Dwight Howard said he doesn't need to see the highlights to
remember what happened last year. Four months later, the images are still
fresh in his mind.
Despite an impressive postseason march that saw the Magic survive a seven-game
series against the reigning champion Celtics and show the LeBron James-led
Cavaliers just who the real beasts of the east are, it wasn't enough.
When all was said it done, it was Kobe Bryant and the Lakers who were
celebrating a championship in Orlando. All Howard could do was watch.
"I'm still thinking about it," Howard said. "Everyday I wake up and think
about what happened. Everyday I get a reminder...I haven't stopped thinking
about it since we lost."
Orlando had its chances in the NBA Finals -- a failed alley-oop by Courtney
Lee in Game 2 and missed free throws by Dwight Howard in Game 4 led to
losses -- and there is no guarantee it gets another crack at the title this
year.
Just ask the Celtics how that goes, though the Magic don't necessarily have
the same target on their back.
"I haven't seen or read too many people actually predicting us to win
it...Everything I read is either Cleveland or Boston," head coach Stan Van
Gundy said. "I think even getting to the [NBA Finals last year], I don't think
the national media at least has really bought into us as the best team in the
East."
Even Orlando does make it back to the promised land, it will do so with a new
look.
With no 2009 draft picks, the Magic traded youth for experience, shipping Lee,
Rafer Alston and Tony Battie to New Jersey in a blockbuster deal that landed
Vince Carter along with Ryan Anderson. That should help to offset the loss of
Hedo Turkoglu, who the club wasn't going to be able to re-sign so he became
part of a four-team trade that brought Orlando cash considerations while
placing Turkoglu in Toronto.
Mix in free agents Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass and Jason Williams, and Orlando
has some fresh blood, but will that hurt the team's chemistry?
"We don't care about who scores, who has the best numbers," Howard said. "At
the end of the day we just want to win. I think we have a great team and I
think the chemistry will be fine."
That could have the rest of the Eastern Conference seeing nightmares.
2008-09 Results: 59-23, lost to LA Lakers in NBA Finals.
ADDITIONS: F Ryan Anderson, F Matt Barnes, F Brandon Bass, F/G Vince Carter, G
Jason Williams
SUBTRACTIONS: G Rafer Alston, F Tony Battie, G Courtney Lee, F Hedo Turkoglu
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Jameer Nelson
SG- Mickael Pietrus
SF- Vince Carter
PF- Rashard Lewis
C- Dwight Howard
KEY RESERVES: F Matt Barnes, F Brandon Bass, G Anthony Johnson, G J.J.
Redick
FRONTCOURT: While it is no secret that the Magic's offense goes through
Howard, it is something the club will need to make sure Carter grasps quickly.
Usually counted on to take the big shots, the 32-year-old Carter shifts to a
supporting role, and how he handles that transition will go a long way in
determining Orlando's success.
At this stage of his career, Carter should be happy to have someone like
Howard to depend on. The 11-year vet averaged 20.8 points per game last year
as New Jersey's go-to shooter, his lowest total since 2002-03, and while he
says he is excited about Orlando's options, comparing the numerous choices to
like playing a video game, it will be interesting to see how he feels about it
if his role diminishes.
That role will be to replace the 15.8 points Turkoglu averaged per game last
year. And, with three of Orlando's other projected four starters 27 years of
age and under, he will also serve as a late-game veteran option.
"I think it always makes it easier when you have a big guy like Dwight," said
Van Gundy. "I think Vince will find that out, knows it already and will feel
it on the floor when he plays. The attention Dwight draws makes it easier for
perimeter guys, I don't think there is any question about that."
Howard, regarded as one of if not the top center in the game, led the Magic
with 20.6 points, 2.92 blocks and 13.8 rebounds per game in 79 contests. The
reigning Defensive Player of the Year added 20.3 points and 15.3 rebounds per
game in the playoffs, but shot just 63 percent from the free throw line.
That was actually an increase from the 59 percent he shot from the charity
stripe in the regular season, and the Magic hope the 6-foot-11 center worked
on that aspect of his game in the offseason.
"Just trying to fine-tune a lot of different things -- knocking down free
throws," said Howard on his offseason. "All that stuff I've been working on
every year. But the biggest thing is having confidence in going out and doing
them."
