Orlando Magic Blog – Page 57 – NBA Blog

Magic match Bulls offer, retain J.J. Redick

The Orlando Magic have exercised its right of first refusal and retained restricted free agent guard J.J. Redick, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. Orlando had seven days to match an offer sheet made to Redick by Chicago on July 9.

“J.J. (Redick) is a valuable part of our organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Smith. “He has worked extremely hard during his four seasons with us and improved every year. We’re happy that J.J. will be back to help us reach our ultimate goal.”

Redick (#7, 6’4”, 190, 6/24/84) played in all 82 games last season with Orlando, averaging a career-high 9.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 22.0 minpg. He made nine starts, averaging 13.0 ppg., 2.9 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 35.1 minpg. during that span. Redick led the Magic in both three-point shooting (.405, 111-274) and free throw shooting (.860, 191-222), ranking 17th in the NBA in both categories. He also appeared in all 14 playoff games, averaging 7.5 ppg., 1.7 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 19.2 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) by Orlando in the 2006 NBA Draft, Redick has appeared in 222 career NBA regular season games, all with the Magic, averaging 7.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 17.2 minpg. He has shot .392 (233-594) from three-point range and .863 (353-409) from the free throw line. Redick has also played in 33 career playoff outings, averaging 6.2 ppg., 1.6 apg. and 1.3 rpg. in 18.7 minpg.

Magic sign Quentin Richardson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard/forward Quentin Richardson, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Quentin (Richardson) is a solid perimeter defender and brings an element of toughness,” said Smith. “At the same time, he also is a tremendous shooter from long range, which fits our style of play very well. We’re excited to add him to our team.”

Richardson (#5, 6’6”, 228, 4/13/80) played in 76 games (75 starts) last season with Miami, averaging 8.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 27.4 minpg. He also appeared in five postseason contests, averaging 9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.60 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg. Richardson shot a team-best .397 (142-358) from three-point range, which tied for 21st in the NBA. He scored in double figures 28 times and had seven 20-point outings, including a season-high 25 points on Mar. 4 vs. the L.A. Lakers. Richardson led (or tied) the team in scoring once, in rebounding 12 times and in assists once.

Originally selected in the first round (18th overall) by the L.A. Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has appeared in 677 career NBA regular season games with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York and Miami, averaging 11.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 28.0 minpg. He has shot .359 (1,082-3,017) from three-point range during his career. Richardson has also played in 20 career playoff outings, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.35 stlpg. in 35.6 minpg., while shooting .394 (41-104) from three-point range.

Magic sign Chris Duhon

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Chris Duhon, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. We’ll add contract details later today to this page.

“Chris (Duhon) provides depth, leadership and stability to our backcourt,” said Smith. “He takes care of the basketball, defends well and can hit the open shot. We’re very happy to add Chris to our team.”

Duhon (6’1”, 190, 8/31/82) played in 67 games (59 starts) last season with New York, averaging 7.4 ppg., 5.6 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 30.9 minpg. He led the Knicks in assists and was tied for fifth in the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio (3.44, 378-110). Duhon led the Knicks in scoring twice and in assists 38 times. He scored in double figures 23 times, including a season-high 25 points on Dec. 4 @ Atlanta, and also recorded 10-plus assists four times.

Originally selected in the second round (38th overall) by Chicago in the 2004 NBA Draft, Duhon has appeared in 446 career NBA regular season games with Chicago and New York, averaging 7.7 ppg., 5.1 apg. and 2.6 rpg. in 28.5 minpg. He has shot .362 (553-1,526) from three-point range and .797 (554-695) from the free throw line. Duhon has also played in 21 career playoff outings, averaging 4.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 22.0 minpg.

Boston deserves to host an All-Star weekend

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

As television ratings show, those in the NBA community love the Lakers and Celtics. They love the rivalry. They love the East Coast-West Coast matchup. They love the contrast in cities.

But the NBA appears to embrace Los Angeles more than Boston in one very beneficial way. The league awarded Los Angeles the 2011 All-Star Game, the second time in eight years it has hosted the game. Meanwhile, Boston has not hosted an NBA All-Star Game since 1964, despite having one of the league’s newer arenas and a team re-emerging as one of the elite.

And it’s not for lack of trying. According to Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, the city has submitted applications several times, only to be denied.

In past years, commissioner David Stern has rewarded cities that have new arenas with All-Star Games. Orlando is set to open its new venue next season, and Stern quickly handed Central Florida the 2012 All-Star Game, its second in 20 years. Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Philadelphia, Washington, and Oakland were presented with All-Star Games after constructing new arenas.

Dwight Howard might not play for Team USA in FIBA World Championship

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog):

Dwight Howard acknowledged Monday that he might not play for Team USA in the FIBA World Championship late this summer in Turkey.

