Orlando Magic News for April 8th: a Blueprint for Beating the Cavaliers, a Balanced Team, and More
by Evan Dunlap on Apr 8, 2010 5:00 PM EDT
in News
Email
Print- Ron Artest among leaders in art of playing NBA perimeter defense - Paul Forrester
An NBA scout names one way the Orlando Magic could exploit the Cleveland Cavaliers' defense if the two teams meet in the playoffs.
"Defensively, Shaq's return could force them into some tough decisions since neither he nor Zydrunas Ilgauskas gets out on pick-and-rolls. So the first thing any opponent is going to do is put those guys in pick-and-rolls away from the basket. While [Anderson] Varejao and [J.J.] Hickson can try to pick up that guy who sets the screen and is rolling to the basket, what happens if a team puts a pick-and-pop guy there? If Orlando sits Dwight Howard for a time and the screener is Rashard Lewis, are you going to put Z and Shaq on the bench? Then you're going to have [Antawn] Jamison out there and he's not a good defender."
- NBA.com: Old adage proves true: Defense does win in postseason
John Schuhmann of NBA.com posts this fact that bodes well for the Magic's championship hopes.
Of the last 10 NBA champions, eight have ranked in the top 10 both offensively and defensively in the regular season. Only three teams meet that criteria this year: Cleveland (second offensively and seventh defensively), Orlando (fourth and first), and San Antonio (ninth and ninth).
- Mike Miller might also want to play for the Magic - ProBasketballTalk
John Krolik of ProBasketballTalk offers his thoughts on Wizards swingman Mike Miller potentially signing with the Magic this offseason. "it's nice to think about such a talented shooter playing for a team that has embraced the three-pointer the way the Magic have, he says.
- NBA Awards: LeBron, Evans, McMillan and More - Sean Deveney
Sean Deveney of The Basline picks Josh Smith, and not Dwight Howard, to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. He concedes that Howard will "likely" win, but chose Smith because "his athleticism allows him to get out and defend the perimeter, and is one of the chief reasons the Hawks are able to use their switch-everything approach to pick-and-rolls."
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I was just about to post that same stat......
“Howard is a dominant defender and fearsome in the lane, and it’s likely he will win this award.” Ya, cause anyone with half a brain realizes that his effect on the game is quantifiable, unlike bullshit phrases like smith’s “athleticism”
Never trust a fart
by AB's triple double on Apr 8, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Nothing against Smith.
He’s a strong defender — he gambles too much, though, which would be great if he was on a team that could afford that. On a team with that backcourt, though, Smith would be better served to stay solid.
Bass is a kind of fish.
Meh. Let the man have his opinion.
He makes the unpopular and uneducated choice. Seems some writers just like to be outside of the mainstream. If nothing else it generates blog traffic and comments.
Never been largely impressed with The Baseline anyway. He leaves Durant off MIP list, too. Looks to me like a little less coffee might have made for a leveler head.
Just a few days ago, the NBA dropped its annual awards ballots into my inbox and, after many hours of computing, about two gallons of coffee and several broken pencils, I finally figured out how I am voting. The ballot is in, and it looks like this:
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
eff that
He already had his opinion, now let us totally destroy him as that is our opinion. My opinion is that the guy is a total retard. :)
WOW
FAIL
"Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons shitty diaper n it"~Matt Barnes
Yeah, how does that guy have a job still?
I hate Varejao.
Ahh, that explains a lot
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Dwight Howard allows the Magic to play any kind of defense.
And do it better than just about everyone. I love Smith, but it’s just not even arguable that anyone besides Dwight would be DPOY. If LeBron should be the unanimous MVP, then Dwight should be the unanimous DPOY.
I hate Varejao.
Picking Josh Smith as DPOY
is just offensive. He doesn’t change the way people play the game. He doesn’t shut down even one person on the floor. That makes no sense. That guy should have his rights to vote revoked. If you aren’t going to vote for who deserves the award, you shouldn’t get to vote. Hell I would have been less offended if he had picked a Bogut that actually changes shots and forces the offense to change. Damn it man, how frigging lame.
Hell Yeah Ben!
"Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons shitty diaper n it"~Matt Barnes
We might need both
If we lose JJ and Barnes.
by eltharion_doa on Apr 8, 2010 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Youth Youth Youth
Neither Miller nor TMac would put us over the top. We’d be far better going after youth than players like Miller or TMac that are at the end of their careers. One of the better deals we made in the past was Steve Francis to the Knicks and picking up Trevor Ariza and the expiring contract of Penny Hardaway. Paid great dividends to the club. Picking up expensive veterans that will not put us over the top is not the right solution to winning a championship.
Nobody is talking about expensive veterans
Miller could probably be got for similar to Barnes’ current contract, and T-Mac should only be considered for a fairly low level contract too, probably unguaranteed, given his age, history and injury proneness.
If you think paying a couple of old guys a few million between them isn’t worth it, then I guess Williams and Barnes should pack up their sneakers right now.
by eltharion_doa on Apr 9, 2010 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Miller made $9.7 million this year
do you really think he would setttle for Barnes’ $1.6?
"Loose ball foul on whatever the hell his name is." - Joey Crawford calling a foul on Stojko Vrankovic
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 9, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
We only "lose" JJ if we decide not to match.
Puts Otis in the driver’s seat. Sure there is lots of FA $$$ coming this summer, but remember the new CBA and current economy. Teams less likely to over pay….especially with Isaiah out of NYC.
But, I guess there is always the fear now that Colangelo will overpay for our players. lol.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
I fear for JJ's future should he ever leave the Magic Kingdom
he’s worked so well in this system. But being a smart dude he knows if there’s more money and minutes to be made elsewhere, why not.
Worst case scenario...
at least we know they’ll say yes…lol
Vince Carter - Half Man, Half Retired
Matt Barnes - Half Man, Half Tattoo
When someone's just so dominant at one award, people start thinking of alternatives
In their own alternative universe, twisting words and statistics. Bogut? Smith? DPOY? Really?
Bogut is a candidate. Not the winner, but a legit candidate.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
so is Josh Smith, I know
so is Dwight in the MVP race. Legit candidate. He doesn’t get a lot of people talking though. Though that could be for other reasons (ESPN)
Paul Forrester
Thinks Barnes edge is a concern? Tell that to Dwight and the rest of the team who thinks his edge adds a toughness they were missing before. Apparently he didn’t notice that the Magic were flat before Barnes got into it with Thabeet and he was able to get into Kobe’s head. Magic won both games.
“If Orlando sits Dwight Howard for a period of time”? Is he suggesting Dwight will play all 48 of each game or is he suggesting the Magic should sit Dwight in order to exploit pick-and-rolls against the Cavs?
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Orlando Pinstriped Post
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Contact Us
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
