Rashard's Suspension is a Blessing in Disguise . . .

by blue-blood on Oct 28, 2009 6:57 PM EDT

As Magic fans we were all a bit disillusioned and concerned that Rashard would be suspended for the 1st 10 games of this season and with good reason I might add. With the East being as close as it is, a few games in the loss column may end up being the difference between the 1st and 3rd seeds. How then could one possibly contend that Rashard being suspended could be a good thing? It boils down to 2 simple words . . .

Ryan Anderson.

This pre-season, Magic fans have started to fall in love with a lanky white guy who has more in common with Rashard than he does with Pat Garrity. And with good reason, Ryan Anderson is (IMHO) the real deal. I'm not saying he's a bona fide future superstar or even all-star for that matter but he will certainly be a starter quality NBA PF for years to come and I believe the absence of Rashard for the 1st 10 games is only going to further cement (and possibly increase) his minutes in the rotation even after Rashard returns. I think this process would've most likely been delayed had Rashard been available.

Also, it's worth mentioning that the Magic's schedule is particularly light through 9 of the1st 10 games and consequently they stand a great chance at going 9-1 (or 10-0) even without Rashard.

Don't get me wrong, I love what Rashard brings to our team but his ignorance just might end up being a boon for our boys in blue!

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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Hell yes I agree. I would still love Rashard playing tho, he’s still better at everything, so imagine, if Ryan and the Magic are doing so good now, what about when Rashard comes back?
I actually forget we are missing Rashard sometimes, and it’s not even, anywhere close to him being replaceable out there, its just that the Magic are too and too good right now for 1 piece to be missed.

by derekk on Oct 29, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions

I just don't know

How we’re going to get him solid minutes with Rashard coming back. Obviously SVG wants to run a 10 man rotation…

Howard – Gortat
Lewis – Bass
Pietrus – Barnes
Carter – JJ
Nelson – Williams

Where does Anderson fit in? Yet we have to get him minutes, he’s just too good. So. I guess Lewis will slide to SF at times, Barnes will backup Carter instead of Peaches and JJ is on the outer with Dad? Hard to say.

Gotta love, love, love that depth though.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 29, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, Ryan will probably see minutes when Rashard slides over to the three.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat

by erivera7 on Oct 29, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would we leave Peaches out for Barnes?
And why would we move Lewis to 3 when Ryan does a worse job than Lewis does at the 4 at everything?
If Lewis moves to the 3 for decent amount of minutes, it’d be for Bass.
I still think we’ll see a pretty even amount of on and off nights for Bass and Ryan as matchups and chemistry go. Ryan will miss alot of games, but he’ll also get alot of full backup PF minutes some games while Bass sits.

by derekk on Oct 29, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

You misunderstand

I’m saying Peaches will still start at SF, he’ll simply be backed up by Lewis rotating from PF rather than Barnes coming off the bench. Barnes will backup Carter; JJ goes back into TGS’s ~~torture chamber~~ basement.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 29, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions