by shabba_93 on Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:41 pm
Bi-Monthly Update: 27 Oct-12 November
Results
10/28 Vs Washington 90-69 L
10/30 At Heat 84-78 W
11/2 At Knicks 79-90 L
11/3 Vs Minnesota 66-97 W
11/5 Vs Nets 131-127 L
11/6 At Bobcats 92-93 L
11/8 Vs Atlanta 101-111 W
11/10 Vs Utah 106-120 W
11/12 Vs Toronto 89-134 W
Standings
Western Confrence
Pos Team W/L GB Streak
----------------------------------
1. Dallas 7-1 - 1W
2. Houston 7-1 - 1L
3. LA Lakers 7-2 0.5 1W
4. Portland 6-4 2.0 1L
5. San Antonio 5-2 1.5 1L
6. LA Clippers 7-3 1.0 6W
7. Pheonix 5-3 2.0 4W
8. Utah 5-4 2.5 1W
=================
9. New Orleans 3-4 3.5 1L
10. Minnesota 4-6 4.0 1L
11. Sacramento 3-5 4.0 2L
12. Oklahoma City 3-5 4.0 1W
13. Golden State 2-7 5.5 2L
14. Denver 1-8 6.5 2L
15. Memphis 1-8 6.5 1W
Eastern Confrence
Pos Team W/L GB Streak
-----------------------------------
1. Chicago 6-1 - 1W
2. Washington 5-2 1.0 1W
3. Miami 6-3 1.0 1W
4. New York 6-4 1.5 3W
5. Orlando 5-4 2.0 3W
6. Atlanta 5-5 2.5 4L
7. Cleveland 4-4 2.5 2W
8. Detroit 4-5 3.0 2L
==================
9. Toronto 4-5 3.0 1L
10. Indiana 3-4 3.0 2W
11. New Jersey 3-5 3.5 3L
12. Boston 3-6 4.0 4L
13. Charlotte 3-6 4.0 3L
14. Milwaukee 3-6 4.0 1W
15. Philadelphia 3-6 4.0 1L
We have had a very indiferent start to the season so far going 5-4 at this point in the season. Our first and last game of the period has shown the team at their worst and best respectively with a 21 point loss on opening day to the Wizards and a 45 point demolition of Toronto. When we win, we WIN. So far our lowest winning marginis 6 points ,against the Heat, and we are averaging a 21.2 point lead per win. Most losses have come down to poor late play with the Nets game a key example. Managing to take it into Overtime at 110 a piece we went on to loose 127-131. 17 points in 5 minutes is good but, compared to 21 is just not enough. Bench production has also been poor with the bench averaging less than 15 PPG.The Bench problem was highlighted in the 92-93 loss to Charlotte whos bench managed 31 points between them, while our bench managed a dismal 6 points. The loss against New Jersey could also be blamed on lack of bench production. the Nets managed 42 from the bench while our boys on the wood managed just 20. Even in our winning effort against Minnesota, whose bench managed an unimpressive 16 points, we managed 2 less with just 14. The bench production needs to improve or we could be seeing some moves in the near future.
On a positive note Vince Carter has had a plesantly suprising start to the season. Averaging 24.8 PPG the 4th highest in the league behind only Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and Deron Williams. His shot selection has been good so far with him going 104 from 168 from the field at 62%. He's also been getting in good assist and steal numbers averaging 4.6 APG and 1.8 SPG. Good performances have seen Carter pick up numerous Player Of The Game Awards. He managed 25 Points, 4 Rebounds, 5 Assists and 3 Steals against Minnesota, 37 Points, 5 Rebounds, 6 Assists and 2 Steals against . His rebounding has been down from his career average at only 2.2 RPG, however with such a strong rebounding front court this is to be expected. Andrei Kirilenko has also made an impact in his short time in Orlando. He managed 23 points in the victory over his former team easily outmatching Rashard Lewis' performance on the night. He scored a career high 42 leading the attack in the demolition of Toronto who didn't have any answers for the Russian. Along with 5 Assists and 6 rebounds this performance saw Kirilenko recieve the Player of the Game Award. In an interview post game Andrei told reporters "I am very happy with my performance tonight. I don't think anyone would complain with 42 points, so to break my scoring record with it is very pleasing. The guys played well tonight and we will celebrate a much deserved win". Strong performances have also been shown against Atlanta (22 Points, 8 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block) and New Jersey (28 Points, 3 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 2 Steals, 2 Blocks). The other man from Utah has also performed well grabbing valuable boards and adding valuable complimentary points. So far the deal looks to be working in our favour. Dwight Howard has been a good complimentary player so far, making cameo performances but hasn't really stepped up and lead the team yet. Despite averaging just under 22PPG and 9.4 RPG on a night to night basis he has been a step behind the team leader. Jameer Nelson has been posting good stats however they don't quite tell the full story. So far has been a struggle for Jameer on defence with his oposing number easily scoring on him each night. His lack of height compared to other guards is showing however he needs to step it up in the coming weeks.