Howard's ability to dominate the glass allows Rashard Lewis to start at power
forward, but the 6-foot-10 veteran will have to wait to contribute after
getting suspended for the first 10 games this season for testing positive for
a banned substance. Bass will likely start in his place, putting even more
pressure on Howard to rebound early on.
When Lewis does return, he will give the Magic another presence at the three-
point line. He shot 40 percent from beyond the arc last year, hitting 220 of
his 554 attempts, and helped Orlando tie for 10th in the NBA with a team 38.1
clip from three-point land.
BACKCOURT: The Magic were able to include Alston in the Carter deal because
they expect to have Jameer Nelson for an entire season.
The 2009 All-Star, one of three on the Magic's roster including Howard and
Lewis, suffered a shoulder injury in early February that sidelined him until
the Finals versus the Lakers, as he returned to come off the bench.
Nelson was in the midst of a solid campaign, as he was shooting 50 percent
from the floor while handing out 5.4 assists per game in 42 contests prior to
the injury, which forced the Magic to trade for Alston, costing the club its
recent first-round pick.
Van Gundy said he hopes Nelson can regain his confidence early on in the
season.
"When Jameer is confident and being aggressive and attacking, he's a very
good point guard," the head coach said. "The only problem I ever see is when
his energy dips a little bit and he's not as aggressive and he can fall into
mediocrity."
That could be a sign that Van Gundy plans to play him less than the 31-plus
minutes the 27-year-old averaged a season ago.
Mickael Pietrus should start at shooting guard and the Magic will look for him
to play defense before contributing to the offense. The did shoot 41 percent
from the floor last year, however.
BENCH: Howard, Lewis and Turkoglu all averaged over 35 minutes per game last
year, and Alston was on the floor for nearly 32 minutes a night when he came
to the Magic, so it was obvious that Orlando wasn't looking for much from its
bench last year.
That could change this year with all the new faces.
"That's something that will play out as we go along," Van Gundy said of using
his bench more. "I don't really have any idea how that will play. It will
probably be determined on how we're playing and everything else."
Orlando matched Dallas' reported five-year, $34 million offer to Marcin Gortat
to keep the 6-foot-11 around to spell Howard, while Bass will shift back to
the bench once Lewis returns.
Barnes was also added to replace Pietrus on the floor when Orlando needs a
little more offense. The 29-year-old netted a career-high 10.2 points per game
with the Suns last year, playing in 77 games and making 40 starts. His 27
minutes per game last year were also a career high, but that number may fall a
bit in Orlando.
Anthony Johnson again backs up Nelson with Alston gone, while Jason Williams
will be the x-factor at the position. Williams, who will be 34 in November,
came out of a one-year retirement to join the Magic and is known for his
flashy play.
While Barnes could also spell Carter, J.J. Redick should get some minutes
there as well.
COACHING: While the Magic have made the playoffs in three straight seasons,
they have won back-to-back Southeast Division titles under Van Gundy. Though
he has failed to get over the hump as far as winning a title, the former Heat
bench boss has shown an ability to get his teams to the postseason on a
consistent basis on his short head coaching career.
STEVE SCHWARZ'S FANTASY FOCUS: Howard is a monster at both ends of the floor
and helps in every category except free-throw percentage. But Orlando has much
more to offer in Nelson (16.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.4 apg), the newly acquired
Carter (20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg with New Jersey) and Lewis (17.7
ppg, 5.7 rpg). All four have earned a start on your roster or someone else's.
OUTLOOK: Though Orlando will be expected to contend again for a NBA title, the
club knows the Eastern Conference crown won't be handed to them on a plate,
not with the Cavaliers and Celtics around.
And that's fine with Orlando.
"It's like it should be every year anyway, you've got to go out and prove it,"
said Van Gundy. "What you did last year doesn't mean a damn thing when we
start [training camp]. It's all about what you go out and do this year."
The addition of Carter, as well as the experience -- and pain -- of last
year's trip to the Finals should make a return trip to the postseason a given.
However, the road will be a bit tougher. James now has Shaquille O'Neal around
to help him in his quest for a title, while the Celtics still have the core of
their 2007-08 title team around.
"We've gotten better, but it's going to take a lot of hard work to get back to
the championship," said Howard.
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