<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic: Basketball’s next dynasty? Sounds crazy huh? You’re probably muttering under your breath, “Hell, Jeff is at it again with his crazy ideas.” Maybe so, but what type of article would this be if I didn’t explain the basics of my claim? The 2005-06 Orlando Magic started the season with some questions and plenty of promise. Steve Francis was returning to start a fresh new season in Orlando a year after being forced out of Houston by Tracy McGrady’s demand to play alongside Yao Ming. Grant Hill endured another offseason and the team was hoping that maybe, just maybe he would finally come back and restore his all-star form and be a major contributor. Dwight Howard was returning from his rookie campaign where he began developing nicely in terms of skill as well as progressing physically. Jameer Nelson would come into this year looking to contribute some major minutes as he continues to learn behind Steve Francis and develop as the young floor general Orlando traded for on draft day a year ago. Hedo Turkoglu, Pat Garrity, Keyon Dooling and Tony Battie would round out the lineup that would hopefully get the Magic back into the postseason. Long story short, the Magic struggled. Their on-court chemistry was lacking, largely in part due to the fact that Steve Francis a ball-dominating, shooting point guard who dribbles too much for his own good. This does nothing but disrupt the flow of the offense. Francis wastes at least 7 possessions per game all by himself due to his constant dribbling, which does nothing but force bad shots for either him or teammates at the end of shot clocks, or just simply causes turnovers. Francis isn’t alone. Allen Iverson, Baron Davis, Stephon Marbury, and Gilbert Arenas (at times) all are guilty as charged as well. They all pose as liabilities to their respective team’s ultimate success because they fail to do what the ESPN commentators love to pound on the public, “make others better.” This style of play, although attractive to the And 1 generation and seems to do well as far as attraction and ticket sales, will nullify your chances of EVER winning a championship. Basketball is a rhythm sport, which is why you always here references to players being out of sync. The point guard is an on-the-floor general with multiple responsibilities. He must protect the ball while knowing where the other 9 guys on the court are, what they are doing and where they are supposed to be. Basketball greatness is achieved when five guys are rhythmically harmonious in their efforts and feel equally involved in the offensive AND defensive schemes of their system. Aaaaaaaand breathe. Thankfully, Otis Smith and Dave Twardzik who are Orlando’s assistant GMs, saw the damage that “Stevie Franchise” was having on the structure as well as mentality of this young team, and decided he needed to be moved. With the free agent classes of 2006 and 2007 looking exceptionally strong, they decided to attack Isiah “I’m the worst GM of all-time, I don’t know anything about business and/or smart investments at all and I can’t evaluate talent for the life of me” Thomas for Penny Hardaway’s monstrous expiring contract and a young athletic small forward Trevor Ariza. Thomas, knowing full well that he already has an overrated shooting point guard (Stephon Marbury), thought it might be a good idea to bring another underachieving big name with a bloated contract to his team. Meanwhile, he gave up the expiring contract of Penny Hardaway which would have relieved him of about $18 million on the cap next year. But no biggie Isiah…no biggie. With the trade, Orlando has put itself in phenomenal position to make a run at one or possibly two marquee free agents in the next two summers, which just so happens to be rich with superstar quality and ability. The Magic are well under the cap, and their Floridian location is attractive to any athlete seeking an attractive home and lifestyle for themselves and their family. Some of the names that are expected to be free agents sometime in the next 400 days are Lebron James, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Mike Bibby and Chris Bosh. That’s just to name a FEW. The Magic must now figure out how they plan to build this team around their young dominator, Dwight Howard. What they found out this season post Francis trade was that they not only have a 7-footer with scary potential, but they also found out that a future all-star point guard was sitting right under their noses. Since giving Jameer Nelson the ball, he has elevated the level of play of every player on that team, alongside his uncanny ability to rise to the occasion late in games hitting big shots or creating open looks for teammates. Since March 15, Orlando has gone 14-3 and has an impressive win streak of 8 going as we speak with wins over Miami, San Antonio, Detroit, Dallas and Milwaukee. In the words of my brother, “Hmm, the Magic have won 14 of 17 with wins over 4 title contenders. Hmm, I wonder why they are doing so well? Hmm, what has changed? Hmm, the power forward and small forward are the same. The center is the same, sheesh even the shooting guard Stevenson is the same. Hmm, oh I know…they got rid of Francis and allowed Jameer to be the point guard. Wow, must have been real tough to figure that out.” Jameer is a star in the making. Don’t tell me he has no size. He is a winner. There aren’t many of them in the league. Guys that just know how to win, like Cassell and Ginobili. Have these guys ever played on a loser…ever? They just know how to win. Jameer won the state championship at Chester High School, and took the lowly St. Joseph’s University program who for years was .500 to a #1 ranking. He absorbed the total slap in the face the