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Magic-Heat rivalry renewed
Topic Started: Jun 23 2007, 11:46 PM (477 Views)
MAGICMANEVAN
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...ball_magic_util
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For years, the Orlando Magic/Miami Heat rivalry has been little more than talk, propped up by the proximity of the two cities and hollow words that carried little weight.

It's time to make it happen.

The Magic's recent coaching fiasco that began with the firing of Brian Hill, the luring and losing of Billy Donovan, then the frantic chase of Stan Van Gundy may have been a public-relations nightmare, but it could ignite a rivalry that has been itching to happen.

Although no one is saying anything publicly, there clearly is bad blood brewing, after the Heat tried to put the jackhammer to the Magic and Van Gundy.

Knowing the Magic didn't want to endure another botched hiring attempt -- they aggressively were chasing Van Gundy -- the Heat tried to embezzle a ransom for his services.

It didn't matter that he was a coach they had dismissed a year-and-a-half before and had no real use for anymore. They clearly took aim on the Magic, demanding a future first-round draft pick and $1 million. He still was being paid as a hardly used consultant.

The Heat had freed him to leave for Sacramento, but they didn't want him coaching so close to home. It was proof of his talents, but a low blow to the Magic.

It almost cost Van Gundy the job he wanted. The price was negotiated downward -- the Heat will get the better of the two teams' first-round picks next season (contingent on the Magic not being in the lottery) and a second-round pick this month -- but the Magic won't soon forget the aggravation caused by the Heat.

Also as part of the deal, Van Gundy had to sign a separation agreement with the Heat that will prohibit him from discussing the breakup. He may have been furious with the Heat and President Pat Riley, but he won't be talking about it.

He is too nice of a guy to hold an open grudge, but there still is smoke coming out of his ears.

"The rivalry? I hope it becomes a great one," Van Gundy said. "Anything that adds intensity and raises the enthusiasm and raises the stakes is great for everybody."

The best thing the Magic can do this season is finish with a better record than the Heat. Otherwise they are going to be letting the Heat take the better pick. Surprisingly, the Magic beat the Heat all four times last season.

The Heat, though, should have a healthy Dwyane Wade next season, and a more aggressive but rapidly aging Shaquille O'Neal, who struggled to contend with the Dwight Howard/Darko Milicic combination around the basket.

One reason the rivalry never has reached the level it should have is the lack of playoff matchups between the two. When the Magic were really good, in the mid-1990s, the Heat were bad. When the Heat were good in the late '90s, the Magic had grown stale. And when the Heat got really good recently, the Magic have struggled.

The only time they met in the playoffs was in 1997 when the heavily favored Heat almost were upset, winning a best-of-five series that was marked by a huge performance from Darrell Armstrong.

"Rivalries really build from the playoffs. When you get in there and start advancing, that's where rivalries can really take off," Van Gundy said. ". . . It's really great for the fans when the intensity rises. It should happen here."
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NYCMagicFan
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He didnt say anything negative about Riley in his press conference, but you know Van Gundy wants to blow out Riley everytime they play him. And I hope he does!
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MAGICmanSAM
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We will never hear Stan Van Gundy say anything negative about Pat Riley. He is a class act and divulging negativities about his former boss would not be a classy move.
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Ben Q Rock
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MAGICmanSAM
Jun. 24 2007 08:14 PM
We will never hear Stan Van Gundy say anything negative about Pat Riley. He is a class act and divulging negativities about his former boss would not be a classy move.

Yeah, there's that, and then there's the confidentiality agreement he had to sign to get out of the consultant position with the Heat.
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Black and Blue
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Have You Hugged Your Van Gundy Today?
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Stephen A Smith said that he expects Grant Hill to wind up with the Heat. Stephen A is a moron, but that would amp the rivalry up tenfold.
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Ben Q Rock
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Black and Blue
Jun. 25 2007 12:12 PM
Stephen A Smith said that he expects Grant Hill to wind up with the Heat. Stephen A is a moron, but that would amp the rivalry up tenfold.

I don't trust Stephen A. at all.
HOWEVA, Hill certainly fits Miami's need for a thirty-and-older veteran. They don't have enough of those guys on their roster. ;)
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Black and Blue
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:lol: good use of the HOWEVA. Bravo
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ec23456
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If nothing else SVG can modevate his Magic Players in 2007-08 get that rivalary going again & this time they may have enough guns to pull it off if Marion or Lewis sign with Orlando.

ec23456
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Pitbullz EP
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Magic in 5
ec23456
Jun. 27 2007 05:55 PM
If nothing else SVG can modevate his Magic Players in 2007-08 get that rivalary going again & this time they may have enough guns to pull it off if Marion or Lewis sign with Orlando.

ec23456

Marion, When did he become available?
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Ben Q Rock
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3QC
Hill2Howard
Jun. 28 2007 05:41 PM
ec23456
Jun. 27 2007 05:55 PM
If nothing else SVG can modevate his Magic Players in 2007-08 get that rivalary going again & this time they may have enough guns to pull it off if Marion or Lewis sign with Orlando.

ec23456

Marion, When did he become available?

The Suns don't want to enter luxury-tax territory, so they're entertaining offers for Stoudemire and Marion. The latest rumor has the Bobcats getting Stoudemire and Marcus Banks, the Timberwolves getting Charlotte's #8 pick and a player who has yet to be named, and the Suns getting Kevin Garnett.
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ec23456
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I heard the Suns had been Shopping Marion because of Luxary Tax that PHX Faces.
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