Dwyer: Magic Are Stacked

by Jeff Clark on Jul 16, 2009 9:54 PM EDT in NBA Comment 48 comments

Kelly Dwyer is very impressed with what the Magic have done this offseason.

This team is stacked. Replacing Hedo's 17-5-5-on 41 percent shooting line is Carter, who somehow managed a 21-5-5-on 44 percent shooting line last year, even while being dragged down by the weight of his massive contract and all the hatred and enmity we have for the man.

Replacing Tony Battie's(notes) fruitless (if well intentioned) minutes during last year's Finals will be Bass, who merely scores at a very efficient rate, rebounds, and works well away from the ball.

Replacing a 23-year old Dwight Howard(notes) will be a 24-year old Dwight Howard. Replacing Rafer Alston(notes) and iffy minutes from Jameer Nelson(notes) will be 30+ strong minutes from a healthy, All-Star level Jameer Nelson. The Magic need a backup point guard, but guess what? Gortat, with his blessing, can be traded for one six weeks into the season.

How do you feel they've done with their moves? How do they stack up with the Celtics, Cavs, and other Eastern teams?

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People say they've taken a step back with Carter but

I think the magic are gonna be the 3rd seed team again this year, maybe make a strong run for the 2nd seed.

Don't Trade Rondo or Perk!

by RJ87 on Jul 16, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They still can't match up with a healthy KG

But he can defend a Lewis.

by Wide Load on Jul 16, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sheed will earn his money vs orlando

by celticinorlando on Jul 16, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Magic 09/10 Champs Baby !!! This is our year.

Standing up for the little People

PS: I am actually from Boston.

by Champzilla on Jul 16, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

funny....seems magic fans say that a lot...

by celticinorlando on Jul 16, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Celtics have the edge...

I think getting rid of Rafer was a big mistake. Obviously they are still a good team, but I thought Rafer came up big for them, and I am still not sold on Nelson in terms of playoffs. I think he can be exposed in the playoffs. Carter had an amazing year last year, so I don’t see it as much of a step back as some may believe.

by B-ball on Jul 16, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not having hedo makes it easier for boston to guard them

KG on lewis, perk on howard, paul on carter…

by celticinorlando on Jul 16, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see the need for playing the season. We cannot match up with the greatness that is Vince Carter.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Dwyer is nuts.

by CoachBo on Jul 16, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not real worried

If they are better it is barely. Carter relies so much on his athleticism that is going downhill as he ages. He also can’t stay healthy. I think he spends a lot of time this year injured. Bass is a little upgrade, but whatever. They barely slid past us last year with no KG. We added Sheed. I don’t think they are our worry. Cleveland still is the team to beat in the east outside of us. They did get better and do scare me.

by EJPLAYA on Jul 16, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really true

Im a Celts fan but the idea that Vince is always injured is just false, over the last 5 years he has played in 77,79,82,76,80 games at about 38 mpg. He also isnt very dependent on his athleticism anymore, i mean its still a weapon but he is a great jumpshooter and thats how he scores nearly all of his points. 75% of his points came on jumpshots, in comparison its 73% for PP and 81% for Ray. Vince isnt a superstar but he is a very good player and has been very durable over the last 5 seasons.

I still think the Cavs are the bigger problem for us but the Magic are going to be a great team next year, a lineup of Nelson/Vince/Pietrus/Lewis/Dwight with Gortat/Bass/Anderson is a very impressive top 8 players. I think in order the best teams in the east are Celts/Magic/Cavs, however i think we match up MUCH better with the Magic and would beat them in 6 with a healthy team.

by Big_Matt34 on Jul 17, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha Ha

Is Dwyer’s article some kind of joke? Hedo makes the players around him better. Carter doesn’t.

by Brickowski on Jul 16, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sold

You also replace Turkoglu with a guy who is always just one bad step away from a major injury and tends to disappear in big games. Hedo’s style worked perfectly for that team, and i just don’t see Carter fitting in as well.

