Orlando Magic News for December 11th: Rashard Lewis and Stan Van Gundy Clear the Air, Help Dwight Howard's Foundation, and More

by erivera7 on Dec 11, 2009 2:54 PM EST in News

Behind the Box Score, where Deron dominated
Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don't Lie recaps yesterday's contest between the Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz.

Orlando has a re-done roster, and I don't know if they need to talk more in the half-court or while defending the face break, or if this is just the season-long worry regarding point guard defense. It's not just Deron Williams dropping 32 in Jason Williams' face, it's about the early penetration that results in a few passes and the eventual good look.

OK, maybe it was Deron. 15 assists, too. Eight rebounds, and just one turnover despite dominating the ball for 42 minutes. What a game.
Rashard Lewis refuses Stan Van Gundy's request to re-enter game in second quarter of Orlando Magic loss at Utah Jazz
Brian Schmitz elaborates on what occurred last night between Rashard Lewis and head coach Stan Van Gundy during the game.

"(Lewis) didn't want to go back in. I wanted to put him back in with six minutes to go in the second quarter and he didn't want to go back in," Van Gundy said after the Magic (17-5) had their six-game winning streak broken. "He said it was because he had two fouls, and so if you have a guy who doesn't want to play, I'm not going to get in an argument and put him back in if he doesn't want to play at that time.

"He said, `I'm going back in and be out in three or four minutes and Ryan (Andersonn) is playing good.' [...]

Asked if he was being defiant, Lewis said, "No, hell, no. I was looking at it and Ryan had 14 points and I had two fouls. Let him play. " [...]

Van Gundy agreed that Lewis wasn't being defiant and even said he probably thought he was being "unselfish." But the coach was not pleased and said he wasn't going to send someone back in a game "that wasn't in the right frame of mind."

Lewis said he didn't feel that he and Van Gundy are at odds. [...]

"I'm not going to get too worried about it because it wasn't a defiant thing or that he refused to go in. It's not something that's a problem we've ever had before and I don't think we'll ever have it again. I'm not going to worry about it, but if you going to ask me why he sat so long that's why.
Rashard Lewis Refuses Van Gundy's Request to Re-Enter Game
Brett Pollakoff of NBA FanHouse has more.

In Stan Van Gundy's world, a player's unselfishness is apparently a good enough reason for him to refuse a direct order, as there weren't any lingering hard feelings about it from the coach -- at least not initially.

Lewis was back out there to start the third, but the team, which was riding a six-game winning streak and had been playing so well of late on the road, clearly wasn't right.

The Jazz, after all, were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, after managing just six points in the fourth quarter the night before in Los Angeles. A 17-point third quarter beatdown at their hands didn't seem likely, but then again, neither did one of Van Gundy's star players declining his request to re-enter the game.
Rashard Lewis Too Nice to Play
Bethlehem Shoals of The Baseline chimes in, as well.

So go ahead, untangle this: An overpaid player refuses to go in because his younger teammate is playing well, and his foul situation could be a problem. Coach obviously disagrees, but doesn't order him in, and seems somewhat impressed by the moral fiber of the decision. Unfortunately, it may have cost the Magic the game. Is it possible to be so nice you're a jerk? I'd say that's the accurate summation of Rashard Lewis here.
Help My Foundation
Dwight Howard posts on his official blog today, and asks people to help contribute to a good cause.

I need ya’ll’s help on a few things and I need your votes – and we’re not even talking about All-Star votes here. Although ya’ll can help me be the leading vote-getter in the All-Star Game again with a few clicks.

Chase’s Community of Giving is donating $5 million to charities across the country in December. My foundation, the Dwight D. Howard Foundation, is trying to win one of the $25,000 awards and I need your votes.
You can vote by clicking on this link. Then, type in Dwight D. Howard Foundation, Atlanta, GA.
We’ll put the money to great use to help kids in the Atlanta and Orlando areas. You guys know that I really enjoy giving back to my community and this will just help me take it to another level. Thanks for your help.
15 Footer 12.11.09
Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm previews the games on the schedule for tonight, including the matchup between the Magic and the Suns.

The Limit

Orlando at Phoenix, 10:30PM EST
Orlando lost a tough one to Utah who’s absolutely on fiyaahhhhh right now. Phoenix lost a tough one to Dallas who’s just a solid team. Phoenix is having a sugar crash, Orlando’s still winning but just… seems off. How about Barnes v. Amundson tonight? Or Richardson v. Carter, that’s pretty sexy, no? Howard’s going to unleash hell on them inside, which means Phoenix will just have to run more. I hope you like three pointers, late-night watchers.
I wouldn't say that the Magic seem "off" but that's just me.
Grading the Replacements
Gerald Narciso of Dime Magazine takes a look at some players who are filling in for their teammates and grades them on their performances.

Jason Williams: It was deja vu all over again for the Magic, as Nelson was once again forced to miss an extended period of time. The only difference is Jason Williams will be stepping is as Jameer’s replacement rather than Rafer. It’s fair to say that White Chocolate has been a success as the Magic have gone 9-2 and he has averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 assists since he became a starter. Grade – A minus
Game to pay attention: Magic vs. Suns
UPDATE: Title of the link says it all.

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Comments

I hate to say this because I really like Rashard but..

Rashard needs to step up his damn game and act like the $118M player that we paid for. Sure we can say that Rashard has earned his money by hitting BIG shots last post season and yeah he stretches out the D, but this guy is the SOFTEST (and not in a good way) player around the rim. I honestly dont remember the last time he dunked the ball and got to the rim as aggressively as possible. I know that’s not his game but when we need that element he needs to step it up.

