WDBO Sports Director Scott Anez has seen, or listened to, every Orlando Magic game ever played! A local boy who graduated from Lake Brantley High School and UCF, Scott began his career by covering the Magic's inaugural season in 1989 and he is known as the Voice of the Magic Fan in Orlando. This is Scott's 18th season hosting AM 580 WDBO's Inside Magic, the highest rated sports talk show in Orlando. He also serves as Broadcast Host for the Orlando Magic Radio Network. Scott shares his unique take on what's happening at Two Magic Place and beyond with ANEZ SEZ. Read more of Scott's previous blogs at
http://580wdbo.com.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, October 9, 2008, 3:20PM
PLAY JJ PLAY
It is amazing.
We in Orlando have the best center in the game in Dwight. We get to watch one of the most versatile players in the game in Hedo. We have one of the most potent offensive weapons in the game in Rashard.
Not to take anything away from our great playres, but here's the cold hard fact: JJ is the fan favorite!
I would venture to say that JJ Redick, a guy who's gotten little-to-no playing time over the course of the two last seasons, is the most popular player on this team.
On the air...via email...as I go about town...everyone wants to know as to why JJ isn't playing.
Well, Magic fans, playing time for the all-time leading scorer in ACC history may be coming to an arena near you soon!
Tuesday, the Orlando Magic picked up the 2.8 million dollar option on JJ's contract for next season. The move comes as a bit of a surprise considering JJ has been a non-factor so far. But GM Otis Smith, who refused to cave to JJ's trade demand last season, has said from the get-go that he's got confidence that JJ is gonna be an impactful player in this league.
In the first two pre-season games, JJ (along with Tony Battie) was the first substitution for Coach Van Gundy. JJ has played well, scoring 12 points in both outings.
He's looked good. JJ's been aggressive on the offensive end. Defensively, he's held his own.
Coach Stan has stated that if the season started today, JJ would be part of his regular rotation. Of the three reserve shooting guards, Stan says that JJ was the guy who stood out in training camp.
We all need to keep in mind that this is the pre-season. Countless times over the last 19 plus years I've been caught in the trap of putting way too much credence into games that mean absolutely nothing. Veterans coast. Rookies try to play way over their heads. Coaches experiment. Fans yawn.
So we need to take a deep breath and look at this through our pre-season prism.
With that said...We JJ fans, and there are many of us out there, should be encouraged by what we see so far.
If he keeps playing like he has been over the last 9 days or so, JJ's gonna become a regular contributor to this team
And I, thankfully, won't have to dodge any more JJ questions.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 12:00PM
DEEP THOUGHTS FROM GAME ONE
...Let's start off by saying this: give me four pre-season games, then.... LET'S PLAY FOR REAL!
...Rashard Lewis looks to be in mid-season form. Rashard continued his stellar play in camp by leading the Magic with 22 points in the Monday loss to the Hawks. Rashard looks so much more comfortable at this point this season as compared to this time last year.
...Speaking of mid-season form, how about Dwight Howard's performance Monday? 8 blocks? Are you kiddin' me? Apparently not. Dwight wasn't fibbin' when he stated on Media Day that one of his goals this season is to lead the league in blocks.
...We had a JJ sighting Monday night! JJ continued his solid camp play on into Monday night as he tallied 12 points vs. Atlanta. No...I'm not getting my hopes up about JJ breaking into Coach Stan's regular season rotation. I've learned over the years to never believe what my eyes are seeing in the pre-season. But, I do see a JJ who bulked up over the summer. I see a JJ with more resolve. I see a JJ who wants to be in this league next year, somewhere.
...One of the more intriguing aspects of this exhibition season is the play of the newcomers. What's my take on their performances Monday?
...Mickael Pietrus: Actually, a better offensive player than I thought. We knew about his athleticism, but I didn't know he's as explosive as he is. As advertised, he's a very good defender. But, right now, he's runnin' around at 100mph. He's still learning Stan's system. He's trying to impress his teammates. Let's wait for the game to slow down a little bit for Mickael.
...Courtney Lee: Not once did I see a deer-in-the-headlights look from the rookie from Western Kentucky. Not that he looked totally comfortable, but you can tell that Lee has a high basketball IQ. He's a solid on-ball defender. He can handle the ball in a pinch. You can tell his teammates really like him. Courtney Lee has a chance to make an impact in year one. That's saying a lot considering the kid was taken with the 22nd pick.
...Anthony Johnson: A pro's pro. Not the fastest, most explosive point guard in the world. He's not gonna dazzle you with his defense. The guy shoots the ball like ole Al Orter used to throw a shot put. But the guy is just solid. He's not gonna make many mistakes. He's gonna make sound decisions. He's not gonna do anything to lose a game for you.
...It was great to see Tony Battie back on the court Monday night. Man, did I miss this guy. His line wasn't gaudy by any means (6 points and 7 rebounds). Tony will be the first one to tell you that he's struggling with his timing after missing all of last season. But this guy does all the little things that championship caliber teams do. He boxes out. He offensive rebounds. He helps on defense. Tony Battie adds that veteran presence that we sorely lacked last year. Welcome back Tony!
...Marcin Gortat (8 points and 2 rebounds) is gonna see ample action off the Magic bench this year. The kid is strong. He's got quick feet and hands. He's got a little bit of a mean streak to him. He's not intimidated by the big stage.
...Finally, I have to tip my cap to our broadcast partner Richie Adubato. A few weeks ago, Richie had hip replacement surgery. Yet, crutches and all, there he was calling the game with Dennis Neumann Monday night. If our team shows the same kind of grit and determination as Richie did Monday, we're going a long way this year.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, October 6, 2008, 9:49AM
JAMEER ON POINT
An NBA point guard is a quarterback, a shortstop, a lead-off hitter, a coach on the floor, an inspirational leader all wrapped up into one. As your point guard goes, so goes your basketball team.
No pressure, Jameer Nelson!
This year, as Jameer enters his fifth NBA season and a five year $35 million contract extension, the pressure sits squarely on his shoulders. But I get the feeling that he wouldn’t want it any other way.
Last season, Magic GM Otis Smith raised several pairs of eyebrows throughout Orlando and the rest of the league by granting Jameer that extension.
I wondered aloud, on Inside Magic, if this was an extension Otis could have hammered out during the season? Callers into the show and Magic bloggers trashed the signing, saying that Jameer hadn’t done enough to warrant such a commitment. The critics wondered whether Jameer would ever transform into the point guard of the present and future. He’s not a true point guard. He doesn’t have innate play-making abilities. He’s too small. He becomes much too invisible on the court…etc…etc.
I’ve heard all the criticisms, trust me…and quite frankly, I’ve had my doubts as well. But the one thing I have never doubted about Jameer is toughness. The kid is from Chester, PA. ‘Nough said.
In the 2007-2008 regular season, Jameer averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 assists. He cut down his turnovers (2.04) and upped his field goal percentage to nearly 47%. Not bad. He played much better basketball after the All Star Break, but he made his mark in the playoffs.
Going into the series with both Toronto and Detroit, every so called expert was picking the Calderons, Fords, Billups and Stuckeyes to have their way with Jameer. The experts were flat out wrong.
In the Magic’s playoff push, Jameer averaged over 16 points and nearly 5 assists per game. Numbers aside, he really took over a leadership role with this team. He pressured the ball. He made sound decisions. He hit big shots. He broke down defenses. He ran the floor. He ran the team. He brought energy and attacked.
One could argue that Jameer was our best playoff performer. That was the Jameer Nelson we all wanted to see. That was the Jameer Nelson that Otis Smith signed to the extension.
Now, can Jameer build off the outstanding playoff performance and take that next step toward becoming this teams’ leader? Can Jameer bring that same type of quiet intensity onto the court every night? Can he bring that same kind of energy every night? Can he become more of a vocal leader? Can he pressure defensively and attack offensively on a consistent basis?
We know what we’re gonna get from Dwight this year. He’s gonna be a monster.
We know what we’re gonna get from Rashard. He’s gonna be a lot more comfortable.
We know what we’re gonna get from Hedo. He’s gonna to continue to frustrate defenses with his versatility.
If we get what we got from Jameer in the playoffs, we know that this Magic team is gonna contend for a trophy this season.
No pressure...right Jameer?
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 9:40AM
CAMPING OUT WITH OTIS
Otis Smith goes into his third full season as the General Manager of the Orlando Magic. At training camp, our Scott Anez caught up with Otis for a pre-season chat.....
S...Otis, are you happy with the crew you've assembled for this season?
O...I think we have a good nucleus coming back. They have an understanding of what Stan wants on the floor. We have nine guys returning. The second part of that is that we add some complimentary pieces and we don't lose things like shooting, which is a prime concern when you have a big guy. I like our team and I like the pieces we've brought in.
S...Is there a sour taste in your mouth and this franchise's mouth collectively after what happened to you in the playoffs vs. Detroit last year?
O...Our goal is to continue to improve. We know that they beat us pretty handily, not only by the score but they physically beat us. So in order for us to get past that we have to have another level of toughness, another level of growth that I think this team is capable of. We have to be a little bit angry about how we finished, but I keep reminding them that we have to work three times as hard to get back to the same place we were last year. We're not gonna sneak up on anybody this year. Everybody expects us to be a pretty good basketball team. The character we have to test that adversity is gonna be our true test. I think I'll be able to tell a lot in the next 20-25 days. I'll be able to tell what we have...What we don't have...What we need and what we may need to subtract. So, it's a matter of just watching to see where we are.
S...Is there any concern about a potential complacency factor?
O...I'm not actually. Having sat down and talked with our guys, they're more focused than I've ever seen a group of guys. They're actually saying my stuff back to me! It's just a matter of our big four needing to understand what it takes for us to be good: Dwight, Turk, Rashard and Jameer. It clearly rides on their shoulders one way or another. I think they all understand that, but it's another thing to go out and produce.
S...What does Dwight Howard need to improve on for this season?
O...Probably the biggest thing with him is free throws. He has to be able to shoot 70 percent or better from the line. The second part of that is that he has to own the paint on both ends of the floor. If you're supposed to be the best center in the NBA, you need to make your mark there. He's focused and poised to do just that This team is gonna go as far as he's gonna take us. So his steady improvement is really gonna help us.
S...Dwight wasn't exactly option number one in Beijing. Were you happy with the work he got in this past summer in the Olympics?
