Orlando Magic News for February 25th: Dwight Howard's Impact on LeBron James, J.J. Redick's Pending Free Agency, and More
by Evan Dunlap on Feb 25, 2010 5:47 PM EST
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Print- Howard's inside presence critical against Cavs, LeBron
John Schuhmann of NBA.com looks at the Orlando Magic's recent history against the Cleveland Cavaliers to see how Dwight Howard's presence impacts Cleveland's offense, and LeBron James specifically.
When Howard is on the bench, James simply destroys the Magic. Note that the numbers above are per-36 minutes, but James has averaged 42.3 minutes in the 16 games. So his no-Howard numbers translate to 41.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists per contest.
When Howard's on the floor, James' numbers are still strong, but there is a clear drop-off, especially in the scoring department. James' shooting percentage isn't down much, but he's getting fewer shots and making much fewer trips to the line.
There's much more at the link, and the read is well worth your time.
- Howard's defense the key in Cavaliers/Magic matchup
John Krolik of ProBasketballTalk responds to Schuhmann's analysis.
The Cavs were able to win their first two meetings against the Magic this season. In both of those games, Howard's minutes were limited due to foul trouble. If the teams meet in the playoffs, when more physical play is sometimes allowed, the Cavs may struggle to deal with Howard's defense over the course of a full game.
- NBA free agency: Who might be available in 2010?
Chad Ford's look at the 2010 free-agent landscape for ESPN includes this bit on Magic reserve guard J.J. Redick, who'll become a restricted free agent on July 1st.
Redick hasn't made a big splash in the league, but some around the league say that's partly due to playing time. With more opportunities this season, his numbers have improved, and he's shown he can be an efficient marksman off the bench.
- Some Teams Live and Die by the 3 More Than Others
Zach Lowe of Off the Dribble, the New York Times' NBA blog, looks at which teams in the league can win without making a ton of threes.
- NBA HD: Are Rookies Better Finishers in Sophomore Year?
In this post about sophomores improving their finishing ability at the rim, Tom Haberstroh notes that Magic backup forward Ryan Anderson has improved 13.4%, making 57.3% of his shots at the rim as a result. It's enough to put him in a tie with Suns reserve point guard Goran Dragic for the second-biggest improvement on record.
- Dwight Howard just needs his team to follow
Brian Schmitz writes that "this Magic team can make a repeat run to the Finals," but only if complementary players like Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis follow his lead. He also believes the Magic "lack a killer instinct" and "have to play better defense."
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This Sunday at 10 PM, Sun Sports will air "Inside the Magic: the Science of Scouting." Whit Watson will host the program, which will focus on "how the Magic video coordination team enables Orlando to prepare for games in the fast and furious pace of the NBA." Click here for a video preview.
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Nah
If he finds a good deal to make some good money that the Magic can’t match then best of luck to him. He has been a great role player and come thru many a time. I still hope he gets a Paxson moment on his resume this year (a game winning shot off a kick out pass) in the playoffs. To all those JJ haters all these years, he is still going strong, so deal with it! Speaking of, wasn’t it just last year that people were saying if JJ ended up our backup SG we were doomed? LOL.
I used to be a JJ hater, especially when he played for the Blue Devils
but it’s funny how Orlando pinstripes will totally change your attitude towards a guy.
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Feb 26, 2010 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
I think there's a good chance that Redick will be back with the Magic next year.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
Agreed.
I can see a team like Minnesota or Philly signing him to an offer sheet in the $3-4 million range, but Otis will match that. Heck, he might even match the MLE.
by Evan Dunlap on Feb 25, 2010 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
Re: Ryan
He got 26% of his inside shots blocked last season… this year, the number’s down to 11%. Some of that might be improvement, but some of that might be playing next to Howard/in the Magic’s offense. (Supporting evidence: Bass had 18% of his inside shots blocked last year, only 8% this year.)
I mean, a 15% blocks difference pretty much accounts for the change by itself.
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...
