Orlando Magic News for March 20th: Rashard Lewis Battling Knee Tendinitis, The Magic's League-Best Defense, and More

by Evan Dunlap on Mar 20, 2009 10:17 PM EDT in News

Stan Van Gundy weighs in on Rashard Lewis' recent shooting slump and reveals Lewis might have a knee ailment. From Brian Schmitz:

"He's had some problems with his knees, some tendonitis [sic] ...he's great in terms of playing through all that. But I think it's bothered him a little bit," Van Gundy said. "He's had a little but of a tough time. Again, I'm not worried he had (Thursday) off and today off to get him some rest.

"I don't think there's any doubt over the next four weeks he'll pull out of it and start shooting the ball well again."

If Stan's confident, I'm confident. But if Rashard ever shoots 3-of-15 again, it'll be too soon. With that in mind, it might be time to think about cutting Lewis' minutes a bit. Lew hasn't missed a single game this year, and only missed one last year. Just sayin'.
Orlando Magic Daily points out that the Magic's brilliant defense lately has put them in a tie with the Boston Celtics for the league lead in defensive efficiency, yielding 102 points per 100 possessions so far this season. This is a team which features Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu playing heavy minutes. Thank you, Stan, and thank you, Dwight Howard.
In a separate post, Schmitz argues the Magic should embrace the opportunity to play the Detroit Pistons in the first round of this year's playoffs:

Time to start facing up to the fact that they likely will get the Pistons again in round 1. Time to start preparing for it now, toughening up, chasing down loose balls, executing in games down the stretch better, eating raw eggs like Rocky in the morning.

Time to face your fear and, finally, get the best of the bully.

I can't say that I agree with Brian here. Detroit has Orlando's number and is the worst possible playoff matchup of any team in either conference. Consider this: Counting the playoffs, Orlando is 147-99 (.598) since the start of the 2006/2007 season; they're 3-17 (.150) against Detroit in that same timeframe. Put another way, Detroit is responsible for 17% of Orlando's losses since 2006. One team, out of 29 others in the league, has accounted for a little more than one-sixth of its defeats. I can't even wrap my mind around that. Has one team ever dealt so much damage to another team before? I highly doubt it.

Beating the Pistons in a playoff series would be great for the Magic and their fans, yes. But there's almost no chance Orlando would be able to get past Detroit, so in essence, saying "bring on Detroit!" is like saying "bring on an early vacation!"

Yes, the Pistons are in my head. But, based on the data I just presented, am I really that insane?
Finally, former Magic center (and 3QC all-time favorite) Rony Seikaly is apparently a D.J. now. No, really, it's all true. FreeDarko has a scan of the promotional material.

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No Detroit plz

thx!

by RussL on Mar 20, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

I would rather NOT see Detroit, but if they end up being the opponent for Orlando, it is what it is.

This is my end and my new beginning Nostalgia/Alpha and Omega places, it's like a glitch in the matrix/I seen it at all, did it all, most of y'all been pop for a minute/Spitters, sinners and the game get rid of y'all/Y'all got there but y'all didn't get it all, I want my style back/Hate to cease y'all plan it's the rap repo-man - Nas

by erivera7 on Mar 21, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

+1 to no Detroit

Wasted too much money on playoff tix last year thanks to them, but with Lewis out hopefully we go with a ‘bigger’ rotation that includes a lot more Gortat (bigger in the sense that the tall people on the court play like tall people, not incl. the man child beast). I don’t know how much we lose anyway with Lewis losing some minutes to Gortat, especially if that knee injury is a reality.

Kaz/Shields/Garza/Sonny/Price/Davis/Hellickson-necessitate a drool cup or a 7 man rotation

by CubFanRaysaddict on Mar 21, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions

Well, if you replace Lewis with Gortat, you lose a lot offensively.

.. granted, you gain a bit defensively but I think that the loss would outweigh the gain in that instance.

by erivera7 on Mar 21, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

We must face Detroit. It's the cycle of NBA Playoff life

In the 80’s, Detroit Pistons had to overcome the dominating Celtics in the playoffs before they finally started winning their 2 championships.

In the 90’s, the Chicago Bulls had to overcome the Pistons in the playoffs before they started winning championships.

Now, the Magic must confront their demons and finally defeat the Pistons.

The Pistons give me as much heartburn and stress as the next Magic fan, and I inwardly cringe at a possible playoff matchup, but the Magic just has to face them down. I’ve said it before, but I just get this feeling that if the Magic face and defeat Detroit in the 1st round, they have a very good chance against Boston & Cleveland in the later rounds because they will have attained a true swagger with what seems like a huge accomplishment.

Even though the Hippopotamus lacks a stinger for a tail, a truly wise man would rather be sat on by a bee. ~ Banacek

by funny80sguy on Mar 21, 2009 2:26 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry, I just don't see beating Detroit as a prerequisite for playoff success. Orlando's title chances are just as good if they wind up playing Philly or Miami in the first round

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Evan Dunlap on Mar 21, 2009 3:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll disagree with my colleague, to an extent.

I agree that beating Detroit isn’t a prerequisite needed for playoff success, but one can’t deny the huge boost of confidence Orlando would gain if they were to beat the Pistons in the first round.

As for the Magic championship chances, they are lesser against Detroit than they would be against Philly or Miami. That’s just a fact.

by erivera7 on Mar 21, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

for once, in my life, i agree with brian schmitz. he is absolutely correct. this is how i look at it….

there is a pretty damn good chance we could face detroit in the first round; why not start preparing for them now? fighting for every loose ball, trying to be tougher, eating raw eggs as schmitzy says? getting in DET mindset basically. then, if we are fortunate enough to avoid them in the first round, there’s no team that we won’t be able KO.

by coque429 on Mar 21, 2009 3:52 AM EDT reply actions

I would agree. If the Magic do face the Pistons in the first round, they should embrace the chance ..

.. to finally get the monkey of their back.

by erivera7 on Mar 21, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

TOTALLY AGREE!

by blue-blood on Mar 21, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Couple things here...

First off, the same was said last year about the Magic facing their fear and beating down the bully. We know how that ended.

This is a league of match-ups.

The Lakers are the favorite to win the title. The Magic happen to match up against the Lakers better than any of the other east contenders. The same can be said of the Spurs. On the other hand, the Magic do NOT match up well against the Pistons, nor do they match up particularly well against the Celtics.

If the Magic can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, I like their chances of winning it all. I really do, I’d pick them over Cleveland, L.A., and San Antonio. The problem really is getting there. They’re going to have to go through Boston (unless they get upset in round 1) and there’s a good chance they’re going to have to go through Detroit.

by RussL on Mar 21, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions