ORLANDO, FL - MAY 16: Head coach Stan Van Gundy and Mickael Pietrus of the Orlando Magic talk during a stop in play against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 16, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy has decided to "stabilize" his playing rotation, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. That means starting Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Quentin Richardson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard each night. Further, power forward Ryan Anderson--who's started four games this year yet played fewer minutes than all but one of his teammates--is out of the rotation for now. Finally, Robbins says, small forward Mickael Pietrus will return to the rotation. He's received a Did Not Play-Coach's Decision in each of the Magic's last two games.
UPDATE (this paragraph only): Robbins has a full write-up at the Sentinel's BasketBlog, while Zach McCann has reaction from Ryan Anderson.
Thus, the Magic are left with this playing rotation:
| Starters | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | SG | SF | PF | C | ||||||||||||||
| Jameer Nelson | Vince Carter | Quentin Richardson | Rashard Lewis | Dwight Howard | ||||||||||||||
| Reserves | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Duhon | J.J. Redick | Mickael Pietrus |
Brandon Bass | Marcin Gortat | ||||||||||||||
| Third String | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Williams | Ryan Anderson | |||||||||||||||||
| Inactive | ||||||||||||||||||
| Malik Allen |
Daniel Orton | |||||||||||||||||
Just last month, Van Gundy said he'd like to find room in the rotation for both Anderson and Brandon Bass, but then backtracked when he determined playing eleven guys each night wasn't realistic. Then, he planned to alter the starting lineup based on matchups, but that idea backfired too.
The Magic get their first crack at testing this rotation later this evening against the Toronto Raptors.
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