2012 Playoffs : 6-3-0 +24.24 units
Indiana Pacers -9 (10 units to win 9.52)
Indiana Pacers -5 first half (8.4 units to win 8)
Orlando has now beaten the Pacers four out of the five times they have played this year. So while possible they are just a bad matchup for Indiana, let's have a look insdie the box score on each
January 24, 2012 – Orlando 102 Indiana 83
FG %: 45.8% (Orlando) vs. 39.7% (Indiana)
3Pt %: 40.6% (Orlando) vs. 27.3% (Indiana)
Bench Scoring: 49 (Orlando) vs. 27 (Indiana)
Howard: 14 points, 9 rebounds
February 4, 2012 – Orlando 85 Indiana 81
FG %: 40.3% (Orlando) vs. 34.1% (Indiana)
3Pt %: 36.0% (Orlando) vs. 18.2% (Indiana)
Bench Scoring: 17 (Orlando) vs. 25 (Indiana)
Howard: 27 points, 8 rebounds
March 11, 2012 – Orlando 107 Indiana 94
FG %: 46.8% (Orlando) vs. 47.6% (Indiana)
3Pt %: 37.0% (Orlando) vs. 8.3% (Indiana)
Bench Scoring: 30 (Orlando) vs. 34 (Indiana)
Howard: 30 points, 13 rebounds
April 28, 2012 – Orlando 81 Indiana 77
FG %: 39.5% (Orlando) vs. 34.5% (Indiana)
3Pt %: 37.5% (Orlando) vs. 30.8% (Indiana)
Bench Scoring: 17 (Orlando) vs. 14 (Indiana)
Howard: DNP
Orlando was led to a victory in each game with a combination of solid perimeter defense, strong shooting from behind the arc, domination from Dwight Howard or successful scoring and minutes from the bench.
When Indiana shoots the ball well, you get the result you got on January 29, 2012 when the Pacers won 106-85. The Magic shot the ball well, Howard went for 24 and 13, but their defense was terrible and the bench was non-existent. They no longer can rely on Howard on either end of the floor, so they will need to shoot lights out, defend the perimeter well and get significant scoring from their bench. The Game 1 victory was more of Indiana playing poorly than it was Orlando doing all those things well. Their defense was good, but I wonder whether the Howard-less Magic can put forth back to back solid showings on the road. Indiana showed their youth in Game 1, and possible they came in overly confident with Howard out of the lineup. I think they come out firing tonight, and I don't think this game is close.