O...I was happy that they won a gold medal! I told him this...One of the things I wanted him to get out of the Olympics was that we wanted him to get a newfound appreciation for playing a role. That makes it easier for him to understand Tony Battie's role or Brian Cook's role. You have a role and you play that role and there's no deviation. Once you understand other people's roles, your role actually becomes so much easier to do. So, I think that's what he got out of the summer. I think he understood his role as the Olympics unfolded and got to the later games. I thought he fought it early on but I think he understood his role later.
S...What do you look for our of Jameer in year #5?
O....For me it's a continuing leadership role. He's responsible for how we come out of the gates every night. Whereas Dwight sets the tone, Jameer is responsible for getting us organized and making sure he gets us to play at a high energy level. He understands that of all our guys on the floor, he's the guy who's going to be left open the most so he has to make shots. He has to make open shots because he'll get a ton. Anyone who comes in in that position is gonna have to make open shots. That's just the reality of that position.
S...Rashard comes off his first year in Orlando. What do you expect out of Rashard this season?
O...I think he's comfortable now. I think he's more comfortable with his coach. I think he's more comfortable in Orlando. I think he's more comfortable with his teammates. So, from my standpoint, it's a matter of continuing to get comfortable. But at the same time, I need him to be more of a vocal leader, which is not exactly in his character. He is a 'lead by example' guy and he's very good at that. He'll have to continue to do those things and be more aggressive. He needs to realize that he doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody.
S...How about Hedo? He made great strides last year. Much has been made about his potential free agent year this year. What are your thoughts about Hedo?
O...He just has to have the same year. I want him to have the same year and not spend so much time focusing on the potential of becoming a free agent after the season. I want him to spend more time focusing on 'how do I help this team win'. I think he understands and is focused to do that. He just has to have the same type of year and improve in just one area and that's turning the ball over . If he can cut down on the careless turnovers, then I think we will improve as team.
S...As if I don't know the answer to this silly question, Otis...What is the goal for this team this season?
O...It's the championship. That has not changed. Now, once it's your goal, you gotta be willing to do the work. That's what starts here in camp. It's time to put in the consistent work over time to give you an opportunity to win an NBA Championship. I think everyone understands that. We will see how we handle adversity and the fact that now we're expected to win instead of just hoping to win.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 10:08AM
MEDIA DAY MEMOIRES
Here are my observations as I made my way around Magic Media Day Monday....
...The over-under on Coach Van Gundy losing his voice this week is 1 full day of camp. Coach was already a bit hoarse after finishing his interviews Monday.
...Great to see Tony Battie back in uniform. I went up to our former broadcast partner and asked him, "What would happen if I smack you on that shoulder?". He answered, "I'll smack you back!" He's ready.
...This was my 20th Magic Media Day. I couldn't help but reminisce with ole timers Nick Anderson, Morlon Wiley and Otis Smith. All three were here on that very first Media Day. We all had a big belly laugh over that very first expansion season and how the loquacious Reggie Theus became the apple of the local media's eye. We reporters would crowd around the Reggie's locker after every game seeking that one perfect quote, and before you knew it, Otis, Morlon and Nick would slide out the back door.
...JJ Redick told the media that he is "mentally in the best place I've ever been." JJ added, "Nothing is going to break my spirit." He's not only sound in mind and spirit...but body as well. It was obvious that he spent the off season gettin' his 'swole' on. JJ's more chiseled than in years past.
...Coach Van Gundy's quote about Dwight Howard: "Dwight is the most gifted big man I've seen. I had Shaq, but I think Dwight's combination of size, strength, athleticism and intelligence...He has every gift you could ever have."
...I think it's notable to point out GM Otis Smith's relationship with his coaches and players. Customarily in the NBA, when the GM's around, everyone sorta puckers up. But I think Otis has built a culture of comfort, trust and pointed honesty. Otis watches every practice. He travels to most every game. He has the respect of his players and has a great relationship with his coach. It's very unusual in what is a very insecure business.
...Hedo Turkoglu's potential contract year was a hot topic on the RDV practice court. Hedo says it will not be a distraction. But I wonder...He's never been in this position before. It's gonna be interesting to see how Turk reacts.
...After a sound playoff performance, I really believe that Jameer Nelson is gonna take that next step toward becoming a great point guard. Don't give me the nonsense that Jameer's too short...he's too this...he's not that. If Jameer keeps his energy level high, there's no reason why he cannot take this team to higher heights this year.
...Coach Stan says that he's interested in getting a training camp look at a dual threat of Hedo and rookie Courtney Lee sharing ball handling duties. Coach Stan says that, behind Dwight and Mickael Pietrus, Lee is the best athlete on the team.
...When I asked every Magic player and coach about Courtney Lee, the one word used by all of them was: "maturity".
...Quote from Otis: "We have to play twice, three times as hard to get back to the same place."
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, September 25, 2008, 9:45AM
Amazing how 20 years fly by!
I actually remember covering the Orlando Magic's very first uniform unveiling over in 1989. Ironically, the 2008 unveiling occurred in the same location as the very first: Cheyenne Saloon on Church Street.
Tuesday's uniform change was the fourth in Magic team history. The first, the classic pinstriped uni's, were in existence from 1989-1997 (below).
In 1998, the Magic dropped the pinstripes for a cleaner, fresher look (below).
In 2003, the Magic changed up and went to an even fresher, less busy look (below).
Now, while the look of the uniform is important, it's who's occupying said uniform that counts the most! You can look like a million bucks, but if you have a bunch o' dogs playing for ya, it doesn't matter if your team photo is on the front cover of 'GQ'.
Style is good...but substance is paramount in the NBA business.
With that said, I was hoping that the Magic would go 'retro' for this 20th anniversary season. I pined for pinstripes of yesteryear. I got what I wanted.
The 20th anniversary uni's are snazzy! They've been freshened up to reflect modern times. The lettering is more video game-ish, i.e. the current Dallas Maverick look. I like how the color black is featured on the sides of the home and away jerseys. And of course, let's not forget about the pinstripes, which have evolved into a tapered look.
All in all, I like the new uni's. I'll like 'em even more if the Magic make a big playoff push this season.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 9:54AM
A BIG YEAR FOR HEDO
This is a big year for the Orlando Magic. This is perhaps an even a bigger year for Hedo Turkoglu.
The Orlando Magic's reigning Most Improved Player comes off a monumental season, a season in which he started every game. Hedo tallied career highs with averages of 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 36.9 minutes and a .456 FG%.
Back on March 5, on this very blog, I proclaimed Hedo Turkoglu the most versatile player in the NBA:
"He can handle the rock with both hands...Turk has the most feathery shooting touch of any big man this side of Dallas. Hedo's one of the best passers on the team. ...The two areas I have seen marked improvement this year from Hedo are rebounding and defense....Ask guys like Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson and Andre Igoudala about Hedo's defense this season. He's shut down all three of those stars and many more...Turk has been clutch as well. He’s among the league leaders in fourth quarter scoring, averaging 6.5 points in final stanzas. He's had 10-plus fourth quarter points 13 times."
After this coming season, his fifth on a six year $36.8 million deal, Hedo has the right to opt out and become a free agent. Somehow, someway, we gotta keep Hedo in blue and black for the rest of his career. This guy is too good to let him get away for nothin'.
In a 'believe it or not' look at today's whacky NBA financial landscape, there are currently over 100 players who earn more than Hedo Turkoglu. Now, I'm sure his agent would argue that Hedo has transformed into one of the top 30 players in the game today. Frankly, he is. So you tell me...Does Hedo deserve to get paid? Absolutely. Question is: can the Magic afford him? I realize that luxury tax land isn't far away...but we have to do anything we can to keep this guy in O-Town.
This is gonna be a very interesting year for Hedo. Not only will he likely be playing out the final year of his contract, he'll also be a marked man. How will he handle the pressure and attention that he's undoubtedly going to see from opposing defenses this season?
Will Coach Van Gundy move him into a sixth man's role? It's an idea that may seem like blasphemy to some Magic fans, but it's an interesting potential scenario considering Tony Battie is coming back from his one year hiatus. Rashard Lewis played out of position all of last year and in the playoffs we discovered that we're gonna need more girth under the hoop to compete for the East.
You glance at history and you realize that the sixth man's role has done wonders for the careers of greats like John Havlicek, Vinny Johnson, Michael Cooper, Tony Kukoc and Manu Ginnobili. Notice how all the aforementioned guys played for championship teams? Would Hedo view such a move as an opportunity or a demotion? What would that kind of transition mean to a potential free agent contract next season?
Will Coach Stan play Turk at the shooting guard spot more? The common thought is that Mickael Pietrus will step right into that starting shooting guard spot this season...but nothing in this lineup, aside from Dwight (center) and Rashard (forward), is set in stone right now. As stated earlier, I believe that Hedo is the most versatile player in the NBA. Do I think he could handle the two guard spot? In spots...10-15 minutes per game. I just don't know if Hedo could handle the grind of defending that spot night in and night out.
As we embark on training camp later this month, there are many questions swirling around the role of Hedo Turkoglu this year.
But there's no question about it: we gotta find a way to keep Hedo in a Magic uniform for years to come.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 10:13AM
CAN DWIGHT TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
What have you done for me lately?
It's a fact of life in the NBA. This is a business of the present tense. Last season is but a memory. A new year and new challenges await each and every NBA team.
So, here's the question: what can Dwight Howard do to take his game and his team to a higher plain in 2008-2009?
As unfair as it may sound, NBA super stars are held to a higher standard. And make no mistake about it...Dwight Howard is as luminous as they come in today's league.
In 2007-2008, Dwight's fourth professional season, superman broke out in a big way. He averaged nearly 21 points. He would capture the NBA's rebounding title by hauling in 14.2 per game. The kid shot 59.9% from the field. Dwight led the franchise to its very first playoff series victory in 12 years. Heck, the kid is wearing a gold medal around his neck after playing his part in that American revolt in Beijing.
Dwight Howard has been on Oprah. He lives in a mansion. He begins an $85 million contract extension this season. He's got a multi-million dollar shoe contract.
It's been an incredible run for a 22 year old kid who, conceivably, could have been playing his senior year in college last year.
Fame and fortune are his.
Now, it's winnin' time!
I grew up during the NBA's heyday when Bird and Magic would compete for championships seemingly every year. Each and every off season, these two great foes would spend hours upon hours in the gym working on their games. Magic would develop his jump shot to beat Bird. Larry would develop his left hand to combat Magic. Even though they dominated the game, both men would work restlessly to be the best they could be to out-do the other.
