nba-playoffs-toro-orla - AthlonSports.com

2008 FIRST ROUND EASTERN CONFERENCE

KEYS TO THE SERIES : THE 3-POINT SHOT

The battle between Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh will get the marquee headlines, but keep an eye on the perimeter game as well. Orlando attempts more threes than anyone in the Eastern Conference, while Toronto trails only the Phoenix Suns in field-goal percentage from beyond the arc (39.2 percent). Led by Rashard Lewis (40.9 percent) and Hedo Turkoglu (40.0 percent), the Magic will be tough to defeat if the shots are falling from deep. Toronto doesn't attempt nearly as many threes, but boasts Jason Kapono (48.3 percent), Anthony Parker (43.8 percent) and Jose Calderon (42.9 percent), all of whom should be feared. This series will go back-and-forth, but in the end look for a few more shots to fall for the Magic.

ATHLON SPORTS PICKS : ORLANDO IN SEVEN

No. 12 Dwight Howard C
Points – 20.7
Assists – 1.3
Rebounds – 14.2
Minutes – 37.7

No. 4 Chris Bosh PF
Points – 22.3
Assists – 2.6
Rebounds – 8.7
Minutes – 36.2

No. 12 Dwight Howard C
Superman will be in the building when the Magic and Raptors tip off in Game 1 of their first round series. Dwight Howard, who famously donned a Superman cape to win the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk title, has put forth a career season for Orlando. He averaged a career-best 20.7 points per game, led the league in rebounding with 14.2 per game and blocked a career-best 2.2 shots per game while shooting 59.9 percent from the field, best in the Eastern Conference.

No. 4 Chris Bosh PF
Three-time All-Star Chris Bosh led the Raptors in scoring with 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds this season. He's had particular success against Dwight Howard and the Magic, with Howard struggling to cover Bosh's jumper off the screen and roll. Bosh played in just two of the three meetings between the Raptors and Magic this season and averaged 33 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He must now find comfort in his role as the go-to guy for Toronto if the Raptors hope to capture the series win over Orlando.

No. 15 Hedo Turkoglu SF
Turkoglu is a leading candidate for most improved player of the year. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April after averaging 19.8 points (50.4 percent shooting) and 6.4 assists. For the season, Turkoglu averaged career-highs with 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He has evolved into Orlando's most reliable deep threat and its most consistent perimeter scorer. The Magic will need a big series from Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis from the perimeter, particularly when Howard kicks to them from the post.

No. 8 Jose Calderon PG
When T.J. Ford went down with a scary injury in early December, the Raptors were immediately concerned not only with Ford's health but also with their point guard situation. Fortunately, Jose Calderon was there to save the day. Calderon not only kept the Raptors above .500, but he also finished first in the entire league with a 5.38 assists per turnover average, fifth with an average of 8.3 assists and 10th with a 42.9 3-point percentage. Ford returned to the Raptors lineup in February and resumed his starting role at the end of March, and the two now form one of the most dynamic point guard tandems in the NBA.

Guard play will be key in this one. Toronto has the edge in that department boasting the two-headed monster of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon. If they can get Chris Bosh in position to score, penetrate and kick to their three-point shooters, namely Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono, it will get the Raptors' offense going.

Jameer Nelson and Keith Bogans produced respectable seasons for Orlando, but both need to pick it up to give their team a chance to win, particularly on the defensive end. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis are excellent 3-point shooters that will need to produce in the clutch.

Dwight Howard is a beast to guard down low, and his matchup with Chris Bosh will be the one to watch. Howard broke Shaquille O’Neal’s single-season franchise record with 69 double-doubles. Maurice Evans brings energy off the bench for Orlando. He's a high-flyer that can also bang home the three-ball. Carlos Delfino delivers versatility for Toronto - he can shoot the long ball and slash to the basket. Jamario Moon is a super-athlete who plays solid defense off of the bench.

The Raptors are hungry after a first-round playoff ouster at the hands of the New Jersey Nets a year ago, while the Magic is looking to get out of the first round for the first time since 1996. Orlando was swept by Detroit in last season’s postseason. Orlando beat Toronto twice in three meetings this season.

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