Magic Johnson summed it up best after Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic when he said, “Momentum is the key in any sport. Right now, all the momentum has swung to the Orlando Magic.”
The Magic, who were down 3–0 in the series to the Boston Celtics, are now down only 3–2 after a 113–92 inspiring victory at home on Wednesday.
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy disagrees with Johnson. “I don’t know if you can say you have momentum when you’re down 3–2 going into their place,” he said. “I still look at it like we’re climbing a huge mountain right here, but we are playing better.”
A big reason for the improved play is winning the battle of the boards. Rebounding is a telling statistic on effort, and Orlando outrebounded Boston 43–26. “We were great on the boards,” Van Gundy said. “The biggest thing tonight is that we dominated the glass.”
Put simply, the Magic just wanted it more.
Things were also clicking offensively for the home team. Orlando shot 52.2 percent from the field, including a sizzling 52 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line on 28–35 shooting.
However, the lackluster effort by the Celtics was not completely their fault. The referees made it a point to call five technical fouls in the game, including two on Boston center Kendrick Perkins, which forced Perkins to leave the game late in the second quarter.
The Magic, who were down 3–0 in the series to the Boston Celtics, are now down only 3–2 after a 113–92 inspiring victory at home on Wednesday.
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy disagrees with Johnson. “I don’t know if you can say you have momentum when you’re down 3–2 going into their place,” he said. “I still look at it like we’re climbing a huge mountain right here, but we are playing better.”
A big reason for the improved play is winning the battle of the boards. Rebounding is a telling statistic on effort, and Orlando outrebounded Boston 43–26. “We were great on the boards,” Van Gundy said. “The biggest thing tonight is that we dominated the glass.”
Put simply, the Magic just wanted it more.
Things were also clicking offensively for the home team. Orlando shot 52.2 percent from the field, including a sizzling 52 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line on 28–35 shooting.
However, the lackluster effort by the Celtics was not completely their fault. The referees made it a point to call five technical fouls in the game, including two on Boston center Kendrick Perkins, which forced Perkins to leave the game late in the second quarter.