Remember back to 1995 when our Magic would stun Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals? Jordan would use that loss as motivation for the following season when he would lead the Bulls to 72 regular season wins, a four game knockout of Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals and the eventual NBA Championship.
The common thread with all the great ones throughout the years is that they all motivate themselves. The great ones challenge themselves. The great ones make themselves better each and every year because they all have that unique, burning desire to win. They never ever settle.
Does Dwight have that unique desire to become great? Does he realize what price has to be paid to attain greatness?
Dwight Howard is the apple of our eye in Orlando...He is the best center in the game today...He is a physical marvel. He's got his fame. He's got his fortune.
NOW...it's time to take it to the next level.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 10:38AM
HOW BADLY DO WE WANT IT?
The NBA's Eastern Conference is up for grabs.
The way I see it is that the East's beasts, the Celtics and Pistons, are falling back to a pack that's gaining more and more ground daily.
The Boston Celtics are the defending champs. There's no question that they should be the favorites to capture the East for the second year running. But, while most every Eastern team has improved, the Celtics have sorta stood pat. One could certainly argue that with the loss of James Posey and with the Big Three getting a little longer in the teeth that the Celtics may have slipped a notch.
Detroit will still be one of the more powerful teams in the league. But new coach Michael Curry takes over a team that has some serious issues. Rasheed Wallace's future is in limbo as he enters the final year of his deal. Chauncey Billups has lost a half-step. The Pistons will continue to infuse youth as they attempt to walk that fine line of trying to build for the future and trying to win now.
Pistons, Celtics, that rumbling you hear is the footsteps of the rest of the Eastern Conference.
...LeBron's Cavaliers are better with the addition of Mo Williams.
...The Raptors, at least on paper, are much better after the acquisition of Jermaine O'Neal.
...The Sixers are vastly improved with the addition of Elton Brand.
...As we saw in Beijing, Dwayne Wade is back and so will be his Miami Heat.
...Miami picked Michael Beasley #2. Chicago got Derrick Rose with the #1 pick. The Bulls were baffling in 2007-2008 but will be much better this season.
...The Wizards re-signed Arenas and Jamison.
...The Baby Birds took the Celtics to the limit last year. This year, those Hawks will take that next step in their development.
...Coach Scott Skiles and Richard Jefferson will make the Bucks playoff contenders again.
How do the Orlando Magic fit into this Eastern Conference picture?
There's no doubt in my mind this team will be improved.
You have Dwight Howard with another year under his belt and a gold medal around his neck. You have Hedo Turkoglu going into a contract year. You have a more comfortable Rashard Lewis. You have solidified your shooting guard spot with the acquisition of Mickael Pietrus. You have a dependable back up point guard now in Anthony Johnson. And, after missing all of last season with the shoulder injury, Tony Battie will be back to add his veteran leadership and grit on our front line.
The East will be improved. The Cetlics and Pistons ain't goin' down without a fight.
Question is: how badly do the Orlando Magic want it?
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, August 25, 2008, 9:54AM
MIGHTY DWIGHTY'S GOLDEN
Redemption!
Early Sunday morning, Team USA held off Spain for the golden 118-107 victory. After six years of international humiliation, the gold medal is back where it belongs.
Our Dwight Howard tallied eight points and five rebounds in the Olympic clincher.
For the tournament, Dwight averaged 10.9 points, 5.75 rebounds in over 16 minutes per game. He shot an impressive 74% from the free throw line and turned the ball over one time per game.
For a kid who averaged 20.7 points and an NBA-leading 14.2 rebounds per game in 2007-2008, these Olympic stats are relatively tepid. But, what was far more impressive was the way that Dwight bought into the Olympic dream and played the part of the consummate team player.
As I watched our Redeem Team in Beijing, I couldn't help but feel proud of the way these guys represented themselves. Many a critic believed that this collection of NBA multimillion $ corporations would fall short of gold again because of a perceived selfishness and self-centeredness. It's a credit to boss Jerry Colangelo, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the assistant coaches and most of all, the players, that we proved the critics dead wrong with a three year commitment culminating in a team-first attitude and our first Olympic triumph since 2000.
No one epitomized that unselfish attitude more than Dwight Howard.
If you're a Magic fan and you watched Dwight during his Olympic experience, let me guess? You're ecstatic about the victory, but ya feel a wee bit cheated, don't you? Just a little frustrated? I do too. After all, we've seen Dwight do some amazing things on the court over the last four years. He has the ability to dominate like no other big man in the world.
In Coach Stan Van Gundy's scheme, Dwight is the prime option. He is the focal point of everything the Magic do both offensively and defensively. The Magic fan in me wanted to see Dwight bury his man. I wanted to see what Dwight could do facing the basket. I wanted to see more dunks, more spin moves, more power, more facials. I wanted more of D-11!
But, under Coach K's direction, Dwight was transformed from Superman to Utilityman.
I totally get it. I accept the fact that the U.S. Olympic team was built on a foundation of speed, great perimeter players and defense. On this team, Dwight's jobs were to rebound, run the floor and block shots.
Now, he'll never admit it, but the shackles placed on Dwight during the Olympic tournament had to be a source of some irritation. The only game in which Team USA actually threw him the ball consistently was the pool play finale when Dwight accounted for 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 106-57 squashing of Germany.
But, Dwight isn't the only one who sacrificed to win gold. Keep in mind that, of the top eight scorers in the Olympic tournament, none of them wore red, white and blue! Incredible, isn't it? You're talking about the best players in the world...guys like Kobe, LeBron and Wade (ninth in the tourney at 16 ppg). Heck, even an Iranian joker by the name of Hamed Ehadadi finished with a better average (16.6) than any of our guys.
In the end, Coach K and his staff knew that individual play was not going to win us the gold medal.
It was all about the team in Beijing...and no one was about the team more than our Dwight Howard.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 9:54AM
SUMMER REVIEW
So what do you think of the Orlando Magic's offseason so far?
It's amazing the amount of Magic fans I run into who tell me they are a bit disappointed with what GM Otis Smith has done this summer. Seems that these same fans were hoping to land Kobe, LeBron, Chris Paul and Carmelo to play alongside Dwight Howard this year.
Let me just say this to you folks...
What the Boston Celtics did last summer happens in this league slim-to-never. But when the Celtics wheeled and dealt for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it made fans of every NBA team believe that their club was capable of making blockbuster deals that will catapult them to the Championship. Truth of the matter is that the moon and the stars had to align just right for a deal like that to happen.
Kevin Garnett ran his course in Minnesota as the Wolves looked to re-make their roster. Danny Ainge just happened to be the best of buds with Minnesota's Kevin McHale. The Seattle Sonics just happened to be starting a rebuilding/cost-cutting project with the number two pick in the draft, Kevin Durant, making Ray Allen expendable.
Everything that could have gone right...did...for the lowly 24-win Boston Celtics. In 2007-2008, they reaped the rewards as the C's captured their 17th title.
Now that we've established the near impossibility of such a deal, let's get back to our Magic.
First off, we draft Courtney Lee. Otis got the guy he wanted with the 22nd pick. Lee showed over the summer that he's heady. The kid's got a nice offensive game, a good head on his shoulders and he'll get a chance to work himself into Coach Van Gundy's system.
Then, Otis signs free agent Mickael Pietrus. I must admit...I was hoping for Corey Maggette. Corey was telling friends and associates that he wanted to come home. But, from what I gather, in the end, we didn't have nearly enough dough for Maggette, who would ink that five year $50 million deal with Golden State.
Do I like Pietrus, our likely starter at the shooting guard spot? Frankly, I have no idea yet. Pietrus has played in virtual secrecy over the last five years at Golden State.
What I do like about him is that he's big...He's a defensive stopper, which we need desperately. He can guard as many as three positions. He's a character kid and I like the fact that Pietrus seems hungry to finally make his mark on this league.
Otis then signs Anthony Johnson. Now, I realize that this move may have eluded even the most ardent NBA fan. But, I must admit, I love this pick-up. Don't get me wrong. A-J's no J-Kidd or C-Paul. What A-J is is dependable. He's akin to a good NFL veteran backup quarterback. Anthony Johnson will in no way, shape or form get you beat. He will get your team into the right sets. He'll make wise decisions. He'll guard the position. A-J is dependable. That's more than I can say about Carlos Arroyo, who's now in Israel.
I will miss Keyon Dooling (New Jersey) and Maurice Evans (Atlanta). Keyon's absence from this lineup leaves a gaping hole in the energy-bunny-off-the-bench category.
What else do we need? I wouldn't mind adding another point guard to the mix. Going into the season with just Jameer and A-J at the point is a concern.
In the end, let's all keep in mind what Otis Smith had to work with this summer: a low first round draft pick, zero, zilch, nada in salary cap room and nary a marquee trade attraction (no way am I dangling Hedo Turkoglu in a trade now).
No, we didn't pull off a Celtic-like trade of the century. But, what ya have to realize is that the Magic, a team that captured the Atlantic Division crown in 2007-2008, got even better for 2008-2009.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, August 12, 2008, 10:50AM
DON'T TELL MY WIFE
While I was on holiday, the Orlando Magic's 2008-2009 schedule was released. How did I know? My wife found it on-line and immediately reported to me that our Magic are playing on Thanksgiving eve, Thanksgiving night, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
I took the next 20 minutes trying to talk her off the ledge of the hotel.
In all honesty, my lovely wife is a very good sport. After 20 years of this stuff, she knows the drill. She knows that if you're good, you're gonna play on national television in front of huge holiday audiences. Our Magic won 52 games last season. They captured the Southeast Division crown. They won their first playoff series in some 12 years. They sport one of the best young players in the league in Dwight Howard. We're a marquee attraction again!
Good for us Magic fans...Bad for the Anez family's holiday fans.
Unlike my wife, I have no major beefs with the schedule-maker this year.
I like the fact that this team doesn't have to go overseas in the pre-season as it did last year when we traveled to China. I like the fact that we have 11 national TV games. I love that we have 16 back-to-back scenarios, which is low-end in the NBA. I like that we play five of the first six at home. I like that we get our west coast trips out of the way by the middle of January. I like that we have 18 home games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Most of all..I like that fact that this team won't have to overcome what it had to face last year. Not only did the league send us to China, but we also had to survive a brutal early season that saw the Magic play 13 of the first 19 away from home.
What don't I like about this year's schedule? December! Nine of the 15 games in the month are away from home. It's not that I mind my team being on the road for the holidays. Quite frankly, there are many more distractions that time of year when you're sleeping in your own bed. But, look at the quality of some our road opponents in December: Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Utah and Detroit. At home, we have to face teams like Oklahoma City, the Spurs, Lakers and Hornets. December's gonna be a bear!
