Posts Tagged → Ryan Anderson
Recap: Orlando Magic 111, Phoenix Suns 88
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Orlando Magic were able to defeat the Phoenix Suns by the score of 111-88 in a reunion, of sorts, between two teams that made a blockbuster trade on December 18. Also, the Magic were able to win a game in Phoenix for the first time since 2001, taking advantage of Steve Nash’s absence due to an injury (Channing Frye was out as well), though it’s worth noting that Aaron Brooks — his replacement — did a good job at the point guard position. Orlando was led by a balanced attack, as seven players scored in double-figures. Dwight Howard was dominant on both ends of the floor, finishing with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks. The Suns started Robin Lopez at center but that matchup didn’t last long, as Howard destroyed him on the low block. As such, Marcin Gortat came in and did the best he could to slow down his former teammate in the post. Gortat’s defense was great, at times, but Howard still got the best of him on numerous occasions. Brandon Bass chipped in with 17 points, while Gilbert Arenas had 16 points, Jameer Nelson had 14 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 13 points, Ryan Anderson had 11 points, and Jason Richardson had 10 points. On the opposite end, only Gortat looked like a player that the Magic were missing, as he played with confidence and showed an expansive repertoire offensively that was previously shackled by his responsibilities serving as Howard’s back-up, such as rebounding, playing defense, etc.
Thursday’s Magic Word
- Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel: “For the first time since Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said NBA commissioner David Stern doesn’t allow free speech and compared him to oppressive world leaders, the commissioner addressed those comments on Thursday on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio. Stern said the comments made him sad and he intends to speak with the team’s management about getting Van Gundy’s comments under control. ‘I’m going to engage in a private discussions at this point with his franchise,’ Stern said. ‘I actually am not going to talk to Stan Van Gundy. I’m going to talk to the ownership of the team.’ Stern also implied he doesn’t intend to fine Van Gundy. ‘Because he tried to make it so personal, I’m not going to do anything about it this time,’ Stern said.”
- What’s it like being Stuff the Orlando Magic mascot?
- Gilbert Arenas is showing flashes of his old self.
- Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com takes a look at playoff tiebreaking scenarios.
- Commissioner David Stern strikes back at head coach Stan Van Gundy. Eric Freeman of Ball Don’t Lie is impressed that Van Gundy got Stern’s undivided attention: “That’s an exaggeration of the state of the Magic, of course, but that’s just how Stern operates. As Bethlehem Shoals explained in a recent piece for Tablet, Stern isn’t fully engaged if he’s not slyly ragging on people. I suppose that means Van Gundy should be honored to have the attention of the league’s top dog, even if it’s under less-than-ideal circumstances.”
- Dwyane Wade doesn’t mince words at Van Gundy either.
- Rob Mahoney of ProBasketballTalk: “If he were playing for any number of other NBA coaches, [Ryan] Anderson would likely go about his hot-shooting business undisturbed. Defense would likely be emphasized in practice and in games, but Stan Van Gundy is among the few who will repeatedly make the decision to bench productive players on the basis of defense alone. As good as Anderson is, this is the right play for the Magic and Van Gundy’s system; if Anderson can’t or won’t defend, then SVG should endeavor to find a player who will.[...] Anderson — and the same is true of Brandon Bass — needs to improve defensively if he’s to fully replace Lewis on his own rather than filling in for 20-minute bursts. More playing time may have been gifted him in other systems, but SVG knows no charity in his rotation, and every minute will need to be earned with defensive execution.”
- Players for the Magic chime in, including Sacramento native Ryan Anderson and former Kings’ player Hedo Turkoglu, on the Sacramento Kings’ current arena dilemma.
- Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie takes a look at Orlando’s win against Sacramento: “Sacramento played hard, and they gave us a fun game to wind down a crazy Wednesday night. And Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy deserves dap for letting Dwight Howard play through four fouls for most of the second half (reminded me, and he’ll hate this, of Phil Jackson). But this game came down to Sacramento’s inability to stop Orlando’s screen and roll.”
