Magic 110, Sonics 94

So you're gonna look at that score and think this game was a blowout, but the Sonics--despite a career-high 39 from Dwight Howard--were actually within one point with as late as 4:22 left.

They got there--despite having been down 15 at the start of the 4th--because P.J. Carlesimo finally figured out a way to make Kevin Durant an asset on defense instead of a liability--by having him front Howard while Kurt Thomas kept between Howard and the hoop. This kept Howard scoreless for the final five minutes; but once the Magic figured out how to find the inevitably open man, they hit four wide-open three pointers in a row to seal the game.

Now, we commend P.J. Carlesimo for finally deploying this strategy, but we have to wonder, couldn't he have thought of this before the game? It might have been effective if used occasionally, but instead the Sonics used it for three minutes straight and the Magic were able to adjust. Carlesimo had to know that the Sonics would have trouble defending Howard since they didn't have Nick Collison, yet they guarded him straight up for the first 43 minutes of the game.

When a guy drops a career-high on you (and it wasn't like Howard had an amazing shooting night, most of his makes were dunks and he didn't take a single shot from beyone five feet) that means you screwed up on defense. Had Carlesimo figured out a strategy earlier, instead of 43 minutes in, the Sonics might have had a chance. Instead, they lose their seventh of seven home games, and fall to 2-14. It's the worst start in franchise history.

One more thing: we were shocked that the Sonics didn't do more to recognize Rashard Lewis' return. The franchise's fourth all-time leading scorer, and he was introduced first, almost inaudibly. Granted, I was there about five minutes before tip-off, so maybe there was something pre-game? The guy played here nine years, and nothing? Shocking.