 |
 |
 |
|
The truth is, they had lost their touch on the long ball since their first-quarter blitz of the Toronto Raptors in Game 1. They made 9-of-11 3s, but since then they have gone 52-of-178 (34.2 percent). The Magic shot it at a 38.6 percent clip during the season.
The Pistons have not only defended it well, but practically taken the club out of the Magic's bag. Rashard Lewis is just 2-of-12; Hedo Turkoglu is 3-of-7; Mo Evans is 2-of-5; and Jameer Nelson is a shiny 5-of-8. Reserve Keith Bogans, who hit 12-of-14 3s during the season against the Pistons, is just 1-of-4.
Against Detroit in Game 2, the Magic finally moved the ball with drive-and-kicks, established defensive magnet Dwight Howard and created some firepower - and lost it just as quickly. It fizzled in the telltale final period as the Magic missed eight of nine 3-point attempts.
During their 52-win season, the pop-a-shot weapon started comebacks, demoralized opponents and sealed victories.
A delightful fragrance of 3-pointers often covered up the odor of turnovers or defensive lapses.
But rediscovering the long-range shot against the Pistons wasn't enough for the Magic to overcome 19 turnovers for 22 points.
It should be noted that the Pistons finished No. 1 in fewest points allowed and No. 2 in defending 3-pointers this season.
"When they are making shots on the perimeter, they are tough to stop," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said. "We got to start manning up and put more pressure on those guys and make them get off that (3-point line)."
If the Magic lose the series - or are again swept - they should bow to the Pistons' defense. They will have lost using two totally different playbooks.
Without Lewis, the 3-pointer wasn't a factor last postseason against the Pistons under coach Brian Hill. The Magic - get this - attempted just 29 and made 10 over the four games.
Unlike Stan Van Gundy, Hill didn't believe in volume shooting, but wanted the shot used judiciously.
The Magic are built around Howard, and everybody has the green light to go downtown. If there's a flaw, it's this: They have no consistent midrange shooters or slashers always willing to take the ball inside. Grinding out games against the Pistons - the ultimate grinders - doesn't bode well for the Magic; they win by making the big play.
Perhaps warmed up after Game 2, the Magic now need the 3-pointers to fall to save their season.
"We feel good. We have our heads up. We definitely looked a lot more like ourselves," Nelson said. "We did a good job just playing our game and doing the things we've done all season, which is shooting those shots."
---
(c) 2008, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.). Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.
urgatorbait 
