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Magic feeling better about selves
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Topic Started: Dec 16 2005, 03:52 PM (130 Views)
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Dec 16 2005, 03:52 PM
Post #1
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#1 Magic Fan
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...story?track=rss
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Magic feeling better about selves
Maybe it was the aura of Madison Square Garden. Maybe it was the return of Grant Hill. Or maybe it was the belated reunion of their starting lineup.
Perhaps it was all of the above.
Whatever, Orlando Magic guard DeShawn Stevenson said after the Magic whipped the New York Knicks 105-90 Wednesday night that he felt his team has "kind of a swagger."
Not many clubs can afford to -- as the hip young players crow -- "pop their collars," especially at 9-11 and facing the Dallas Mavericks tonight.
Then again, a jaunty kind of confidence can breed winning.
"It felt real different. I felt we had kind of a swagger," Stevenson said. "I don't know if it was being in the Garden or because of Grant being back, but we had a swagger to us."
The Magic definitely had a pep in their step at the Garden -- or "on the stage," as some players called it.
From the 11 3-pointers they brazenly buried, to Steve Francis' acrobatic dunk, to Dwight Howard's towering power. . . . the Magic seized a road game by the throat and never backed off.
With Hill healthy, Orlando finally can start the lineup it envisioned during training camp. "We're starting to get it," Hill said. "It took a while, but it's going to come together."
But in a league where unpredictability seems to be this season's theme -- how else to explain 14 sub-.500 teams and Atlanta beating San Antonio? -- it is up to the Magic to turn such confidence into consistency.
Three aspects of their game worked in concert Wednesday night.
For the most part, the Magic established Howard inside, leading to easy baskets or open shots for others. He's the framework, the support beam, the bridge to a playoff berth.
Howard is averaging 15.1 points and 13.3 rebounds after 20 games -- significant increases over his 10.8 points and 10.1 rebounds at this juncture last season. He also has taken 222 shots -- 82 more than at the 20-game mark last season.
"He's going to be as good as any player we've seen in this league," Knicks Coach Larry Brown gushed after Howard scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. "I don't think his stats reflected the effect he had on the game. He goes after every ball, every shot, hustles on every play."
Instead of settling for jump shots, the Magic drove to the basket to score or reach the foul line (31 attempts but only 20 makes). Hill now rejoins Francis and Stevenson as off-the-dribble threats.
While 3-point shooting likely won't become a playbook staple, Hedo Turkoglu and Pat Garrity spread out and splayed New York as the bench thrived.
Against the disheveled Knicks, the Magic displayed rare offensive fireworks, which actually allowed them to overcome an uneven defensive effort. The Mavs (16-6) likely won't be so accommodating.
The Magic can get all their injured players healthy again, but progress will only be made by stopping some people -- and stopping the turnover madness.
Hill hadn't played since Oct. 19 and was recovering from sports hernia surgery. He scored just seven points on 2-of-5 shooting in 23 minutes. He had five of the club's 16 turnovers against the Knicks, conceding he was "rusty" and not in "game shape."
Hill was feeling his way around in his first game of the season, groping at times. But just his presence seemed to lift Orlando, which has won its past two games.
"When he's on the floor, he makes you better just with his basketball IQ," Magic Coach Brian Hill said.
The Magic must adapt to Hill's return on the fly.
Turkoglu, who had replaced Hill in the lineup, looked comfortable again as a sixth man who adds bench depth. He gave the Magic a better long-ball threat, but he is not the all-around player that Hill is to be carrying such a large role.
Hill averaged 19.7 and Francis 21.3 points per game last season. Neither likely will match that in Brian Hill's deliberate share-the-ball offense. Grant will have to work with Stevenson and Francis to divvy up shots.
If Howard loses any shots, there ought to be an inquiry.
As expected, Hill and his teammates were adjusting to their altered roles, trying to decide whom would defer to whom. At times, Hill was initiating the offense, a job previously held by Francis and Stevenson.
"You forget you got Grant Hill out there," Stevenson said. "Of course, you have to adjust. You let him do his thing. He brings a lot to the table."
Maybe a kind of swagger.
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Tony
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Dec 16 2005, 03:57 PM
Post #2
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Dwight Howard = MVP
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Of course the magic are feeling good bout themselves they just got Hill back, beat the knicks by 15 and are only 2.5 games behind Miami in the southeast division, but they are 2 games under .500 <_< . That aint too bad........oh yea, they also have a dude named Dwight Howard, why not feel good.
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Solid Snake
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Dec 16 2005, 04:00 PM
Post #3
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Legend
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I was watching the game and they definitely had a swagger like they are saying. Probably because they were playing the knicks, but that confidence has not been here that season. Jameer was smiling all game because its like he knew where the open guy was going to be. Dwight just stood there and knew he was going to dominate. Hedo and Garrity wanted to take those 3's.
Lets see if they have a swagger against a much better team tonight. Then that would be impressive.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Dec 16 2005, 04:05 PM
Post #4
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#1 Magic Fan
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yeah really. tonight is the real test to see if the magic are as good as we have been hoping. keep your fingers crossed!
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Tony
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Dec 16 2005, 04:33 PM
Post #5
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Dwight Howard = MVP
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If we get killed against the mavs then we'll be back to the same old magic. I know the mavs are good but still. It will prove that the win against the knicks was either cuz the knicks suck or cuz we're good. I think both!
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Black and Blue
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Dec 16 2005, 08:53 PM
Post #6
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Have You Hugged Your Van Gundy Today?
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Yeah, they deserve a swagger if they can beat the Mavs. The Knicks SUCK, so Ill wait until they beat the Mavs to get pumped.
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gomagic33
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Dec 16 2005, 08:55 PM
Post #7
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Mr. Anderson
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Or at least not get blown out. If we can stick with the Mavs, that would be a good confidence boost.
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