ORLANDO — You hear guys say that Dwight Howard is a game changer. When he’s in the game, you have to literally change the way you play, change the things you do, and change your approach to the game. I always wondered if this was just something that people say for the sake of saying it. So I took it to the locker room to find out specifically how players think when Dwight is on the court.

Nate Drexler is a contributing writer for Magic Basketball. Follow him on Twitter.

ORLANDO — People have tagged Derrick Rose with dozens of adjectives in his short career thus far. Some call him explosive, some call him exciting, fast, quick, deadly, incredible. The list goes on. I was curious what his teammates call him. How do they view him? What adjectives do they use to describe him? How about the guys he plays against? How do they view him? How does he view himself? I took it to the locker room to find out.

Nate Drexler is a contributing writer for Magic Basketball. Follow him on Twitter.

ORLANDO — Rashard Lewis, while probably overpaid and lacking in big moments toward the end of his tenure in Orlando, left a lasting impact on teammates, coaches, and fans in Orlando. Upon his return on Tuesday night in the slaughtering of the Washington Wizards, I was curious if anyone had special Rashard Lewis memories.

So I took it to the locker room to find out exactly what Rashard meant to the Magic basketball organization. Was it a game winning shot in the playoffs? Was it goofy antics in the locker room? Just how is Rashard remembered here in Orlando? Magic Basketball found out.

Nate Drexler is a contributing writer for Magic Basketball. Follow him on Twitter.

ORLANDO — There is no question that the All-Star Game is huge for any city that gets the privilege of hosting it. Mayor Buddy Dyer projected that over 50,000 visitors would come through Orlando during All-Star Weekend, generating over 100 million dollars in revenue for the city.

But what does this mean for the players? It’s easy to answer that for a guy like Dwight Howard, who has accumulated over seven and a half million All-Star votes in his short career. So I took it to the locker room and found out exactly what the All-Star Game means to the players and those in the Magic organization.

Nate Drexler is a contributing writer for Magic Basketball. Follow him on Twitter.

Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

ORLANDO — After the Magic dismantled Washington on Tuesday, J.J. Redick said the Magic were able to take advantage of the Wizards by exploiting the fact that they are probably better offensively than defensively. The idea was to get early stops and squash any hopes of an offensive strike from the Wiz, while remaining confident that they could beat their defense.

That brought up interesting questions. What makes a good defense? What makes a good defensive player? The Magic are predicated on the concept that defense wins basketball games, and effort and intensity will get you there, so what does that look like per individual?

There are two players in particular on the Magic roster that have garnered a ton of respect over the years for their defensive ability — Dwight Howard and J.J. Redick, but Orlando is not necessarily known for their lockdown defense like, say, the Chicago Bulls are.

With the Bulls on their way into town, Stan Van Gundy expressed some concerns with what the Magic will be up against on Friday night. The first words out of his mouth after practice on Thursday were about how “long and quick” their front line is. Long and quick — are these the most-important elements of a good defensive player? I asked him.

“You start with a combination of size and quickness. If you have length and quickness you at least have a shot at being a great defender. But then I think also what’s underrated about a lot of those guys is great intelligence to really understand your own teams system, other teams personnel, and then the discipline to do what you’re supposed to do consistently, time after time after time after time. That’s what makes a great defender.”

So what is Stan most concerned about when Chicago comes to Orlando on Friday?

“First of all I think physically they’ve got guys like Luol Deng who was very underrated last year. To not make the All-Defensive team was absurd.”

So this makes sense. You have to be athletic, you have to have size, you have to be fast, but that’s not it. SVG made it clear that you also need the x-factor. You need to want to do it, and not just once but “time after time after time after time.”

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Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

In today’s media session (click here to read the log from Day 1), I was able to speak with Evan Turner amongst the media, as well as speak with Paul George, Patrick Patterson one-on-one, and Larry Sanders.

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Evan Turner

Could you talk about the rich basketball culture in Chicago, given that you’ve grown up in an area that’s produced talents like Isaiah Thomas, Quentin Richardson, and others?