I really think our biggest competition is Doc Rivers. Plain and simple, if he runs the starters into the ground during the regular season again, we’re gonna go into the playoffs limping and get nowhere.

by Silhouette on Jul 16, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Doc Got a Bonus

for winning 60 games instead of 55.

by Brickowski on Jul 16, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like what Orlando has done

I think they’ve had a great offseason, and as he points out, Gortat will be in demand should they choose to trade him. They’ve clearly upgraded, in my view, from a team that already went to the finals.

by Mencius on Jul 16, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

orlando improved-not as much as the rasheed-c’s. we need some backups th and never forget the injury factor.

by nazzbo on Jul 16, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Off subject...

but Anthony Morrow just scored 47 points with 7 rebounds in summer league. Impressive!

by B-ball on Jul 16, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Orlando

I think they are really good, but I don’t know where Dwyer gets the word “stacked” from. Stacked=Dwight,Vince,Lewis,Bass,Jameer,Gortat,Pietrus. That is really it. That is only 7 really good or great players. Everybody else on the team is a 10th man or lower with the best guy being Reddick. You need more than 7 big names to be stacked and to say that Jameer, Bass & Gorat are big names is stretching it a bit.

by star18 on Jul 16, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That means...

I guess we can’t say we are stacked then. Our drop off to our 8th man is much worse than theirs.

by guava_wrench on Jul 17, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

your

underating ryan anderson

by beantownboy171 on Jul 17, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You claim their best 10th man is JJ . I find that strange since they only have 9 under contract. They are about to add a solid wing defender as well as at least 3 others. Quit using KG as an excuse the Magic were without Nelson an allstar sleceted by the coachs. They may know more than the fans. His numbers were actually as good or better than KG. Gortat could start for the Celtics as well as most other teams in the leage. Look at the head to head records the last 3 years against Cleveland and Boston before you write off the Magic. FYI Nelson averaged over 25 a game against LA last year so him not being really ready to play was a huge factor

by say what on Jul 17, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Nelson, but comparing him to KG?

Lewis can’t defend KG, but KG can defend Lewis.

Rondo can guard Nelson

Gortat is nice. I would love to see him as the 4th big man (behind KG, Perk and Wallace) on the Celtics.

Celtics, with out KG (key to the defense) took Orlando to 7 games. With KG, win in 6.

by Wide Load on Jul 17, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Orlando

Actually as I read the article, it seems to make less and less sense. You replace Hedo with Vince, a slight upgrade. Then you lose Lee,Alston & Battie for Bass, which is basically a slight downgrade. So, overall not sure what this guy is talking about, especially when he uses the word “owned”. Not sure what that is about.

by star18 on Jul 16, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More like...

The lose Hedo, Lee, Alston, and Battie.

They gain Carter, Ryan Anderson, Bass. I think they’re still in the market for a backup wing too, so their off-season is not done.

To me, Bass is an upgrade over Battie. Ryan Anderson is just as good as Lee. Carter about a wash with Hedo, though that’s a tougher call. Hedo does seem to make others around him better, while Carter puts up bigger numbers.

Alston was a nice stopgap for them while Jameer was hurt, but a healthy Jameer will make that loss a total non-factor. Resigning Gortat was big, whether or not they decide to keep him. Competent young centers are always at a premium. A good chip to have in their pocket.

by Mencius on Jul 16, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comparing Anderson to Lee

Is absurd. Completely different players, not to mention Lee woulda been the first guy off the bench, while Anderson is just the 2nd big man off the bench. Can Anderson guard Ray Allen, or Rasheed for that matter? Can Carter guard either Allen or Pierce? At least Turkoglu’s size gave Paul some trouble, but this team could be seriously hurting for defense in some areas.

by Silhouette on Jul 17, 2009 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't understand the comparison, just ask

The comparison was strictly about talent. Not that they play the same position. I didn’t think it necessary to point out the obvious. Lee is strictly a 2 guard. Anderson will back up both the 3 and the 4. You think Lee guarded Pierce or Allen well? He got abused (same in finals). It was Pietrus that defended well. And yes, Carter, when motivated, could guard both Pierce and Allen better than Lee can. Having Lee as the first guy off your bench indicates a weak bench.

