RE:Orlando Magic 2010-2011 schedule!! Will they make it to the finals?
Without further ado, he’s a breakdown of the Magic’s roster:
CENTERS
Players: Dwight Howard (18.3 ppg., 13.2 rpg., 2.78 bpg.); Marcin Gortat (3.6 ppg., 4.2 rpg.); Daniel Orton (NBA rookie).
Strengths: Of course, we’re starting with Howard because everything the Magic do starts and revolves around the consensus All-NBA center.
Howard has worked hard this summer to improve his offensive game in the low post, drilling with legend Hakeem Olajuwon and another Hall of Famer who asked to remain anonymous. Expect Howard to make a major step forward this season offensively and possibly showcase a turnaround jump shot from the low block.
Gortat is arguably the NBA’s best back-up center and could start for roughly 20 other NBA teams. He is a safety net for the Magic when Howard is in foul trouble and he came up huge in the playoffs last spring. Orton is a major project who is also still recovering from knee surgery, so his impact this season will likely be minimal.
Weaknesses: Howard’s foul trouble and tendency to pick up technical fouls are issues for the Magic. The Referees Union announced earlier this week that it has been given more latitude to whistle player for reacting to calls, so Howard will have to be wary of his responses to the officials.
Gortat thrives on playing with great energy, but he needs a steady move to go to in the post to keep the second unit from being a strictly perimeter-based squad.
Analysis: The Magic are as well positioned at center as any team in the NBA. The Howard-Gortat one/two punch is the best in the NBA and no one else is even close. And if Howard can grow his game once again by developing more post moves, cutting down turnovers and hitting more free throws, he has a legitimate shot at winning his first MVP trophy.
POINT GUARDS
Players: Jameer Nelson (12.6 ppg., 5.4 apg.); Chris Duhon (7.4 ppg., 5.6 apg.); Jason Williams (6.0 ppg., 3.6 apg.).
Strengths: It’s been Otis Smith’s mission for years to fortify the point guard slot and he’s finally done it with the acquisition of Duhon behind the starter (Nelson) and the veteran (Williams).
Nelson showed the rest of the NBA last spring that he is an elite point guard, carrying the Magic’s offense for long stretches of the playoffs. He torched Raymond Felton and Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford in the first two rounds of the playoffs and held his own against Rajon Rondo. Continue playing that way this season and Nelson will likely make a second All-Star Game appearance.
Smith wanted Duhon for a couple of reasons. Not only can he come off the bench as a top reserve, but he can also play starter’s minutes in case Nelson is injured. And Duhon gives the Magic some defensive size and a pass-first mentality to the point guard position.
Teammates love Williams because of his fun-loving nature. And he became a favorite last season because of the way he played. Teammates run the break when Williams has the ball because they know he will find open cutters. Williams will be making the adjustment to being the third point guard this season.
Weaknesses: Nelson and Williams aren’t exactly defensive stoppers, so that is a concern from time to time against bigger point guards. Duhon is a gritty, feisty defender, but he often struggles with his jump shot for long stretches. Nelson has missed major portions of the past three seasons because of injury problems – a product of his fearless style of play. This time, however, the Magic have the depth to withstand an injury.
Analysis: Nelson is the soul of this team and one of the most respected leaders in the locker room. He and Howard simply would not let the Magic quit last spring when they fell down 0-3, fighting the good fight. And Duhon will help the Magic greatly with his ability to run pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop sets this season. And when he gets in the lane, it should create more dunks for Howard.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Players: Vince Carter (16.6 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 3.1 apg.); J.J. Redick (9.6 ppg., 1.9 apg.).
Strengths: Carter had some wild highs and lows in his first season in Orlando. He suffered through a dismal January, but rebounded with a jaw-dropping 48-point performance in February. And he played well down the stretch only to struggle with his shot in the playoffs. The Magic clearly need more consistency from Carter.
Luckily for the Magic, Redick was ready to step in and fill in the gaps last season when Carter struggled. Redick improved as much as any NBA player last season, reshaping his body and refining his shot to become a productive member of the team. Redick’s improvement was so great that the Magic matched a heavily front-loaded contract offer sheet by the Chicago Bulls this summer so that they could retain the blossoming shooting guard.
Weaknesses: Some doubt whether or not the 34-year-old Carter can still be an elite player. The Magic need him to play with more of an aggressive, attacking mentality and not defer to his teammates so much. They need him to play at a high level to contend for a championship.
