C Lee "likely" to gear up for Game 3 in Orlando

Via ESPN:

Magic guard Courtney Lee, who had surgery last week to repair a fractured sinus, likely will be available for Friday's Game 3 when the conference semifinals against the Celtics return to Orlando, according to a report in the Boston Globe.

Lee has played extremely well for a rookie in his first-ever post-season, shooting 48% from the field with an average of 12.6 points per game. He had a career high performance in scoring in Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he had 24 points on the strength of 59% from the field. He also had three steals.

As we previously relayed, Lee will be required to wear a protective mask when he returns to play. It's uncertain how the new equipment will affect him on his first game back. He has also missed the last 3 Magic post-season games. Nonetheless, given Lee's outstanding performance all season long, he can be expected to contribute extensively to the Magic's bid to reach the Eastern Conference Finals once he re-establishes his rhythm.

C Lee gets medical clearance to play, still unlikely to see time in round 2...

From ESPN:

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Saturday that if Lee plays at all in the second round against Boston or Chicago, it will be a "bonus." Lee did not attend the Magic's practice Saturday.

Lee will have to wear a protective mask á la Rip Hamilton if he returns.

Magic Grind Out Knicks

Admiral Pornstache's rabble of miscreants utilized considerably balanced scoring and a weird early offensive presence from Chris Wilcox to keep the Magic at bay for over three periods. Lil' Kryptonate opened up late for, like, 19 points, but the would-be giant killer's efforts were hampered by an atrocious 6 for 23 field goals. Elsewise, David Lee had a double-double and Chris "The Gonz" Duhon made 3 of his 5 three-pointers to significantly unsettle me for most of the game.

Still, the Magic came through when it counted, led by Dwight Howard, who rampaged for 29 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal. Second in command was Anesthetic Hymns ultimate fave/man-crush Courtney Lee, who was perfect from the stripe and went 6-8 from the field. He had 22 points and 3 steals.

I'm still upset about the Cavs loss, but this may well be Cleveland's year to start shining. Prasad, I'm looking forward to some shit-talk on Wednesday. How's the 'stache coming?

Magic bench-press Bulls

Photo: ESPN/AP


Final:
Orlando Magic: 107
Chicago Bulls: 79

After a disappointing third loss to the Detroit Pistons in their final meeting of the regular season, the Magic bounced back in a big way tonight, registering a decisive victory against 8th seed hopefuls the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls looked bewildered for most of the night, flustered by an intractable Orlando defense that held them to just 31.4% shooting from the field.

Among the night's top performers was a handful of reserves that included Marcin Gortat, Tony Battie, and J.J. Redick. The Magic played tonight without starting small forward Hedo Turkgolu (Achilles), but were nonetheless able to orchestrate the rout on home turf with a variety of plays that saw them scoring in the paint, at the line, and (late in the second half) from beyond the arc.

The Anesthetic Hymns' starter of the night is rookie Courtney Lee, who hit the bulk of his 14 points in the third period. He also had 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

Our reserves of the night were Battie (18 points, 8 rebounds) and Gortat (13 points, 15 rebounds). This was a heartening game for Orlando, one that proved their second stringers capable of putting away a middle-weight team without the aid of the Turkoglu/Lewis/Nelson scoring phalanx.

Dwight Howard turned in a solid game despite early foul trouble that sidelined him for much of the first half. He finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

The Magic lost their previous game to the Bulls on February 24th (102-120). Their leading scorers in tonight's contest were John Salmons (18 points, 8 rebounds) and Brad Miller (11 points, 6 rebounds). This was the teams' final meeting of the regular season, with the series standing at 3-1 Magic. With this victory the Magic are 47-17 and remain the 3rd seed in the East.


Full box score at Yahoo! Sports

Yes It's a Big Deal: Spencer's Best of 2008 Pix

Here goes.

Best book about basketball that's not really about basketball

Rabbit, Run by John Updike



As an author of fiction, Updike writes rings around the rest. As a young (i.e. sensitive, arrogant) American man, this book means a lot to me.

Best rock 'n' roll band that makes me wish I had a raspy voice and really good hair

The Replacements



I love these guys. Filthy, immature: they had a tendency to romanticize. Listening to songs like "Androgynous," "Kiss Me On The Bus," and "Sky Way," it's hard to deny that–as a songwriter–Paul Westerberg is a living national treasure. According to Spin, he's started playing hockey and still lives in Minneapolis. You've gotta admire that.