In other news Rookie Stanley Robinson has been waived along with JJ Redick while Patrick Ewing Jr. has been signed to mid-level exception in a 1 year deal worth $5.36M. "Robinson just doesn't make the cut. We've had a good look at him in training and he has also made a few bench appearances and just hasn't proved to me he is worthy of his spot. He just had to go. As for JJ it was a tough decision but his contract is taking up room we don't have and he isn't producing enough. I signedPaddy after talking to the senior Ewing who invited me to watch him play in the D-League. I was impressed with his performance and asked him to come along to practice where he impressed me enough to earn himself a contract. Hopefully he can be a big part of the team with a little more work" GM Hall, ESPN News. Ewing made his debut against Toronto and put in a good performance in the limited minutes he recieved. He managed 10 Points, 2 Rebounds and 2 Assists in just 7 minutes of play. so far we have managed to stay relatively injury free with only Quentin Richardson picking up a minor injury, a sprained thumb that won't see him miss any games. The same can't be said for the rest ofthe league with 4 major injuries already.
We look forward to the rest of the month where the boys will hopefully complete a winning month. Orlando are looking good, watch this space.
Transfer News
* 11/3/10- The Clippers have signed Point Guard Javaris Crittenton in an effort to add depth to the backcourt. The deal will see the Clippers
payout $11.31M over 5 years.
* 11/7/10- Shooting Guard Kyle Weaver has been signed to $21.19 for 4 years.
* 11/11/10- In a trade surounded by controversy Denver have traded veteran PG Chauncey Billups to Philadelphia in exchange for Elton Brand. Denver's
record of 1-8 putting them 2nd from bottom in the Eastern Confrence has got tempers flairing, culminating in a heated argument between
Billups and Carmelo Anthony. The two got at each other throats in a dispute over the team direction which resulted in Billups releasing
this statement to the media "Carmelo and I don't see eye to eye anymore. His selfishness is costing the team and I can't stand the man
anymore. Either he goes or I go simple as". The trade went through 2 days later to, as Masai Ujiri put to "Cool the temperature in Denver."
* 11/12/10- Reggie Jackson is out of Toronto as the Raptors made a deal earlier today, sending him to the Warriors in exchange for Vladimir Radmanovic.
Injury Report
* Demarcus Cousins is currently nursing a brused rib picked up during a collision in the Cavalier game. Status uncertain however he isn't expected
to be out long.
* Al Horford will be out for some time after breaking bones in his foot during the Utah Jazz game(11/2/10). The injury occured during the 2nd quarter
when Horford came down from a rebound attempt and it was clear something wasn't right when he landed. After trying to play on for another minute he
was taken off the court.A visit to hospital confirmed the worse as an X-ray revealed he had broken his 2nd metatarsal putting him out of action for
atleast 6 weeks. Atlanta could face some problems with a key forward out it will be up to the bench to prove they can step up.
* During a home game against Atlanta(11/5/10) Darko Milicic suffered a fracture to a bone in his wrist. Should return in about 5 weeks.
* Al Harrington was involved in a bad collision during a game against the Mavs. Harrington made contact with Nowitzki on defence, landing awkwardly
on his wrist it was clear straight away it was broken. The doctors have listed his status as indefinate, with the recovery time very uncertain.
Hopefully he will make a speedy recovery.
* The Jazz inflicted another serious injury, this time Dwayne Wade during a trip to Miami. Wade was fouled on the shot by Gordon Hayward who landed
on Dwayne's foot causing him to drop to the floor. X-rays revealed a 2 different breaks in the foot. His return is unknown at the moment but
doctors say anything up to 2 months.
* Brandon Roy has been suffering with a heel complaint. Roy told team physicians that he has been suffering soreness in his heel which has persisted.
Roy is currently playing on however problems could arrise if no improvement in seen.
Orlando Player Stats
Name GP PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
D. Howard 9 21.9 9.4 1.7 0.78 2.11 .662 .286 .550
P. Millsap 9 7.0 5.0 0.9 0.56 1.00 .574 .000 .333
A. Kirilenko 9 19.8 4.4 2.6 1.78 1.00 .500 .321 .676
V. Carter 9 24.8 2.2 4.6 1.89 0.67 .619 .152 .769
J. Nelson 9 10.4 3.4 5.6 1.44 0.56 .506 .286 .750
M. Pietrus 9 5.1 1.4 0.9 0.78 0.67 .600 .500 .400
J. Williams 4 1.5 0.3 2.5 0.25 0 .333 1.000 .500
P. Ewing Jr. 1 10.0 2.0 2.0 0 0 .714 - -
M. Gortat 9 1.0 2.6 0.6 0.22 1.00 .333 .000 .500
D. Orton 5 1.6 1.6 0.6 0 0 1.000 - 1.000
C. Duhon 3 1.3 0.7 1.0 0 0 .200 .000 1.000
Q. Richardson 9 2.7 1.3 1.1 0.89 0 .500 - .800