Wednesday’s Magic Word
- Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic know they got a steal when they acquired Ryan Anderson from the New Jersey Nets in the Vince Carter trade back in 2009. Incorrectly labeled a throw-in as part of that deal, Anderson has blossomed into a reliable player for the Magic and the most relevant person involved in the trade (Carter’s wasting away in Phoenix, Lee’s a reserve on a mediocre Houston team, Alston’s out of the league, Battie barely plays in Philadelphia). But just how good is Ryan Anderson? And how good can he be? Some metrics show him as one of the better — or at least most efficient — offensive power forwards in the NBA. A more proficient scorer, at least in his role, than Chris Bosh. A better rebounder than Amar’e Stoudemire. A better jump-shooter than Pau Gasol and Kevin Love. Anderson, 22, is certainly making the most of his minutes, which have at times been sparse. He’s obviously not as good as some of the players he’s compared to below, but his potential and efficiency are apparent.”
- Dwight Howard will try to avoid technical fouls from now on.
- Jason Richardson is sick, but will play against the Sacramento Kings.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Kings have been fighting the local politicos to get a new arena built for years — and no dice. Commissioner David Stern couldn’t even use his mighty clout to make it happen. Sound familiar? Orlando and Magic fans could have been in the same sinking boat that Kings fans are in. But they pushed through a deal to give birth to the Amway Center just in time, weeks before a recession would have likely derailed the plans again. And who knows what would have happened next.”
- Gilbert Arenas can’t feel his face at times.
- Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk likes Howard as the MVP right now: “What do I look for in my MVP? A player who efficiently pushes himself to a new level and pulls his team to new heights with him. Howard has been very efficient this season and has pushed himself to new levels. I’ll also argue he is pulling the most out of this Magic roster (a roster that is likely to let him down in the playoffs, but that’s another topic). The Magic may be a disappointment, but that is not on Howard. His offensive usage percentage is at his career high but his shooting percentages have not seriously dipped. To me, right now, this is the guy.”
- Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports: “For Howard, there has been just one fleeting benefit to his technical issues: He’s been subjected to fewer questions about whether he’ll leave the Magic when he has the opportunity to become a free agent in the summer of 2012. For a franchise that was scarred for years by Shaq’s decision to leave Orlando for the Los Angeles Lakers, Howard’s future will remain a topic of concern until he either signs a contract extension with the Magic after the league negotiates a new labor agreement – or he leaves.”
- Howard is a legitimate MVP candidate.
A glimpse at life without Dwight Howard
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Via Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel:
Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson and Earl Clark, power forwards disguised as centers, tried to replace him. It took all three of them. They did a commendable job, combining for 31 points, 23 rebounds and five blocks — an all-star kind of night for [Dwight] Howard.
Howard might have been able to lend them all a hand as an extra man.
“If we have Dwight,” a teammate said. “We blow them out.”
Howard wasn’t hurt or sick. He didn’t have a good excuse. His absence was self-inflicted.
He got himself suspended with too many technical fouls. Too many arguments with the refs. Too many fits of retaliation. Too many instances where he lost his cool.
Coach Stan Van Gundy knows all this, but he has had no choice but to defend his franchise player. The old Stan might have had a few choice words, blistered his star.
But everyone walks on eggshells now around Howard.
He can leave after next season as a free agent, and frankly, Monday night is what the Magic could look like in two seasons without him. [...]
When I asked [Otis] Smith why the Magic keep complaining, he nodded toward the dressing room and said one word: “Leadership.”
Smith dares to put the onus directly on his superstar, as he should. He indicated that if Howard would stay out of the refs’ ears, teammates would follow. Howard has ignored the message.
If this loss did anything, maybe it will cue a change in Dwight’s behavior.
“We hope,” said another teammate, “that Dwight was watching.”