I still don't get why the league puts us in Houston on April 7 then has us hosting Memphis at home the next night. For years, the NBA has inexplicably believed that Texas is a hop, skip and a jump from OIA.
But, you know what? All in all, not bad. I have no major complaints about the Magic's upcoming schedule.
My wife? Well, that's a different story.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, August 11, 2008, 9:14AM
MY TOP 20
Back from vacation, I am anxious to talk Magic again. As I thought about today's topic, it dawned on me that we are on the verge of the 20th season of Orlando Magic basketball. Hard to believe that I have covered this franchise for two decades. It's even harder to believe that I haven't aged a bit (and if ya believe that....)
So here they are...
Anez's Top 20 Magical Moments:
1..The very first pre-season game vs. Detroit when we beat the defending champs! (I put this one #1 'cause as a kid who grew up here, it was such a thrill to see Orlando finally make the big leagues)
2..Nick Anderson stole the ball! ('95 playoffs)
3..Scott Skiles' 30 assists (December 30, 1990). It's a record that still holds today.
4..Game 7 win over Indy in '95.
5..Magic close out MJ and the Bulls in game six in Chicago in '95.
6..NBA Finals come to Orlando, 1995.
7..Dwight's mega-dunk on the Spurs last year!
8..Penny's block during game four of Celtic series (May 3, 1995).
9..Superman soars at All Star Weekend.
10..Drafting of Dwight.
11..Drafting of Shaq.
12..Shaq pulls the goal down in Phoenix and NJ in '92-'93.
13..Penny's dunk over Patrick Ewing (December 3, 1994)
14..TMac's 62 points vs. Washington in March of '04.
15..Hedo last second shot beats Boston this past season.
16..Penny's 42 and 43 points and games 3 and 4 of '97 playoffs vs. Miami.
17..Rashard's last second shot to beat Pistons this past season.
18..Darrell Armstrong steal with :03 to beat Sixers in March of 1999.
19..TMac self-oop in All Star Game in 2002.
20..New Arena!
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Saturday, July 5, 2008, 3:14PM
MAGIC ON POINT
Chris Duhon, what's it gonna be?
NOTE: Scott Anez will be on vacation beginning July 7th. Check back later this month for more Sez!
The Orlando Magic have reportedly made a 3 year $10 million offer for the free agent's services. So much for the whole Corey Maggette idea, huh?
Apparently, Duhon is mulling it over. Earlier this week, he received a 2 year $7 million offer from the NY Knicks. To me, there ain't a whole lot to think about. The difference between the two offers comes out to about $3 mil, playing alongside Dwight Howard and a chance to win a championship. In NY, Chris, you pay more in taxes, most of your teammates are boneheads and you'll have about as much chance of winning a title as I do a Pulitzer.
Duhon is a four year vet. He became expendable when the Bulls selected Derrick Rose with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft. Duhon is a role player who primarily plays the point.
GM Otis Smith's pursuit of Chris Duhon tells me three things: 1. The Magic want so shore up their point guard position. 2. The Magic would like to split their mid-level exception to sign another player, preferably a big, later in the summer. 3. Otis apparently feels more urgency about his point guard spot than his starting shooting guard position.
Chris Duhon would be an ideal backup to Jameer Nelson. Duhon is not gonna knock your sox off with Sportscenter dispsy doo dunkaroos. He's more substance than style. The thing that really jumps out at you about Duhon is that hes had a 4-1 assist-to-turnover ratio the last two years with the Bulls. The man doesn't give games away. We could have used some of that in the playoff series vs. Detroit, huh?
If Duhon decides that we're the apple of his eye, it's a move that would signal an end to Carlos Arroyo's tenure here. Talent has never been an issue with Carlos. Consistency and leadership has. Duhon would bring a steadying presence to that back up point guard spot, something that Carlos was just not able to do.
It's interesting, knowing how tenuous our shooting guard spot is right now, that Otis is choosing to make a back up point guard his free agent priority. There are other pressing issues on this team. We need another big. More importantly, that starting shooting guard spot is in some serious flux at the moment. Perhaps Otis feels confident about re-signing Maurice Evans? Maybe we're gonna piece together that spot with Bogans, JJ and free agent Keyon Dooling?
That brings us to another question. What about Keyon? To me, he's the one free agent on this team we can ill-afford to lose. Keyon brings so much passion to this team off the bench. If Duhon decides to come here, I don't believe that should impact Keyon's status here. Sure, Keyon plays some back up point guard, but Keyon is more of a combo guard, an energy guy who you can't really pigeon hole into one set position. Guys like Keyon are hard to find. We can't break the bank, but I believe that we have to do everything we can to re-up Keyon.
Chris Duhon, the ball is in your court. Please make your decision quickly. Otis has much to do this summer.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 9:40AM
IS MAGGETTE THE MAN?
Let the courting begin.
The NBA free agency period began at 12:01 am Tuesday.
What will the Orlando Magic do?
Let's all keep in mind that this is not last summer. In 2007, the Magic and General Manager Otis Smith had oodles under the salary cap to throw Rashard Lewis a $118 million bone.
This year, the well is all dried up. All we have this summer is our good looks, the lure of playing with Dwight Howard, sunshine, no state taxes, a shot at a championship and the mid-level exception (circa $5.6 million a year) to try to woo free agents to town.
That list of unrestricted free agents is less than overwhelming. Baron Davis has shockingly opted out of a Golden State deal that would have paid him $17.8 million next season. Baron, what in the name of DeShawn Stevenson are you and your agent thinking? Perhaps Davis and Arenas will switch uniforms? I don't know, but I am pretty sure that Baron Davis will go down as the only person in the history of the world to walk away from nearly $18 mil in guaranteed money.
Other names on that list include Elton Brand (expected to re-sign with LAC), Gilbert Arenas (expected to re-up with Washington), Corey Maggette and Michael Pietrus. Let's put the Bulls' Chris Duhon on this list as well for Magic purposes. Duhon may make a nice defensive-minded back up in Orlando.
The top five restricted free agents are as follows: Andre Igoudala, Josh Smith, Jose Calderon, Luol Deng and Monta Ellis. With the possible exception of Smith, I suspect the rest on that list will re-sign with their respective clubs.
Now, our options are extremely limited but I guarantee Otis is gonna do something (how's that for a prediction?).
Maggette is an interesting option.
Corey's 'people' are shouting out to most every Orlando media member who'll listen that he would love to be courted by the Magic. Frankly, I'd love to see it happen.
Tuesday, Corey opted out of a Clipper deal that would have paid him $7 million next year. Corey played his rookie season with the Magic back in 1999-2000. He would certainly fill a need at our starting shooting guard spot. Last season, he averaged over 22 points per game, a career high, and is still the freakish athlete we saw in his rookie season.
Corey's parents still live here in town and he would certainly fit the bill for a Magic team built upon a foundation of character guys. Corey's a good guy and a hard worker who's entering the prime years of his career (he turns 29 in November).
Will he take less $ to come home? Good question, considering he'll likely have three of four other teams throwing big dough at him.
Maggette's my man....But I don't count.
Never a dull moment at Two Magic Place.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Friday, June 27, 2008, 9:21AM
OTIS GETS HIS MAN
Courtney Lee is the guy we targeted. Courtney Lee is the guy we got.
Thursday night, the Magic selected Lee with the 22nd pick in the NBA Draft.
The 6-5 shooting guard from Indianapolis played four seasons at Western Kentucky where he averaged over 20 points per game in his senior season. Lee is known as one of the purest scorers in the nation. He led the Hilltoppers to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. One of his most memorable games was the Tournament win over San Diego in Tampa where he tossed in 29 points to send the vertically challenged 'toppers to the Regional Semifinals. Lee's Cinderella season would end with a loss to UCLA.
Considering the uncertainty of our shooting guard position, Lee is a kid who has the ability to come in and make an impact. With a few tweaks here and there, he'll have an NBA-ready body. He is a scorer who is not shy about pulling up from mid-range, a lost art in today's game. Having played the point guard spot during his sophomore season, Lee can handle rock a little as well, but don't plan on seeing him become our floor general any time soon.
On the down side, Lee will have to overcome the stigma of jumping into the NBA fire from a mid-major program.
We know the kid can score. Now, he's now gonna have to show that he can defend the two guard position at the next level and improve his consistency.
Courtney Lee is a high character kid. Why doesn't that surprise me?
Otis Smith has not been a GM for long, but the one common thread in Otis's short tenure is that he is high on character, low-maintenance guys, team-first players. No Boneheads allowed!
Courtney Lee is no bonehead. Finding any sort of baggage on this kid is not easy.
Now, Lee will be the first one to admit that the main reason he attended a small school after finishing second in the running for Indiana's Mr. Basketball is that he just didn't take his early years of high school as seriously as he should have. Many of the big boys backed off. He settled on WKU.
Early in his collegiate career, Lee would suffer the loss of his mentor, roommate, best friend and teammate Danny Rumph to a heart condition. Lee credits the late Rumph for convincing him to remain at WKU when severe bouts of homesickness would hit. To this day, Courtney Lee dedicates his basketball career to the late Rumph and the impact he had on his life.
What kind of impact will Lee have in Orlando in year one? That remains to be seen.
What we do know is this: Otis Smith got his man in Courtney Lee.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, June 26, 2008, 9:13AM
JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT
This year's NBA Draft grab your fancy yet?
Me neither. But, ya know what? This is the way it should be. Picking late in the first round of the NBA Draft translates into a great regular season. Give me boring draft nights for the next 20 years!
Let's get this straight: the player we pick at 22 tonight is gonna have warts. He won't be perfect. We won't be throwing a ticker tape parade down Orange Avenue for him tomorrow. It's highly unlikely that we'll be hanging this kid's number from the rafters in 15 years.
With that said, I think we're gonna get a solid player. This draft, while lacking star power after the top two or three picks, is deep enough to where the Orlando Magic can walk away with a guy who can help us now and into the future.
Magic GM Otis Smith held a pre-draft news conference Tuesday. Otis talked for 13 minutes, but didn't say a whole lot. How can you blame the guy? NBA execs cannot, and should not, tip their hands at this very crucial time of year.
So, we're left with an educated guessing game.
