Magic expects to make some shots in Game 2

Dwight Howard wasn’t the only one missing shots for Orlando.

The Magic’s prized collection of three-point gunners cooled off in Game 1, further adding to Orlando’s woes.

Will it turn around in Game 2 of the NBA Finals tonight against the Lakers?

“I don’t think we could shoot worse,” Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. “Somebody’s got to make some shots somewhere.”

Orlando got this far by relying on Howard’s strength down low and a number of perimeter players who knocked down shots whenever Howard was double-teamed.

Orlando was an impressive 40.8% from three-point range in the Eastern Conference finals against Cleveland but couldn’t find the range in Game 1 against the Lakers.

Rafer Alston missed all four of his three-point attempts, Courtney Lee was one for four and reserve guard Jameer Nelson missed both of his attempts.

All told, the Magic shot 34.8% from long distance in Game 1, well below its accuracy against Cleveland. In fact, the Magic shot 29.9% overall in Game 1, second-lowest in a Finals game since 1967.

The Lakers played superb defense in Game 1, possibly their best effort of the playoffs, but the Magic also missed some open looks.

Kobe Bryant said he “absolutely” expected Orlando’s perimeter players to bounce back tonight.

“We’ll have to face many games in this series where they shoot lights out,” he said, mentioning a January game in which the Magic made 23 of 37 three-point attempts against Sacramento. “This is a team that can get blistering hot, and we know that. We’ve just got to be ready for that.”

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Who’s the real Kobe?

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson didn’t hesitate when asked to name the biggest misconception about Bryant.

“That he’s a nice guy,” Jackson said. “He’s a killer. He’s a gunslinger, and he’s a guy that’s going to take the weak and have no mercy on them. That’s one of the things about Kobe. He’s a tough character, and he’s got a real nice demeanor and he carries himself very well.”

Bryant had a slightly different opinion of himself, saying with a smile that Jackson “lied.”

“I’m completely different at home and outside of Staples Center and here,” he said at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. “I think my USA Olympic teammates were up for a pretty big shock too, this [past] summer.”

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Bryant’s longevity

How much longer will Bryant play in the NBA?

Jackson guessed several more seasons.

“I think he’s just a player that is going to find a way regardless,” he said. “When his skill level deteriorates, he’s going to find a level to play at that his athleticism is going to allow. I can see him playing to 36, 37.

“You saw guys like [Jerry] Stackhouse and [Michael] Jordan playing past 35 with great ability. There’s no reason why Kobe won’t.”

Bryant, in his 13th NBA season, will be 31 in August. He has played 44% more games than Jordan at this stage in his career but said he felt fresh.

“My body feels great,” he said. “God willing, I stay healthy, I’ll just keep going.”

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Hey, thanks, Lamar

His Lakers teammates have recognized the sacrifices Lamar Odom has made this entire season.

They appreciate his willingness to give of himself for the betterment of the team, for the opportunity to win an NBA championship.

They know how difficult it was for Odom to go from being a starter to a reserve role, especially in the final year of a contract, when he knows putting up big numbers is a way of getting paid.

His teammates have watched how Odom has taken it all in stride and how in the Finals he has found some success, producing a double-double in Game 1 with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

He was also a difference-maker in the last two Western Conference finals games against Denver, averaging 19.5 points and 11 rebounds and shooting 51.8%.

“Lamar has been magnificent, and I think that’s why good things are happening for him,” Derek Fisher said. “If anybody believes I guess in basketball gods, he has paid his to them. He stepped back and accepted what was given to him and then every time the spotlight needed a spot to go to, it has gone to him because of how much he has given up.

“That’s life. The more you give, the more you receive, and Lamar has given just about more than anybody on this team.”

Odom is in the final year of a contract that’s on the Lakers’ books for $14.1 million.

He averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 29.7 minutes in mostly a reserve role during the regular season, down from the 14.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 37.9 minutes he averaged last season as a starter.

“Lamar is 29 years old and this could be his last big free-agent contract, so you want to maximize it. But now you’re in this limited role where you can’t do the things you want as a starter,” Fisher said. “So it’s a very tough spot to be in. But when you’re on that championship-caliber team like we have, I think it makes your willingness to accept the circumstances not easier, but better.”

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Defense is the key

For the Lakers, it’s all about defense against the Magic.

For Lakers center Andrew Bynum, it’s all about his defense on Howard.

Howard had 12 points on one-for-six shooting in Game 1.

“We can put up 100 points, which I know this team can do night in and night out,” Bynum said. “We’ve just got to hold [Orlando] to under that. That’s the way we look at it. Obviously, on offense if we can get guys cutting through the lane, we’ll be more productive. That’s a plus. But I think keeping a team under 100 points probably gives you the best chance of winning.”

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

broderick.turner@latimes.com