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 the
Anez Sez archive or at
http://580wdbo.com.
Posted by Scott Anez, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 6:27 PM
And the Answer is …
When pigs fly.
That’s my answer to the question of The Answer.
With Jameer Nelson out for the next 4-6 weeks after the arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee, there are some in the local media and apparently some folks on the Magic blogs suggesting that Allen Iverson would be a worthy replacement for Jameer.
OK…Let me see if I have this straight here.
Allen Iverson, the same guy who led the Denver Nuggets to mediocrity…The same guy who became such a distraction in Detroit that the Pistons run of six consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals ended last season….The same player who went AWOL on the Pistons to sulk about not being a starter anymore…The same guy who couldn’t find an NBA home ‘til the lowly Memphis Grizzlies begrudgingly gave him a $3 million deal late in the summer...The same dude who was waived by the sad sac Grizzlies earlier this week...
You mean that Allen Iverson?
If you haven’t figured it out already, allow me to spell it out for you: No…I do not want to see Allen Iverson in an Orlando Magic uniform. Not now. Not ever.
You have a Magic team, with five new players in the fold, attempting to gel here early in the season. And you want to bring in a guy who’s historically become a cancer to team chemistry? We’re building a team in Orlando, a team with good character guys. Why on earth would you want to throw a Molotov cocktail into the mix like Iverson? Practice?
The Orlando Magic have two very capable point guards backing up Jameer this year in Jason Williams and Anthony Johnson. I actually think A-J is gonna help us with his intensity and ability to bother opposing point guards defensively. While we have to be on alert to the possibility of bringing in another point guard due to potential injuries to one of those greybeards, J-Wil and A-J can get the job done.
Iverson was great in his role with the Sixers back in the day. But those days are long gone. I do believe that the next professional basketball game you see Allen Iverson play will be in Europe. I think his NBA days are done.
So there are my two cents worth on the topic.
My answer…is no Answer at all.
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, November 16, 2009, 9:23 AM
Outta sight...Outta your minds
The old adage goes like this...Outta sight, outta mind.
But, Magic fans, keep in mind how important Rashard Lewis is to the Orlando Magic.
Monday night, thank goodness, Rashard returns to the lineup following the 10 game suspension for taking a banned over-the-counter supplement last season.
Over the last month, I have fielded questions and comments from a handful of Magic fans who inquired about the potential of trading Rashard. Their reasoning was centered around the fact that, with young Ryan Anderson playing so well early in the season, it might be time to dangle Rashard in a deal.
Question...Are you folks out of your minds? I cannot believe how some people just don't see how invaluable Rashard is to this Magic basketball team.
Rashard is a leader on a team that needs leaders right now.
While Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson are our team captains, Rashard is the guy who will take control of a team huddle. Don't let the quiet, soft-spoken exterior fool you...Rashard is a take-charge type of guy who is one of the most fiery competitors on this team. He is the glue this club has been lacking in the first ten games of the season.
Rashard is clutch. How many times over the last few years have we seen Sweet Lew step up in a late game situation and nail a big three?
Let's take you back a few months to the Eastern Conference Finals when Rashard would score 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter of a game one win in Cleveland. How about the three-pointer Rashard hit near the end of regulation to put us up 100-98 in game four? Going back even further, Rashard would tally 28 points in the game three win over the Celtics. These are just a few examples of Rashard being Rashard. He's our Mr. Big Shot.
I could also make a case for Rashard being one of the most difficult matchups in the NBA. Last season, the Cavaliers and Celtics,as well as countless other teams, had no answers for Rashard at the power forward spot. While Coach Van Gundy says Rashard will play some small forward this season, Lew is simply too quick and much too versatile for the more burly power forwards to handle defensively. He's the type of player who will cause the opposing lose alotta sleep the night before a game.
Sweet Lew is also the guy who stretches out defenses and balances the floor. He is the perfect compliment to Dwight Howard down low. This is a guy who shot .397 from three point range last season on a league leading 220 three's made. For his career, he's a .391 shooter from long range. He is the perfect compliment to Dwight Howard down low.
Defensively, Rashard, often times, is outmatched physically by opposing power forwards. But, one of the reasons why this Magic team has been mediocre on the defensive end to start the season is because of the fact that Rashard has sitting at home riding his bike. He understands what Coach SVG wants on the defensive end. He rotates. He boxes out. He is more physical than ya think. He gets it. He understands and executes our team defensive concepts.
With Rashard Lewis back, the Orlando Magic are on the road to becoming the Orlando Magic again.
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, November 12, 2009, 12:34 PM
Superman…Where are you?
Mama is a very wise woman.
She once said to me, “Scott, don’t allow anyone or anything to steal your joy in life.”
Well, now I am passing along mom’s wisdom to our Dwight Howard.
Go get your joy back on, Dwight!
Through the first couple of weeks of the 2009-2010 NBA season, Dwight’s joy has been stripped from him. It just looks to me as if he is not having any fun on the basketball court right now.
The kid famous for his wide-eyed grin and his playful personality both on and off the court has been mysteriously replaced by a scowling, menacing, ornery version of Clark Kent.
It’s become painfully obvious that Dwight has allowed the hard fouls and the bad early season officiating into his head.
Teams are coming at him with both barrels loaded. Guys are not merely fouling him. They are hacking, clawing and hitting him below the belt. At times, the jolts have been downright dirty. And make no mistake about it…The officiating has been extremely poor and uneven here in the early season. Dwight has spent way too much time telling them how bad they have been.
But, there’s something else going on here.
Last season, right before training camp, Coach SVG told Dwight that if he led the NBA in rebounding and blocked shots, his team would end up in the NBA Finals. In other words, if he became the best defensive player in the league, the Magic would go where they wanted to go. Dwight bought what Stan was selling and look where he ended up?
This season, it doesn’t appear to me that Dwight has not bought in…Not yet, anyway.
He is just not playing with that same razor’s edge defensive mindset that he had just a few months ago, and if that continues, I guarantee you we’ll be watching the Cavs and Celtics play in the Eastern Conference Finals this summer.
Numbers never lie.
The NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year has one blocked shot in the last three games….This, from a guy who led the league last season in blocks with 2.92 swats per game. Right now, Dwight’s averaging 1.44 blocks.
Dwight is scuffling to try to reach double digit rebounds this season. Heck, last year the “Daily Double” churned out 63 double-double games. Howard had an NBA-best 69 double-doubles in 2007-08. Granted, Dwight has five double-doubles in nine games thus far, but there’s no reason why the best rebounder in the world should be ninth in the NBA in that category. I don’t care how early it is.
Defensively, Dwight has been much too foul-prone. Poor officiating aside, he leads the NBA right now in personal fouls (37) and is tied for the league lead in technical fouls with Boston’s Rasheed Wallace (3).
This Magic team takes its cue from Dwight Howard. That’s not to say that the uneven play in this early season is all Dwight’s fault. This team, with all the injuries and with all the new players, will be much better in a couple of month’s time.
But, for now, it’s up to Dwight to get us there by becoming Superman again.
Forget about the offense…Focus on dominating defensively again…And don’t forget…SMILE!
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, November 9, 2009, 1:27 PM
Defense Is Offensive
It was only a matter of time before Stan went off.
Sunday night in Oklahoma City, Coach Van Gundy’s Magic were chewed up and spit out by the young Thunder 102-74.
Stan had been warning us for a while now that his team’s porous defense was gonna catch up to it. Sunday night, he became an NBA Nostradamus.
“We are more predicated on shooting. We have no defensive toughness and right now we aren’t a very good team”, Stan said. “It doesn’t seem to bother anyone in the locker room.”
To know Stan is to know that his coaching philosophy begins and ends with defense…and right now, his “white collar” team is merely going through the motions on the defensive end.
Numbers never lie:
…The Magic have allowed five of their seven opponents to top the 100 point mark.
…Orlando is allowing teams to shoot 47.49%. That mark is dubious enough for 24th in the NBA.
…We are giving up 99.6 points per game right now. As a reference point, note what the Celtics and Cavs are doing defensively (84.4p and 89.9p respectively).
…The Magic’s 5.9 steals per game rank last in the NBA.
…Our 4.6 blocks per game put us in the bottom third of the league right now.
Looking at the early season as a whole so far, I could certainly make excuses for some inconsistent, uneven play. After all, Rashard Lewis has been out due to suspension. Vince Carter’s missed four of the last five with the sprained ankle. Ryan Anderson has been wearing a boot on the ankle he sprained last Friday night vs. Detroit.
While the Magic’s depth has been put to the test, there’s no reason why this team should be beaten by energy and effort. Those are two things, as Stan says, you can control. Case in point…The young and aggressive Thunder out-rebounded the Magic 25-10 in the second half Sunday night. They just wanted it more.
Last year, this Magic team lived off energy and effort. Heck, we got to the NBA Finals because of Stan’s two E’s. Holding teams to 43.27% FG (third in the NBA) and 94.4 points per game (currently 99.6), the Magic were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA in ‘08-09.
Why the downslide defensively this early season?
Well, for one, we should know that we are gonna get the opponent’s best every single night. The Magic are the defending Eastern Conference champs. There’s a giant bulls eye on our backs. We ain’t sneaking up on anyone this year. Teams want to measure themselves against us.
Could it be that we’ve gotten too fat and happy? Jury’s still out on that one, but I certainly hope that this team is not living off of what it did last year. As good as this league is, that’s a surefire recipe for disaster.
Let’s cut this team a little bit of slack. We have five new players on a roster that has been decimated by early season bumps and bruises. We’ve got five guys trying to learn a new system while playing roles that they may not be completely ready to fill.
And lest we forget, this Magic team, for all its defensive deficiencies, is 5-2 right now.