I could throw a whole host of names at ya...but I've narrowed my list to three:
Chris Douglas Roberts. I stated a few weeks ago that my pick would be CDR. But rumor mill has it that his stock is falling rapidly. Apparently, NBA types are concerned about his ability to score at the next level. From what I hear, CDR's workouts in Orlando and other whistle stops were less than stellar. We'll see. I still think he would fit this team. He's versatile and big for a two guard. The kid shot 54% from the field last season. He averaged 18 points per game and stroked it at a 41% clip from beyond the arc.
Courtney Lee. I like the fact that he's stayed in college for four years. Excellent shooter. He averaged 20 points and shot 48% FG last season at Western Kentucky. Lee has the ability create his own shot at the next level. He has a high basketball IQ and I am told he's a good character guy. The red flags? Lee has a tendency to become invisible on the court at times and disappeared in the NCAA Tournament. Defensively, he needs work.
Marreese Speights. Will he be around when the Magic pick 22? It's unlikely, but if Otis is gonna stick with his strategery of picking the best available player on the board, the kid from St. Pete is the one! We need a big. Marreese is plenty big and still growing. In just 24 minutes per game for Coach Billy this past season, Speights averaged 14.5 points and 8 rebounds. If those numbers were to be projected out to 40 minute per #'s, they'd look like this: 28 points and 18 rebounds. The question marks surrounding young Speights center around his work ethic and a raw outside shot.
If Marreese Speights is still on the board, don't ya have to take the Florida Gator?
There ya go. That's my finalist list for the Magic's #22 pick. It's not the most exciting list in the world. But, ya know what? That's just the way I like it.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, June 23, 2008, 2:54PM
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YA READ
Who's it gonna be?
Courtney Lee? Chris Douglas Roberts? Roy Hibbert? Bill Walker? Robin Lopez?
Who will be the Magic's pick at #22 in the first round?
You NBA Draft geeks are in your glory this time of year.
I have been covering the draft for a long time now. Some of you consider the draft a passion of yours. I enjoy the draft...but I'd much rather watch the fourth quarter of a tight NBA game. I actually covered the draft before the internet age when reporters actually had to work their contacts and the phones instead of browsing the web to get their 'inside' information.
There are scores of NBA Draft related websites. They each have their own mock drafts, team needs and player profiles. Heck, some even proclaim to have the 2020 NBA Draft already broken down!
Now, these websites are invaluable. I love 'em. I couldn't do my draft prep without them. But can we please get real with some perspective here?
Did you ever notice that each potential draftee is the next coming of (insert name here)? Derrick Rose is Dwayne Wade. Michael Beasley is Carmelo Anthony. OJ Mayo is Ben Gordon. Kevin Love is, gulp, Wes Unseld? Wes Unseld? Kevin Love couldn't carry the ole Baltimore Bullet's jock strap. Derrick Rose is a very good player, but comparing him to D-Wade? PUUHLEAASE. Let's allow these guys to become who they are, not who we want them to be.
Ya ever notice how, according to the web, every player has tremendous upside and is seemingly a Hall of Famer in the making? "Incredibly explosive"..."Great Shooter"..."Athletic"..."Excellent floor vision"..."Gifted offensive player". Not once have I seen, "This guy's a bust waiting to happen" or, "Stay away from picking this cancer!". 1-60, these potential draftees all have the potential to become the next coming of Bird, Magic and Michael combined. You want to know that truth? The truth of the matter is that a majority of these 60 players won't even be in the NBA in three years.
With that said, these sites can be valuable tools to find out what's going on in other cities. So, because of their popularity, they're also used in counter-intelligence. Say, for instance, that Magic GM Otis Smith is interested in taking Courtney Lee from Western Kentucky with the #22 pick. Do you think that, in this day of the instant information age, Otis would allow that 411 to get out on the web so that other teams can peruse in real time? What I am saying here is that there is a whole bunch NBA execs whose noses are growing this time of year. Why in the world would any NBA GM show his hand?
I have my favorite NBA Draft websites. The depth of some of these sites is absolutely phenomenal.
But, this time of year, don't believe everything ya read.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 9:51AM
SEZ'S MAGIC MIX
...Word is that Adonal Foyle will opt out of the final year of his contract and not be back with our Magic next season. Adonal's a wonderful human being and I wish him well...but Adonal was his own worst enemy in the second half of this past season when he allowed himself to get outta shape. He just couldn't keep up. Marcin Gortat, who has promise, took over Adonal's minutes in back of Dwight Howard in the playoffs and made his presence known. Can't say as much for Adonal in the second half of the season.
...With the #22 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Sez takes....Chris Douglas Roberts from Memphis!
...Since the Magic have been in the league, check out some of the names pick 22 has yielded: Victor Khryapa (2004), Corey Jacobsen (2002), Jeryl Sasser (Orlando-2001), Donnell Harvey (2000), Ed Gray (1997), Roy Rogers (1996) and George Zidek (1995).
...There have been a few mild success stories at #22 over the years. Last year, the Nets took the promising Jared Dudley at 22. Jarrett Jack went 22 to the Blazers in 2005. Zoran Planinic went to NJ at 22 in 2003. Kenny Thomas went 22 to the Rockets in 1999 and Chris Mills was the 22nd pick in the 1993 draft. So history tells us that, barring a trade up, don't expect our draftee to come in and turn City Beautiful on its ear.
...We have had our issues over the years picking mid-to-late first round, as has every NBA team. 2003 Reece Gaines (15). 2001 Sassafrass. 1997 Johnny Taylor (17). 1996 Brian Evans (27). 1995 David Vaughn (25). 1994 Brooks Thompson (27). 1993 Geert Hammink (26).
...Trader Otis is gonna be active this summer, but even if he flops in the draft, free agency and potential trades, this Magic team is gonna get better. Dwight will have another year under his belt. Rashard will feel more comfortable in year two in Orlando. Jameer will have gained more confidence playing the point. Tony Battie will be back. The coaching staff will be more settled and this team will have more experience of playing together.
...For you emailers telling me that the Magic should trade Hedo Turkoglu before he opts out of his contract next season: POPPYCOCK! Sure, Hedo had a tough series vs. Detroit, but this guy is the most versatile player in the game today. He is such a huge part of what we do offensively. He's improved drastically on the defensive end. Believe me, the grass ain't greener on the other side of that fence.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 8:51AM
WELL DESERVED
Monday, Orlando Magic President and CEO Bob Vanderweide gave General Manager Otis Smith and Assistant GM Dave Twardzik contract extensions. The deals are well deserved!
Heck, I am of the belief that Bobby V. should have granted Otis a lifetime deal back in February of 2006 when Otis, somehow, dumped the mercurial Steve Francis and his gross contract on Isiah Thomas's doorstep. That deal, to me, should have earned Otis the Executive of the Year Award for the lifetime of Francis's contract.
Actually, Otis is being rewarded for a full body of work. He's built a nucleus of young, talented and winning basketball players here in Orlando. He's also being rewarded for playing a major part in altering the culture of this franchise. You sit down and talk with Otis and I guarantee you not a sentence goes by without him uttering the word "championship". This franchise is pointed upward thanks in large part to O!
Would Otis and Dave like a do-over in the drafting of Fran Vazquez in 2005? Sure. Was JJ Redick the pick in 2006? That's up for debate. The point is that I do not know of any perfect NBA execs...
Red Auerbach, the patriarch of the Boston Celtics, built that franchise on the strength of great drafts and shrewd trades. However, even Red had his share of blemishes. The ole Celtic fan in me still has a hard time forgiving the late and great Red Head for trading Danny Ainge to Sacramento for Ed Pinckney and Joe Kleine in 1989.
Speaking of Ainge, the current GM in Boston, Celtic fans were ready to run him outta Beantown on 'The T' after his C's recorded a scant 24 wins in 2006-2007. Yet, Ainge gets a little help from his friend Kevin McHale in trading for KG and all of a sudden the guy's a genius and the NBA's Executive of the Year.
Look at Mitch Kupchak in Los Angeles. Last May, after winning 42 regular season games and being eliminated from round one by Phoenix, Kobe Bryant demanded that his old buddy Jerry West take over for the embattled Kupchak. Kobe had one foot in Chicago in October. Yet, a few months later, Kupchak robs Memphis blind in getting Pau Gasol. Now, Kobe and Laker fans are smitten with ole Mitch as his Lakers go into the Finals series with Ainge's Celtics.
Go on down the line...Detroit's Joe Dumars, considered one of the best bosses in the NBA, is not without blemish. Joe would love a mulligan after drafting Darko Milicic in 2003 ahead of guys like Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.
The point is that in this fickle business of NBA basketball everybody makes mistakes. The key to NBA front office longevity, though, is to make sure that the list of credits far outweighs the list of debits.
Otis Smith has done just that.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, June 2, 2008, 9:14AM
THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD
The league could not have scripted a better NBA Finals.
The Lakers and Celtics will play game one in Boston Thursday.
This series will be the most watched since the Jordan years of the '90's because this is a match up that will attract those casual fans that make a marked difference in the television ratings game.
Why will this series be Must See TV?
...The two best teams in the world are playing for a championship. Boston wracked up 66 regular season wins by smothering teams defensively. The C's held opponents to a league low 41.9% shooting. The Lakers, averaging over 108 points per game, are of the best offensive teams goin'. They're led by an unstoppable force, MVP Kobe Bryant.
...It's all about the stars, stupid! You have Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce on the Boston side. You have Kobe on the Lakers' side. You have the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, on the Laker sideline. You have a lot of big names and big personalities in this series.
...You have that whole east coast-west coast thing goin' on. You cannot get more polar opposite than these two cities. Boston's blue-collar and hard core. L-A's white collar and late arriving. In Beantown. they're already chanting, "Beat L-A, Beat L-A"!
...You have two of the biggest markets in the league.
...You have the two marquee NBA franchises opposing one another: the Celtics, with their league leading 16 Championships, though this will be Boston's first Finals appearance in 21 years...The Lakers won their 14th title back in 2002.
...LET'S GO RETRO! How many highlights have we already seen of those classic '80's battles between the Celtics and the Lakers. In 1984, '85 and '87, Magic and Bird squared off in a rivalry that elevated the NBA to unparalleled popularity. Magic won two...Bird, one. Back in the '60's, these clubs met a total of six times in the Finals with Bill Russell's Celtics coming out on top each time. In all, this will be the tenth Finals meeting between these two ole foes.
How do these 2007-2008 Celtic and Laker teams compare to greats of the past? PLEASE, let's not even go there! Those great '80's Boston and L-A squads were some of the best the world has ever seen.
