Orlando Pinstriped Post: Magic Win Thanks To...Vince Carter?

Despite the fact that the Magic completed a sweep of the Bobcats on Monday night, the meager offensive contributions from Dwight Howard and Vince Carter raises questions about the team’s ability to protect itself against good teams. On this night, at least, the Magic trusted in Vince and he delivered.

Coach Stan Van Gundy relied on Carter despite his cold shooting throughout the series; he’d shot just 13-of-40 from the floor and 0-of-12 from beyond the arc prior to tonight. In the second half, with the chance to finish the Bobcats’ season and earn some rest, he called on Carter to initiate the offense. He answered that challenge by attacking the basket more aggressively and purposefully than he had at any other time in the series. And he got a few jumpers to drop as well. Carter’s never one to doubt his shot, but I do think Van Gundy’s move here made sense in the short-term (to win the game) and the long-term (to get Carter going for the next series).