The Implosion Is Nearly Complete

 

I've said from the beginning of this season... check that... since the beginning of LAST season that the Magic are not built for the playoffs.  I think the world is starting to see why I say that.  Horrible shot selection when it matters most.  Lack of heart.  Suspect coaching moves.

And it's that last bit that seems to have Dwight Howard pissed off.

“I’m not going to get up here and bash or say anything about what should happen, but I will say it’s tough to win when all season long you play inside-out and you trust one of the people that got you off to a good season,” he said. “I think I’m capable of scoring the post so, I just don’t think 10 shots, I don’t want to say it’s all about offense. You've got a dominant player, let him be dominant.”

I'm sorry to tell you this Dwight, but you can't be dominant against Kendrick Perkins.  You just can't.  You can't muscle your way to the hoop.  You can't intimidate him.  Every time you try to bull your way to the hoop, Perk steers you out so you're taking an 8 foot sweeping hook shot.  You might want to look at the game film before you start calling out your coach.

“The coach has to recognize what’s working on the floor and stick to it," said Howard. "Even if you don’t have your starters in, the guys you put the most trust in. You gotta have trust in everybody. When you’re in the situation where guys got it going, you know everybody’s moving the ball and the energy is up, you have to stick with it. You have to stick with what works."

According to the script, Stan Van Gundy will come out today with a "oh he's just frustrated" kind of quote and tell everyone that things are fine.  Howard will say it was taken out of context.  And then tomorrow, the Magic will fold at the first hint of something going wrong and the Celtics will win big.  Then, after a week of wild second-guessing, Stan Van Gundy will be fired. 

SVG has made some really suspect decisions in this series, but the players need to look at themselves.  They're the ones taking crappy shots in clutch situations.  There's no way in hell SVG returns for another season with the Magic... but maybe one or two of these players needs to go with him.