It's Magic Again in Orlando, Just Like 1995

For the last three weeks or so, I’ve been trying to convince my family, friends and basically anyone who’ll listen that 2009 feels a whole lot like the mid-1990s.

The unbridled optimism pouring out of Washington, D.C., a super-friendly cast on the Real World, and a bitchin’ pair of acid washed jeans I just bought were the first clues to me this year was a resurgence of sorts of the bygone era of dirty grunge rock, Lisa Frank stationery, and Steve Urkel.

Then the NBA provided me with the irrefutable evidence that the year 2009 was in fact a crazy-ass remix of 1995: the rise of the Orlando Magic.

Back in ’95, with Michael Jordan geeking it out with the Double-A Birmingham Barons before returning to the Bulls at midseason, the 6-year-old Orlando Magic took the NBA by storm with their pinstripes, a dominating All-Star center, and plethora of spot-up jumpshooters en route to the NBA Finals before being swept by the Rockets.

Now, in 2009, with Michael Jordan nowhere in sight and the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Lakers solidifying themselves as the league’s top title contenders, the now 20-year-old Magic have again taken the NBA by surprise. The pinstripes are back, the Magic again have a dominating All-Star center, and everyone on the squad not named Dwight Howard is a lights-out shooter.

With the Celtics’ age and the Cavs’ injuries, the Magic are quickly becoming the trendy pick to come out of the East. And those singing the praises have good reason.

Howard, while still lacking any semblance of a developed or refined offensive game, is still among the league’s most dominating inside presences. Jameer Nelson’s blossoming into one of the premier point guards in the league, with his owl-like face and crunch-time fearlessness.

Former college Player of the Year and all-around gelled-up whitey J.J. Redick has somehow broken into the rotation (well, Mickael Pietrus and Keith Bogans are injured, but I just can’t get over the fact that Redick’s actually kinda sorta good) and has relished his opportunity, averaging nearly nine points per game in January.

Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis provide the perfect frontcourt complement to Howard, and rookie Courtney Lee shows promise and potential that sometimes freaks me the eff out. Seriously, he’s going to be a great player in this league, and soon.

Yeah, part of this 1995/2009 happenstance is somewhat wishful thinking on my part; and yeah, I do get sideways looks when I wear the acid washed jeans around town, but the 2009 Orlando Magic have what it takes to recapture the glory they brought to the 407 nigh on 14 years ago.

Sure, it may not be 1995, but it sure as heck feels like it.