This one is on him.
It’s not hard to think about for Magic fans — life without Dwight Howard.
And to be frank, the Orlando Magic’s performance against the Portland Trail Blazers wasn’t that bad considering the circumstances. But it paints a stark picture that the Magic are nothing more than an ordinary team without their extraordinary superstar.
Recap: Portland Trail Blazers 89, Orlando Magic 85
AP Photo/John Raoux
The Portland Trail Blazers were able to defeat the Orlando Magic by the score of 89-85, taking advantage of Dwight Howard‘s absence and sweeping the season series in the process. The Magic deserve a ton of credit for playing with energy and effort, knowing that they had to pour everything out on the court if they wanted to come away with a victory. Unfortunately for Orlando, turnovers — 18 of them — did them in as that created wasted possessions in a slow-paced game. The Blazers were led by LaMarcus Aldridge, as he finished with 24 points. Andre Miller chipped in with 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. The Magic were led by a balanced attack, as seven players scored eight points or more — a necessity since there was no Howard to speak of. Jason Richardson paced the way for Orlando, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Ryan Anderson and Hedo Turkoglu each had 13 points. This was an interesting game because there were times when the Magic clearly missed Howard on the floor, but then there would be stretches in the game when they would be okay. This isn’t to shortchange Howard’s value by any means but speaks more to Orlando’s supporting cast playing as hard as they could, especially the second unit.
Second Look: Orlando Magic 99, Miami Heat 96
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “When the final buzzer sounded, Jason Richardson clasped both sides of his head. Jameer Nelson pumped his right fist and turned toward Dwight Howard. The two co-captains exchanged high-fives. Coach Stan Van Gundy raised both arms into the air. None of them will forget what their team accomplished Thursday night. Trailing by 24 points several minutes into the third quarter, the Orlando Magic stormed back against the Miami Heat and pulled out a pulse-pounding 99-96 road victory. [...] The announced crowd of 19,600 inside AmericanAirlines Arena and a national television audience watched the Magic complete the second-largest comeback in franchise history and saw a game that once belonged to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade take an unbelievable turn. The Magic, once seemingly out of hope, closed the game on a 40-9 run.”
- John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com: “When shots incredibly started falling in bunches and the defense on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade dramatically rose to suffocating levels, the Orlando Magic’s belief swelled that they could possibly pull off something historic Thursday night. Remarkably, a Magic team given up for dead when it trailed the rival Miami Heat by 18 points at halftime and by as much as 24 points in the second half awoke from its slumber and pulled off a comeback win for the ages. A second half that started as ‘a playing for pride thing,’ as Ryan Anderson put it, morphed into a monumental night as Orlando registered the second greatest comeback in franchise history and shockingly beat the hated Heat 99-96 at American Airlines Arena. Once down 73-49 early in the third quarter, the Magic used runs of 22-7 (to end the third period) and 18-2 (to start the fourth quarter) – a shocking 40-9 spurt in all – for what very well could be the biggest regular-season victory in franchise history.”
- Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstriped Post:The 24-point comeback is really something else, isn’t it? To pull that off, on the road, against a team of Miami’s caliber? Appreciate it, sure, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the Magic could have had a less exciting, but probably more meaningful, win had they not trailed by such a big margin in the first place. That entails taking better care of the ball, rotating on defense, and (obviously) making shots. Every game is but one of 82 in theory, but in practice–in the narrative terms in which we define our world–games like tonight’s mean more. So it’s worth noting that in the fourth quarter, with his team needing anything he could provide in order to prevent a near-historic collapse, James took just two shots in 9 minutes, missing them both and going scoreless. Howard scored just 4 points (on 4-of-4 free-throw shooting, without any shot attempts from the field), but blocked three shots and pulled in 10 rebounds. Again, that’s three blocks and 10 rebounds in one period of play for Howard.”
- Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel: “This could have, and perhaps should have, been a night when Erik Spoelstra rested his starters in advance of Friday’s road game against the San Antonio Spurs. When the Miami Heat moved to a 24-point lead early in the third quarter, amid a run of nine consecutive conversions from the field from forward LeBron James, it sure appeared headed that way. Instead, against an opponent capable of making 3-pointers, the Heat not only had to fight to the finish but wound up flailing to the finish of what turned into a disturbing and disheartening 99-96 loss Thursday night to the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Heat’s fourth loss in their last eight games. [...] What was a 73-49 Heat lead with 8:47 to play in the third quarter turned into an 82-82 tie with 8:41 to play on a Gilbert Arenas 3-pointer. The Magic completed the comeback on a Ryan Anderson layup with 7:38 to play, for an 84-82 lead, with an Arenas 3-pointer putting Orlando up 87-82 with 7:01 to play, with a cascade of boos following as Spoelstra called time out.”
- Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel: “Well, Mike Bibby is officially a member of the Heat now. He got the big standing ovation upon first entering. He got the kind of open 3-point shot the Heat supporting cast often gets. Bibby then got a first-hand look at what’s wrong in the Heat’s 99-96 loss to Orlando. The Heat blew a 24-point lead. They were outscored by, take your pick, 18-0 or 40-9 by the Magic. Dwyane Wade missed all six of his shots in the second half. LeBron James didn’t score in the fourth quarter. The Heat missed seven of eight from the free-throw line at one point. And we haven’t even got to the radioactively bad part yet. That was the final play. That was the one that could have saved the night. Instead, it piled on the tough questions. Now, granted, the Heat needed a 3-point shot on that play. That made it easier for Orlando to defend. But down three points with 9.6 seconds left in the NBA represents a decent chance.”
- Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: “LeBron James delivered his message very clearly 90 minutes before tipoff Thursday: ‘It’s about time,’ James said, ‘that we turn it on and play at a high level.’ Unfortunately for the Heat, that high level of play during a terrific first half was followed by a collapse of epic proportions, one that ended in a stunning 99-96 loss to Orlando at AmericanAirlines Arena. [...] Ahead by 18 at halftime and by 24 early in the third quarter, Miami was overwhelmed by an avalanche of Magic three-pointers during a devastating 40-9 Orlando run over much of the third quarter and half of the fourth. Included in that stretch was an 18-0 Magic stampede after the Heat scored the first basket of the fourth quarter. By the time the Magic’s blistering barrage was over, Orlando had surged ahead, 89-82. The Heat went 6:13 without scoring in the fourth before Chris Bosh’s layup with 5:12 left.”
- Israel Gutierrez of The Miami Herald: “Regular season games don’t mean anything. Until they do. This epic Heat collapse means something. You could see it on the face of Erik Spoelstra, who did his best to maintain the calm façade of a coach but couldn’t help but let some of that frustration and aggravation and confusion peek through as he spoke following Thursday’s loss. You could see it and hear it in Chris Bosh, who looked defeated and sounded defiant. What it actually means is yet to be determined. But there are very few games, wins or losses, that resonate like this. Losing a 24-point, second-half lead to the Orlando Magic one game after losing a 15-point lead to the Knicks and three games after losing an 11-point lead to the Bulls — that more than stings. It burns. Bad.”
- Brian Windhorst of The Heat Index: “Each year the NBA teaches there are no absolutes in the regular season, the “playoffs” sticker affixed to the floor in late April having magical powers to erase so many supposed certainties learned over the first 82 games. It is a fundamental truth, but it can also be a crutch. Right now the Miami Heat are using the crutch. But that isn’t the worst part for the team that owned not just championship hopes, but championship expectations. They know they’re clinging to hope and not belief — and that current reality is going down like bitter medicine. Calling the Heat’s 99-96 loss Thursday to the Orlando Magic — in which they blew a 24-point lead — a collapse isn’t really accurate. For a collapse, there must be something strong and towering that falls. The Heat, now more than three-quarters of a season into their fascinating experiment, can’t honestly say they’ve ever fit that description this season. Proper credit must be given to the Magic, who shot their way back into the game by making nine 3-pointers in the second half. They also showed some of their better defense, relying on Dwight Howard to wall off the paint and rebound while their bombers had a great night. Orlando has scored wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and now their in-state rivals in less than a week.”
