Denton: Magic-Bobcats Notes
By John Denton
November 16, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – One step forward, one step backward. It’s a dance that the Orlando Magic have been frustratingly stepping to for going on three weeks now.
The Magic finally got suspended forward Rashard Lewis back on Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, but Orlando wasn’t at full strength because reserve center Marcin Gortat was kept away from the team because of an illness.
And others – Jameer Nelson (illness), J.J. Redick (sprained ankle) and Brandon Bass (illness) – were still struggling with illness or injury, leaving the team well short of full strength. Star center Dwight Howard and reserve guard Jason Williams are the only two Magic players not to miss practice or game time because of illness, injury, suspension or a death in the family.
``Eleven players available – that’s a pretty good number for us,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy chuckled before the game. ``We’ve had a lot of guys out and just when we get one back we lose another one. But just trying to move forward and get through this has been a key for us.’’
Bass, a power forward by trade, had to play center much of Monday after Howard got into early foul trouble. Bass missed Friday’s defeat of New Jersey and tired early in practice over the weekend, but was pressed into duty on Monday.
RINGING ENDORSEMENT: In addition to getting Lewis back on Monday, the Magic also saw the return of second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who returned after missing three games with an ankle sprain. The 6-foot-10 Anderson helped steady Orlando while Lewis was out, averaging 15 points and hitting 16 3-pointers in the six games he played in before spraining his ankle.
Van Gundy said that Anderson was so good that he had no plans of taking him out of the rotation. He fully plans on using Anderson as the backup power forward behind Lewis, and he even wants to play Lewis some at small forward so that it will create more playing time for Anderson.
``Ryan’s our backup (power forward) and he’s going to be in our rotation,’’ Van Gundy said. ``He’s shoots the ball well, he’s rebounded well and we’ll continue to work with him with his defense. He had a (bad shooting) night in Detroit, but the next night (against Phoenix) he was terrific. You just have to believe in those guys. He’s going to be in our rotation on a nightly basis.’’
BOBCATS TRADE: Charlotte, which entered Monday’s game last in the NBA in shooting and scoring, traded for controversial guard Stephen Jackson and Acie Law on Monday. After the Warriors waived the physicals for Raja Bell and Vladamir Radmanovic, Jackson was cleared to play Monday night with his new team. Jackson got on a flight in Milwaukee Monday morning and said he never considered not playing Monday night.
``I’m on a different team so there’s no need for me to sit at home for two days and figure out what it’s going to be like,’’ Jackson said. ``Let’s get right into it. I’m in great shape now and I want to stay in great shape. I don’t want to miss games. I play basketball and I’m ready to do it.’’
Jackson publicly requested a trade out of Golden State before the season and was fined by the Warriors. He said he was delighted to get out of Golden State because the Warriors haven’t been serious about winning the past two seasons.
``I wanted to be out of there pretty bad,’’ Jackson said. ``Things were going pretty bad and I was being blamed for everything. I wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with the team. I got fined $100-something-thousand in the preseason, so it was ridiculous. When I got there we made history beating Dallas in the first round, but the team got worse and winning stopped being a priority. Once the winning stopped being a priority, I didn’t want to be a part of it.’’
JORDAN TRIBUTE: Vince Carter said he wasn’t so sure about LeBron James’ idea that the rest of the league should stop wearing No. 23 as a way to honor NBA legend Michael Jordan. James is planning to switch to No. 6 next season, a number he was wearing during Cleveland’s practice in Orlando last week.
Carter isn’t so sure the league should go so far as to not allow anyone to wear No. 23 again. After all, Carter said he’s already honored Jordan in his own way back at the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta.
``That’s a tough one that I’ve tried to stay out of, but Michael Jordan is definitely one of the all-time greatest,’’ Carter said. ``I’m old enough to have played against him when he was in Washington. I was in a position for his last All-Star Game where I gave up my (starting) spot so he could start. That was my way of honoring him as one of the greatest to ever play. To have that opportunity (to give up his all-star slot), was a great honor for me. That was my tribute, my moment and I stay out of the rest of it with the number.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonNovember 16, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – One step forward, one step backward. It’s a dance that the Orlando Magic have been frustratingly stepping to for going on three weeks now.