But, we all know that, in the end, defense wins championships.
Right now, the Magic’s defense is offensive.
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, November 4, 2009, 3:31 PM
Magic Fans … Who’s Your Daddy?
You are bound to have a handful of duds during an NBA season.
On Tuesday night, after winning every outing since game five of the 2009 NBA Finals, the Orlando Magic had one of those nights.
Magic lose to the Pistons 85-80. The Pistons have now beaten our Magic in 20 of the last 25 matchups.
There’s no other way to put it. It doesn’t matter who’s wearing that red, white and blue uni. You could field a team of Dave Bing, Vinny Johnson, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Bob Lanier and sixth man Chuck Nevitt, at their current ages, and still, that team would have its way with us.
It’s OK. I’m alright. I got professional help over the summer and I have come to accept the fact that the Pistons have a hex on us that will never be broken. Serenity now…Serenity now.
What I won’t accept is the way our Magic played offensively in their first loss of the season.
Outside Orlando, the knock on Stan Van Gundy’s teams over the last two plus seasons is that his team lives by the three, but it can also die by the three.
But if you have watched Stan’s teams closely you realize that nothing could be further from the truth…until Tuesday night, that is.
The Magic chucked up 35 long-range-bombs (10-35); the most three’s ever attempted against a Detroit team.
There have been times when this team would hoist 30-plus three’s in a game before and, by the end, when glaring at the box score, ya say to yourself, “Man, I didn’t realize we shot all those three pointers.”
Tuesday night, I noticed every single one of them. Heck, it felt as if the Magic shot twice times as many bombs as we did.
Why? We got lazy and we settled.
When the ball is moving and the Magic are flowing offensively, those three’s come in the flow of the game. Tuesday night, the ball was stagnant and those shots that we usually get in the flow of Stan’s offense were simply not there. So, we began forcing the three. Not a good idea.
We all knew that, with five new players on this roster this season, there would eventually be some growing pains and chemistry issues to overcome. Those issues finally reared their ugly heads Tuesday night.
If Dwight and Marcin stayed outta foul trouble…and if Vince Carter could have actually moved laterally, then, a different story may have been written Tuesday night.
Then again, probably not, because I have come to accept this undeniable fact of NBA life...
Detroit’s our Daddy!
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, November 2, 2009, 9:49 AM
A Magical Week One
Here's what I have learned about our new look Orlando Magic over the first three games of this season:
...Wow, this is gonna be a fun season! We're really good. We'll have the ability to be great by the end of the season.
...It's become painfully obvious that teams are taking no mercy upon Dwight Howard this year. Superman's getting pummeled! There's a difference between fouling hard and fouling dirty. The red flag is up because we've seen that line crossed a few times too many already.
...The only way to combat the Hack-A-Dwight game plan is for Superman to hit his free throws. He did just that in Toronto Sunday (14-for-16). Keep it goin' big fella.
...By the way, anybody else's heart skip a couple of beats when D-12 grabbed his right shoulder Sunday in Toronto? The next time Sup is mauled in the lane, I'd love for one of our guys to get his back and send a message to the rest of the league. I'm not advocating violence, mind you, but, we gotta protect the Franchise any way we can. The next time Dwight's manhandled, someone take one for the team!
...The Magic's defense must get better. The good thing is that we're working on it. We've got guys who want to get better and I believe they will get better. But, it goes without saying that if we're giving up 47% shooting and over 102 points per game at mid-season as we are right now, what's left of Stan's hair will be gray, his shirt will be even more crumpled and his post game news conference will be that much more titillating.
...In year four, J.J. Redick is realizing his NBA potential (career-high 27 points vs. Toronto). Coach VG recently made an interesting comment when he stated that Mickael Pietrus and J.J. were his two best perimeter defenders. How about that? J.J. is finally playing with a confidence that we have not seen since his senior season at Duke. He's quicker laterally than in years past. He's also using a Kobe-like ball fake to get himself to the line. I love J.J.'s look right now.
...We've hit 39 three-pointers in the first three games...If you're scoring at home, that translates into 1066 three's made by the end of the season.
...How much of a luxury is it to have The Closer back? That guy who we saw wearing Magic #14 in the NBA Finals last season was an impostor. This year, we're seeing the real Jameer Nelson stand up. Jameer had a team-high 30 points in the win at Toronto Sunday.
...Magic fans, I don't hear any of you lamenting the loss of Courtney Lee anymore? Ryan Anderson's early season play may have something to do with that. Rhino (17.3ppg) has shown a deft-touch from the outside, a surprising penchant for offensive rebounding and an out of this world basketball IQ. Rashard who?
...I jest about Rashard. But, isn't it amazing how, when we were down three starters (Vince, MP and Sweet Lew) in Toronto, I wasn't the least bit concerned? That's how deep and talented this Magic team is.
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, October 23, 2009, 10:46 AM
The Answer is ... J-Will
I recently got an email from one of you asking this question...