- Michael Wallace of The Heat Index: “Move over, Charlie Sheen. When it comes to spiraling out of control before our very eyes these past few days, dude, you’ve got company. Star-studded company. Miami Heat company. To borrow a line from Scottie Pippen, two-and-a-half players company. Meet LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the talent core of a team going through another stretch of turbulence. And that’s never a good thing, especially when this latest post-debacle itinerary included boarding a plane after midnight Thursday to San Antonio to face a Spurs team Friday that is sporting the league’s best record. Just like yours, Charlie, the Heat’s show was once the hottest thing going. After Thursday night’s demoralizing 99-96 loss at home to the Orlando Magic, this Miami cast is only crashing and burning. In blowing a 24-point lead over the game’s final 20 minutes, the Heat continued a destructive set of trends that reveal this team is stumbling backward at a time when it was supposed to be storming down the stretch and peaking on the way toward the playoffs. “
Recap: Orlando Magic 99, Miami Heat 96
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
It’s been said that no one should underestimate the heart of a champion. Or in this case, no one should underestimate the heart of an underdog, as the Orlando Magic were able to defeat the Miami Heat by the score of 99-96 after being down by as many as 24 points in the game — it’s the second-largest comeback victory in franchise history. Not only did the improbable comeback come against the Heat, a rival for the Magic, but it came in a nationally televised game where almost anyone interested in the NBA had their attention focused on the matchup. On a day where people were wondering whether or not Orlando should be taken seriously as the playoffs steadily approach, that question has been answered. The Magic were led by a balanced attack, as five players scored in double-figures. There were those that hoped Dwight Howard would put up a monster performance and continue his surge in the MVP race, but they’ll have to be content with a stat-line of 14 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks. However, it’s worth mentioning that Howard was a force defensively in the fourth quarter, as he compiled 10 rebounds and three blocks as Orlando made their comeback charge. Jason Richardson was one of the catalysts in the comeback, as he finished with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field (6-of-8 from three-point range). Jameer Nelson, too, was integral in the process, as he chipped in with 16 points and seven assists. Ryan Anderson had 15 points, while Gilbert Arenas had 11 points including a sequence where he couldn’t “feel his face” after making two three-pointers in the fourth quarter that tied the game for the Magic and subsequently gave them the lead after trailing for most of the contest. For Orlando, these are the types of games that can energize a roster and reinforce the belief they can beat any team on a given night.
Recap: Orlando Magic 116, New York Knicks 110
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
In a crazy game full of momentum swings, the Orlando Magic were able to defeat the New York Knicks by the score of 116-110 to extend their winning streak to three games. The Magic were led by a balanced attack, as five players scored in double-figures. Dwight Howard continues his brilliant play, finishing with 30 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks. The Knicks’ lack of size hurt them against the Magic, given that they had no one that could slow down Howard. Shelden Williams, Shawne Williams, Ronny Turiaf, and Amar’e Stoudemire each guarded Howard in different junctures of the game, and none of them were able to do anything against him. Jameer Nelson had one of his best games of the season, contributing with 26 points, four assists, and three rebounds. After a slow start in the first half, Nelson scored 23 of his 26 points in the third and fourth quarters. Chipping in off the bench were Quentin Richardson with 10 points, J.J. Redick with 12 points, and Ryan Anderson with 16 points. It’s worth noting that Gilbert Arenas did not play due to a sore left knee, while Hedo Turkoglu got ejected in the second quarter after arguing a call. As such, different players — like Chris Duhon — had to step up in their absences and they were able to do so. Yeah, this was a weird game to watch.