The Magic finally got suspended forward Rashard Lewis back on Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, but Orlando wasn’t at full strength because reserve center Marcin Gortat was kept away from the team because of an illness.
And others – Jameer Nelson (illness), J.J. Redick (sprained ankle) and Brandon Bass (illness) – were still struggling with illness or injury, leaving the team well short of full strength. Star center Dwight Howard and reserve guard Jason Williams are the only two Magic players not to miss practice or game time because of illness, injury, suspension or a death in the family.
``Eleven players available – that’s a pretty good number for us,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy chuckled before the game. ``We’ve had a lot of guys out and just when we get one back we lose another one. But just trying to move forward and get through this has been a key for us.’’
Bass, a power forward by trade, had to play center much of Monday after Howard got into early foul trouble. Bass missed Friday’s defeat of New Jersey and tired early in practice over the weekend, but was pressed into duty on Monday.
RINGING ENDORSEMENT: In addition to getting Lewis back on Monday, the Magic also saw the return of second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who returned after missing three games with an ankle sprain. The 6-foot-10 Anderson helped steady Orlando while Lewis was out, averaging 15 points and hitting 16 3-pointers in the six games he played in before spraining his ankle.
Van Gundy said that Anderson was so good that he had no plans of taking him out of the rotation. He fully plans on using Anderson as the backup power forward behind Lewis, and he even wants to play Lewis some at small forward so that it will create more playing time for Anderson.
``Ryan’s our backup (power forward) and he’s going to be in our rotation,’’ Van Gundy said. ``He’s shoots the ball well, he’s rebounded well and we’ll continue to work with him with his defense. He had a (bad shooting) night in Detroit, but the next night (against Phoenix) he was terrific. You just have to believe in those guys. He’s going to be in our rotation on a nightly basis.’’
BOBCATS TRADE: Charlotte, which entered Monday’s game last in the NBA in shooting and scoring, traded for controversial guard Stephen Jackson and Acie Law on Monday. After the Warriors waived the physicals for Raja Bell and Vladamir Radmanovic, Jackson was cleared to play Monday night with his new team. Jackson got on a flight in Milwaukee Monday morning and said he never considered not playing Monday night.
``I’m on a different team so there’s no need for me to sit at home for two days and figure out what it’s going to be like,’’ Jackson said. ``Let’s get right into it. I’m in great shape now and I want to stay in great shape. I don’t want to miss games. I play basketball and I’m ready to do it.’’
Jackson publicly requested a trade out of Golden State before the season and was fined by the Warriors. He said he was delighted to get out of Golden State because the Warriors haven’t been serious about winning the past two seasons.
``I wanted to be out of there pretty bad,’’ Jackson said. ``Things were going pretty bad and I was being blamed for everything. I wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with the team. I got fined $100-something-thousand in the preseason, so it was ridiculous. When I got there we made history beating Dallas in the first round, but the team got worse and winning stopped being a priority. Once the winning stopped being a priority, I didn’t want to be a part of it.’’
JORDAN TRIBUTE: Vince Carter said he wasn’t so sure about LeBron James’ idea that the rest of the league should stop wearing No. 23 as a way to honor NBA legend Michael Jordan. James is planning to switch to No. 6 next season, a number he was wearing during Cleveland’s practice in Orlando last week.
Carter isn’t so sure the league should go so far as to not allow anyone to wear No. 23 again. After all, Carter said he’s already honored Jordan in his own way back at the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta.
``That’s a tough one that I’ve tried to stay out of, but Michael Jordan is definitely one of the all-time greatest,’’ Carter said. ``I’m old enough to have played against him when he was in Washington. I was in a position for his last All-Star Game where I gave up my (starting) spot so he could start. That was my way of honoring him as one of the greatest to ever play. To have that opportunity (to give up his all-star slot), was a great honor for me. That was my tribute, my moment and I stay out of the rest of it with the number.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
