Orlando Magic
2008-09 Record: 59-23
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Jameer Nelson
SG- Vince Carter
SF- Rashard Lewis
PF- Brandon Bass
C- Dwight Howard
Key Reserves: Mickael Pietrus, Martin Gortat, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, Jason Williams
Biggest Strength: Impossible to defend
How do you defend a team with a legit low post threat, surrounded by countless snipers. A point guard who can get his own shot and create for teammates. Two wing players capable of going off for 30 any game. A hungry young power forward who is efficient offensively and shot 90% from the line in the playoffs last year. This team is good at every position with depth. If Van Gundy runs this offense the right way they could be extremely potent.
Biggest Weakness: Uhhhh
Really? What weakness do they have? They have the best center in the NBA. They have an above average replacement center in Gortat and two promising young power forwards. They have arguable the best point from the first half of the season last season. They have depth. Three point shooting. And a coach that understand their offensive talent and focuses much of his energy on the defensive end anchored by a beast.
This team is a legit contender and true contender like this rarely have major weaknesses.
Key Player: Vince Carter
Swap Turkoglu for Carter is a major, major decision for a team that went to the finals and is clearly on the cusp of winning a championship. That is not only a talent change but a chemistry adjustment. I personally liked the move. Carter has been rejuvenated and putting him on a contender could amplify that.
I personally didn’t like Orlando’s offense when they went exclusively to one-on-one with Turkoglu at the top of the key. Taking that out of the equation should open up the Magic’s offense making it less predictable and more versatile. AND Carter is just as capable of creating shots for himself and other in that situation as well.
Biggest Question: Is this team under-rated?
Most of the talk about the Eastern Conference this off-season has centered around Shaq going to Cleveland and KG returning to Boston. ESPN’s group of NBA experts have the Magic as the 3rd best team in the East behind those 2 squads. I disagree. The Magic won the east last year without Jameer Nelson, beating both Boston and Cleveland in the process. Their best player, Dwight Howard, is only 23 years old and still improving. They replaced Hedo Turkoglu with a better scorer in Vince Carter. They added the very underrated Brandon Bass and 2 really good bench pieces in Matt Barnes and Ryan Anderson. They are deep, talented and experienced and I think they should be even better than the team that went to the Finals last year.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Shaquille O’Neal, 1993-94
29.3 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.9 blocks, 59.9 FG%
The era of Shaq began here. In his 2nd year, at age 21, Shaq cemented himself as a premier center in the league. He became the youngest player in league history to average 29 points and 13 rebounds per game (a feat he would only do once more in his career).
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 1st place, Southeast division / 1st place, Eastern conference / 1st place, NBA
The Lakers and Cavs are the most logical choices, but I’m picking the Magic to win the title this year. I’ve never been a fan of Vince Carter, but I think that being put into a contender situation (for the first time since 2000), and playing near his home town, will motivate him to work his butt off this year. I love Jameer, I think Howard will improve somewhat and I really love the Brandon Bass move as well as getting 6’10” sharp-shooter Ryan Anderson in the Carter trade. Overall, they aren’t the flashiest team, but they have a dominant big man, a high-scoring wing, a ton of 3 point threats, a solid PG and a deep bench. Oftentimes, that will add up to an NBA title, and I think the Magic get their first in franchise history this year.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 1st place, Southeast division / 3rd place, Eastern conference / 4th place, NBA
This team is stacked. If they continue (1st in defensive rating last season) to play defense the way they have this team will be right there as the team no one is talking enough about as a front runner for Eastern Conference champion.
It’s that simple.
See all 2010 NBA team previews
Greatest strength(s):
-Their Big 3 (and I mean BIG in length and size)
a) Dwight Howard (Superman)–
-I think he will be Shaq’s successor as the most dominant center in the NBA. (is close to being funny as Shaq as well!)
b) Vince Carter (great when determined and healthy)
c) Rashard Lewis (a bit overpaid, but a good player)
-capable of establishing a full inside-outside game
-3rd Best Road Record last season (Can they repeat that?)
-Stan Van Gundy (Give the man some credit esp on defense!)
-Three point shooting
-Good to have Gortat back (whether he likes it or not!)
-Athletic defenders (Barnes, Pietrus)
Greatest weakness(es):
-Howard’s weaknesses (FTs and lack of post moves)
-PG depth is a ?? (Is Nelson 100% back from that shoulder injury?)
- Gortat’s demeanor “might” be in question
-Will losing Rafer nip them at all? (last year’s mid-season savior)
With that said, the Magic will be 1st in the Southeast, 3rd in the East. The Rashard Lewis 10 game suspension will not make a large dent on their record and especially their division.
I look forward to their matchups with the Cavaliers and the Celtics. Must see TV right there!
(On a side note, I will go out on a limb and say the Sixers will split the season (2-2). Their matchups with the Magic in the postseason were interesting and seemed as though they were able to somewhat figure out the Magic. Both teams will split the home field wins. Maybe an Eddie Jordan system is just what the doctor ordered.)
Just a tough team to double team. If you double Dwight, Vince, Rashard, or Petris are dangerous. Jameer can create for him self or dish. This is a deep team.
Just posted this on the Orlando Magic main board. Awesome preview. Magic fans have been saying this all summer. Orlando wins the first of many titles in 2010, book it!!!