Tuesday’s Magic Word
- Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel: “What are the odds we see a technical foul when the Orlando Magic host the New York Knicks tonight? Pretty good, considering all the tech-magnets that’ll be suiting up for the Magic and Knicks. Orlando’s Dwight Howard and New York’s Amar’e Stoudemire are tied for the league lead in technical fouls with 15 apiece, with both of them receiving their most recent technical in the past week. Howard has had four techs rescinded; Stoudemire, two. But it’s not just the two big men, always willing to express their frustration to the refs after contact near the rim, who have a propensity to receive techs. Denver’s two newest members, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, each have 10 technicals apiece. Anthony’s had three rescinded. If there was ever a night to feel sorry for the officials, it’s tonight. The officials will be Jason Phillips, Curtis Blair and David Jones.”
- Should the Orlando Magic pursue Corey Brewer in free agency?
- Hedo Turkoglu will have a difficult task slowing down Carmelo Anthony in tonight’s game.
- The Magic’s defense will be tested against the New York Knicks.
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “The matchup against the Knicks starts a stretch against four teams with winning records. After the Magic complete that gauntlet Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers, they’ll hit the road for a rough five-game road trip to the West Coast and Milwaukee. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy trotted out a time-honored cliché as he looked ahead, saying that he and his players ‘simply need to take it day-by-day, and we need to really focus on getting better every time out, no matter who we’re playing.’ But as much as the Magic need to improve, they’ll have a chance to make a statement to themselves and to some of the league’s biggest superstars. Anthony and Stoudemire will be on the court tonight. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh loom on Thursday. And Derrick Rose — perhaps James’ and Dwight Howard’s toughest challenger for league MVP honors — awaits on Friday. The Bulls beat the Magic 99-90 on Jan. 28 in Chicago. The Heat have won two of three games against the Magic this season.”
- Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com previews possible first round matchups for Orlando.
- The Magic are going to learn a lot about themselves this week.
- Dwight Howard is perilously close to getting suspended by the NBA.
- Trey Kerby of The Basketball Jones: “Here’s the conundrum — the Magic have had a tough time beating elite teams. So, if they beat the Knicks, does that make the Knicks a non-elite team? And if the Knicks win, what does that mean? That the Magic aren’t elite and it’s a meaningless win for New York? So confusing.”
- Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie reminisces on Horace Grant’s career: “Perhaps the Orlando Magic overrated the All-Star in seeking Grant out in the summer of 1994, but his play (the play that didn’t get him a chance at the Dream Team) was exactly what Orlando needed. A guy who wouldn’t use up too many possessions, who wouldn’t stop ball movement, and would only stick jumpers (and as the Bulls found out in the 1995 playoffs, jumper after jumper after jumper) when all other options fell. While scurrying all over the floor defensively, and crashing the boards. And after signing a middle-of-the-road starter deal in Orlando with the wink-wink promise that more contracts were in the offing, Grant became one of the first NBA players to make eight figures in a year in 1996.”
- Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm: “Howard has joined the legion of players who I become physically angry at when they fail to surprise me. That one-pause hesitation, right-to-left sweeping side-hook thing he does, it makes me actually physically, visibly angry because it’s so dependent on the defense not anticipating, so dependent on how the ball rolls on the rim, so dependent on everything going right without the slightest moment of improvisation.”
- Britt Robson of Sports Illustrated: “Remember last year’s first-round playoff series against Charlotte, when early foul trouble limited Howard to under 30 minutes in each of the four games? Well, there is no Marcin Gortat to the rescue if a similar scenario arises this season. With the trade deadline passed, the options for a quality backup center are much diminished, leaving Orlando vulnerable. Coach Stan Van Gundy briefly deployed a large front line of Brandon Bass, Earl Clark and Ryan Anderson against Charlotte on Saturday, and at least one or two of those guys would have to come up big (literally) in Howard’s absence during the postseason.”