"Blue and white...ignite...BOOOM! - Dwight Howard

by magic12ball on Dec 11, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions

Honestly, forget the idea of him going to the rim, I'd be happy with him shooting more threes.

It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...

by 3.3seconds on Dec 11, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

If Lewis can't finish around the rim efficiently, then why ask him to do something he can't do?

That doesn’t make sense. Let Rashard do what he does best.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 11, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

which is choke

"Blue and white...ignite...BOOOM! - Dwight Howard

by magic12ball on Dec 12, 2009 1:32 AM EST up reply actions

What?

28.0 points per 48 minutes of crunch time, 51.1% from the field, 43.5% from three-point range.

Lewis improves in the clutch. He doesn’t choke.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 12, 2009 3:43 AM EST up reply actions

LOL, he doesn't choke. Far from it.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 12, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

From an outside fans perspective....

I commend what Lewis did in letting Anderson stay in the game while he was on a roll. BUT, as one of the Magic’s top players he should always want to be in the game and refusing to go into a game for whatever reason doesn’t look good no matter how noble the reason. It’s still early in the season and if the players are tuning SVG out already it’ll be a tough playoff run when they get there.

by sexyscottish on Dec 11, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions

The players aren't tuning Stan Van Gundy out.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 11, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

My take on Lewis is this:

If coach tells you to go in, you go in. Period.

But I don’t think it’s fair to call him a jerk, or to say he cost the Magic the game, as Shoals did. That’s overreacting.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 11, 2009 3:59 PM EST reply actions

+1

Cut and dry

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account

by Wmillion on Dec 11, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 11, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Meh, I agree too. The only thing is that I can actually agree with the cost the game part because I do like to harp on a few rotations and minutes played for certain players that should be out there to stop an opponent run. Sure, Dwight and VC were out there alot so Shard didn’t cost the game, but these are little factors that really, really add up and can be fixed, as opposed to the ever-spotty rebounding and turnovers issues that always exist. The other fixable issue is team defense, so again, probably not Shard’s playtime that cost the game, but still I can see what Shoals says.

by derekk on Dec 11, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

great point ben. coach is the boss.

thats how it should be. play or get your pay docked( to a charity for kids).

by magicman775 on Dec 11, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

I am TORN

He refused a direct order from Boss.

I can’t find any other logical reason for him to refuse other than that, yeah Ryan was Rolling.

I don’t know what to feel about it.

I guess I feel “EH”

17-5

I am going to stop looking for reasons to be upset and bask in the record…

"Memphis then used a pick-and-roll to get Conley free and he drove past Shaquille O'Neal for the go-ahead layup."

by BS Patrol on Dec 11, 2009 4:09 PM EST reply actions

D12

Can someone explain to me how our best player only shoots the ball 9 times a game? 15 is the most he has had all season? Something seems wrong?

The record is solid, but Dwights ability to shoot 65%+ should slow down any run.

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account

by Wmillion on Dec 11, 2009 4:31 PM EST reply actions

There's nothing wrong, it's just tough sometimes to involve a center as opposed to a guard.

Likewise, the Magic have so many weapons on offense that it lessens the workload for Howard.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 11, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

I get that.

I am keeping it simplistic, you have a guy who shots 65+% from the field, you feed him the basketball. He should be averaging 30 pts a game.

Forget the other weapons they shooting % isn’t even close.

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account

by Wmillion on Dec 11, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

Thing is, he SHOULDN'T be averaging 30 points a game.

I’d agree if Dwight was the only offensive weapon for the Magic but he isn’t. There’s Howard, and then there’s Nelson, Carter, Lewis, Anderson, Bass, Redick, and more. It’s all about balance.

I write for Third Quarter Collapse and have a Twitter account.

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

by erivera7 on Dec 12, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Well, add in the number of free throws he has.

If he shoots the ball nine times, and goes to the line six times (12 FTs), that’s basically 15 shots.

It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...

by 3.3seconds on Dec 11, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

There is a cancer growing....

and it needs to be cut out quickly.

“(Van Gundy) wasn’t pissed at the time,” said Lewis of declining to report in at Van Gundy’s request. “But he was pissed when they started making a run. You got to point the finger at something if that’s what you got to point it at. Hey, I don’t give a damn.”

Quote from Lewis above – well buddy you should GIVE A DAMN. Where is the leadership within this team??

Yea – the record is excellent but if Otis and Stan don’t get a grip on these “prim- a-dona’s” we will be looking at 25-25 record before you know it.

It’s a very difficult situation that we are in in my opinion.

If they “blow away” the Suns tonight I will feel better – we’ll see.

by Jaxfann on Dec 11, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions

For them to wind up 25-25, they'd have to drop 20 of their next 28 games.

But I see what you’re saying, I suppose. I imagine Stan and Rashard will sit down and have a meeting (if they haven’t already) to discuss the situation.

I don’t think it’s really anything to worry about. This isn’t Steve Francis snubbing Brian Hill and getting himself traded, you know?

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 11, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

Refusing to go back in

Because you think it’s better for the team to sit is sort of the opposite of a primadonna…

Even with Nelson back, we’re going to struggle with speedy guards who can shoot all season. Our defense is definitely off this season and that’s probably as much to do with integrating so many new players as anything, but I don’t think it’s unfair to say we don’t look right this season. Dwight’s defense is certainly patchy at times, Gortat’s not playing with any fire, we’re still missing rotations defensively and we’re streakier, shooting wise, than we generally were last season.

Having said all that, I still think we’re in that top bracket with the Lakers and Celtics so it’s a fine line. We just need a few tuneups, that’s all.

by eltharion_doa on Dec 12, 2009 10:10 AM EST up reply actions