By Swish15 [IMGL]http://www.justbball.com/images/avatars/magic_av.jpg[/IMGL] A new coach, a new star and a missing draft pick - it's certainly been an up and down offseason in Orlando. The Magic have watched their neighbours build a contender, while two horrible seasons have meant the blue side of Florida is in rebuilding mode. Can they challenge for a playoff berth? Swish15 has the answers.
<div align="center">Orlando 2005/06 Season Preview . . . . .</div> <u><font color="blue">Is There Any Magic Left In Orlando?</font></u> Last season, the Magic were a mediocre team that looked unorganized and lacked consistency. After going 36-46 and missing the playoffs, the Magic went into the off-season ready to make some changes. First, it was the hiring of former Orlando coach, Brian Hill. When Hill coached Orlando from 1992-1997, the team went 232-145 and didn't have a losing season. After two losing seasons in a row, the Magic are hoping Brian Hill will continue where he left off and boost this team into the postseason. Soon after hiring Coach Hill, the Magic drafted Fran Vazquez, Travis Diener and Marcin Gortat and were looking forward to signing their three draft picks. When news leaked out that Fran Vazquez had signed overseas with Akasvayu Girona, the Magic general managers panicked. They rushed to Spain right away and tried to change his mind but it was too late; Fran had already committed to his new foreign club. The Magic moved on and started searching for a point guard to improve their bench. They found the perfect fit when they signed Keyon Dooling to a three-year agreement on August 5th. After such a busy off-season, can Orlando make a turn around and get into the playoffs? <u><font color="blue">Off Season Player Movement</font></u> Signed PG Keyon Dooling to a multi-year contract Waived SG Doug Christie using the new CBA?s Amnesty Clause Drafted PF Fran Vazquez, PG Travis Diener and C Marcin Gortat Signed C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje from Summer League roster Signed SF Bo Outlaw (Expected to sign with Magic before training camp) Departing Players: Doug Christie to Dallas, Fran Vazquez to Akasvayu Girona in Spain Arriving Players: Keyon Dooling, Travis Diener, Marcin Gortat, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje Returning Free Agents: N/A Unsigned Free Agents: Brandon Hunter, Andre Barrett, Mark Jones, Andrew DeClercq <u><font color="blue">Breaking Down The Magic</font></u> Starters [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kelvin_cato.jpg[/IMGl] C Kelvin Cato* 6'11", 275 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 24.6 MPG | 7.0 PPG | 6.7 RPG | 1.32 BPG | .539 FG% This season, the starting center will change periodically because the Magic have two talented big men who are both capable of starting. Brian Hill will have to experiment with both Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie and see which player is a better fit in his system. Last season, Kelvin Cato was a solid player who played limited minutes due to an injury that took him out for part of the year. When he was starting last season, he showed good chemistry with Steve Francis, since they played together in Houston, and was a force on defense. He and Dwight Howard were dominating the paint and blocking shots left and right. Another reason Kelvin might not be the most reliable starter is his contract. He is in the last year of his contract and could be used as trade bait to a team looking to rebuild. The Magic could ship him off for a draft pick or another player before the trade deadline. Cato might be a good starting center but will his age, contract or injuries slow him down? Only time will tell and it should be interesting to see who the Magic staff chooses as the starter. * Tentative to change [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/dwight_howard.jpg[/IMGL] PF Dwight Howard 6?11", 250 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 32.6 MPG | 12 PPG | 10 RPG | 1.66 BPG | .520 FG% Last season, Dwight Howard was basically a role player for the Magic. He wasn?t given many opportunities on offense and was used mostly for his defense and rebounding skills. Steve Francis and Grant Hill carried the scoring load and many times Howard could only sit and watch. When he did touch the ball on offense, it was usually after grabbing an offensive rebound or if a teammate had picked up his dribble and had to pass. Expect things to change this year. With a new coach and a new system, expect to see Howard working his way past defenders in the post and getting many opportunities on offense. He will most likely get more plays designed for him in the post and will have a significant increase in shots. I expect Howard to have an excellent 05-06 season and I think his stats will improve in many areas. If he can still keep up the intensity on defense and become a threat on offense, he could become one of the better players in the league. Opponents will have to watch out for Howard this year because he could breakout at any time. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/grant_hill.jpg[/IMGL] SF Grant Hill 6'8", 225 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 34.9 MPG | 19.7 PPG | 4.7 RPG | 3.3 APG | 1.45 SPG | .509 FG% After many seasons sitting at the end of the bench with an injured ankle, Grant Hill made his return to the court last season. As many of you know, he was phenomenal and made his first All-Star appearance since 2001. He was last season's feel good story and went almost the entire season without an injury but had to sit out 15 games because of a bruised left shin. This raises the question, Will Grant Hill be healthy for the 05-06 season? Chances are he will be. After having an entire off season to rest, Grant should come back fully rested and healthy. I think if Hill can stay healthy, he will put up similar numbers to last year and be a huge factor in the Magic's push for the playoffs. I don't expect Hill to be an All-Star again since last season many voters selected him for sympathy. However, I do expect Hill to have a solid season and be the team's veteran leader while putting up good numbers. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/steve_francis.jpg[/IMGL] SG Steve Francis 6'3", 200 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 38.2 MPG | 21.3 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 7.0 APG | 1.44 SPG | .423 FG% Steve Francis is a great scorer, a great rebounder, a great leader and a great passer but is he a great shooting guard? The Magic are planning on starting Francis at shooting guard and starting either Keyon Dooling or Jameer Nelson at point guard. Last season, Francis played shooting guard for the last half of the year after Cuttino Mobley was traded and Doug Christie injured his ankle. The change didn't effect Francis' numbers but many teams were able to score over him with ease because of the height difference between Francis and the opposing team's shooting guard. If the same situation occurs this season, I expect Brian Hill to adjust the lineup throughout the season. Another option would be to ship Francis out of Orlando which is a very realistic possibility. Many teams have contacted the Magic about Francis and his availability. Although the Magic front office said he will not be traded, many people are speculating that Francis might be moved at some point. Rumors have been surrounding the Nuggets and Lakers this off-season and only time will tell what the Magic will do with Steve Francis. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jameer_nelson.jpg[/IMGL] PG Jameer Nelson* 6'0", 190 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 20.4 MPG | 8.7 PPG | 2.4 RPG | 3.0 APG | .99 SPG | .455 FG% As is the case with their center position, expect Orlando to change their choice for starting point guard throughout the season. Jameer Nelson became the starter near the end of last season when Francis was moved to shooting guard. In 21 games as the starter last season, Nelson averaged 15.7 points per game and 5.2 assists per game showing he can carry the starting load. The other option would be starting Keyon Dooling who was signed this off-season. Dooling, who was the backup point guard for the Heat last season, will compete for the starting job during training camp and preseason. Whether or not Nelson starts remains to be seen but one thing is sure: his job isn't secure. With both players equally talented, the Magic staff could switch up the starting lineup at any time during the season. * Tentative to change The Bench [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/keyon_dooling.jpg[/IMGL] PG Keyon Dooling 6'3", 190 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 16 MPG | 5.2 PPG | 1.2 RPG | 1.8 APG | .53 SPG | .403 FG% Keyon Dooling, the Magic's biggest free agent acquisition this summer, will most likely bounce from the starting lineup to the bench throughout the season. Dooling will have to battle it out in training camp with Nelson if he wants the starting job. Don't let Dooling's stats fool you. When he was on the Miami Heat, he played limited minutes and was just a role player. Now that he has the opportunity to get big minutes in Orlando, expect his numbers to increase throughout the course of the season. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/IMGL] SG Deshawn Stevenson 6'5", 210 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 19.8 MPG | 7.8 PPG | 1.92 RPG | 1.3 APG | .29 SPG | .408 FG% DeShawn Stevenson was a decent player who complained about his playing time when Johnny Davis was head coach of the Magic last season. Then after Davis was fired, in came interim coach Chris Jent. The new coach liked Stevenson's game and gave him the opportunity to play. That is when Stevenson broke out and had an amazing end of the season. He scored more than 10 points in every game during the final month of the season and looked like an entirely different player. If he can continue where he left off, expect the Magic to use him as a spark off the bench. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/hidayet_turkoglu.jpg[/IMGL] SF Hedo Turkoglu 6'10", 220 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 26.2 MPG | 14 PPG | 3.5 RPG | 2.3 APG | .380 3PT% | .419 FG% Hedo Turkoglu was the best player to come off the bench last season for the Magic and was a solid scorer as the second string small forward. As the backup to Hill, you must always be ready to play because of his Hill's unhealthy past. This is why the Magic signed Turkish sharp shooter two years ago. Turkoglu is not only the Magic's best bench player, he is also the best three point shooter. He hit 93 treys last season and provided a long range threat from the bench. Turkoglu was one of Orlando's most important role players last season and I expect him to have a similar role this season. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/pat_garrity.jpg[/IMGL] PF Pat Garrity 6'9", 238 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 13.5 MPG | 4.6 PPG | 1.7 RPG | 0.4 APG | .333 3PT% | .402 FG% At this point in Pat Garrity's career, he is mainly going to be used as a deep threat from the bench. Since Turkoglu is going to be on the floor with Garrity majority of the time, expect his three point numbers to decrease. Garrity isn't a bad player, however, he's probably the team's weakest player coming off of the bench because he's mediocre veteren who has a one dimensional game. [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tony_battie.jpg[/IMGL] C Tony Battie 6'11", 240 lbs. 2004-2005 Statistics: 23.4 MPG | 4.9 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 0.5 APG | 1.0 BPG | .460 FG% Tony Battie will have to battle Kelvin Cato for the starting job in training camp and will be an important player for the Magic despite his role on the team. He is a talented veteran who rebounds consistently and provides solid defense alongside Howard. Battie played well last season in Cato?s absence and whether or not he will start will be decided at the last second. The Others Travis Diener, Stacey Augmon, Mario Kasun, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Bo Outlaw (expected to sign with Magic) <u><font color="Blue">Final Analysis</font></u> With the Orlando Magic being a young and inconsistent team, it is very tough to predict how they will perform this season. If our injury prone veterans, Grant Hill and Kelvin Cato, can make it through the season, the Magic will be in good shape to make the playoffs. Many teams have improved in the Eastern Conference this off-season but it remains the weaker conference of the two. Because of this, the Magic will have a chance to snag the seventh or eighth seed and sneak their way into the postseason. Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson each have another year under their belts; Grant Hill and Kelvin Cato are healthy again and Steve Francis is still an All-Star caliber player so it would be foolish to count Orlando out. With so many weapons on their first and second strings, this season might be nothing less then magical for the Orlando Magic.
Heres some of my predictions.. Dwight Howard will have a break out 2 year, but won't be dominate until his 3rd year. He will probably average 18-20 and 8-10 per game but it won't be enough to win ballgames for us all season. Grant Hill is getting older, and he's still capable of doing a little of everything for Orlando, however his minutes need to be watched carefully. Garrity and Hedo will be our main long range threats and if they stay healthy we should be decent from 3 point land. Orlando is loaded from the guard positions. Between Francis, Nelson, and Dooling, scoring shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully. But can Orlando defend? Apparently they've been working on defense but thats not saying much because the roster still looks rather soft to me. Whos going to block shots consistantly and be a threat in the paint? Cato's good for a couple blocks here and there but he's always getting injured nowadays. Dwight is good, but he's going to be doing things on the other end of the floor as well. Garrity? Ha. Who knows, it should be an interesting season. This offseason was too quiet and since there wasn't too many changes, I expect the same results as last season. (Maybe a couple of more W's due to Dwight Howard, but nothing too special)
Wow, looking back on this, I couldn't have been more wrong on some of these things. I had only 2 out of our 5 starters right and I predicted that Grant Hill would have a solid season. Hopefully my next season's preview is a bit more accurate.