Another link everyone should check out:
Ken Berger’s “Dwight Howard = Wilt Chamberlain?”
by Stan in a Van (Down by the River) on Feb 25, 2010 6:29 PM EST reply actions
Great link. Thanks for sharing it.
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm not sure Donald Sterling is a human being. He had to have been manufactured by someone, possibly David Stern, so that one team could solely just make profit for the NBA while doing nothing good for themselves. -- Aykis 16
He's not the same kind of player as Chamberlain, though.
…well, okay. Chamberlain was something else entirely. Chamberlain was… in comparison to the league at the time, Chamberlain was like if you took Olajuwon and put him in Shaq’s body.
I don’t think a player like Wilt could even exist today… modern centers are larger, and the advent of weight training has meant that they put on the bulk not to get pushed around. Anyone that much bigger and stronger than the rest of the league would have to be so musclebound that he couldn’t run the floor or make post moves. Young Shaq came close, but even then it was too late.
But still, Dwight’s a defender and rebounder. He also does other stuff, but his calling cards are post D and rebounding. Wilt was good, even great at those things, but his scoring ability was what’s never been matched. Both great players — Wilt greater, but no shame in that — but they come at the game from opposite corners.
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...
And different eras.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
Totally different era's.
You could sit in the lane all day in Wilt’s era. That’s why you have 3 seconds now. Also, the goaltending rule was in no large part due to Wilt.
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm not sure Donald Sterling is a human being. He had to have been manufactured by someone, possibly David Stern, so that one team could solely just make profit for the NBA while doing nothing good for themselves. -- Aykis 16
Arguably paternity tests, too.
Can’t we silence these Christian athletes who thank Jesus whenever they win and never mention his name when they lose? You never hear them say, "Jesus made me drop the ball" or, "The Lord tripped me up behind the line of scrimmage."
by Diosnomeama on Feb 26, 2010 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
LMAO
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
Awesome Dios.
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm not sure Donald Sterling is a human being. He had to have been manufactured by someone, possibly David Stern, so that one team could solely just make profit for the NBA while doing nothing good for themselves. -- Aykis 16
Thank you ,sir.
Can’t we silence these Christian athletes who thank Jesus whenever they win and never mention his name when they lose? You never hear them say, "Jesus made me drop the ball" or, "The Lord tripped me up behind the line of scrimmage."
Wilt was like 6'9 or 6'10 when the average height of players was something like 6'1.
It would be something like Yao being the strongest AND fastest player in the league at his current height.
Says here Wilt was 7'1"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01.html
Maybe you know Judo, maybe I know Smith and Wesson.
by NC Magic Fan on Feb 26, 2010 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Imagine Dwight in that era..
How much do you think he’ll average? With Dwight’s quickness and strength, I think he’ll do great. Its a different era, and alot has changed. Including defense and defender sizes.
Dwight probably would have been a poor man's Wilt, in terms of his point/rebound/block totals.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
Dwight in that era
Would have been scary. That kind of athleticism was not bred into us through hormone pumped chicken. I think he would have been just below Wilt, at least speaking in terms of Dwight’s current skill level. The phrase a man among boys would be ridiculously true in that era.
That was really the Big Man Era
Chamberlain at 7-1, Bill Russell a tall 6-9, Zelmo Beaty and Nate Thurman at 6-11, Bob Pettit at 6-9, Walt Bellamy at 6-11, Willis Reed a tall 6-9. Almost all of them had higher RPG than Dwight.
With Dwights muscle, he could have dominated many of these, but he would have had more quality big men to fight than he does now.
Maybe you know Judo, maybe I know Smith and Wesson.
by NC Magic Fan on Feb 26, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
That's true.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
That whole era in general collected more reb's. I wouldn't be so sure that Dwight couldn't grab MORE than those guys could.
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm not sure Donald Sterling is a human being. He had to have been manufactured by someone, possibly David Stern, so that one team could solely just make profit for the NBA while doing nothing good for themselves. -- Aykis 16
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