R-E-S-P-E-C-T the Orlando Magic

Joe Willett brings in the second installment in his never-ending series, and lets you know just who the under-the-radar Orlando Magic are.

by Joe Willett (Senior Writer)

9

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Sports

March 19, 2008

NBA, NBA Southeast, Orlando Magic, NBA Eastern Conference

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The Orlando Magic get no respect in the Eastern Conference.  If you turn it on ESPN and the conversation is the East, only Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit are being mentioned as head turners in the East.

P.S: I did show respect some respect in my Eastern Conference Predictions, but I didn't have them going all the way.

I, personally, don't see anything so special about the Cavs other than one gifted player.

The Celtics and Pistons sure do show that they should be up there in a stratosphere above all others, (ex: The Celtics dominating end to the Rockets win streak) but I believe that the Magic should be in the conversation.

They have one of the best centers in the game, Dwight Howard, and the outside threat in Hedo Turkoglu.

Howard grabs more rebounds than any other player in the NBA, 14.4 rpg, and scores even more, 21.7 ppg, and leads the Magic in both catagories.

Turkoglu is a cult-hero in Orlando, he is extremely well known by the fans that adore the Magic, but little is known about him by the outside world.  He is a good shooter and decent defender.

Rashard Lewis knocks down a nice little 18.6 ppg and grabs 5.3 rpg.

Jameer Nelson plays respectibly with just over 10 ppg and about 3.5 rpg. 

Looking ahead for the Magic, they have a tough road through the end of the month, but if they can make it out alive, they have a cake-walk through April, possibly going undefeated.

They get to prey on the lowly 76ers, Bucks, Bulls, Knicks, Hawks, and Timberwolves through the rest of the season.  The only games that I can see legitemately lost are against the Spurs, Wizards, and Hornets.

Coach Stan Van Gundy (you know, the one who didn't get run out of Houston last year) has got to be proud of what he has done with a team that nobody expected much from this year.

So sit up and recognize the Orlando Magic, they are for real, and they could just knock out your sure-thing come playoff time.

I'm Joe W. 

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comments (9) write a comment »

  1. 1. sometimes it is hard to be a fan of mr. willett... the only thing in orlando is the epcot center, there is no basketball, but they have real hot cheerleaders... ck out their website and go to pics

    1. really, last time i checked they had a pretty good team, 3rd in the east i believe, that sounds pretty good to me, but the cavs, with a worse record and team, get all the publicity

  2. This is EXACTLY like my recent article about the Magic. haha

    1. wow, did not notice that, now i feel like a copier, but i didn't see yours so i feel better. at least i'm not the only one that thinks the magic need some respect

  3. It's all good. Let them fly under the radar. The other teams will be in for a rude awakening when they do win.

  4. Orlando is good, but no serious threat.

    It will be Celtics/Pistons as it should be.

    Alexa

  5. I agree that Orlando doesn't get much respect but why should they? Jameer Nelson has been an ultra disappointment, Dwight Howard can only score if he has the opportunity to dunk the ball, which he doesn't get nearly enough opportunities (going back to poor guard play). Rashard Lewis mindlessly hoists 3-pointers=120 million dollars, which give the Magic an untradeable forward/streaky rebounder whose contract has completely killed any hope for the team to aquire any bench. I agree Hedo has been great, but past their starting 5 what do the Magic really have.

    Personally I'd like to see them shock everyone and peak at the right time, but until Jameer Nelson starts playing like a point guard/floor general, the Magic won't be looked at as a serious contender.

  6. agree

  7. get ready haters, your bandwagon team is gonna fall courtesy of the magic. Just please don't jump on this train when its all said and done this season, we don't want ya. Let the true fans root for this team.

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About the Author Joe Willett (senior writer)

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