Orlando Magic Showcase Players, Confidence on Media Day

The Orlando Magic are in an interesting predicament this season.

The Atlanta Hawks are rising fast in their division. The Boston Celtics knocked the Magic out of last season's playoffs, returning the favor Orlando had given them two years ago. Many teams in the Eastern Conference added depth and talent this season, and one of those teams, the Miami Heat, now have half of the starting lineup for the Dream Team under contract. The Heat will surely contend for the East, not to mention the Southeast Division title the Magic have run away with for the past three seasons. This season will be harder. This season will take more of a commitment to return to the NBA Finals.

But not a single Magic player was worried about all of it.

At the brand new Amway Center this afternoon, the Orlando players and front office staff were available to take pictures and speak about the upcoming season, the free-agent shifts this offseason, and what to expect during their run at an NBA title this year.

"We fully expect to contend," said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. "It will be tough, but we have a smart, talented group of guys that are willing to play every day to win the game."

Coach Van Gundy is entering his fourth season with the Magic, and was immediately addressing the rise of a new power in the East, with the Heat bringing in LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwayne Wade in efforts to take down the Lakers for Miami's first title since 2007. That season, Van Gundy was unceremoniously removed in the middle of the Heat campaign so Pat Riley could again coach a championship team built around Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. 

The Magic scooped Van Gundy up while the Heat were still paying him royalties, thus fueling the fire between these two in-state rivals.

"No one is doubting Miami's talent, but they haven't proven anything until they take the court. We don't doubt Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, any of those teams' talents," noted Van Gundy. When asked about his friend Erik Spolestra and his coaching duties with the Heat, he responded that he hopes Erik will "handle the situation fine, and hopes that he [Spolestra] enjoys the pressures of being expected to win."

Both general manager Otis Smith and COO Alex Martins believe they have the tools to succeed as well, and share Van Gundy's confidence.

"Our guys have never had a problem getting down to business," said Smith. "Once the ball goes up, our guys know how to play. We're a veteran basketball team, and we made a few roster tweaks this season to give ourselves the ability to win basketball games, simple as that."

"We can win, and will win," added Martins. "We have a winning combination that includes this new arena that not only allows our fans and players to be proud of where they play but that, from a financial standpoint, will bring in millions of dollars to the Central Florida area."

Martins, as well as many of the players, added that this was "...by far, without question the best arena in the league," and noted that there have been "many teams that have won a championship in the first year in their new facility."

The Magic brass can gloat about the new arena as much as they want, but in the end it will be the players that dictate how the season turns out.

"This facility is very beautiful, the best in the league," said All-Star center Dwight Howard. "We're going to make sure that we bring it when we play in it."

Dwight also wasn't phased by the Heat hype that is spreading through the league.

"I was tired of the talk...right after LeBron said that he was going to Miami. We added some good people to a strong core of players, and we're going to beat a lot of teams, we're going to beat the Heat, too. We're not going to concern ourselves with the Miami Heat."

Starting point guard Jameer Nelson reverberated Howard's thoughts on the team as well.

"We added some new pieces, but we have the chemistry, and that is what's most important. Everyone has talent, and the Heat have a lot of talent, but we have talent too and we're just going to get overlooked again and prove people wrong."

Nelson says he feels healthy and is looking forward to holding himself, and his teammates accountable for their actions more this year than past years.

In fact, coach Van Gundy held a two-hour meeting before media day with the players, having them go over their roles and what they would like to accomplish, which seemed to bring the team closer together during the day's events.

Players were parading around together, playing musical instruments, and newcomer Quentin Richardson was even leading a camera around interviewing other players and media.

Richardson joins point guard Chris Duhon as a free-agent acquisition for the Magic this season, and he was quick to let everyone know he was not only happy but also proud to leave the team that seemingly every player wanted to go to this season, the Miami Heat.

"Now I get to take my aggression out on them, being rivals and all," laughed Richardson.

Duhon chimed in, noting that he is already happy with what he has seen of this Orlando team.

"I have never been a part of a team that was so together, or so hardworking. It was great to see everyone back from the offseason so early, ready to work out and get ready for the season."

Duhon added that it will be great to have the ability to play with his college teammate J.J. Redick, whom should see a much more involved role this season after finally breaking out last year, proving the Magic were correct in being patient and letting him find his niche.

"Everyone seems to be motivated to beat Miami this season," remarked Redick. "The teams worried about that are losing sight of the real goal, a championship. If you need outside motivation at this level, you're going to fail as a team. We're ready to go, ready to win a championship."

Redick also commented on the nature of the rivalry that is forming between the Magic and the Heat, remembering his playing days with Duke, and their huge in-state rival, North Carolina. "It is good for the league, good for the fans and teams. It is also good for us. We're going to beat them, but it will be a good challenge for us."

The Orlando Magic open their preseason on October 5, and the first game in the new arena will be in the preseason against the New Orleans Hornets on October 10. The first game of the season for the Magic will be played in the new Amway Center on October 28 against division rival Washington Wizards at 8 p.m.

The Orlando Magic unveil their new arena, the Amway Center, this Friday. The new venue has a very modern feel, using a unique mixture of glass and metal materials to create a stadium that is three times the size of the current Amway Arena. The outside wall facing Interstate 4 has a giant graphic wall that can be changed, and a 180-foot tall spire that sticks out among the downtown skyline. Inside the environmentally responsible green-inspired arena will be 1,100 digital monitor displays, and the largest high-definition on-court video board in the NBA.

Check back on Friday to get a first look at the new stadium!