Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
NOTE FROM THE FORUM OWNER:

We had a long, enjoyable run, and I would like to thank every Orlando Magic fan who contributed to our small community on the web. This message board will be left online as an archive into the thoughts and minds of a group of Magic fanatics who lived through a 21-win season, the drafting of Dwight Howard, and an eventual NBA Finals appearance. You can also visit the original MagicMadness Forum at http://orlandomagic.proboards.com.

Special thanks to our Staff Members: Black and Blue, MAGICMANEVAN, and NYCMagicFan!

MagicMadness
Forum Owner
Add Reply
Five faces of the future for the NBA; Courtney Lee!!
Topic Started: Apr 24 2009, 12:36 PM (244 Views)
MagicMadness
Member Avatar

Administrator
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9493700...ure-for-the-NBA
Quote:
 
The inevitability of LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant may have sapped the first round of some of its drama, but it hasn't stopped a handful of young stars from providing a tantalizing glimpse of a future NBA where the roadmap to the Finals is not etched in stone.

Five young players have emerged in these playoffs to remind us there is a league that exists beyond the two megastars.

Michael Beasley, 20, and Courtney Lee, 23, have served notice in their two-game playoff careers that they may be just the running mates their teams' superstars need to contend for a title.[/B]

If the Magic reach the Promised Land in the next few years Dwight Howard will have carried them there. But even Superman would appreciate being able to shift a little of the burden to other less-broad shoulders.

Enter Courtney Lee. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis were Howard's main double-team thwarters during the season, but in the playoffs Lee has stepped into the void created by their woeful shooting. Turkoglu is 5-for-18 from the floor in the first two games against Philly. Lewis is 9-for-25. That Scud-like 14-for-43 works out to 32.6 percent.

Lee, a rookie out of Western Kentucky selected with the 22nd pick, has made 18 of 34 shots in his first two playoff games, a 53 percent clip. He scored 18 points in Orlando's shameful series-opening loss to the Sixers and then dropped a career-high 24 on 10-of-17 shooting as the Magic drew even.

It's only two games — and a split at that — but Howard may have discovered a teammate whose shooting percentage actually goes up the more the shots matter. The Magic have tried to get away with surrounding Howard with shooters and playing Lewis (and his 5.7 rpg average) at power forward. But if Lee proves a consistent scoring option at the 2, the Magic can put some non-scoring beef up front with Superman, which will beef up their chances of one day reaching the Finals.


Wow. Lee is getting some huge hype. What an unexpected surprise he is turning out to be for us.

I mean, we all generally felt like he was a good pick-up, but who would've known he'd end up our starting SG, and be averaging about 20ppg after the first two games of the playoffs?

Now obviously, he'll likely continue to have his ups and downs - he's only a rookie. But the road ahead looks bright for him and for us Magic fans.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pitbullz EP
Member Avatar
Magic in 5
Wow..The Magic are so horrible that ONE DAY they will make it to the promise land...Not this year though, because a Lebron - Kobe match up is inevitable. There is no chance in hell that Orlando plays like that have all season.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TheFalcon
Member Avatar
Air Gortat
Five faces of the NBA? His face may look a little different after last night.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
efenell
Member Avatar
DA - Magic Legend
Too bad Otis totally fuct up on that Pietrus signing or he might have a chance to win the Exec. of the Year
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Orlando Magic Locker Room · Next Topic »
Add Reply