Yeah, I just think basketball has always been a big thing in Chicago. It’s a competitive sport. Kids have a ball before they can walk. Everybody grows up playing it. It’s the thing to do during the summer. I used to play basketball from like 11 a.m. all the way to [midnight], so I think it’s a very competitive sport and just the way life is out here.

How did Thad Matta help prepare you for the NBA?

I think just mentally. He’s really big on the mental aspect of the game. He says everybody has talent but not too many are mentally tough and they crumble. I think he’s gotten me prepared for being positive, always have confidence in myself, and just preparing right. Working hard and not letting a day go by or an opportunity go by.

What makes your play-style so conducive to the next level?

I think I was blessed with the ability to slash. I picked up the game and learned how to find my teammates quicker … use the ball screen. I think it’s just a players’ game. I play basketball and I just work on different type of things to be ready for the NBA game and it’s a players’ game. I feel like it’s just basketball.

The NBA has become more of a league dominated by wing players. How do you think you’ll take advantage of the game in its present form?

Being in the Big Ten where they could carry you up the court pretty much and not getting any fouls called, I think I’ll adapt to it well. Definitely I have to get used to it on the defensive end because you can’t use your body or your hands. These are pros now. It’s their job to make shots. It’s their job to attack and everything, just have to be smart, really use your technique, and really use your fundamentals.

Some of the players I spoke with yesterday said that the college game is more physical, so how do you think you’ll adapt yourself to the league where it’s more spread out and what not?

The pace is going to be faster and the length of people [is different]. Somethings it’ll be tougher to finish at the rim and that’s pretty much it. The pace is going to be way quicker. Better athletes … you might face a guy your height or taller, as opposed to facing a guy who’s a little bit shorter.

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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Today and tomorrow at the Attack Athletics facility on the West Side of Chicago near the United Center, the 2010 NBA Draft Combine will take place. Nearly all of the top prospects (53, to be exact) hoping to be selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, whether it’s in the first or second round, will interview with teams, participate in basketball drills, undergo athletic and medical testing, and much more. No competitive games, though. In any case, the combine will give every team in the NBA a chance to start getting a first-hand look at the prospects, given that they’ll watch the workouts and, as has been mentioned before, interview them to get to know more about a player’s personality. For two days, the prospects will also be available to the media throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

In today’s media session, I was able to speak with John Wall amongst the media, as well as talk with Dominique Jones one-on-one, James Anderson, Xavier Henry, Luke Babbitt, Jarvis Varnado one-on-one, Travis Booker one-on-one, and Solomon Alabi one-on-one.

Part II contains my questions for Varnado, Booker, Alabi, and Wall.

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Jarvis Varnado

I know that the whole draft experience can be exciting for prospects but tense, too. How’s everything going for you?

It’s going real well. I’ve been getting good training out in Los Angeles, so it’s been going good.

What are you trying to improve on as the draft looms closer?

The offensive end of the court. I’m known as a defensive player, so I’m just trying to improve on the offensive end and knock down 15-footers.

You were well-known as a shot blocker and rebounder in college. Do you think those skills will translate for you to the NBA?

Oh yeah, there’s a lot of players in the NBA that can score but there’s quite a few that can play defense so whatever team drafts me, I’m just going to come in there and bring energy and the defensive presence that I have.

What do you think is something that’s overlooked about you that people should know more about?

I think I can knock down the 15-footer real well. I didn’t show it in college because I was doing what the coach asked me to, so I think I can shoot it real well.

What goes into blocking a shot?

Just timing, instincts … I try to be the second guy off the floor and use my long arms and be quick. My leaping ability allows me to do that.

Do you think you’ll be able to block as many shots in the NBA as you did in college?

Oh yeah. I got a lot of shots blocked off the weak-side. If one of the guards get beat, they know I got their back so I’m looking forward to that, as well as get some [blocks] from other people.

Is there a guy that you try to model your game after?