"Of all the new players on the Magic roster, who has impressed the most?"
Wow. I actually had to think about that a while. Heck, it's really difficult to single out one player in particular because all of them have been impressive.
Vince Carter is a true go-to-guy. He's not the Vinsanity 'Human Highlight Reel' of yesteryear, but the guy attacks the basket and gets to the free throw line. That's exactly what we need come the fourth quarter.
Brandon Bass has shown a freakish athleticism to go along with a high motor and an incredibly deft mid-range touch.
Ryan Anderson has displayed a game that is perfect for Coach Van Gundy's system. The kid is deadly from three-point range and has a high basketball IQ.
Matt Barnes is a guy who just as steady as they come. Nothing flashy. But, the kid does everything well.
But, if you're forcing me to single out one particular new player as being the most impressive this preseason, I may have to side with Jason Williams.
Why? Because I just wasn't sure what we were gonna get from the guy formerly known as 'White Chocolate'.
Keep in mind, Jason stunned the LA Clippers last summer when he announced his sudden retirement after being acquired by the Clips as a free agent. Although he had on and off trouble with tendonitis in his knees over the past few years, the news came as a complete surprise to the Clips and to the rest of the league because, at 33, it appeared that J-Will had plenty of NBA shelf life left.
He spent the next several months bouncing his kids on his lap, bouncing the ball in his backyard and playing golf in Windemere until the call came to play for his hometown Orlando Magic. He jumped at the chance.
Magic fans, be glad he did.
In the preseason, Jason has shown that he's still got it. Keep in mind, he's not the 'White Chocolate' of seasons past. You see glimpses of that guy every now and then, but the flash and the pizazz that we saw early in his pro career and at the University of Florida has been toned down and refined considerably.
The thing that jumps out at you about the Orlando Magic when Jason's on the court is that the ball moves crisply around the horn. He sees everybody and everything. You'd better be ready to run as well. He does a great job of pushing the tempo offensively. Even though he's playing only 23 minutes per game, Jason leads the team in assists in the preseason.
When ya think about it, J-Will is the only true point guard on this roster. Make no mistake about it...Jameer Nelson is the starter. Jameer is our leader and our floor general. He is an All Star. As much I love Jameer and what he does for this team, it's comforting to know that we have that true playmaker as our second stringer.
Don't forget about this little nugget as well...J-Will is the only current Magic player with a championship ring. You cannot put a price tag on a guy who's been there before.
So, as difficult as it is to single out any one player, there's the answer to your question. There are Magic players with better numbers. There are guys who have gotten more playing time.
But, I am going with Jason Williams as the most impressive new guy on this Magic roster.
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 21, 2009, 4:12 PM
NBA Refs Are the Best We’ve Got
Word is that the locked-out NBA referees are on the verge of a return to work soon.
There was an unexpected meeting Tuesday in New York between Commissioner David Stern and the refs' union chief. They apparently hammered out a tentative labor agreement.
Never thought I'd say this, but here goes...We need the regular refs back ASAP! There…I said it.
Let's call it like it is. These replacement guys are overmatched. Can't blame 'em for that. They just don't have the experience the regular refs have. These guys don't have the feel for the NBA game the regular refs have.
We've seen foul upon foul called here in the preseason. Preseason games are customarily clunky, but we seen some very ugly, herky-jerky exhibitions so far. Thus, we've seen coaches like our Stan Van Gundy fined for comments supposedly critical of the replacements. Heck, we even saw the head coach for the Maccabi Tel Aviv team get tossed by a replacement in a charity game with the NY Knicks last weekend. An ejection in a charity game?
The NBA, more than any other sport, relies upon its officials to keep the game flowing. The game has become so physical and athletic. The good refs are familiar with the ebbs and flows of NBA games. They are familiar with time and situation. The good refs know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.
I contend that no NBA team will be affected more by the replacement refs than the Orlando Magic. Why? Superman. Dwight Howard is so big, strong, agile and physical. Over the first six preseason games, Dwight’s numbers raise a big ole red flag. Superman is only playing a half a game, 24 minutes per, and yet, he is averaging 4.8 personal fouls per game.
The replacement officials have no earthly idea how to officiate Dwight. That's not a knock on them. Heck, the regular refs have issues in officiating Dwight.
The Orlando Magic need the regular refs back, arguably, more than any other team in the league.
The referees' union is scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement on Friday. I have my doubts, but there's an outside chance that they could be ready by next week.
It's time. It's time for this impasse to end. The NBA owes it to the players, coaches and fans to get this done. It owes it to all of us who love this game.
NBA refs ain't perfect. But, as we've seen in this preseason, they're the best we've got.
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, October 15, 2009, 10:17 AM
Thank you, Mr. DeVos
The ownership of the Orlando Magic senses what we all sense. Our window of opportunity to win championships is now officially wide open. Therefore, Magic owner Rich DeVos is going for it!