However, that doesn't take anything away from what should be a great series...a series that will undoubtedly lift the NBA to higher heights.
The Celtics. The Lakers. This is gonna be good.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Friday, May 23, 2008, 9:30AM
A CHAT WITH OTIS
(Scott Anez)...Otis, you've had more than a week to digest the second round of the playoffs and the season that was. What are your thoughts about the big picture of the 2007-2008 season?
(Otis Smith)...I think we made strides as a club. I think we have a little ways to go to understand how hard and how disciplined you have to be in the playoffs in order to win games, but I think we definitely made strides. Our guys, as late as last Friday, were still really hurting from the loss to Detroit, so that's encouraging in a way to know that they, to a man, think that we should be still playing right now.
(S)...This team's accomplishments this year are many: 52 wins, a divisional title, a playoff series win over Toronto. But, in this league, you're only as good as your last game. So what, if anything, did the series vs. Detroit reveal to you about your team?
(O)...Number one is that Detroit's been there before. The Pistons are a veteran team. We didn't take care of the ball and we didn't make shots. All the things we did during the course of the season, we didn't do particularly well during the playoffs. We all know the game slows down a bit during the playoffs, so we have to figure out ways to score points. Our better players, Dwight, Turk, Rashard and Jameer, have to figure out ways to improve as well. We just have to continue to improve and add a few pieces for us to get better to give us a chance to win a championship.
(S)...Dwight Howard was amazing this year. What have you told Dwight about what he has to do to get this team to the next level?
(O)...It's more of what Stan has told him, and I echo Stan's thoughts. He needs to do two things. The first is free throw shooting. He has to be able to shoot free throws at a better rate than he did this year. The second part is that he has to develop something to get away from double teams, whether it's a turn around jump shot or a hook or something on the box that's gonna give him a chance to be effective throughout the course of a game when double teams are coming. Our assistant coach, Patrick Ewing was a master at that for years. But Dwight's free throw shooting is the biggest thing.
(S)...Rashard had a forgetful game five in Detroit, but on the whole he had a fantastic year. Did you get what you expected from Rashard this season?
(O)...I think so. We asked him to do what he's done his entire career, and I think he did just that. We asked him to play the power forward position when Tony went down and, to his credit, he did that on both ends of the floor playing against some of the better players in this league at that position. Rashard has to continue to get better and attack the basket, don't become just a perimeter shooter. And we have to do a better job of getting him more opportunities on the block. Those are some of the things that he's taken advantage of throughout his career and I think as time goes on we'll take advantage of his strengths.
(S)...What about Jameer: I thought he kicked it up a notch in the playoffs. What are your thoughts about Jameer and how he played this season?
(O)....Well, Jameer's gonna continue to grow. My concerns with Jameer are twofold. First, he has to take care of his body. Small guys have a tendency to get hurt because of where they are on the floor. They have to work harder to compete, so he has to take care of his body. Secondly, in the area of leadership, I always harp on our better players to be leaders. He has to continue to improve there. If he continues to shoot the ball well and make the decisions that he's capable of making on the floor, he'll continue to grow and flourish as a player.
(S)...The NBA Draft Camp comes to Orlando next week. What's the plan?
(O)....You evaluate and continue to evaluate the prospects and see what unfolds. We're picking 22nd. I do think that it's gonna be a deep enough draft to where we can get a player that we really like because of all the underclassmen that have declared so that makes the draft more attractive.
(S)...What are you looking to get in the draft?
(O)...I am not really one of those guys who goes into a draft saying that I need to have that position covered and this position covered. As many free agents we have in our back court, I probably am more apt to say that we need the best player on the board, regardless of position. I think that player will be there. Whether it's 1-5, I think you have to take the best player on the board.
(S)...Knowing you don't have salary cap room this off season, is it safe to say that you will not be a major player in free agency this summer?
(O)...I don't think it's THAT safe to say. I think there are three big time players in free agency: Philly, Memphis and Seattle. The rest of us are right around the mid-level. So I think everyone will be players. The difference this year is that there are more players that have the potential to become available through unrestricted free agency and opt outs than there is money to spend. So that makes available players a bit more attractive. You just have to do your best sales job, identify your player or players and kinda stay on that path.
(S)...There's been some talk about Hedo Turkoglu. He had such a great season. But knowing the economics of the game, the fact that he and Rashard play the same position, and the fact that Hedo can opt out of his deal next summer, does the possibility exist that Hedo is not here next season??
(O)...You always look at how to improve your team. But Turk is such a big part of what we do and he allows us to be what I call 'flexible' as a team. We're able to play him at the three or the four. Perhaps you can envision playing Turk some at the two, Rashard at the three, when Tony comes back at the four-spot. So, the flexibility of our roster has been one of the things that's been intriguing about our team. But you're still trying to make your team better and that's how you have to look at the off season.
(S)...You will have a share of your own free agents to deal with: Keyon Dooling, Maurice Evans and Carlos Arroyo to name a few. What's the plan with your own guys?
(O)...They all had good years. Maurice probably had his best year as a pro. Keyon had a good year for us. Carlos was big for us especially when Jameer was down. We're gonna look at it and talk about it and talk about the economics of it all. We're gonna figure out how it all fits. We like all those guys and we have to figure out how to get our team better.
(S)...I know this is a sore subject, but is there any chance whatsoever that Fran Vazquez, your first round pick from 2005, come over and play next season in Orlando?
(O)...If I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say less than two percentage points. A lot of it depends on him at this point. I think we've done a good job as an organization of letting him know how important he is to us. But he has two years left on a contract that has a buy out that's roughly around $10 million. There would have to be concessions on his part to say ya know what, I'm gonna come over and take a little less and I'll pay out my buyout and come over and play. That's the concession he has to make as a pro. He likes the idea of being in a Magic uniform, but financially, I think it might be tough for him.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, May 15, 2008, 10:40 AM
LET IT GO SCOTT...LET IT GO
Less than 48 hours after Tayshaun swatted us from the NBA Playoffs, I have had time to try to put things into perspective.
Four seasons after finishing with the worst record in the Association, our Orlando Magic won 52 regular season games. They captured the Southeast Division title. They notched their first playoff series triumph in some 12 years. Dwight Howard soared to worldwide prominence in New Orleans. Superman also made the First Team All NBA and Second Team All NBA Defensive Team. Hedo Turkoglu was honored as the NBA's Most Improved Player.
I could go on and on about how this 2007-2008 Magic team put Orlando on the NBA map once again. But, being the eternal masochist that I tend to be, I can't help but think...What if?
What if NBA rules are different and what if Chauncey Bills' shot at the end of the third quarter of game two is (correctly) ruled no good?
What if Hedo drives, pulls up and takes a patented 10 footer instead of heaving a three point prayer with :42 left in game two?
With the Magic leading by 15 points in the third quarter of game four, what if we put the pedal to the medal and bury the Pistons?
What if referee Mike Callaghan (correctly) called a block on Jason Maxiell on the final play of game four?
What if we came out with any sort of energy at all in game five? What if we cut down on the 21 turnovers? What if we had hit more free throws? What if we decided to box out or guard Antonio McDyess? What if we had more poise early in the fourth?
UGGHHH!
The thing that really tears me up about this Eastern Conference Semifinal series is that the Orlando Magic beat themselves. I am not saying that the best team didn't win. The veteran Pistons are the better team. Detroit made clutch plays...They hit their free throws and they smothered us defensively.
But...I can't help myself. What if...What if?
Let it go, Scott...Let it go.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 9:44 AM
It's Over
It's over. The 2007-2008 NBA season in Orlando is dead and buried.
Pains me to say it...but the better team won!
FIRST QUARTER:
With nothing to lose, I expected the Magic to come out firing to begin the game. However, we were inexplicably tentative aloof! The Magic had seven turnovers in the first 8:45 of the quarter. Rashard Lewis had four of our eight total turnovers in the quarter. In an ominous sign of things to come, the Pistons hauled in five offensive rebounds and had nine more field goal attempts than Orlando. As poorly as the Magic played, the score read 20-20 after one.
SECOND QUARTER:
The Magic continue to play give away and miss free throws. Yet, we take a 33-27 lead after Rashard's first field goal of the game at the 5:35 mark of the quarter. Then, as the Pistons did all series, they went on a huge run (11-0) and took a 47-41 lead at halftime. We got a big time reprieve. Seems like we should be down by 20 considering the free throw shooting (7-16), the turnovers (12) and Detroit's 10 offensive rebounds.
THIRD QUARTER:
The Magic finally show some life. They started to play their game. They upped the tempo, cut down on the turnovers (three in the quarter), gave up just one offensive rebound and went on a 14-4 run to end the quarter to take a 68-65 leading going into the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER:
It's 70-65 after a couple of Rashard free throws. Then, the Pistons go on a 13-0 run keyed by Antonio McDyess, who had 8 points and a couple of huge offensive rebounds during that game deciding jaunt. We start oh for our first eight from the field and don't hit our first field goal until the 3:38 mark. Magic cut it to 85-84 with :40 to play, but again, the Pistons make the plays late, i.e...a huge Prince block on Hedo to end all Magic hope. 91-86. Game over. Season over.
SUMMARY:
The Pistons made plays in crunch time....They took care of the ball....They hit their free throws....They defended.
The Magic just did not execute in late game situations. We didn't take care of the ball. We were frustrated by Detroit's physical play. We didn't take advantage of Chauncey Billups' absence and could not control Rip Hamilton all series.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, May 12, 2008, 9:21 AM
A GUT-WRENCHING LOSS
Now I know what a Thomas Hearns haymaker to the gut feels like.
Pistons 90 Magic 89.
We couldn’t have picked a worse time to play one of our worst quarters of the year.
After a Mo Evans three pointer at the 9:06 mark of the third, Orlando led 63-48. Detroit was demoralized. Their shoulders were slouched. Rasheed was being Rasheed, sauntering over to the scorer’s table instead of listening to his head coach during timeouts. The Pistons were on the verge of packing it in without their star, Chauncey Billups, and heading home content with home court advantage at 2-2.
Then, we inexplicably fell asleep.
When you have a great team on the verge of throwing in the towel, you have to go right for the jugular. We just couldn’t close. Unfortunately, it’s a common theme in this series so far.
The Pistons, awakened by the Magic’s inability to make shots and by Orlando’s curious submission to suddenly play a half court slugfest, came to life. They went on a 15-0 run to tie the game at 70 going into the fourth.
The giant lead had evaporated. We let the Pistons off the hook. The momentum was all Detroit’s.
