Denton: Magic-Cavaliers Notes
By John Denton
November 11, 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 – LeBron James was asked about his impending free agency once, twice and finally a third time before the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar forward put an abrupt end to the line of questioning.
James talked about becoming a free agent last week while in New York and on Wednesday night he briefly touched on the fact that he and Miami guard Dwyane Wade have discussed potentially playing together. But when James was repeatedly pressed on the matter, he reacted angrily.
``Honestly, this free-agent talk is getting old,’’ James said. ``(Wednesday), I think will be the last time that I answer any more free-agent questions until the offseason. I think I owe it to my teammates and owe it to myself.
``I’m focusing on this season and this is going to be a really good season for us and I don’t want to have any more distractions to my teammates, my organization, myself and my family,’’ he continued. ``This will be the last time that I answer a free-agent question the rest of the year.’’
James can exercise an early termination clause in his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. He headlines a class of free agents that is expected to include Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer.
NO ``STRETCH’’ FORWARD: The Magic were without Rashard Lewis for a ninth time this season as the standout power forward serves a NBA-mandated 10-game suspension for taking an over-the-counter, banned substance last spring.
Not having Lewis against Cleveland was especially limiting for the Magic because of how well Lewis has played against the Cavs the past two seasons. Lewis was particularly effective in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland, averaging 18.3 points while hitting 15 3-pointers.
``They’re different and we’re different right now without Rashard and Ryan (Anderson),’’ Van Gundy said of his Magic and the Cavs. ``We can’t really spread them out now the way we could last year. We’re a lot more different in the way we play at this point in the season than they are.’’
Shooting power forwards, or ``stretch fours,’’ as coaches often refer to them have given Cleveland fits in the past because of Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas’s inability to guard perimeter players.
Lewis will miss the Magic’s game on Friday against the New Jersey Nets and then the all-star forward is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday versus Charlotte. Lewis led the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted last season.
DEFENDING DWIGHT: The Cavs make no bones about the fact that they traded for Shaquille O’Neal specifically to give them a better shot at defending Magic star center Dwight Howard.
Howard battered the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, a dazzling performance that lifted the Magic to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995. In six playoff games against Cleveland, Howard averaged 25.8 points on 65 percent shooting in addition to grabbing 13 rebounds and swatting 1.17 shots a game.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown said he second-guesses several things about that series, but he doesn’t know what else the Cavs could have done against Howard. Hence, the offseason trade for the 340-pound O’Neal.
``Against Dwight we tried everything imaginable and he still had a great series and you have to commend him for that,’’ Brown said before Wednesday’s game. ``He made it tough on us no matter what we did. You just have to give the Magic credit. They were the better team, Stan (Van Gundy) did a terrific job, he was the better coach and they won the series.’’
James predicted that O’Neal would play with a special fire against Howard each time the teams meet this season. And he thinks that O’Neal levels the playing field between the Magic and the Cavs. Said James: ``It will help us because he’s always been able to take big guys one on one and make them take tough shots. Shaq’s pride will kick in (against Howard) and having him in the low post will allow us to stay home more on their shooters.’’
ETC: Referees conducted an ``off the record’’ session with reporters prior to the game to display the NBA’s points of emphasis this season. The league wants to clean up moving screens, players moving their pivot feet on pump fakes, arm-bar maneuvers in the post, defenders impeding the path of cutters and visible complaints toward the referees. The referees are delighted that the league expanded use of instant replay for this season, allowing them to review tries at the end of the shot clock and out of bounds plays in the final two minutes of games. … Cleveland guard Mo Williams, a product of the University of Alabama, had a message for fans of the Florida Gators, whom the Tide will face in the SEC title game on Dec. 5. Said Williams: ``Florida had better watch out. We’re coming to get you. We’re trying to get into that national championship game.’’
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 11, 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 – LeBron James was asked about his impending free agency once, twice and finally a third time before the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar forward put an abrupt end to the line of questioning.
James talked about becoming a free agent last week while in New York and on Wednesday night he briefly touched on the fact that he and Miami guard Dwyane Wade have discussed potentially playing together. But when James was repeatedly pressed on the matter, he reacted angrily.
``Honestly, this free-agent talk is getting old,’’ James said. ``(Wednesday), I think will be the last time that I answer any more free-agent questions until the offseason. I think I owe it to my teammates and owe it to myself.
``I’m focusing on this season and this is going to be a really good season for us and I don’t want to have any more distractions to my teammates, my organization, myself and my family,’’ he continued. ``This will be the last time that I answer a free-agent question the rest of the year.’’
James can exercise an early termination clause in his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. He headlines a class of free agents that is expected to include Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer.
NO ``STRETCH’’ FORWARD: The Magic were without Rashard Lewis for a ninth time this season as the standout power forward serves a NBA-mandated 10-game suspension for taking an over-the-counter, banned substance last spring.
Not having Lewis against Cleveland was especially limiting for the Magic because of how well Lewis has played against the Cavs the past two seasons. Lewis was particularly effective in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland, averaging 18.3 points while hitting 15 3-pointers.
``They’re different and we’re different right now without Rashard and Ryan (Anderson),’’ Van Gundy said of his Magic and the Cavs. ``We can’t really spread them out now the way we could last year. We’re a lot more different in the way we play at this point in the season than they are.’’
Shooting power forwards, or ``stretch fours,’’ as coaches often refer to them have given Cleveland fits in the past because of Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas’s inability to guard perimeter players.
Lewis will miss the Magic’s game on Friday against the New Jersey Nets and then the all-star forward is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday versus Charlotte. Lewis led the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted last season.
DEFENDING DWIGHT: The Cavs make no bones about the fact that they traded for Shaquille O’Neal specifically to give them a better shot at defending Magic star center Dwight Howard.
Howard battered the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, a dazzling performance that lifted the Magic to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995. In six playoff games against Cleveland, Howard averaged 25.8 points on 65 percent shooting in addition to grabbing 13 rebounds and swatting 1.17 shots a game.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown said he second-guesses several things about that series, but he doesn’t know what else the Cavs could have done against Howard. Hence, the offseason trade for the 340-pound O’Neal.
``Against Dwight we tried everything imaginable and he still had a great series and you have to commend him for that,’’ Brown said before Wednesday’s game. ``He made it tough on us no matter what we did. You just have to give the Magic credit. They were the better team, Stan (Van Gundy) did a terrific job, he was the better coach and they won the series.’’
James predicted that O’Neal would play with a special fire against Howard each time the teams meet this season. And he thinks that O’Neal levels the playing field between the Magic and the Cavs. Said James: ``It will help us because he’s always been able to take big guys one on one and make them take tough shots. Shaq’s pride will kick in (against Howard) and having him in the low post will allow us to stay home more on their shooters.’’
ETC: Referees conducted an ``off the record’’ session with reporters prior to the game to display the NBA’s points of emphasis this season. The league wants to clean up moving screens, players moving their pivot feet on pump fakes, arm-bar maneuvers in the post, defenders impeding the path of cutters and visible complaints toward the referees. The referees are delighted that the league expanded use of instant replay for this season, allowing them to review tries at the end of the shot clock and out of bounds plays in the final two minutes of games. … Cleveland guard Mo Williams, a product of the University of Alabama, had a message for fans of the Florida Gators, whom the Tide will face in the SEC title game on Dec. 5. Said Williams: ``Florida had better watch out. We’re coming to get you. We’re trying to get into that national championship game.’’
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.
