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MagicMadness
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Catching up with Clifford Ray
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Topic Started: Dec 13 2005, 04:35 PM (180 Views)
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Dec 13 2005, 04:35 PM
Post #1
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#1 Magic Fan
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...&coll=orl-magic
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Catching up with Clifford Ray
Ray was an assistant coach with the Magic last season, mostly working with then-rookie Dwight Howard. For years, the former NBA center has been a personal coach and guru to big men. He was not retained when the Magic hired Brian Hill as head coach. He still lives in Orlando.
Magic Confidential: What is the guru doing now?
Ray: I'm taking care of my foot, being a convalescent, mostly. (Ray's foot became infected last season.) I'm negotiating with people in China to work with a kid they say is better than Yao Ming.
MC: Do you talk with Dwight much?
Ray: Oh, yeah. I leave him messages, offering encouragement. . . . Pushing him to go into deeper water.
MC: What have you seen so far with him?
Ray: Dwight's doing great. When he learns the game, he can do the kinds of things that Tim Duncan, KG and Shaq do.
MC: What does he need to work on?
Ray: I wanted to get him to make a little turn-around jumper in the lane and become a better shooter. His free-throw shooting needs work, but my, he can gobble up rebounds. He reminds me of a young Ben Wallace.
MC: Dwight's parents were disappointed you were not retained.
Ray: They knew they had somebody who knew the ins and outs of the game and cared about the young man. It shouldn't have been a problem, but unfortunately that's how this business is.
MC: You've obviously tried to hook on with another team?
Ray: You know, big guys . . . we have been somewhat discriminated against. I don't mean black and white, but as far as the history of big guys. Name big guys who became head coaches? Bill Russell, Bill Cartwright, Phil Jackson . . . not many. Some of us know the game. It's insulting.
I'm not bitter; I just think it's interesting. I send in applications all the time. I sent in my resume again to the Magic. Hey, I'm not going to lay down and play dead.
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Tony
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Dec 13 2005, 08:16 PM
Post #2
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Dwight Howard = MVP
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I think hes right about Howard needing to work on his turn around jumper, if he had that shot he would be a young tim duncan.
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MagicMadness
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Dec 14 2005, 05:39 AM
Post #3
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I still don't understand why the Magic didn't retain Ray as a coach for Dwight Howard. Not an assistant coach to Brian Hill, but as a personal coach for Howard.
Who is Howard working with now? I'm a bit surprised he didn't just hire Ray for himself.
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Magic Buddy
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Dec 14 2005, 01:07 PM
Post #4
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Legend
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- MagicMadness
- Dec. 14 2005 04:39 AM
I still don't understand why the Magic didn't retain Ray as a coach for Dwight Howard. Not an assistant coach to Brian Hill, but as a personal coach for Howard.
Who is Howard working with now? I'm a bit surprised he didn't just hire Ray for himself.
I am quite sure they are still working together. Dwight and his family think highly of Clifford Ray. I think if Clifford Ray does not get any good job offerings, he probably will commit to Dwight full time.
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