Who do you think is the greatest Magic player ever? Base this on how they played while they were in Orlando, not what they did after or before their days with the Magic. I'll post mine after a few others post.
Nick Anderson. He was our first draft pick and I believe is the team leader in points and other categories. Dwight Howard will take this spot in 2-3 years though, assuming he stays with the Magic. My Top 5 are probably 1. Nick Anderson 2. Shaq(just cause he's Shaq) 3. Darrell Armstrong 4. Scott Skiles 5. Dennis Scott Honorable Mention goes to Tmac and Penny.
TMAC! he may not have won much or gotten to eastern conference finals like shaq and penny did, but he led the magic completely on his own to the playoffs (they lost to pistons, but that was the first year the nba had a 7 game playoff in the first round, rather then five tmac didnt know) every game the magic won in tmacs career as a magic, was won by him and no one else.
1. Shaq 2. McGrady 3. Penny I think those are easily top-3. After that, Nick Anderson, Darell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw, Scott Skiles. On pure talent and playing ability, the fourth best is probably Grant Hill ... too bad he's been injured most of the time. Of course, Dwight Howard will probably end up near the top the list in a few years. Possibly Jameer Nelson as well.
1) Shaq, got you guys to the finals, and obviously he's had a very nice career. 2) Penny, I know Tmac can be put here, but Penny was with Shaq in going to the finals, and was more succesful season wise when he was healthy in comparison to McGrady 3) Tmac - Don't need to explain Dwight Howard if he stays and beastifies could surpass Penny and Tmac.
It's Shaq.He brought Magic team to basketball map and was first and only one so far to lead this team to finals.He was puting up some amazing numbers and he actually did have success with this team.Second best player is Penny imo.He was always part of Shaq's success in Orlando and was very talented player here and could do everything.Third is imo Tracy.I would him over Penny but he had no PO's success.Thought he put up some amazing number too but stats doesn't give you championship.
I think you have to go with Shaq. He was a monster in Orlando and was the player who brought us very close to a title. As for guys saying McGrady, sure he was a great player but he couldn't win a playoff series. What you do in the regular season is important but what you do in the playoffs can make or break your career.
T-Mac is second. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you have to go with Shaq. He was a monster in Orlando and was the player who brought us very close to a title. As for guys saying McGrady, sure he was a great player but he couldn't win a playoff series. What you do in the regular season is important but what you do in the playoffs can make or break your career.</div> Playoffs: Total | Shooting | Per Game | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------+ Year Ag Tm Lg | G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA TRB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS| FG% 3P% FT%| MP TRB AST PTS 2001 21 ORL NBA| 4 178 51 123 2 10 31 38 26 33 7 5 8 11 135| 41 20 82| 45 6.5 8.3 33.8| 2002 22 ORL NBA| 4 178 42 91 5 16 34 46 25 22 2 7 13 11 123| 46 31 74| 45 6.3 5.5 30.8| 2003 23 ORL NBA| 7 308 74 165 16 47 58 75 47 33 14 6 26 16 222| 45 34 77| 44 6.7 4.7 31.7| That looks pretty good to me. Also, I cannot see how anyone can put Penny over McGrady, although I agree Shaq is on top of the list. Penny has not been the same without Shaq, yet McGrady is a superstar.
Stats don't matter if you can't win. Also, I never said that McGrady didn't deserve to be second. I just don't think he should be first like some people have said. Shaq is still first in my mind with McGrady second.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Stats don't matter if you can't win. Also, I never said that McGrady didn't deserve to be second. I just don't think he should be first like some people have said. Shaq is still first in my mind with McGrady second.</div> When I was referring to those who put Penny over T-Mac as illogical, I was not addressing you. Anyway, stats do matter. If T-Mac puts up tremendous PER and does his job, it isn't his fault if his teammates can't carry the load. This is a team sport, it isn't his fault if Darrel Armstrong, Mike Miller, Troy Hudson, Pat Garrity and such, can't get him over the hump. What else is T-Mac supposed to do. T-Mac has a great efficiency rating.
It doesn't matter. Certain players are tagged with labels that say they can't win when it counts. Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, and Stephon Marbury are all good examples.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">It doesn't matter. Certain players are tagged with labels that say they can't win when it counts. Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, and Stephon Marbury are all good examples.</div> Wow that's your arguement?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting huevonkiller:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow that's your arguement?</div> Well it really isn't a huge topic to debate. I never questioned McGrady's ability to put up great stats in the playoffs. I just said he hasn't even been able to win in the postseason. If it was always the other players fault then how come he couldn't win when the Magic surrounded him with different teammates and to this day in Houston. Maybe some guys just aren't good when it counts or maybe he's been off ever since he brushed the Pistons under the rug only to watch them comeback from a 3-1 game deficit and knock Orlando out of the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Well it really isn't a huge topic to debate. I never questioned McGrady's ability to put up great stats in the playoffs. I just said he hasn't even been able to win in the postseason. If it was always the other players fault then how come he couldn't win when the Magic surrounded him with different teammates and to this day in Houston. Maybe some guys just aren't good when it counts or maybe he's been off ever since he brushed the Pistons under the rug only to watch them comeback from a 3-1 game deficit and knock Orlando out of the playoffs.</div> This thread is about the best Magic players. When he went to Houston, his PER dropped off (and was now playing in the west), so I could see criticism of him in that scenario. The Magic surrounded him with different players you say? And? All that matters is what kind of players he is surrounded with. Your intangible arguement of him not knowing how to win, really can't be proven imo, whereas it is known that he put up numbers necessary to get by in the playoffs under normal circumstances. What else was he supposed to do, is what I asked. It's not like he averaged 32 PPg in the regular season and then 21 PPg in the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting huevonkiller:</div><div class="quote_post">This thread is about the best Magic players. When he went to houston, his PER dropped off, so I could see criticism of him in that scenario. The Magic surrounded him with different players you say? And? All that matters is what kind of players he is surrounded with. Your intangible arguement of him not knowing how to win, really can't be proven imo, whereas it is known he put up numbers of the caliber of a winner.</div> We are talking about his postseason statistics as a whole. Are you saying that no matter who McGrady is surrounded by he still can't win? Hmm, then it must be the supporting cast's fault. By the way, what are numbers caliber of a winner? 30 points looks great on paper but if your team doesn't get the win then it's nothing. Sometimes I don't think Tracy understood this and put his own numbers over the team's success.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">We are talking about his postseason statistics as a whole. Are you saying that no matter who McGrady is surrounded by he still can't win? Hmm, then it must be the supporting cast's fault. By the way, what are numbers caliber of a winner? 30 points looks great on paper but if your team doesn't get the win then it's nothing. Sometimes I don't think Tracy understood this and put his own numbers over the team's success.</div> I don't think you understand, if he jacks the ball up and scores 30, that is one thing, but if he efficiently scores/contributes, you should lay off the guy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting huevonkiller:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think you understand, if he jacks the ball up and scores 30, that is one thing, but if he efficiently scores/contributes, you should lay off the guy.</div> He can score 30 points but can he do others things that don't show up on the stat sheet consistently as well like defend and outhustle the opponent?