Mr. D is going for it amidst a tumultuous financial landscape.
The NBA has not been immune to what's going in a very uneasy economy these days.
If you believe what you read, more than half of the NBA teams are losing money. There was a story a few weeks about the Miami Heat cutting the salaries of its staff 20 percent across the board.
The Sacramento Kings have issued edicts about no overtime for staff and Kings ownership has decided that trades cannot result in any additions to payroll. The Kings are reportedly seeping about $25 million per season.
Indiana is hurting. Memphis, New Orleans, Charlotte, Milwaukee and others are leaking.
The Orlando Magic? Well, I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that this franchise ain't a gold mine for Mr. DeVos. But, the numbers are eye-popping.
The player payroll looks to be around $80 million this season, the fifth highest payroll in the league. Keep in mind, the NBA salary cap is $57.3 million. So, as the Magic sit about $23 million above the cap, they also sit roughly $10 million over the $70 million luxury tax threshold.
These numbers are unprecedented. Small market teams just do not spend like the Orlando Magic are spending.
You're talking about a team that is, at its base, seeping $10-15 mil a year. You add to that the punitive dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, not to mention the increase in salaries this year, this franchise (as this amateur accountant sees it) could lose $30 million this season, give or take a few mil here and there.
Now, the financial landscape will be altered somewhat next season when we move into the beautiful new Amway Center. But, here's the translation...The Orlando Magic are delving deep into red ink to win us an NBA trophy this year. This franchise is going for it!
I love it. It's a great time to be a Magic fan.
Thank you, Mr. DeVos.
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, October 9, 2009, 6:20 PM
Magic Cliff Notes
I know many of you folks have not been able to see our new look Orlando Magic yet.
Therefore, I give you today's Magic Cliff Notes:
Dwight Howard...A monster! Superman could start the real deal tomorrow and record 30-20. The early 54.5% free throw shooting is a bit of a concern but we also realize that it's gonna be a process.
Vince Carter...31% FG shooting and 19% three-point shooting early doesn't worry me because he's still getting accustomed to his new surroundings. The thing you notice right away about Vince is that, even if he shoots a low percentage, he can still get to the hole and to the free throw line. We're gonna need that in crunch time.
Rashard Lewis...Looks to be in mid-season form. I think he's enjoying having Brandon Bass on his flank bodying up with the big boys.
Jameer Nelson...Imagine running a fast break and you have Lewis to the left, Carter to the right and Howard down the middle? Jameer is playing in a point guard's paradise!
J.J. Redick...Seems much more comfortable in his own skin and much more comfortable on the court. J.J. was the first guy off the bench vs. Miami.
Brandon Bass...Athletically gifted, physically imposing, professionally raw. The brawny Bass will be a difference maker this season.
Matt Barnes...Solid. Matt's gonna get alotta playing time this season because the guy does everything well.
Mickael Pietrus...Looks much more at-home this preseason than he did last. Stay healthy, M-P!
Ryan Anderson...You're gonna like this kid. He shoots the three and has a high basketball IQ. If ya don't know who he is yet, Ryan is the Will Perdue look-alike who plays like a young Pat Garrity!
Jason Williams...Six assists in game one. Not bad for a guy sitting on his couch in Windemere last year at this time.
Anthony Johnson...Let's face it, AJ got a raw deal last season in the Finals. He was mentioned in trade talks over the summer. I don't know if AJ is ticked off, but I do know that AJ is a true pro.
Marcin Gortat...The self-proclaimed 'Ticking Time Bomb' just doesn't make any mistakes. I think he's come to realize that being Dwight Howard's personal punching bag ain't such a bad thing.
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, October 1, 2009, 9:52 AM
Let's play 10 Questions
Going into the 2009-10 NBA season, I believe the Orlando Magic are one of a handful of teams (Lakers, Spurs, Celtics and Cavs) that has the inside track to the championship.
Meantime, I have 10 questions for our Magic as they head toward the regular season opener...
1. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR TEAM CHEMISTRY TO DEVELOP?
...Three of the five Magicians who started in the NBA Finals (Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Hedo Turkoglu) are no longer wearing blue and black. In are Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson and Jason Williams. Stan Van Gundy's most pressing task will be to quickly forge a chemistry between the old and the new.
2. HOW WILL THE MAGIC REACT TO BEING THE HUNTED INSTEAD OF THE HUNTER?
...There's a target on our backs after reaching the NBA Finals in 2009. We are gonna get the opponent's best every night!
3. CAN THIS TEAM CONTINUE TO PROGRESS DEFENSIVELY?
...Last season, this team was consistently one of the best in the biz. The Magic held opponents to 43.3 percent shooting (3rd) and 94.4 ppg (T-6th). We all know that defense wins championships. Will Dwight win his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award? Also, can Mickael Pietrus continue to develop as a Kobe-LeBron-Wade-Pierce-stopper?
