO OF THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME (a lot of delays which is why it's 5 minutes long):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pdjcsKC9g3k

Carlos played well except for down the stretch. The Magic went on a run when he first entered the game. He still has a shot at starting, I think.

No way, Jameer played damn well tonight by just finding our weapons and not forcing any shots.

Man, what a game to start the season. I'm with Stan as a lot of players showed potential, but seemed to make boneheaded plays or be apathetic in spells.

I'll be doing my update on the game tomorrow as it is already quite late.

Good thing it's only preseason!

Jameer: 6pts 6 ast 3 rbs 3 to's

Carlos: 6pts 5ast 3 rbs 2 to's

Jameer looked sloppy in the begining Carlos looked sloppy at the end. And Jameer did force a couple shots. I was looking right at him when he did it.

Actually Jameer did not have a single TO in this game.

nba.com boxscore

He did have 4 fouls though. He played in control in this game.

I was at the game as well and they did looked lost a lot, Arroyo did have a very nice play with a behind the back pass. Overall I was a little disappointed with the Magic I was expecting them to dominate the game.

We can't expect much on their first game with a completely different coach and game plan. We'll see how they progress through the preseason.