In front of 17,000 plus, despite a standout performance by Indiana's Danny Granger, the Orlando Magic extended their win streak to 4 and their record to 13 wins with just 4 losses.
And while the day was special to Anthony Johnson, who put up his best numbers of the year with 16 points, it was Dwight Howard who would lay claim to the Magic's victory as his own. Howard, who had more rebounds than the rest of the Magic combined with 21, put up an amazing 32 points, outshining Granger by 5.
Howard and Johnson weren't alone in attacking the net, however, Rashard Lewis put up 24 of his own and Hedo Turkoglu added on another 22, the Magic were truly at the top of their game Saturday night and while one Magic fan may have left for home with a lap full of a $9 chilli dog, the remaining 17,171 fans left with nothing but pride in the home team.
- Yet the Magic are hardly out of the woods yet, they start of the month of December against the Eastern leading Boston Celtics, and while the Magic surely have a "Big 3" of their own, it is Boston's who will look to bring Orlando's four game win streak to a crashing hault.
But really, who has the advantage here? The record will tell you Boston. The standings will tell you Boston. The media will tell you Boston. Vegas will tell you Boston. Yet the statistics, the statistics scream Orlando.
Orlando will have the most effecient three-point shooter on the court come Monday in Rashard Lewis, who leads the league in three pointers made with 44 and a 37% completion rate. The best Boston has to offer is Ray Allen, who has hit 35 three pointers on the year and boasts a 35% completion rate.
The Magic's Howard, Lewis and Turkoglu also compare in points scored, the three having combined for 957 on the year. Boston's Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett have combined for only 920 thus far. The rebound race, however, isn't even close with Dwight Howard leading the lead with 237 while Garnett leads the Celtics with 144. In fact, the only category in which Boston has the edge over Orlando in is assists, and yet it isn't any of the "Big 3" that claims this statistic but instead Rajon Rondo who holds 125 on the year.
The Magic will surely be prepared for Boston and will look to close the gap on their lead of the East, however, Orlando will have to overcome a team who has only lost once at home this season, but statistically speaking, they have already done this.
Until next time,
from Florida's Space Coast, this is the Magic Mule,
Danny West