Best rock 'n' roll band whose members I'd probably hate if I knew them personally

The Royal We



This band is now defunct. Their songs are awesome, but betray an artiness that makes me think I'd constitutionally despise at least one or two members. They made one self-titled record and then broke up, so they've got mystique. Two things. "All The Rage" is what happens when the Vaselines O.D. on Pixy Stix. "Back and Forth All Day" is the rawest campfire gold.


Favorite rookie in the NBA

Courtney Lee - The Orlando Magic



Perhaps an obvious choice for me, especially since I don't really know how any of the other picks have done thus far. I feel some pity for Kevin Love. Not so much because he's on the T-Wolves but because I read a blog entry around Thanksgiving where he just came across as really sad and homesick. It was enough for me to forgive him Mike Love's nephew status.

As for Lee, he plays an admirable defensive game, characterized by that most glorious stalwart of urbanized sports terminology: hustle. He can sink the three, drive the lane, and is seriously impassive on the court.

Favorite Coach in the NBA

Stan Van Gundy - The Orlando Magic



Where to begin? There's the 'stache, the 'tude, the head in the hands. This guy is the complete package: lovable neurosis wrapped up in a Miami Vice sports coat. His brother Jeff is kind of a douche, but still somewhat cool.

Favorite Point Guard in the NBA

Tie:

Chris Paul - The New Orleans Hornets

AND

Jameer Nelson - The Orlando Magic



Paul:
Shitty deodorant commercials aside, this guy plays ball with a flair far too uncommon in today's Celtics-dominated league. He zips left, he spins right. He can hoist the J. He can pass it behind the back and spot the alley-oop three moves ahead. They say he's like Isiah Thomas, I can't vouch for that. He bowls in the high two hundreds.



Nelson:
Nelson was my least favorite player last year. This year he's making us all eat our words. He was player of the week in the East last week and for good reason. "My Little Friend" indeed.

Best Blast from the Past

The Brotherman OST



I can't say enough about this album. All I'll say now is "We Can Work It Out." As for this picture, the words "outta sight" fail me.

Best Country in the World

The U.S.A.



I love this place, so let's get one thing straight: we're not any more a bunch of bastards than the next country is, so the rest of you should please get over yourselves. Think long and hard and remember who gave you Rock 'n' Roll, the quarter-pounder w/ cheese, AND the game of basketball. See? We've always had your best interests at heart.

Best Car

Dad's Hyundai. I'm not sure what model it is. It's gray and has a working CD player and gets good gas mileage. Sorry, Detroit.


My dad's car looks nothing like this.

Best Rap Group

A Tribe Called Quest



I didn't like rap for a long time. These guys showed me how cool it is. Went to a Q-Tip show this month that was A-C-E.

Most Rock 'n' Roll Moment

Meeting Mark E. Smith with Justin and Ryan in Morecambe, UK. The definition of surreal.



The Annual Bill and Ted Most Excellent Babe Award

Beth Murphy - Times New Viking





Times New Viking are an amazing live band. Their keyboard player and singer, Beth Murphy, is extremely attractive. She also rocks. Killer. I read somewhere that she is a Pisces. I am a Pisces. We would probably never get along.

Coolest thing Julian made me check out

Francine



Francine is a gorgeous band from Cambridge, MA. Gorgeous songs that reference stuff like the movies Dune (the one starring Sting) and Aliens (one of my all-time faves), all written by this cool dude who works at Harvard and used to play with Aimee Mann. I even reintroduced the word "nasty" as a synonym for "cool" into my vocabulary just because of these guys. They say a new record is coming along any day now. Certainly it will be A+


Coolest thing to do back home

Watching basketball games in HD with the 'rents and the sib or else with the broheims while drinking Sam Adams Winter Lager.

Most Rock 'n' Roll Venue

Market Hotel, Bushwick, BKLYN, NY

Hopefully a film will be made about the scene one day and I will be interviewed by someone about it. I will talk about this place fondly, how glad I am that it exists even though I would be the vomitron if I had to live there.

Best Sweet Hook-up

Getting to see shows for free because I write cheeky reviews about them for PopMatters

So sweet. Hope yr. jealous.

Best thing about being graduated from college



The world is my öyster.

See you next year, friends.

ST