“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” Howard said after the Orlando Magic completed their exit day at RDV Sportsplex.

Howard initially had made a public commitment to playing in the tournament, but his thoughts appear to have changed.

The Orlando Sentinel reported on April 26 that Howard might forego the tournament, which will be held Aug. 28 to Sept. 12.

Game 6: Lakers eliminate Suns

The AP reports:

Get ready, Boston, for a rematch with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant wrapped up a magnificent series with 37 points, Ron Artest added 25 and the Lakers held off the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday night to win the Western Conference finals…

Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, including what looked like an impossible 23-footer with Grant Hill in his face and 34 seconds to play. The basket put Los Angeles up 107-100 and the scrappy Suns were finished…

Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting night. He can opt out of the final year of his contract and has said chances are “50-50” that he will play elsewhere next season.

Steve Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals…

Channing Frye had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have reached the finals only twice in their history and never have won a championship. Goran Dragic scored 10 of his 12 points in a fourth-quarter rally that got Phoenix within three points…

Phoenix cut the lead to single digits only once in the third quarter, 74-65 on Stoudemire’s two free throws with 5:38 left. The Lakers responded with an 11-2 run, Artest’s layup in traffic making it 85-67 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter.

The AP reports:

Los Angeles will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Celtics still have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.

“We remember more than anything losing on our home court, a situation where we had some defensive lapses and they took advantage of it,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “This year we have homecourt advantage, and we look forward to the rematch with great intensity.”

The AP reports:

The Suns trailed by 18 in the second half and 17 going into the final quarter. An offensive outburst by Goran Dragic and strong play by Amare Stoudemire in the fourth helped Phoenix pull to within three with just over two minutes to play, but it couldn’t get any closer.

Phoenix hurt itself in the second quarter when it shot 38.9 percent and scored only 19 points, the fewest it has put up in any quarter this series. After trailing by only three after the first quarter, the Suns went into halftime down 65-53.

Phoenix trailed by at least nine the entire third, and its deficit ballooned to 18 on Ron Artest’s hook shot with 2:24 left in the quarter.

Fans discussed this game live as it happened in this forum topic.

Matt Barnes now rooting for Celtics to win championship

Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald reports:

This may come as a surprise to Celtics fans, but Matt Barnes wants your team to win the championship.

The Magic forward, who seemed to thrive on getting under the skin of the Celtics during the Eastern Conference finals, is expecting his rivals to continue their run in the NBA Finals.

“After they beat us, you definitely wish everybody good luck and you want them to win the championship because at least you got beat by the team who won it,” Barnes said after the C’s closed out the Magic with a 96-84 Game 6 win at the Garden last night. “They definitely got everything it takes and we wish them good luck.”

The physical nature of the series got plenty of attention, but after last night’s game there was a clear display of mutual respect between the teams.

“You know it’s a war while you’re out there, but I got friends on that team,” Barnes said. “But while we’re playing, we’re playing for our lives.”

Nate Robinson helps Celtics eliminate Magic

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

When Dwight Howard crunched Rajon Rondo to the floor with 32.7 seconds left in the first quarter, and Rondo needed a break to begin the second, Nate Robinson came on with his best stretch of basketball as a Celtic. He gave Rondo the relief he has needed for the entire postseason.

In 8 minutes 46 seconds, Robinson scored 13 points, and added an assist, a steal, and strong defense on Jameer Nelson and Jason Williams.

The Celtics have lacked a backup point guard and when they desperately needed to give Rondo a break, Robinson pushed all of his habits aside and produced.

“Nate Robinson was huge in the first half,’’ Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I mean, that was a huge, huge lift for them to have [13] points in the first half. This is a guy who scored a lot of points in New York.

“I think what he did tonight was probably what they had in mind when they made the deal [with the Knicks]. I guess for whatever reason he hadn’t played much for them, but in an absolutely huge game, he stepped up and played great tonight.’’

Game 6: Celtics eliminate Magic

The AP reports:

One title has never been enough.

Not for the Boston Celtics.

The league’s most-decorated franchise avoided the biggest playoff collapse in NBA history and earned a chance to hang an unprecedented 18th championship banner from the rafters, beating Orlando 96-84 on Friday night to eliminate the Magic in six games and advance to the NBA finals…

Paul Pierce had 31 points and 13 rebounds, and little-used backup Nate Robinson gave the Celtics a boost with 13 second-quarter points to squelch Orlando’s attempt to be the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series.

Ray Allen scored 20 points, Rajon Rondo had 14 points and six assists and Garnett, who missed the playoffs last year with a knee injury, added 10 points for Boston…

“Those guys played like they wanted to win the championship the whole series,” said Dwight Howard, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the defending East champions. “That’s why they’re in the position they’re in now.”