NBA gave him by being overlooked by teams clearly in need of a point guard, namely the Portland Trailblazer who selected Sebastian Telfair at pick #13. He was selected 20th overall by Denver, who traded him 10 minutes later to Orlando. Don’t think for a minute that he forgot that night. Get used to it, he is the man of the future for the Magic, along with Howard. He will be in talks regarding the NBA’s best point guard for the next decade. The Magic will enter the offseason in a very unique position. They have two stud 7-footers in Howard and Milicic, who have endless potential and have already began developing quickly and efficiently. (NOTE: It seems that Darko simply needed the time of day to prove he can play at this level, because he has looked extremely impressive in his limited playing career thus far in Orlando. He can hit 20 footers, he elevates very well, runs the floor exceptionally well, and has a knack for shot blocking and finishing around the basket.) No team in history has had two guys that could possibly be 10 year all-stars and were at least 7 feet tall this young. They have found their franchise point guard in Jameer Nelson, who could very well be their leading scorer next year, but hopefully not. I see Howard being a 23 and 12 guy for a long time. They have a solid scoring small forward in Turkoglu, but he is atrocious defensively. They have exceptional role players in Carlos Arroyo at backup point guard and Tony Battie at PF/C. Now they must figure out what to do with all this money they have under the cap. I hope to God they don’t spend irresponsibly on a free agent they don’t need. They plan on making a strong run for Lebron James, who automatically puts this team in the finals, and I won’t change my mind for any Detroit/Miami claims. But who knows how Lebron feels about leaving his hometown Cleveland. Vince Carter and Paul Pierce worry me only because they are strictly scorers. Their attitudes are iffy and if signed, would have a major influence on this young team as to how to go about their business on a day to day basis. They need a defensive shooting guard, with emphasis on the word shooting. With all the attention Howard and Milicic will receive in the post, they must place emphasis on finding as many shooters as possible. Nelson, Turkoglu and even Milicic are above average shooters, but past them, the team is lacking. A guy like Rip Hamilton or Manu Ginobili would be fantastic for this team, but neither could be acquired unless a trade would take place, which is far-fetched due to Orlando’s lack of trade bait. There core of Howard, Nelson and Milicic are safe, but no one else is untouchable. Maybe Grant Hill’s inflated, but expiring contract could be an attraction. Hopefully they can swing something. With the young, highly talented core of Nelson, Howard, and Milicic intact and an incredible amount of expendable cash on hand, the Magic are going to be scary for next decade at least. And with pure winner in Nelson at the point, everyone is going to continue to have fun and enjoy playing with each other, as opposed to the atmosphere when the “Franchise” was here. Nelson will figure out how to win, and with the right pieces in place, which is entirely in the hands of the GMs, this team will be a force to be reckoned with for many, many years. Mark my words.</div> http://www.uwritesports.com/test_text.php?...article_id=1011 Expectations are high
The Next Dynasty?? I don't know about that because there plenty of teams still better than the Magic.
Right now, we have a very talented group of young players. If all of our guys develop into what their potential suggests, then we could possibly be a dynasty. However, at this point in time, it is impossible to even debate how good this team will be. Dwight, Jameer, and Darko could all suffer career ending during practice next week for all we know. When our guys gain some chemistry and get some more experience under their belt, then I'll be ready to call them contenders. If we win a ring, then and only then will the word dynasty pop into my mind.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Right now, we have a very talented group of young players. If all of our guys develop into what their potential suggests, then we could possibly be a dynasty. However, at this point in time, it is impossible to even debate how good this team will be. Dwight, Jameer, and Darko could all suffer career ending during practice next week for all we know. When our guys gain some chemistry and get some more experience under their belt, then I'll be ready to call them contenders. If we win a ring, then and only then will the word dynasty pop into my mind.</div> i agree with you bro... BUT... i think this was a GREAT article. i usually get bored at what the writers say in their articles... but this guy brought up so many good points, but forgot one... J.J. Redick. He mentions that we need a defensive SG that can shoot... and i agree that would be nice, but Redick will provide a HUGE impact offensively by doing exactly what the writer mentioned... take pressure out of the post. Finding a SG in this league that can score AND defend is really hard to come by, so i'd like to see Hill make defensive adjustments to make the team we have now work. I think that we shouldn't be talking dynasty... but i also think that it's a very valid point. The one worry i have is contracts... I dont mind giving Darko a big contract if he plays well... but what says Dwight decides to stay here once his contract is up? jameer? We can't tell the future, but if the organization can keep the core in tact for a decade and with the extra money that we have, pick up someone like lebron... holy CRAP... the writer would be on the money... we WOULD have a dynasty.
