Orlando Magic News for December 13th: The "Magic" Behind the Scenes; Update on the Amway Center

Orlando Magic receive a big boost from their video coordinators, Ahmad Ajami and Adam Glessner
Josh Robbins writes a fantastic article highlighting Ahmad Ajami and Adam Glessner, the video coordinators for the Orlando Magic. 

It's 10:42 on a Saturday night, and Ahmad Ajami and Adam Glessner are sitting in front of their computers, working to make the Orlando Magic a better basketball team.

Ajami has planted himself near the Magic locker room at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. His laptop screen displays a live feed of the Golden State-Orlando game and shows Rashard Lewis intercepting a bad pass into the paint by Warriors point guard Monta Ellis.

Ajami clicks his computer mouse a couple of times. He's recorded and logged his first video clip of the night.

Orlando Magic analysis: 2-2 road trip reveals some NBA vulnerabilities
Brian Schmitz points out some of the defensive flaws that plagued the Magic on the West Coast road trip.

Against the Jazz, the only way [Stan] Van Gundy could stop them at times was to call time-outs. [Anthony] Johnson said the defense was "absolutely terrible."

On the trip, the Magic didn't always run back in transition and didn't get to 3-shooters in time. They fouled too much. Point guards Steve Nash and Deron Williams carved them up like Benihana chefs.

Teams still penetrate at will, especially point guards, undermining the defense.

Orlando Magic's Amway Center: $4.6 million streetscape work will make area pedestrian-friendly
Mark Schlueb of the Orlando Sentinel points out how the city plans to spend money to upgrade the area surrounding Orlando's new arena - the Amway Center.

The city plans to spend about $4.6 million to dress up the area around the new arena, including arty "light trees," asterisk-shaped benches, speakers and light-pattern projectors beneath the I-4 overpass; landscaping and a fountain at a retention pond; and sidewalks, decorative streetlights and oaks along Division Avenue.

An additional $15.7 million streetscape project — to be paid for with federal money — will upgrade a 1-mile stretch of Church Street through Parramore, from the new Amway Center to the Citrus Bowl.

The idea is to create a space around the new arena that will encourage fans to walk to events, linger in the plaza area — and then walk to downtown Orlando and spend money.

Game Notes: Magic at Suns
Dennis Tarwood of SLAM ONLINE posts his game notes of the contest between the Magic and the Phoenix Suns; a matchup in which Orlando lost by 3.

Jameer Nelson could practice with the team starting next week
UPDATE: Tania Ganguli provides an update on Jameer Nelson ..

Jameer Nelson was running up and down the court, shooting a bit, toward the end of practice today. Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said the team is hopeful it will have Nelson back at practice next week.

The Magic point guard had athroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 18 and the initial prognosis was that he would be out four to six weeks. It’ll be four weeks since that surgery this Wednesday and Nelson said he’s made steady progress since then.

Vince Carter misses Sunday practice with a stomach bug, Magic expect him to play Monday
UPDATE 2: .. and Vince Carter.

Carter left Friday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns with a sore hip and knee. Because he wasn’t well enough to practice, the Magic couldn’t evaluate his injury. Van Gundy said he thinks Carter will play on Monday.