Hoops Play

[The Wiz]

The Magic have to be disappointed after coming so close to tying this series, but the good news for them is coming back home where they have covered their L/4 contests. Orlando lives by the three-point shot, but it is shooting just 18-of-53 (34%) from behind the arc in this series. Magic F Rashard Lewis had a great outing in Game 2 going for 34 points connecting on six-of-12 from three. Lewis has been Orlando’s best shooting threat so far and will need to continue his solid play for the Magic to get back in this series. Orlando is 6-3 ATS on its home floor in the 2009 NBA Playoffs including a 3-0 ATS mark against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The real Magic team showed up in Game 2 and finally started to look like the team that dominated the Cavs to become the champs of the east. NBA bettors can expect to see Magic C Dwight Howard become a bigger part of things tonight and lead his team to another home cover. Orlando is 0-6 SU all-time in NBA Finals play; they are my ‘favorite’ to break that streak in Game 3.
The Magic really have nothing but positive ATS trends heading into Game 3, despite their 2-0 SU deficit. Orlando is on pointspread upswings of 8-2 overall, 5-1 as a playoff chalk, 4-0 in the home uniforms and 21-8 against the Western Conference.
This series has pretty much followed a standard pattern. Less experienced team (Orlando) was overwhelmed by bright lights in Game 1, and wasted a huge opportunity in Game 2. Following that script, Orlando should now have a convincing win at home in Game 3, and that is exactly what I think should happen.