4. OFFENSIVELY, HOW WILL THIS NEWLOOK TEAM ADAPT TO STAN'S STYLE?
...We made 817 three-pointers while shooting 38.1 percent last season. The year before, Coach Van Gundy's first in Orlando, his Magic connected on 801 three-bombs on 38.6 percent. Despite the new personnel, the plan is to continue spacing the floor and shooting the three.
5. HOW MUCH WILL WE MISS HEDO?
...I refuse to pile on Hedo. I hated to see the guy go. He's not only a good guy but he's also one of the most dynamic players in the game. We're gonna miss his versatility. With that said, Turk's numbers from last season (41 percent FG and 35.6 percent 3FG) were less than overwhelming. The Magic obviously thought his best days were behind Turk. Vince, you're up!
6. IS VINCE CARTER UP TO THE TASK OF TAKING OVER AS ORLANDO'S GO-TO-GUY?
...At 32, Vince has transformed from "Half Man-Half Amazing" to an estimated "Three-quarters Man-A Quarter Amazing". But Vince is in great shape and he provides this team with our most pressing need -- he's a guy who can break down a defense late. We don't need you to play a role, V-C. We need you to take over this team in the fourth quarter!
7. CAN SUPERMAN RID HIMSELF OF THAT DARNED KRYPTONITE?
...I keep hearing Magic fans chat about Dwight developing a consistent, reliable 10-12 foot shot to keep defenses honest. Sure, that would be nice. But, honestly, at this point, I don't care about that. Dwight's already the best big in the world. What Dwight needs to do first and foremost to become a complete player at his position is to start hitting his free throws. He's shot about 59 percent over the last three years. I'd love to see that number jump to the mid-to-upper 60 percentile this season.
8. WHAT WILL THE STARTING LINEUP LOOK LIKE?
...Who's gonna be that fifth starter? We know four of the five for sure: Jameer, Vince, Rashard and Dwight. Will Stan go big with Brandon Bass and move Rashard back to the small forward spot? Or, will the coach stick with Rashard at power forward and start either Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson or Mickael Pietrus on the wing? Coach Sez says this -- Bring Bass off the bench for a different look, start Barnes at the three and leave Rashard at the four. Lew is such a nightmarish matchup at that spot. Another question--What happens the first ten games of the season sans Rashard? We'll save that one for another day.
9. CAN JAMEER HOLD UP FOR A FULL SEASON?
...I hope so. Jameer had an All Star first 42 games of last season before the shoulder gave out vs. Dallas. The season before he played in 69 games. That's an average of 55.5 games the last two years. Jameer is the on-court leader of this team. We need desperately him on the court for a full season.
10. HOW LONG WITH THE POLISH HAMMER WEAR A MAGIC UNIFORM?
...Marcin Gortat was as shocked as all of us when Otis Smith matched Dallas's lucrative offer for him over the summer. I am now convinced that Marcin is genuinely happy to be here. He says he hopes to be in Orlando for a long time, but, the Hammer also says, "I may be a ticking time bomb." Can the Magic afford to keep a backup center making nearly $7 million a year? That's a very expensive insurance policy.
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 29, 2009, 10:49 AM
‘Vet’ J.J. a Piece of Championship Puzzle
As I sauntered around the RDV Sportsplex practice court on Monday, it hit me like a Taylor Wyndham helmet-to-chin Tim Tebow smackdown--the 2009-2010 Orlando Magic are gonna be really, really good!
I know. I am not telling you anything you didn't know.
But, for the first time, we took these players off paper and put them into uniforms.
Here's what I saw: Talent...Versatility...Depth.
No matter how good you appear in this league, there are always gonna be questions going into an NBA season. The big question about this Magic club is this: how long will it take for chemistry to develop for a team that has seven new players on its current roster?
It's hard to believe that one of the "ole vets" of this Orlando Magic team is sharpshooting guard J.J. Redick.
Believe it or not, as J.J. begins his fourth season in Orlando, he is currently the third longest-tenured player on the Magic roster!
Here's part of the conversation I had with J.J. on Media Day:
Scott: Well, J.J., here we go. Another year in Orlando and another training camp for this old grizzled veteran...
J.J.: I don't want to say I'm getting the hang of this because the NBA is very unpredictable. But, I am ready to get things going. I think everyone here is ready to get things going. We're excited about what we did this summer, but it's on paper. We still have to build the same habits and chemistry that we had last year in order to be successful.
Scott: Looking around the gym, there are plenty of new faces. Aside from that, what in your opinion is the major difference in this basketball team compared to the other three?
J.J.: I thought about that this morning. I am always a guy who's in the gym, and last year on Media Day, I remember I was maybe one of two guys who worked out before Media Day. I got here at 9 a.m. this morning to work out and there were already five guys here. By the time I finished up at 10:45, I think everyone had done some sort of workout. I think everybody's ready to go. I think the amount of work that we put in at the end of last year is gonna carry over and I think everyone understands how hard you have to work, how much you have to put in to get to that level and then really do even more work to win, which is the ultimate goal, to win a championship.
