Magic banking on youth and athleticism. For the fifth consecutive season, the Orlando Magic begin training camp with so many new players that the coaches might need to call roll before practice. If there's one thing the Magic have been willing to do lately, it is change. They do this because of Grant Hill's injury hardship, as well as their philosophy to tie up long-term cap space only to the right players. For all the change, however, the identity of the franchise has remained the same. They have been smarter than most teams but lacking overall in athletic talent. They have scored plenty but relied too heavily on jump shots. They have failed to show the toughness -- mental and physical -- required of a true contender. So much change for so little change. This season has the potential to be different. When Magic Coach Doc Rivers opens camp Tuesday for players with less than four years of experience, he will begin the process of trying to mold a younger, more athletic and more versatile unit. The Magic are not exactly oversized and brute, but this should not be the same old team. A change in personnel finally should result in a change in the overall product. "Size-wise, we're as balanced and equipped as we've ever been under Doc," Magic General Manager John Gabriel said. Everyone must wait to see if difference equals victories, but after three straight first-round exits in the playoffs, something had to be done. In the off-season, Orlando added six players to the roster. By the time training camp is over, a seventh new face, probably another point guard, likely will join the group. This squad will be the youngest in team history. The average age of the 14 players with guaranteed deals is 24.9. Even by season's end, that number will increase to only 25.5. Final rosters have not been set, but the Magic are projected to be one of the five youngest teams in the league this season. Publicly, the Magic say they are unconcerned about their youth. "The youthfulness of our team may or may not rear its head," Gabriel said. "In general, I don't concern myself with it." Gabriel was careful to mix enough veteran talent in with this team, even though no player is older than 30. He also considers many of his young additions more seasoned than typical under-25 products. For instance, rookie guard Keith Bogans played four years at Kentucky and went from hot commodity to forgotten talent to reformed prospect. Point guard Reece Gaines, the team's first- round pick, played four years at Louisville. Rookie forward/center Zaza Pachulia, who is only 19, had professional basketball experience in Europe. New starting point guard Tyronn Lue is getting his first chance as a full-time starter, but he played on two championship teams during his early years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Lue had a small role on those title teams. Still, Rivers and Gabriel said they think the experience will help his adjustment. Nevertheless, it will be an adjustment, especially when you factor in the youth of the holdover players. Rivers can only hope that, because his team will have that youthful energy and more depth, it can win games on zeal early in the season. "As younger players, we carry a chip on our shoulders," second-year forward Drew Gooden said. "People talk about us playing hard but not smart. The thing we have to prove is that we can do both. Then we can let our energy and youthfulness really take over." The Magic targeted 30-year-old power forward Juwan Howard as their must-get this past summer. They wanted Howard more than any other player that they realistically had a chance of acquiring during free agency. It was an interesting decision for a team that lacks a true center. Michael Olowokandi, who has the size, was out there, but the Magic had to have Howard. Their reasoning provides insight on Rivers' dream for this team. "If we failed anywhere last season, it was when Tracy [McGrady] struggled or if a team had a good defensive team," Rivers said. "We would get exposed." While McGrady led the league in scoring (32.1 points per game) and further established his greatness, the Magic became too reliant on him. The dependency on McGrady had increased in intensity since the franchise acquired him in 2000. The more Hill struggled with his left ankle injury, the more of the load fell on McGrady. Last season was both fabulous and ridiculous. McGrady did more than any player could and impressed while performing. But by Game 7 of the first-round series with the Detroit Pistons, he had little left. So the Magic went after Howard, the most versatile player with the best size. Because their superstar is a multidimensional, multipositional player, the Magic want to surround him with similar talent. You wonder how Howard and Gooden, two power forwards, can co-exist. The Magic would rather make it work than employ a player with lesser talent. The idea is to have a team full of interchangeable pieces. Rivers wants to work it out so that Howard and Gooden both can contribute at three positions -- small forward, power forward and center. The Magic drafted Gaines, who is 6-6, hoping that he's a basketball player who can learn the point guard-guard but fit in anywhere. They are intrigued about the idea of having Bogans, a natural shooting guard, defend bigger point guards such as Detroit's Chauncey Billups and the New Orleans Hornets' Baron Davis. Be more athletic and versatile. Be less dependent on McGrady doing everything. That's the plan in its simplest form. On paper, the Magic have an intriguing team. The individual players don't know each other, but the unit as a whole looks interesting. There are scorers and defensive-minded players this time. There are hard-nosed scrappers and high-risers this time. There is athleticism and shooting this time. "As we looked to finish free agency and sign players in the latter days, we found that our guys, seven through 12, are all pretty good names," Gabriel said. "And that's a good thing." They still must come together and play as a team. It's the purpose of training camp, of course.
i can't wait for training camp to start. i'm going to the scrimmage on next sunday, it's gonna be awesome.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">i can't wait for training camp to start. i'm going to the scrimmage on next sunday, it's gonna be awesome.</div> That is awesome. Your lucky! Is it at RDV?
i honestly don't know, my friend asked me if i wanted to go, since he had an extra ticket. he said it would be in a place like a high school gym, small like that. which will be awesome, because you sit close up, no matter where you sit.