Talent wise, Anderson has as much as Lee, and I think he’ll surprise some people this year.

by Mencius on Jul 17, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lee abused?

He shut down Ed House and helped, along with J. Redick, shut down Ray Allen.

by Half-man Half-gortat on Jul 17, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember being surprised by how well Redick was playing Ray

I don’t recall being impressed at all by Lee’s defense, and in fact, remember him being porous, and Orlando going much more with Pietrus for defense (and he was surprisingly effective at offense too).

by Mencius on Jul 17, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lee blanketed House

After the Skip-Slap game, Lee didn’t let House get a clean look the rest of the series.

by dslack on Jul 18, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NICE

Good move for Orlando. It’s our turn now!!!!!

by celt4ever on Jul 16, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KD...

has gone crazy. LOL, first he says how the Artest signing makes LA MUCH WORSE and that they were foolish to spurn Ariza…well, the general opinion in CelticsBlog/ThirdQuarterCollapse/TheDreamShake/SilverScreenAndRoll is that Artest is an upgrade from Ariza and that the Lakers stole him for only 6 million, considering that other teams would have liked to sign him for 9 million!

And now he comes up with the notion that Orlando has gotten better…wtf is he talking about? So far, the clear winner in this postseason is the Spurs. Every other move has been minimal in comparison. So why is KD praising the Magic instead of the Spurs?

KD HAS GONE INSANE…

by inXile on Jul 17, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Vince is a big upgrade over Hedo. Hedo hit a few big shots that everyone saw in the playoffs, and so lots of people are now overrating him. Same thing as happened with Jerome James a few years ago. (Of course I know that Hedo is much better than James, but it’s the same phenomenon where the most recent and visible minutes count for much more in people’s minds than a season’s worth of production.)

Vince averages more points in the same # of minutes, while shooting a higher percentage and grabbing equal rebounds, dishing equal assists, and getting more steals and blocks. He even shot better from 3-point range. I think it’s lousy that he quit on that Toronto team a few years ago, but he’s a better player than Turk is right now.

Ryan Anderson is very solid. Brandon Bass is underrated.

Also: Ariza did fit the triangle better than Artest, plus he’s younger, more athletic, taller. Ariza won several playoff games with his defense in the last minutes. Artest is better off the dribble, but the Lakers don’t need another shot creator.

Spurs have had a very good offseason, too, but I think Carter and Bass trumps Jefferson and McDyess.

by dslack on Jul 17, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

SO

That’s mean they are out of matt barnes races???

by celt4ever on Jul 17, 2009 3:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good job Orland, but ...

the Heat will have an even better offseason if they can get both Odom and Boozer to play alongside Wade. I think Ainge needs to work even harder to beef up our bench. With the Cavs, Magic and now the Heat all getting stronger, the East could turn into a blood bath next season.

by 33-32-00 on Jul 17, 2009 4:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm Worried

Orlando are a phenomenal team.

They’re one of the three best teams in the NBA, along with the Celtics and the Lakers. The Magic may be the team to beat in the East.

by Who on Jul 17, 2009 5:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Carter is a Downgrade, Not an Upgrade

By midseason, Carter and Rashard Lewis will be fighting to see who gets to take the most outside shots, and Superman will be demanding the ball too. The team will be on schedule for 40-45 wins. I expect Stan Van Gundy to be blamed for all of this and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fired before the all-star break.

by Brickowski on Jul 17, 2009 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd bet they'll be on course to win 60 and be in the thick of it for best record in the East.