Give credit to the Magic in the fourth. They fought back from seven down thanks to Hedo Turkoglu, who tallied 13 of his 20 points in the fourth. But, we just couldn’t control Rip Hamilton (32) and Tayshawn Prince, who hit the winning bucket with 8.9 seconds to play.
Turk was amazing in the fourth. But once again, he comes up empty in a late game situation. He beat Boston and Chicago on buzzer beaters in the regular season but in this series he’s come up goose eggs. Did he get hit on the final play? Sure…But you’re not gonna get that call, especially against Detroit. I would have liked to have seen Hedo pull up from 10 feet. Better yet, I would have liked to have seen Jameer Nelson with the ball in his hands with a chance to win it.
What if…What if….We can replay this one over and over again.
We had the Pistons on the verge of calling it a night. We let ‘em off the hook. Detroit made plays with the game on the line. We did not.
Gotta go now…I’m headed to the bathroom for another Tums.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, May 8, 2008, 9:26 AM
YA GOTTA HAVE HEART
The Orlando Magic have showed some incredible resolve all season long. That's why Wednesday night's game three doesn't surprise me one bit.
Detroit, you are seeing a much different Magic basketball team this go-round.
The Magic pounded the Pistons in game three 111-86. Can we bottle the first and fourth quarters of this game? The Magic outscored Detroit 30-16 in the first and 38-17 in the final.
In that fourth, I must admit, my collar was getting tight. The Pistons had cut what was once an 18 point deficit down to just four going into the final period. Then, that resolve I mentioned kicked in!
Rashard Lewis began the fourth with a huge three to make it 76-69. It's a shot that kickstarted a whopping 11-0 surge that ended all Piston hope for a commanding 3-0 lead in this series. Now, this IS a series thanks to Rashard and his three friends.
One game after 6-21 from the field with six turnovers and four missed shots in the final three minutes, Rashard made amends in a monumental way. He scored a career played high 33 points on 11-15 from the field and 5-6 from beyond the arc. Rashard set the tone all night long with his aggressive drives and dead-eye shooting.
Dwight Howard adds a ho-hum 20 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots. Superman must have altered 15 of those Piston shots. We can ill afford to have him off the floor. Dwight played over 44 minutes for the second straight game.
Jameer Nelson continues to rise to the occasion in the playoffs as Jameer totaled 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Jameer's getting to the hole when he wants and he's defending his position better than ever.
Hedo Turkoglu got untracked in this series with eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, as Turk hit a couple of huge three-point daggers in the fourth.
A huge key to this series will be the status of Piston leader Chauncey Billups, who suffered a strained right hamstring in the first quarter. Piston coach Flip Saunders says that he expects Billups to play in Saturday's game four. But, it makes you wonder, even if Billups goes Saturday, will he be close to 100%?
Billups or no Billups, people continue to doubt the Orlando Magic....and the Orlando Magic continue to prove them wrong.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Friday, May 2, 2008, 10:41 AM
TALE OF THE SECOND ROUND TAPE
Magic fans, you wanted 'em...you got 'em!
For the third time in the last six years, the Magic will take on the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Playoffs.
Detroit has owned us over the last number of years. They've beaten us in 14 of the last 17 games. But don't get cocky, Piston fans. This Orlando Magic team is a much different club you'll face this go-round.
POINT GUARD: Jameer Nelson vs. Chauncey Billups
In the Philly series, Mr. Big Shot became the third leading scorer in Piston playoff history. He is the Pistons' all time playoff leader in three's made. Billups scares the heck outta me. He may have lost a quarter step over the last few years, but he still gets anywhere he wants on the floor and scores at will. Will this year be different? The critics (yours truly included) gave the advantage to Ford and Calderon in the last series. Ford and Calderon are now on summer vacation. Jameer is playing the best basketball of his career on both ends of the floor. Jameer was inspired by the first round diss. Here's more fuel for the fire!
EDGE: DETROIT
SHOOTING GUARD: Maurice Evans vs. Rip Hamilton
If Billups is fire, Rip is ice. Rip's the second leading scorer in Piston playoff history. He had 32 against us earlier this season. We couldn't guard him in last year's first round. But we have Rip's former teammate, Mo Evans, to chase him this year. At the very least, Mo's gonna make Rip work much harder than he did in last year's sweep.
EDGE: DETROIT
SMALL FORWARD: Hedo Turkoglu vs. Tayshawn Prince
Prince is a winner. Heck, the guy's been in the Eastern Conference Finals the first five years of his pro career. He's heady and he serves as the perfect compliment to the All Star backcourt. But Tayshawn has his hands full with Hedo. Turk needed the the R and R this week to get that calf strain right. Prince is one of the best defenders at his position, but, for some reason, Hedo gives Prince fits.
EDGE: MAGIC
POWER FORWARD: Rashard Lewis vs. Antonio McDyess
McDyess is a grizzled vet who fits in nicely with this squad. He's big, physical and will see time guarding and hacking Dwight. As usual, Rashard poses a big time matchup problem for Detroit. Mr. Max $ was worth his weight in gold in the Toronto series. Saturday night, Rashard shoots for his third consecutive double-double.
EDGE: MAGIC
CENTER: Dwight Howard vs. Rasheed Wallace
Wallace is a difficult matchup because of his versatility. Look for Rashard to guard him defensively. 'Sheed will be one of many bodying up to Dwight. He'll try to frustrate Dwight. He'll foul him hard and try to strip him of the ball. Superman became the first player since Wilt in 1972 to record three 20-20 games in the playoffs. He's playing the most determined basketball of his young career. Dwight will be tested physically and mentally.
EDGE: MAGIC
COACHES: Stan Van Gundy has had the midas touch all year. I don't see it stopping now. Flip Saunders gets a lot of flack, but the guy accumulated 59 wins this year, the second most wins in the NBA.
EDGE: MAGIC
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE X-FACTOR: This Piston team has been to five straight conference title series and has won the Central Division in six of the last seven years. This team has played 100 playoff games the last five years. The Magic, during that span, have played 16 playoff games.
EDGE: DETROIT
PREDICTION: Since stumbling early vs. Philly, these Pistons are finally in a playoff rhythm. They have the experience factor going for them. Plus, they have home court. The Pistons were 34-7 at the Palace this season. But this homer loves the look of his team right now. Upset: MAGIC IN SIX!
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, May 1, 2008, 9:58 AM
MOTOWN BOUND?
We threw out a poll question on the air earlier this week...What team would you like to see in round two of the NBA Playoffs? Detroit or Philly?
Every single one of you claimed to want the Pistons!
I understand the sentiment. Magic fans are sick and tired of being a Piston punching bag.
Before this season, Orlando had made the playoffs in two of the last five years. Detroit ushered us out of both those appearances. In 2003, our Magic became a statistic after blowing a 3-1 series lead to Detroit. Last season, they swept us in four straight. As a matter of fact, going into this year, our Magic had dropped eight straight and 12 of the last 13 meetings to our Motown nemesis.
So, be careful what ya wish for, Magic fans. Sure, Detroit has shown a lack of zest vs. a young, athletic Philly team in round one. But, there's a reason why that Piston team finished with the second best record in the NBA. They're really good.
But, they are beatable!
The Magic went 2-2 vs. Detroit this year. As a matter of fact, two of the season's benchmark wins came vs. this team. On January 21 in Orlando, Rashard Lewis drained a jumper as time expired lifting us to a 102-100 victory. Back on February 19, we stormed out of the All Star break and battered the Bad Boys on their home court, 103-85.
That win was huge psychologically for this team because we proved to ourselves that we can not only beat the unbeatable foe....but we can destroy them in their backyard.
The keys to a Magic-Piston series? Here are just a few...
History tells us that we must somehow get our mitts around Detroit's All Star backcourt. In a 101-93 loss to these Pistons back on January 25, Rip Hamilton scored 32 points and Chauncey Billups had 21. Going back to last postseason's sweep, Billups and Rip had their way with us. But I love the way Jameer Nelson is playing on both ends of the court right now and remember, Grant Hill had trouble running around those screens set for Rip last year. Now, we've got Rip's former teammate, the hard-nosed Mo Evans, who will be shadowing Rip all series.
Sounds simple, but, we also have to hit our free throws. In light of what Greg Poppovich did to Shaq in the first round, you have to think that the Pistons are gonna test Dwight. Last year in game one, Dwight went 3-11 from the line. Our team missed 18 total free throws in losing that game 100-92. The Pistons will test us at the line.
Prediction? I'll save that for later when we know the outcome of the Detroit-Philly series.
In the meantime, just between you and me, I'll be packing my bags for the Motor City.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 9:51 AM
IT’S OVER….IT’S OVER
...It’s enough for us ole timers to get a wee bit misty eyed. Magic win game five 102-92. We’re into the second round for the first time in 12 years. There have been some nights over the last 12 years that I have wondered aloud, “Why do I seem to care more than the players do?” I wonder no more…..
…”There was a different demeanor from him”. That’s a quote from Coach Stan Van Gundy on Dwight Howard. That ‘demeanor’ translated into 21 points and 21 rebounds in game five. Make that three 20-20 performances in five first round games. You can drop the ‘child’ from the ‘Man-Child’ moniker. Superman arrived!
…Can’t help but think back to 2004 when yours truly, in the final days of the regular season, started the chant, “Three games to Okafor….Two games to Okafor…One game to Okafor.” If I were GM back then, I’d still be trying to get the tar and feathers off my backside today.
…Speaking of ’04, how about the play of Jameer Nelson in these playoffs? Jameer outplayed TJ Ford and Jose Calderon in the Toronto series. Don’t let Jameer fool ya. He heard the hype about Toronto having the point guard edge on us. He scored 12 points in a huge fourth quarter of the game four win. Then, in game five, he nails a monumental three to put us up 102-92 with 2:57 left. Jameer Nelson is coming of age.
…I have to admit that I was a bit shocked after Monday’s game five. I actually saw Coach Van Gundy smile! What a job this guy has done. From day one, he’s called for this team to be tougher and more accountable. Coach Stan’s team has played in the mirror image of its coach all year. I don’t know if there’s a higher compliment you can give a coach than that.
…The House was rockin’ like it was 1996 Monday night. Not an empty seat to be found. It was loud all game, but with 2:00 to play, I could sense the 12 years of frustration just boil over. Celebrate, Orlando! We have a present and a future.
