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This Week in Magic (Week Three): Orlando Drops Two on the Road

Contributor Written on November 09, 2009

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So much for a perfect 82-0 season for the Magic. Orlando was stunned by the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder this week.

Though both games were on the road, these losses were unexpected and raise questions about the state of the team. Missing players for the Magic factors heavily in the defeats.

Vince Carter has already missed three games in this young season and Rashard Lewis is finishing up a 10-game suspension. Mickael Pietrus also missed some time due to an illness.

Though the losses were hard to stomach, Orlando looked impressive in its two games at home. Making up for the Detroit loss, the Magic handed the Pistons a loss of their own in Amway Arena. They also took care of a red hot Phoenix Suns team that beat the Celtics later in the week.

You can't read too much into losses this early in the long NBA season and there is definitely no cause for alarm. The deep Orlando bench did look good in relief of the team's stars.

Ryan Anderson, maybe the most overlooked player in the game right now, is averaging 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds a game staring at the four spot. Anderson also went down with an ankle sprain in Friday night's contest. He is expected to be out for about a week.

Backup guards Jason Williams and JJ Redick have also been pleasant surprises this season, coming up big when called upon. Starting SF Matt Barnes is another player that has helped Orlando through this shorthanded stretch.

Let's take a look at the week ahead for Orlando, including the highly anticipated matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

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This Week in Magic (Week Three): Orlando Drops Two on the Road

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This Week in Magic: Week Three Orlando Drops Two on the Road

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