Scott: I know you are a gym rat, but I also know you took some time off this past summer...
J.J.: I started training for last season on June 1st of '08 and our season ended June 15 of '09, so I went a full year without any break. I actually took four weeks off, which was the longest break I've taken. I still ran and I still lifted but literally did not touch a basketball for four weeks. As soon as I got back, (Assistant Coach) Bob Beyer and I met. We talked about what we wanted to work on this summer and we got to work.
Scott: With Courtney Lee now in New Jersey, there's some opportunity there at the backup shooting guard spot. How much playing time is there for you this season?
J.J.: I said this at the beginning of last season, and I'll say it again. Those things are kinda outta my control. I can control how I play with the time I'm given but obviously Vince plays my position. Vince is gonna play a lot. I understand that. Hopefully Vince and I can be on the court together some, but then we have M.P. (Mickael Pietrus) and Matt Barnes. We're loaded at the wings. Those three guys are great NBA players. Whatever my role is I'll do it to the best of my ability. It's tough because Courtney and I were very close and it was hard because Courtney and I couldn't play at the same time because we were both undersized two guards. One of us left. I am happy I am here and hopefully that means as many if not more opportunities as I had last year.
Scott: J.J., what did you learn from your first NBA Finals experience?
J.J.: I learned just the importance of possession, of how much each possession matters. The Lakers were up 3-1 going into game five and if two possessions had been switched around in games two and four, we would have been up 3-1 going into game five. Now, that's a big, big 'what if'. Don't mistake me. The Lakers deserved to win. They were the better team in that series, without a doubt. But, in the playoffs, and really every game in the NBA, each possession matters. That's what I learned.
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, September 4, 2009, 5:55 PM
Timberwolves, We Feel Your Pain
Earlier this week, Ricky Rubio, the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, shunned the Minnesota Timberwolves by signing a six year deal with the Euroleague's FC Barcelona and subsequently telling Minnesota to sit and spin. Rubio is staying in Spain for at least the next two years.
Sound familiar, Magic fans?
Yup.
Our ole buddy Fran Vazquez pulled the same stunt here in Orlando four short years ago. Ironically, Vazquez and Rubio will be teammates this year in their native land.
What is it with these spineless Spaniards?
Back in 2005, the Orlando Magic used their 11th pick in the first round to take Vazquez, who, like Rubio, had given every indication that he would be coming to the NBA. Sure, there were whispers about him staying put in Europe but, at the time, Vazquez's agents and Fran himself all stated that he was ready to take his game to the next level in the NBA.
Turns out, the joke was on us as the Orlando Magic became the first team in the history of the Draft Lottery to be shunned by a player who preferred Europe to the bright lights of the NBA.
Earlier this summer, there were also rumblings about Rubio staying in Spain, but, despite the rumors and a hefty buy out in Rubio's contract, the Wolves took the plunge. Unlike us, though, the Wolves had the luxury of jumping in with a life jacket. Perhaps weary of what happened to the Magic four years earlier, Minnesota, with the sixth overall selection, took point guard Jonny Flynn from Syracuse.
Here is a Vazquez quote from back in the late summer of 2005, after he decided to reject us: "It was a tough decision, the toughest in my life. I said no because I feared I would not adjust well."
Juxtapose that quote with this recent quip from Rubio after deciding to remain in Spain: "Going to Minnesota would have just complicated my life a lot. It was a risk and I didn't see it so clearly."
These guys must be brothers from another mother.
Which one hurts the most? Fact is, any time a lottery pick doesn't even show up to camp, it stings now and into the future.
Even though Vazquez is not the type of player who's ever gonna put up gaudy numbers on either side of the pond, he could have helped the Magic with some much needed size and energy in the paint over the last four years. I am not saying that Franny puts us over the top vs. the Lakers last year, but I would have loved to have seen him guarding his countryman, Pau Gasol, on the low post in the Finals.
Rubio's diss of Minnesota has a bit more sex appeal because of the 18 year old's boyish good looks, his unique ball handling and play-making skills and the flare with which he plays the game. Rubio would have been a cornerstone for a Wolves' rebuilding process.
They say that misery loves company. Believe me, Wolve Nation, we don't revel in your misery. We Magic fans, instead, commiserate.
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 31, 2009, 2:12 PM
One-on-One with Otis
It's been quite an eventful summer for the Orlando Magic and General Manager Otis Smith. Recently, Sez caught up with Otis to get his take about the state of his Orlando Magic...
SCOTT... You've rounded out your roster. How do you feel about the players you've compiled for the coming season?
OTIS... I think we have a pretty good team coming back. Our core stayed intact with Rashard, Jameer and Dwight and we added a Vince Carter to our roster, which helps. Those were our keys going into it. You know, it's not necessarily standing pat because we didn't achieve our ultimate goal. The question at the beginning of the summer was...How do we get better? I think we did get better.