Thursday’s Magic Word
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “All 13 players on the Magic roster attended the team meeting. Point guard Jameer Nelson, who was not the subject of any trade rumors, was asked if it would be a relief if no one was traded before the deadline arrived. ‘It probably would be a relief for a lot of guys,’ Nelson said. ‘I mean, you see crazy things happen in this league. Guys get traded and not even know about it. So nothing surprises me. Hopefully, I’ll be here at 3:01.’ Nelson was half-joking, of course, but he is indeed still with the [Orlando] Magic. Orlando’s most obvious roster need still is at center, where the team has relied on power forwards Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson to serve as Dwight Howard‘s backups. The Magic have been linked in news reports to 6-foot-11 veteran Troy Murphy, who has been traded to the Golden State Warriors and most likely will receive a buyout from Golden State. But there’s no guarantee that Murphy would sign with the Magic, even though he and [Otis] Smith go back to their days with the Warriors back in the early 2000s.”
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “Howard and the Magic have to feel like they are standing outside a great party without an invitation. When somebody like Williams — a member of Howard’s 2012 free-agent draft class — is dealt by Utah this early, it’s another option that could elude the Magic. Williams still needs to sign an extension with New Jersey. Paul could be the lone ’12 free-agent star left for Howard to recruit, though. Derrick Rose is a lock to re-sign with his hometown Chicago Bulls. Howard was shocked that Williams was dealt. More shocking was that Smith conceded he was caught off guard by the trade and did not make an offer. Williams was disgruntled long before Jerry Sloan quit the Jazz. Howard sounded disgruntled Wednesday night, one of those nights he can circle as evidence the Magic aren’t matching him, stride for stride.”
- Dwight Howard is not happy right now.
- John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com: “A day after superstar center Dwight Howard said the Orlando Magic had done enough talking and needed to do more executing, the team didn’t practice so that it could have a team-wide discussion about everything that ills it. Basically, there was plenty of talking by coaches and players. It will be determined if actions back up those words to avoid another disastrous loss like the one the Magic suffered Wednesday night to the woeful Sacramento Kings.”
- More on Howard’s unhappiness with his teammates.
- Zach Lowe of The Point Forward: “Over All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, Dwight Howard told me – rather emphatically — that the Magic did not have to make any trades in order to win the title. Last night, after a shocking Sacramento win in Orlando, Howard called out unnamed teammates for failing to play hard.”
- Eric Freeman of Ball Don’t Lie speaks the truth about Howard’s frustration.
- Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk isn’t a believer in the Magic’s talent pool: “Howard is wrong about something though — he thinks this team has the talent to win an NBA title if they just played hard. No, they really don’t. They are good, but not elite. Stan Van Gundy uses Hedo Turkoglu better than any coach in the league, he puts him in good positions as a pick-and-roll ball handler, but Turkoglu is average. Gilbert Arenas is average at best. Those are two guys the Magic gave up a lot for, two guys with massive contracts that limit what the Magic can do for years to come, and they are not guys who make your team elite.”
- Howard shares his thoughts: “I´m not singling or calling anybody out, but as a team if we don´t play hard then we are going to lose every night. If guys don´t want to play then they need to sit down. We just can´t have guys out there not playing hard. We´re professional athletes and this is what we do for a living. If we can´t get out there and go hard for two hours, then we shouldn´t be playing.”
- Matt Moore of CBSSports.com: “The timing is particularly poor for the Magic, as Howard, a free agent in 2012, watched Deron Williams be sent to New Jersey and Carmelo Anthony win in his debut in New York. Even though the Magic are the better team of those three, it’s another step in the direction of the door, providing Howard another excuse for leaving the Magic high and dry. Howard did everything he should and could last night to help the Magic win. It wasn’t enough.”
