Sixers-Magic Game Five, First Half

The first quarter is, once again, a big ball of worry, as the Sixers stay close only through the good work of Willie Green. Let's just say I'm not confident that will continue. As usual, the Magic are scoring easier than the Sixers, but my team is battling, but when the Magic is giving minutes to JJ Redick, scoring should be easier. And hey, Sam Dalembert seems to care tonight! After an Iggy three for his first points of the game, it's 28-25 Magic with 8:43 left in the second.

I missed the first few minutes of the game from an emergency attendance of the Shooter Eldest's third-grade orchestra performance. This is usually the Shooter Wife's play, but with the Youngest still having Plague, I had to pinch-hit. I got their just as the band was ending (a darn shame!) and got home to catch the end of the first. I'm Clutch Today, Kids.

Dwight Howard knocked Courtney Lee out of the game on a failed block. That could be helpful later, especially if it means more minutes for Redick. If there's a worse defensive player in half court in the NBA this year, I haven't seen him. When Andre Miller converts a runner, it's a tie game with five minutes to play.

Orlando Fan has a lot of hate for the zebras here, but Howard already has 11 rebounds, and while Theo Ratliff will fight the good fight, he's still, well, Theo Ratliff. But at least this is tight, and after another Green make (Willie!) on a swooping make that I didn't think he had in him, they even lead on Howard's second foul. 35-34, Sixers.

Hedo Turkoglu slashes to the hoop and scores, and it's followed by a rare defensive breakdown for a fast break bucket. It's 45-39 in a blink, and that's what's so tough for this team; those blinks don't generally happen for them. In this half, you've got Turkoglu shooting 2 for 8, Lee hasn't returned from injury, and they are still down 6, and after a clean Marshall miss from the arc, that's the half.

The Sixers are making the Magic play a game they don't like much: very few clear looks at 3, not much in transition, lots of having to go to the line on good looks for guys that just don't shoot free throws all that well. But just like in Game 4, they just aren't shooting well enough, or keeping Howard away from the rack, to lead.

There's also this: they need a lot more from Andre Iguodala. Like, being the best player on the court. That'd be nice.