Magic-Lakers: Carter, Barnes Step Up As Los Angeles Falls Down

Bolstered by this year’s two new starters, the Orlando Magic revealed a new-found toughness and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 96-94 in the last regular season battle between 2009’s NBA finalists.

Vince Carter magnificently played his role as a scoring threat who can create his own shot from anywhere on the floor—the Magic’s response to the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, the star of the 2009 NBA Finals.

Matt Barnes was Orlando’s enforcer, exchanging physical and verbal jabs with Bryant and providing some key offensive relief by adding ten points and four offensive rebounds in a physical matchup.

Carter fought his way through the lane and to the free throw line, scoring 25 points while shooting 5-of-10 from the field and a precise 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Los Angeles had trouble staying afloat during the contest and the team uncharacteristically lost its composure with a technical foul on Bryant in the first half and a flagrant foul on All-Star Pau Gasol late in the second half.

The Missing Links?

Barnes and Carter arrived in Orlando in the offseason to replace the Magic’s former starters at shooting guard and small forward, Courtney Lee and Hedo Turkoglu, and help the franchise win its first NBA championship.

Both players have adjusted to head coach Stan Van Gundy’s perimeter-friendly offense despite decreased productivity from both players.

After Barnes enjoyed the best season of his career with the Phoenix Suns in 2008-09, the journeyman’s scoring average is down from 10.2 ppg last season to 8.7 ppg this year, yet his confidence is still high.

Statistically, Carter is having the worst season of his 12-year career, averaging career-lows in points per game (16.5) and minutes per game (30.7 mpg).

But winning soothes most wounded egos and Barnes and Carter have become members of the best roster of their careers.

In Sunday’s win, Carter relentlessly went to the hoop, drawing several fouls and making all ten of his free throws in the first half. A streaky shooter who has shot 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from the three-point line this season, shot 50 percent from the field and the three-point line and 93 percent from the free throw line to lead Orlando to the inspiring triumph.

Barnes helped contain Bryant, who scored 34 points, but took 30 shots and seemed rattled by Barnes’ feistiness and don’t-back-down attitude.

Orlando certainly misses Lee’s athleticism and Turkoglu’s playmaking ability, this game demonstrated how the team could win more games in the postseason with Carter and Barnes.

Orlando Shows Some Consistency and Tenacity

Van Gundy has often spoken about talk of his team’s demise being exaggerated as observers have taken shots at the Magic’s lack of consistency and the development of its superstar Howard.

He’s Orlando’s best friend and its worst enemy.

No one can beat Van Gundy to the punch when it comes to berating—or defending—his team.

The Magic have the league’s third-best record at 44-20 and Orlando just won five consecutive games. They avenged their Finals loss by defeating the defending champs and Western Conference-leading Lakers.

But Van Gundy hasn’t been shy about admonishing Orlando’s decision-making—the Magic missed 16 of 24 three-pointers against the Lakers, had 19 turnovers, and nearly blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead.

The same coach has also fervently supported his team, too, noting the squad’s record, its big wins, and the fact that other highly-touted teams and players like the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, the Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony, and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki haven’t won a title, either.

The positives from this game were easy to identify.

Carter had a great game, Barnes spiced up the team’s character, and Howard was solid as usual with 15 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks.

The Magic were whistled for several violations on screens and Orlando’s physical picks were effective in creating open shots for its perimeter players.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, although Nelson used his quickness to beat the Lakers guards on several plays, he shot 5-of-14 from the field and Lewis was 4-of-13—the power forward had 12 points on four threes.

Howard continued to struggle from the free throw line, going 3-for-8 and Nelson and Carter also missed free throws in the final minute to give Los Angeles hope before Bryant missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

The Magic have a favorable schedule down the stretch with their toughest opponents coming to the Magic’s kingdom.

Orlando remains five games behind Cleveland in the Eastern Conference but this year’s squad could be better than last year’s team that took down the Cavaliers in six games without home-court advantage.

Lakers Go on Vacation

The Lakers are on a three-game losing streak, losing each contest on their East Coast road trip and in desperate need to return home from their vacation.

Los Angeles has won 85% of its home game versus 57% of its road matchups and has lost its last four road games.

The Lakers have 11 road games remaining along with seven home games as the team tries to catch the Cavaliers (49-15) and claim home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The team’s perimeter defense remains an issue as Nelson penetrated and dished at will and Carter beat his man to the rim, causing center Andrew Bynum to stay in foul trouble as he tried to help his teammates.

Gasol performed well with 20 points and 11 rebounds but he made a costly mistake in the fourth quarter when Los Angeles was clawing its way back in the game.

The seven-footer thought he was manhandled by Howard on the defensive end and after protesting the call, Gasol sprinted down the court just in time to fragrantly foul Howard as he dunked home another two points.

While Howard does not excel at the line—he missed the foul shot and the free throw on the flagrant foul—momentum had shifted as the crowd chanted “M-V-P”.

Besides Bryant’s 40% shooting, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, and Bynum combined to shoot 7-of-27 and it’s surprising that the Magic didn’t win by more points.

Every team has some slumps in the season, but Bryant detractors will point out that the Lakers were 4-1 when the shooting guard missed five games with a sprained left ankle and strained tendon in his left leg and have been 4-4 since his return.

Still, Bryant has hit five game-winners this season and he’s the key to the team’s back-to-back championships dreams. Though the Lakers lost another game, the team played much better after Kobe had a heart-to-heart with the squad following Friday’s loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Mavericks are on an 11-game winning streak and have pulled within three games of the Lakers.

Los Angeles will have to solve its road problems and finish strong if the Lakers want to keep pace with the Magic, Mavericks, and Cavs, who have won six of their last seven games.