When Orlando realized that the Celtics were going to single-up Dwight Howard at the start of the game, it seemed like they forced it inside almost as if they wanted to try and change the Celtics strategy.  However, this strategy negatively effected the Magic in two ways.  First, Dwight really struggled and it hurt him mentally in the early going.  Second, forcing it inside like that really hurt the Magic’s flow on offense.

Here is what the Magic were facing every single time they entered the ball down low (Dwight missed a hook on this possession).  Single coverage on Dwight with the remaining Celtics in the passing lanes, not allowing for any of the Magic’s three point shooters to make a catch.  As we talked about yesterday, the Celtics really did a good job of limiting the Magic to 9 three point attempts in the first half (when they averaged 27 a game in the regular season), and this is why.

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The Suns were down 13 points against the Lakers during the early goings of the 4th quarter, and despite the fact that the Lakers dominated the Suns all game they were still one “Suns-like” run from catching back up to the Lakers.  This is why Phil Jackson left Kobe Bryant in to start the 4th quarter.  Kobe usually rests during the start of the 4th quarter and comes in during crunch time, but last night Phil Jackson felt that if Kobe was able to put the game out of reach early in the 4th it would take the Suns’ will, and Kobe could rest during the end of the quarter.  Kobe did not disappoint:

After getting the ball to Kobe on the wing, Jordan Farmar comes off of a downscreen set by Pau Gasol.  Farmar ends up moving all the way over to the opposite corner.

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