The Bobcats fought and clawed against the Orlando Magic the entire series, but in game 4, the Magic showed why they are the better team.  The Magic pulled away from the Bobcats using the three point shot, and they got their threes in different ways, and they showed how dangerous (and how hard to defend) they can be late.

On The Break

The Magic are real tough to stop on the break, because they force the defenders to make choices.  The defense has to decide whether or not they want to defend the three or stop Dwight Howard.  As you can see here, as Jameer Nelson brings the ball up, you have 3 other guys spotting up (including Jameer there is 4 three point shooters out there) at the three point line, with Dwight Howard sprinting straight to the rim.

As Nelson gets to the three point line, Stephen Jackson has a decision to make.  Close out on Nelson and leave Mickael Pietrus open, or stick with Pietrus and leave Nelson open.  They way Nelson has been shooting this series, it is the logical choice to pick up Nelson.

However, that leaves Pietrus wide open.  Now Tyson Chandler should be closing out, but he doesn’t want to leave Dwight Howard.

Chandler doesn’t leave until he knows Gerald Wallace is on Dwight Howard, and by then it is too late for him to bother the three point shot.  He knocks it down and stretches the lead to 7.

Inside Out

This second three pointer is the one you see more often.  The Magic love getting the ball inside and surrounding Dwight Howard with shooters.  If you single up against Dwight he will take advantage, and if you double there is a shooter open.  What are you going to do?

Here, as Dwight makes the catch, there are 4 Bobcats that swarm him.  If they don’t deflect the basketball, there is going to be a problem.

Dwight is able to hang onto the basketball, and he finds Jameer Nelson behind the three point line.  Raymond Felton can’t close out quick enough, and Nelson knocks it down, stretching the lead to 10.