I say a Marcus Camby. He’s a great defensive player. He’s able to knock down his jumpshot.

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Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images

Today and tomorrow at the Attack Athletics facility on the West Side of Chicago near the United Center, the 2010 NBA Draft Combine will take place. Nearly all of the top prospects (53, to be exact) hoping to be selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, whether it’s in the first or second round, will interview with teams, participate in basketball drills, undergo athletic and medical testing, and much more. No competitive games, though. In any case, the combine will give every team in the NBA a chance to start getting a first-hand look at the prospects, given that they’ll watch the workouts and, as has been mentioned before, interview them to get to know more about a player’s personality. For two days, the prospects will also be available to the media throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

In today’s media session, I was able to speak with John Wall amongst the media, as well as talk with Dominique Jones one-on-one, James Anderson, Xavier Henry, Luke Babbitt, Jarvis Varnado one-on-one, Travis Booker one-on-one, and Solomon Alabi one-on-one.

Part I contains my questions for Jones, Anderson, Henry, and Babbitt.

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Dominique Jones

How did your training go in Atlanta?

It’s good. It’s just where I’m based out of right now when I go to these workouts so I got the training down and everything is good.

A lot of people say that you’re style of play is very conducive to the NBA. Why is that?

I think that I’m strong and the contact is good, things like that. Getting to the basket and being able to knock down that wide-open shot, I think I can do that and I guess that’s where it translates at.

Specifically, what are you trying to improve in your game?

My ball-handling and getting inside the lane. I mean, I can get inside the lane basically wherever I want to go but keeping my ball-handling a little tight and my defense. I can defend but I just need to get it a little better.

What type of team would you like to play for? Up-tempo? Structured?

It don’t matter. I can go anywhere and play. I prefer an up-tempo team because then I can get up and down [the court] like I like to do.

Do you feel you’re an open-court player?

Yeah, that’s what I’m best at. Transition, open-court, off deflections, off defense, I’m the best at that.

Which teams have you worked out for?

Yeah, I’ve worked out for Boston, San Antonio, Washington, Indiana and Chicago.

The NBA is becoming more of a perimeter-oriented league. How do you think that will help you succeed as a player in the league?

Yeah, I think that’ll help me get to the basket more and make my drives a little easier so I can get that contact at the basket. I mean, I think it’ll affect me on defense too because I won’t be able to be as physical as I want but I’m satisfied with the rules so I like it.

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Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

I was able to speak with head coach Stan Van Gundy amongst the media, as well as talk with Jameer Nelson, Marcin Gortat, Rashard Lewis, Matt Barnes, and Dwight Howard after the Orlando Magic defeated the San Antonio Spurs by the score of 110-84.

Stan Van Gundy

Rashard Lewis got things going in the first quarter and it seemed like you ran a few plays for him to get him going. Could you talk about his performance tonight?

Well, I thought … certainly the first play … I wanted to get the ball in his hands on a play where I thought he had a chance to get a shot. I just wanted to get him into the flow right away but yeah, he played well tonight and shot the ball well. Everybody is going to have ups and downs but he’s always been a guy that’s bounced back and I thought he had a good night tonight.

Jameer Nelson

With Tony Parker absent from the game, how do you think that changed things for the San Antonio Spurs?

Well, he’s a big part of what they do. He’s a one-man machine on the fast break and they need that. They need easy buckets and we didn’t allow that tonight. We all got back, for the most part. We shut down the paint and made them shoot jumpshots.

Could you talk about your relationship with Anthony Johnson? What has he taught you?

Well, he just … each game we warm-up, he stays on me about practicing certain shots. We [are] out there practicing certain shots before the game in the layup line. Every timeout, he’s in my ear about certain things that he see and he could be not playing, he could be one of the guys that’s just … ‘aw, I’m not playing, I’m not going to say anything’ but he’s not like that and he’s the ultimate professional. I’ve been very fortunate to have him, guys like Grant Hill, and other guys around me that are great professionals.

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