Magic Not Getting Their Rightful Love?
by Steve Weinman on Mar 9, 2008 11:00 PM EDT
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So think Rashard Lewis and his teammates.
Apparently, Lewis, Dwight Howard and several of their cohorts in Orlando are tired of hearing the media's respects only going to the Celtics, Pistons and Cavs in the Eastern Conference.
As reported by Florida Today's John Denton:
There is a growing us-against-the-world sentiment in the Orlando locker room that the Magic aren't getting enough credit for dominating the Southeast Division, and keeping the heat on Boston and Detroit in the Eastern Conference.
"A lot of the talk is about Boston and Detroit and even Cleveland some, but we want to try and make our statement come playoff time," Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. "Go ahead and sleep on us, label us as underdogs, and we'll be the team to surprise you in the playoffs.
Said Howard: "Keep on overlooking us, and we'll keep on playing like we have all season. Nobody is looking at us, and we're trying to feed off of that. It'll motivate us come playoff time."
Hard to imagine the other three powers in the East need be all that concerned if the Magic choose to follow through on Howard's threat and "keep on playing like [they] have all season."
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Without a doubt, the Magic have been one of the more pleasant surprises in the league this season. They are a young, well-coached and likable group, and it is nice to see them sitting atop the Southeast Division with a nine-game lead. Dwight Howard's continued development makes this team one that can't ever be written off completely.
But they have been deservedly labeled as the fourth team to fear in the East come springtime.
The "way the Magic have been playing all season" is inconsistently. Since roaring out of the gates to a 16-4 start, the Magic have gone just 24-20, and Stan Van Gundy has had to throw multiple post-game tantrums surrounding Orlando's lack of defensive intensity at times this year.
With the exception of one or two rough patches, the Celtics and Pistons have cruised all season. The Pistons still have largely the same group that went to the Finals in consecutive seasons, and the Cavs are not only the defending conference champs but also the proud royal subjects of a new and improved LeBron James.
The Magic have yet to show that they have the consistency or the intensity to be listed with the others. And so they get the attention -- or lack thereof -- that they do.
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Defense, Depth, Point Guard, Backcourt, Penetration ….. all lacking.
It’s going to be very tough for Orlando to make a playoff run. They’re capable of knocking any team out but they won’t be able to sustain that for four rounds because they don’t have the quality.
SVG is doing a really bad job with Rashard Lewis by the way. I still see no post ups. It’s been three years since i’ve seen Lewis this hesitant to put the ball on the floor. He simply doesn’t fit into SVG’s mold of what a bball player should be, he’ll never say that but it’s true. They should trade Lewis to LA for Odom, solve everyone’s problems.
Jameer Nelson has been a disappointment, he isn’t a starting point guard, nevermind a capable enough body to lead a title contending team. That contract is going to hurt if they can’t move it quick.
Still no big men around Dwight Howard. Trouble on the boards and interior defense and they still lack someone they can throw the ball into the post outside of Dwight because Adonal Foyle gives SVG an anneurysm whenever he tries to score.
Perimeter defense is still too unpredictable. Sometimes you get a good performance but more often than not it’s weak.
A backcourt of Nelson/Bogans/Mo/Arroyo/Dooling simply isn’t going to get it done.
Since Nelson and Lewis have been disappointments off the dribble the Magic simply cannot run the offense that SVG want’s to do. He wanted an unpredictable attack that could happen from four players but two aren’t as good as advertised, and one other isn’t capable which leaves Hedo by himself doing all the heavy lifting.
What a waste of a season
Could have been so different had they used those expiring contracts. Imagine Pau Gasol there? Heck imagine anyone who isn’t an empty shirt down there, they just need bodies in the paint.
by Who on Mar 10, 2008 6:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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