Vince Carter scored 17 points, and Jameer Nelson finished with 11 points and four assists as he was outplayed by Rondo, Boston’s starting point guard, and Robinson, his backup.

The Boston Herald reports:

Howard, deprived of his downtown support, again discovered that a big scoring night (28 points) wasn’t enough. Only two other Magic players – Vince Carter (a belabored 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting) and Jameer Nelson (11 points, only three assists) – reached double figures.

“Next year we’ve got to have guys that are willing to give everything they’ve got to get wins,” Howard said. “In games like this or a series like this, it’s not about skill or talent, because it’s the Eastern Conference championship. Both teams were talented and skilled. It’s about who wants it most and who is willing to do it for a series.

“Those guys played like they wanted to win the championship the whole series. That’s why they’re in the position they’re in now.”

The Boston Herald reports:

In eight explosive minutes and 46 seconds, Robinson poured in 13 points and hounded Magic point guard Jameer Nelson into all but disappearing from the game, a circumstance that had much to do with his team disappearing from the playoffs.

As Robinson ran wild, Rondo was on his back in front of the bench, an ice bag strapped to his aching hip, and he cheered as Robinson shot 4-of-7 from the field to push an early Celtics lead up to 21 and keep it at 19 by the time he came back to the bench with just over four minutes left in the half.

“They actually made their big run with Rondo sitting on the bench,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I’m not up here saying they’re a better team without Rajon Rondo, but tonight they were in the first half. Nate Robinson was great. In an absolutely huge game he stepped up and played great.”

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

Coach Stan Van Gundy pointed to his team giving up 20 fastbreak points and being impatient when shots didn’t drop. “Our offense hurt us. We broke down,” he said.

Orlando did make a mini-run. A 3-pointer by Carter trimmed Boston’s lead to 14, and he then made a free throw to give the Magic some hope at halftime.

The Celtics quickly squashed any rally in the third quarter as they stole a page from the Magic’s playbook. Ray Allen hit two 3-pointers, replenishing the lead to 19. Boston nailed 10 3-pointers in 22 attempts while Orlando made just 6-of-22.

Game 5: Magic rising, beat Celtics 113-92

The AP reports:

Taking another step toward overcoming an improbable 3-0 series deficit, Dwight Howard had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 113-92 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals…

A series that looked like a sweep a few days ago now has the Celtics taking a slim lead into a pressure-packed Game 6 in Boston on Friday night. The Celtics are facing the possibility of playing it without Kendrick Perkins after their starting center picked up his seventh technical foul of the playoffs, a mandatory suspension unless it is overturned…

The Magic, seemingly lifeless after a blowout defeat in Game 3, suddenly have hope to be the first. They broke out of their series-long shooting slump, making 13-of-25 3-pointers…

Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and J.J. Redick had 14 to help the Magic to a frenetic pace that the Celtics couldn’t sustain. Howard added five blocks as Orlando built an early 14-point lead that was never seriously challenged.

Rasheed Wallace had 21 points, and Rajon Rondo scored 19 for a Boston team that once seemed on its way to another NBA finals.

The Boston Globe blog reports:

Emotions are a good place to start, and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins was at the center of it all in Game 5. Having already picked up a technical foul earlier in the second quarter, Perkins took issue with a foul whistled against him as he was guarding Dwight Howard with 36 seconds remaining in the first half. Perkins’s demonstrative disagreement with the call earned him another technical and an automatic ejection. As it was also his seventh technical foul of the playoffs, Perkins is by rule suspended for the team’s next game, barring one of his two technicals tonight being rescinded by the league office.

Emotions weren’t the only problem for the Celtics. Health was also a major factor. With 23 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Glen Davis took an inadvertent elbow from Howard and crumbled to the floor. Davis was shaken up, but he heeded the pleas of coach Doc Rivers to get up and finish the play. As he tried to run down the court, Davis lost his balance and crumbled to the floor. He got up, stumbled past halfcourt, and fell into the arms of official Joey Crawford. Davis would be diagnosed with a concussion, leaving the Celtics two men short on their front line.

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

Van Gundy said he thought that rebounding — the Magic had a huge 43-26 advantage — was even more critical than making 3-pointers.

The Celtics had rushed out to put the Magic on their heels the previous two home games, and they went up 5-0. But the Magic quickly recovered and the 3-pointers started falling for the club that set an NBA record for most 3’s made in a season.

Moving the ball and playing off Nelson’s drive-and-kick game, they made 9-of-15 in the first half and shot 50 percent overall to lead 57-49 at halftime.