Glen Davis' First Orlando Magic Season Doesn't Go His Way

As the Orlando Magic cleaned out their lockers Wednesday, one day after the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the playoffs, they also met with the media. And Magic center Glen Davis was candid, as always, in doing so. According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Davis said he wants the chance to be in Orlando's starting lineup for the 2012/13 season, and will dedicate himself to improving over the summer so as to leave no doubt that he ought to start.

Davis arrived in Orlando during training camp as part of a sign-and-trade deal between the Magic and the Boston Celtics as Orlando obtained Davis and Von Wafer for Brandon Bass. Davis, a similar player to Bass in many respects, probably figured he'd inherit Bass' starting power-forward role. Instead, coach Stan Van Gundy elected to insert Ryan Anderson into the starting lineup, leaving Davis to back up Dwight Howard at center and Anderson at big forward.

Davis, who won a championship with Boston as a rookie in 2008, came to the Magic expecting to contend for another title. Instead, for the first time in his career, his team failed to advance in the playoffs. "I don't like this feeling," he said. "I've always been to the second round. I refuse to let my career go the opposite way.

"This is my final time losing in the first round," he continued. "This season is over. It's time to campaign for the champagne."

Davis can at least be proud of his performance in the playoffs, as he averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in 38 minutes per game and did his level best in his matchup against Pacers center Roy Hibbert, an All-Star. He also delivered after Howard's season-ending back surgery forced him into the starting center role, averaging 16.4 points and 8.8 boards during those 12 games.

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