…Keith Bogans doesn’t get a whole lotta pub. As a matter of fact, Coach Stan admitted after the game that he was ready to yank Bogans in the fourth quarter. Thank goodness he left him in there. Bogans nailed a couple of huge three point daggers in the fourth. The biggest the shot at the 5:00 mark to push a two point lead to 5, 87-82. Then, Bogans would put the cherry on top with another bomb with just over 2:00 to play to make it 95-84. You’d never know that Keith Bogans was playing in his first playoff series, would you?
…My two favorite chants from Magic fans on Inside Magic Monday night: “Canadian Bacon”.....and “Flop-ters….Flop-ters”
…How about the play of Rashard Lewis in this series? In game one, he shuts down Chris Bosh. In the final two games of the series he gets ya a couple of double-doubles. I guess Otis Smith knew what he was doing last summer after all, huh?
…If our second round opponent is nemesis Detroit, which I suspect it will be, beware Pistons! While I am in no way predicting a Magic victory, I will say this: This is not the team you swatted off your shoulder last year.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, April 28, 2008, 9:22 AM
MAGIC WIN GAME FOUR
...Just got off the air, so forgive me in advance for any typos…My heart’s still pumpin’ a mile a minute!
…A huge victory…106-94…We needed incredible performances to win up there, and we got them. Let’s run ‘em down:
…Jameer Nelson: The Closer has now out played Toronto’s point guards in three of these four games. Jameer scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth. He hit on ten straight points in the fourth after the Magic got down by three with 6:40 to play. He was on his back during one of the time outs due to the back spasm issue, and yet the little guy comes up huge. Jameer’s a gamer!
...Rashard Lewis: Mr. Max $ earned all of it in what I believe is his best performance of the season. Keep in mind that Rashard was 6-26 from the arc in the first three games but Rashard nailed a couple of three’s in that fateful fourth quarter. He would finish with 27 points, 13 rebounds (7 offensive), five assists and two steals. Rashard may be quiet, but his game was heard all over Canada Saturday.
…Hedo Turkoglu: How about Turk’s play in the fourth quarter? He hit a couple of big three’s in the fourth and finished with 10 of his 18 in the final period. All this after it looked like that Turk wanted to gift wrap the game to the Raptors. Early in the third, Turk would storm out of the locker room and give the ball away to Toronto five times in the first four minutes! But give credit to Coach Van Gundy. He left Turk in the game and Turk, as he always does, produced.
…Dwight Howard: He talked after game three how the Raptors wanted that game a lot more than his team. Saturday afternoon, there was no denying who wanted this game more. Dwight sets a team playoff record with eight blocked shots. He added 19 points and 16 rebounds. Toronto, don’t you dare tug on Superman’s cape again!
…It was about time! Since the first quarter of game one, the Magic had struggled mightily from beyond the arc. They were 6-22 through three quarters of game four. The conventional thought was that the three point slump couldn’t last forever. Well, it didn’t. The Magic would nail five daggers in that fateful fourth quarter (Jameer 2, Rashard 2, Hedo 1).
…Key to this win was the defense. We started running at their three point shooters. Jason Kapono scored just three points in the second half (12 total), and Jose Calderon finished with just two points on 1-7FG. Bosh got his playoff career high 39, but I believe that if you can control Kapono and Calderon, you win this series Monday.
…Orlando showed why it was the only NBA team to have a better road record than at home this season. We outscore them 33-21 in the fourth quarter to take a commanding three games to one lead in the series.
…Orlando, let’s sell out game five Monday night at 7:30 at Amway. Call 1-800-4NBA TIX. You can also pick up your tickets via blueandwhiteignite.com and via the Amway Arena Box Office. Time to close it out Monday night!
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Friday, April 25, 2008, 12:07 PM
DEEP THOUGHTS FROM GAME THREE
…Well, so much for the back court advantage, Magic fans. Our point guards got the better of the Raptors in O-town. Thursday night, a different story north of the border: Ford and Calderon combined for 39 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds…Jameer, Keyon and Carlos? 16 points, eight assists, four rebounds. Ford set the table, but Calderon buried us with four timely three’s.
…We hope Jameer is gonna be OK. He got kicked in the back on a pick and roll in the second half. After the game, Jameer collapsed on his way to the locker room with a severe case of back spasms. The little guy is tough. Get well soon, Jameer.
…First priority at practice Friday: If you’re getting a screen at the top of the key from Dwight Howard, WAIT for the pick!
…Does Jason Kapono look at the basket before he shoots? We continue to give him slivers of daylight….He continues to drain bombs. He and Calderon are lights out right now.
…Chris Bosh scored his first point of the game with just under four minutes to play in the second quarter. The score at that time was 45-31. So much for the “you control Bosh, you control this series” theory. The NBA, Where Amazing Happens.
…”H-O-W-A-R-D…H-O-W-A-R-D…”Did you hear the Toronto crowd in game three? They even chanted “SUPERMAN S_ _ _ S!” Magic fans, remember that for game five Monday night at Amway Arena. Tickets are on sale right now for game five at blueand whiteignite.com or by calling 1-800-4 NBA-TIX.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 12:05 PM
DEEP THOUGHTS FROM GAME TWO
...First, I must throw props to you, the Sixth Man. Sunday, empty seats dotted the upper bowl end zones. Tuesday night, your fannies were in those seats. You were loud and made me proud. I held off in dissing Orlando sports fans because I wanted to see how you reacted in game two. You were rabid. You were electric. You had much to do with that Magic one point win.
…Dwight Howard is a beast! Superman becomes the first player since Kevin Garnett four years ago to notch consecutive 20-20 games in the NBA Playoffs. He had 29 points and 20 rebounds in game two. ESPN, TNT, you guys finally gonna take notice?
…”If I didn’t get hit, then I don’t know what anybody’s saying”. That’s a post game quote from Chris Bosh, who claimed he was roughed up by Dwight on a driving play with :23 to go and the Raptors down one. Dwight would make a key block on Bosh. Then, on the final play, Bosh decided to pull up from 16 feet and miss over Dwight’s big paw. Please, Chris, don’t start moanin’ about disrespect. WEIGHT ROOM!
…Toronto’s soft. Heck, we had seven dunks against these guys in the first quarter (35-18). Coach Sam Mitchell finally gave up trying to make his Raptors into his ole 1994 Indiana Pacers. Mitchell went to a small lineup early, and in turn, forced Stan’s hand in putting Dwight on Bosh defensively. I would be shocked if we see Rasho Nesterovic ever again. Even though we lead 2-0, Toronto’s got to feel as if it has created a little bit of mojo with that small lineup.
…Before this series began, many of us know-it-all media types gave the point guard edge to Toronto. Read the numbers and weep Raptor fans: TJ Ford…2-17 FG, 11 points, 11 assists. Jameer Nelson…13-23 FG, 42 points, 13 assists. Ford’s been outmatched by Jameer so far. I’d be shocked if we didn’t see Jose Calderon start vs. Jameer in game three.
…Both clubs can ill afford to have their two all star big men off the floor. Dwight played 44 minutes in game one….41 minutes in game two. Chris Bosh got 38 minutes in game one and 45 minutes Tuesday. If either Bosh or Dwight comes off the floor, their respective teams hold their breath ‘til their big fellas come back.
…We’ve outscored Toronto 78-41 in the first quarters of games one and two. Problem is, the Raptors have pounded us in second quarters 63-41.
...Former mob informant Bob Delaney would have needed a military escort, full body armor and a Sherman Tank to escape City Beautiful if Chris Bosh’s buzzer beating shot goes in. Delaney is one of the better NBA officials, but he has a bad habit for making theatrical calls at crucial moments of a game. Thus was the case Tuesday night when he whistled Keyon Dooling for a ridiculous offensive foul on an inbounds play with nine ticks left. CYO refs don’t even make that call!
…I realize this is easier said than done, but can we please put a GPS on Jason Kapono? Why do we leave him even for a split second? Kapono is shooting 67% from the field in the first two games. He’s nailed eight of his 12 three pointers. Kapono has 38 points off the bench.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Monday, April 21, 2008, 10:45 AM
DEEP THOUGHTS FROM GAME ONE
...For weeks, we watched an Orlando Magic team that was stuck in neutral. With virtually no chances of moving up or down in the standings, this team played out the string with ambivalence. All that pent-up energy poured out in the first quarter of game one vs. Toronto: a team record 43 points....they tied an NBA playoff record with nine three-pointers. Safe to say, our team was ready to erupt!
...25 points, 22 rebounds 5 blocked shots...Shaq-like numbers for Dwight Howard. We all know how talented Dwight is. But, the unbridled determination this kid showed in game one reminded us ole timers of a young Shaq. Dwight's lust for winning is catching up to the phenom's extreme talent.
...This was the best overall performance I have seen from Jameer Nelson in a Magic uniform! You have to love this kid's competitive fire. No doubt, Jameer heard "experts", like Anez Sez, opining that TJ Ford and Jose Calderon would get the best of him in this series. In game one, it was the other way around. Jameer set the tone very early with his aggressive play on both ends of the floor. I can't recall one time when the cat-quick Ford (1-9 FG, 5 points) broke Jameer down. This was Jameer Nelson at his best. This is what Jameer Nelson can become.
...Orlando's point guard spot in game one (Jameer and Keyon Dooling) combined to tally 34 points and 8 assists. Toronto's tandem wracked up 14 points and 14 assists. We know what we're gonna get out of our Big Three. But if we can get similar production out of our point guard spot, this team can beat anybody in the league.
...How about Coach Van Gundy putting Rashard Lewis on Chris Bosh in game one? Wow didn't see that comin'! I suspected Coach Stan would go with Hedo, who has a little more girth to his frame. But he sides with Rashard, who played his most inspired defensive game of the year. Rashard got up into Bosh's grill all game. He took away his dominant left hand dribble and made things difficult on the "Magic Killer". Bosh says he will be ready for game two. I wonder if Stan has something else up his sleeve?
...It was obvious that Dwight used the off days leading up to game one to work on his free throws. He nailed his first eight free throws Sunday and finished 9-11 from the line. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Raptors are thinking that the Rick Barry-like performance was a fluke.
...Let's not get cocky! Momentum is overrated in the playoffs. Each game is an entity unto itself. Heck, we ole timers remember the 1995 first round when the Magic would blow out the Celtics in game one by some 47 points. Game two saw the Celtics rally for a stunning 99-92 victory. We would close out the series in Boston, but the point is that the Magic have to keep the pedal to the metal. This Toronto team is very explosive and capable of stealing home court advantage in game two.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
Posted by Scott Anez, Friday, April 18, 2008, 1: 