Analysis: There has been speculation for months that Carter and his expiring contract would be dealt elsewhere in exchange for another elite scorer. But the Magic have made it clear that they still think Carter has plenty of game left in his once explosive body. He’s worked hard this summer on his conditioning in hopes of staying strong the entire season.
The emergence of Redick could pose the most intriguing position battle on the roster. If Carter struggles and Redick continues to blossom does head coach Stan Van Gundy make the switch to J.J. as his starting shooting guard? Redick played many of the key minutes in the playoffs last spring because he was the more effective player with his shooting and playmaking for others.
Look for Van Gundy to stick with Carter as long as possible because he know he needs Carter strong mentally and playing well. Redick might still be used as a reserve, but he’ll get more minutes than ever this season.
SMALL FORWARDS
Players: Quentin Richardson (9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg.); Mickael Pietrus (8.7 ppg., 2.9 rpg.); Stanley Robinson (NBA rookie).
Strengths: Many Magic fans were sad to see Matt Barnes leave following a contract dispute, but in actuality Orlando upgraded the position with the signing of Richardson. He’s a physically stronger defender capable of slowing down Paul Pierce and LeBron James, while being a dramatically better 3-point shooter.
Pietrus has the talent and shooting skill to be a starter, but his inconsistency is often maddening for Van Gundy and Smith. The Magic want him to focus more on his defense than his shooting. And they want him to show up night in and night out with the mental focus needed to be a standout contributor.
Weaknesses: In losing Barnes, the Magic lost a high-energy player who was usually the first one down the floor on the fast break and a good, off-the-ball cutter in halfcourt sets. Richardson is a solid post-up player, but sometimes floats too much around the 3-point line. The same thing, of course, can be said for Pietrus, whose awesome athleticism is sometimes wasted because of his desire to shoot 3-pointers.
Analysis: Much like Barnes, Richardson is a gritty, tough-minded player who will fight foes on the perimeter. Van Gundy also likes that he’s a better than average rebounder from a wing spot.
Pietrus, who feared he might be traded this summer, needs to have a solid season on both ends of the floor. Don’t be surprised to see Rashard Lewis at this slot for long stretches because of the Magic’s desire to get a bigger lineup and a traditional power forward on the floor more.
POWER FORWARDS
Players: Rashard Lewis (14.1 ppg., 4.4 rpg.); Brandon Bass (5.8 ppg., 2.5 rpg.); Ryan Anderson (7.7 ppg., 3.2 rpg.); Malik Allen (2.1 ppg., 1.6 rpg.).
Strengths: No one in the NBA has made or attempted more 3-pointers over the past three seasons that Lewis, a converted small forward. He’s ability to knock down shots – namely big threes at the end of the shot clock and at the end of games – has helped Orlando become the most prolific 3-point shooting team in NBA history.
Bass has big hopes coming to Orlando as a free agent, but he struggled to get on the floor last season because of several issues. He had problems with the Magic’s defensive rotations and didn’t rebound the ball as well as Van Gundy had hoped. Smith, who pushed for the Bass signing to a four-year, $18 million contract, feels that Bass is poised to make a big jump this season in Year 2 with the Magic.
Anderson has been one of the Magic’s most dedicated offseason workers in an attempt to become stronger and more agile. He started last season incredibly, filling in nicely for Lewis. But bouts of wavering confidence led to a drop off in his play. Van Gundy likes that he’s a solid rebounder – better than even Bass -- and wants him to play with more aggression.
Weaknesses: Bigger frontlines give the Magic fits, especially when Lewis is in at power forward. Lewis has made big improvements defensively, but he still has trouble against bigger power forwards such as Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph. Magic fans would like to see Bass play more because of his willingness to mix it up inside, but he must become a better individual defender and rebounder. Anderson is poised to make a big jump this season, but he too must become a more rugged defender.
Analysis: Give Van Gundy and Lewis credit for revolutionizing the ``stretch four’’ position. Lewis’ 3-point shooting gives the Magic another scoring threat and keeps teams from double-teaming inside on Howard. Anderson falls into that Lewis role well with his ability to shoot from afar and put the ball on the floor. If Bass can make a big jump defensively on the boards, he could give the Magic the ability to play with bigger lineups. Gortat has also worked hard on his mid-range jump shot this summer, so expect to see him get a shot at power forward as well.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. Submit questions to John’s weekly Question-and-Answer pieces by writing to John at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
Karma is the strongest thing is the universe