With the Bobcats down 5 points with about 2 minutes left, they really needed a stop to try and get back in the game.  You know that the Bobcats have good set plays that they run late (with Coach Larry Brown drawing them up), but unless they string together a few stops, it doesn’t matter.

After a dribble handoff from Jameer Nelson to J.J. Redick, Redick makes the catch and comes off of a screen set by Dwight Howard.  In this situation, the Bobcats are looking to have the big man hedge the screen to allow Redick’s defender (Larry Hughes) to get back to him.  Theo Ratliff is the man hedging, and his goal here is to cut off Redick’s dribble and not let him get around the outside of him.

Ratliff gets out on the hedge a little bit late, and that lateness allows for Redick to get around the hedge.  This forces the Bobcats to switch, and now Larry Hughes is stuck covering Dwight Howard, who is rolling straight to the rim.

Normally, Boris Diaw would come from his position and help out on Dwight.  However, he can’t because he needs to stay close to Rashard Lewis, who is a three point threat.  Ratliff is going to try to return to Dwight, however, the lack of communication from the Bobcats leaves Redick open from the jumper.

Again, this is another example of the Magic’s style of play effecting the defense.  Normally, Gerald Wallace would try to help out on Redick, but he needs to stay attached to Pietrus, another three point threat.  Ratliff tries to recover on Redick, but it is too late and Redick takes the open jumper.

Now look at the effect the switch had on the Bobcats and their rebounding chances.  Dwight Howard rolled straight to the rim, and with Larry Hughes on him, he is in perfect position to get the rebound.

Now I know that Hughes is in an unfavorable position here, but he doesn’t help it by just standing there.  What Larry Hughes needed to do here was to try and push Dwight Howard out of position.  Even if he picks up a foul, he sends a poor foul shooter in Howard to the line, so that isn’t the worst thing that could happen.  Also, Raymond Felton should have gotten himself in there and tried to help push Dwight out.

Instead, Felton jumps straight for the ball, and he isn’t going to win that battle.  Dwight finishes with the tip-dunk, and effectively ends the ball game.  Here it is in real time, notice how Redick does a great job getting past the late hedge.  That causes all the confusion on the Bobcats end.