S... It would seem that you addressed your two biggest needs over the summer. Those needs being rebounding and going out and getting a true go-to-guy in Vince. Did you consider rebounding and the lack of a true go-to-guy your off-season priorities?
O... Rebounding, for sure, was a priority in dealing with some of the teams we have to play in the Playoffs. Backside rebounding was a major need, which is what Brandon Bass is good at. We needed size. We have alotta guys who are tall but we didn't have a whole lotta girth. So Brandon will give us that. He will give us size, energy and he's very active. As for Vince, I told him this...Two years ago when we were entertaining the thought about bringing him on as a free agent, I didn't think it was the right time. But I think right now is the perfect time for him to be with us. He's 32 years old, a young 32, and he's hungry to win. He sees it as, I've got some guys here capable of winning a championship, and I think he's ready to go. He's probably in the best condition I've seen him in in years.
S... What about Vince? Do you expect him to be invigorated now that he's playing at home?
O... Yes, I do. 32 years old and playing at home, you can handle it. Now, if you're 29, 28, 26 and you're playing at home, I think it gets to be a little tough to deal with all the pressures of that. I think he's prepared now. That's one of the things that, as an organization, you have to be aware of. But, as I told him and as I tell the other guys, we're not asking him to carry the load. We're asking him get a handle and I think he's capable of doing that.
S... How good is Brandon Bass...and how good can he be?
O... I think he can be very good. I think that he brings is a lot of energy. He's got a big wide body. He can knock down a 17 foot jump shot consistently. He's very good for our team. Backside rebounding, when Dwight goes to block shots, ya know, we had to get someone to grab the rebound on the opposite side and that's where Brandon comes in. I'm not necessarily sure that he'll change how our team plays. I think we'll play a similar style, inside out through Dwight. We're still gonna get open looks that are created by double teams. No doubt, Brandon will be a big asset to our team.
S... With Hedo in Toronto now and with Bass here in Orlando, do you think that your team transforms from more of a three-point shooting team to more of a conventional club?
O... I think we'll be similar. I think when you look at our roster now, you see quite a bit of versatility. We can play multiple ways. I don't think that changes anything. I think if ya wanna play big, we can play big. If ya wanna play small, we can play small. I think we have probably one of the most versatile rosters out there as far as playing multiple styles. The three-point ball has been good to us because we make teams pay for doubling Dwight and it also keeps the floor spread and allows him to work, so, I am not sure that's gonna change a ton.
S... Rashard's out for the first ten games. Could the silver lining be the fact that it may allow other guys, the new guys, to step up?
O... There silver lining, no doubt. You wanna see how many minutes they can play and how deep you go to your bench. If you've got Rashard, you're not gonna do that. You're gonna rely on what's been consistent for us for the last two years. By not having Rashard in the lineup, it will give you an opportunity to see Bass, Anderson and Barnes for extended minutes. So, it's good and bad. You never want one of your players out. We're gonna miss him, but the rest of the guys have to carry the load.
S... How about Dwight? Rumor has it, via Twitter, that he's working on his free throws and his outside shot. He's already pretty darn good, but give us a progress report on Dwight and what he's been working on?
O... He's working on his game and his body. His biggest thing is his body. Everyone thinks that because he's got a great physique, that he doesn't need to get stronger. I think he still needs to work on his base and get stronger in his legs. Yes, he needs to continue to work on his free throws and I think he's done all those things. I do know that he's chompin' at the bit to get back, as all these guys are. Jameer had his camp up on Philly recently and the guys were really excited about it. I think they're all excited about the chances of us getting back to the Finals and winning it this time.
S... We saw Boston and Cleveland make moves specifically due to Dwight's dominance. Cleveland signs Shaq. The Cetlics go get Rasheed Wallace. Your thoughts about what those teams did this summer?
O... We all have to get better. That goes without question. Those two teams and ourselves are aggressively in pursuit of championships, not just wins. In order to do that, you have to tweak your roster as you see fit. I thought Danny Ferry did a good job in adding Shaquille O'Neal at pretty much a low cost to him and I think Danny Ainge did the same thing in Boston, pretty much tweaking at little to no cost. It's about positioning yourself to win a title. You can't win if you're not racing and I think the three of us all have positioned themselves to do that. But, as quiet and low key as it's been, I think the Washington Wizards have done a good job of putting a pretty good team on the floor as well.
S... I guess the big question this year will be...How will your team react to being the hunted instead of being the hunter?
O... Our guys are still pretty much the team that no one expects to do very much. So, I don't necessarily think that has changed very much. But our guys know what they're up against every day and they know they have to battle every day and I think they're equally enthused about the task. We have a much different looking ball team than we've ever had. We have a lot of experience at some positions that we didn't have so I think they're really excited about the season ahead.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
NBA.COM is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.
Advertise on NBA.com | Career Opportunities | Help