We shall see.

by Mencius on Jul 17, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Magic are better

VC is a huge upgrade over Hedo. Bass is going to be huge for them. I think it is exciting: Cavs, Celts and Magic will duke it out in the East. NBA will have alot of great games next regular season.

by footey on Jul 17, 2009 7:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

turkuolooo is a huge loss so I don’t think the magic have improved. alston was also huge for them as was courtney lee. I think their backcourt and frontcourt are weaker so I don’t agree with dyer on this one

by Red2 on Jul 17, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

vince carter = cancer

He’ll never participate in a championship — he’ll bring the team down like he always does.

by popcontest on Jul 17, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We picked up KG this off season. I think that’s the best acquisition thus far.

by BOSPORTS on Jul 17, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

People are underestimating

the lose of Hedo. I think the Magic got worse this offseason. Getting Nelson back will help but losing Lee and Hedo is going to hurt and I don’t like the Vince/Rashard combo.

3rd best team in the East behind a healthy Boston and Cleveland.

by Donoghus on Jul 17, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perk sorta owns Dwight by the way ....

And hedo had excellent chemistry with the rest of that team. We almost took them down with a worn out PP, no KG and no Powe. Courtney Lee was a solid player for them too.

I haven’t seen Vince do much of anything to have this trade instill any fear at all. They will be a very good, very solid team top to bottom … but something about them seems very beatable.

by Fred Roberts on Jul 17, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Were they ever really better than the Celtics?

Vince Carter makes them a better team…Maybe. But I doubt they would have beaten the Celtics with Garnett last year.

Carter may have evened it out IF the Celtics had not signed Wallace.

Not to mention the key losses. Losing Davis (maybe), and Powe is nowhere close to losing Hedo. The addition of Carter made them a better team, but the loss of Hedo makes them a different team. Pretty much forcing them to revamp a system that got them to the finals.

Not to sound too techie, the Carter move is like someone switching from a Zune to an Ipod. Wallace’s signing is like moving from an iphone to an iphone 3GS

by afflatus on Jul 17, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am a long standing Magic fan

First off, congratulations on Rasheed. He is a great pickup for any team. I had hoped that we pick him up but he fits better personality-wise with you. (Likely conflict with way coach Stan Van coaches & Sheed’s personality anyway.)
I loved Turk, but alas he’s gone. I don’t know Carter’s game. He is originally from this exact area and is looking for a great showing for all of his local Peeps. Rashard will likely spend alot of time @ the 3. He deferred to Turk & will likely defer to Carter. Carter had to be the best man on an average team. Now, people who que in on him, WILL BE PUNISHED!
Courtney Lee is an up-and-commer. He will be missed. (…but did you see Ryan Anderson’s play during summer league?) Ryan Anderson looks to have potential to be a very good player.
I liked Rafer Alston. There seemed to be some tension in the Rafer/StanVan/Jameer triangle that wasn’t made public. (My bet is, that had a lot to do with his departure.)
Who knows what is going to happen to Gortat. My money is on the likelyhood that he gets a lot better throughout this year. In the news today, he states that he intends to chalenge Dwight for the starting Center Position before this year is out. (Pretty ballsie, but I like that attitude!)
Obviously you have a great team. This is the first that we have been recognized as being a great team. We will see…I don’t look for dominance between us either way.

You should know that we aen’t done yet. We still intend to pick up 3 more good players. The names that I hear being thrown arround are impresive.
Either way it’s going to be a great season. Good luck Celtic Fans.

by Chuck Harrison on Jul 17, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Classy post

Way to take the high road and civilly discuss the issue. Seriously.

My opinion is that it’s way too early to tell if the Magic have improved or not. What we do know for sure, though, is that this Magic team is far different from the one that went to the NBA Finals this past season. Basketball is a team game, and right now there is no way to tell whether or not all of the new pieces Orlando has assembled will gel as well as last year’s team. Based on that fact, I would have to assume that at least for the first part of next season they will be taking a step backward. Whether or not they can come together and play as cohesively as they did last year likely won’t be determined until late in the season or possibly even until the POs begin.

I have one other question as I’m not very well versed on the financial issues of the NBA. How is it that Orlando can still be looking at adding two or three more players when, from most accounts I have read, they are already paying a significant luxury tax? Is there another blog somewhere that better explains the luxury tax and financial aspects of the NBA? If so, could somebody please be kind enough to point me to it’s location? Thanks in advance.

by King Coebra on Jul 17, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs