Orlando Magic 2008-09 Season Preview: Could This Be Their Season?

Could this be the year that the Orlando Magic win the NBA Championship?

Coming off what the Magic call a surprise season, going 52-30, finishing third in the Eastern Conference and winning their first playoff series in 12 years, you can expect great intensity from them this year.

The Orlando Magic are compiled with a fairly young squad including a few veterans. Last season, they really believed they had what it took to win the NBA Championship. After they beat the Toronto Raptors 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs, they shortly ended their season losing to the big, bad Detroit Pistons 4-1.

They come into this season with Jameer Nelson as their starting point guard. Jameer had a breakout 2005-06 season, averaging just under 30 minutes per game, including 14.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

The following season, he averaged only 13 points and 4.3 assists per game. Jameer isn't what we call a top-10 PG in the NBA, but he has the potential to improve into one, or Magic fans still believe so.

Since Carlos Arroyo decided to leave the NBA and sign with the Maccabi Tel Aviv, the new back up PG for the Magic is 6'3" veteran Anthony Johnson. When given ample time to play, the 11-year man from Charleston, S.C., can dish out around five assists per game. But Johnson just turned 34-years-old and although that is still considered young in the world, it isn't in the NBA.

This offseason, the Magic signed 6'6" guard Mickael Pietrus to a four year deal. He will start the season off at the Shooting Guard position and can play as a Small Forward as well—he is an extremely versatile and athletic player that can play both ends of the court.

In his 2006-07 season with the Golden State Warriors, Peitrus put up breakout numbers when given a career high 26.9 minutes per game, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and just under one steal, block, and assist per game.

Alongside of Pietrus stands SG 6'5" rookie Courtney Lee. The former Western Kentucky Hilltoppers star scored over 2,200 points in college while playing all four years at 30 plus minutes per game.

He is a very experienced player with outstanding shooting ability. Lee made 245 thee-pointers in college and shot a terrific 40 percent shooting from outside the three point line. He is also a solid defender and could be a huge steal along with Pietrus for the Magic.

6'4" SG J.J. Redick out of Duke might get a chance to show his skills this season. He signed a new contract with the Magic and worked out his upper body this off season, putting a lot of time and dedication to improve his play. If the J.J. of old can come out of his shell, he can be another outside threat for the Orlando Magic.

The electrifying Rashard Lewis will start at SF for Orlando this season. From his past we learned that he is a consistent player during the season and in the playoffs.

In the 07-08 playoffs, Rashard averaged nearly 20 points, seven rebounds per game, three-and-a-half assists, and one steal per game. Although he has been in the league for 10 seasons already, it seems like Rashard Lewis is in the midst of his prime. He is a great shooter and will continue his outstanding play coming into this season.

Last season, the Most Improved Player of the Year Award went to 6'10" forward Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo broke out with numbers the world had never seen him put up before having career high averages in minutes, points, rebounds, and assists.

He ended this 07-08 campaign logging 36.9 minutes, 19.5 points, 5.7 boards, and 5.0 assists per game. He will start 2008-09 season as the starting PF, but what can we expect from the Turk this season? Will he be able to carry his career season into the upcoming one? If the Magic want a chance at winning the title, Hedo knows that he must produce.

Playing as the backup power forwards is 10-year veteran Tony Battie and 6'9" Brian Cook. Battie can provide the team with solid defense when given time to play, and Cook has a consistent jumper he can drain from anywhere on the court. These guys will have to step up this season as well if they want any chance at getting to the NBA Finals.

At Center 6'11" Dwight Howard (a.k.a. Superman) averaged career highs in minutes, points, blocks, and rebounds in the 07-08 season. He averaged 37.7 minutes, 20.7 points, 14.16 rebounds (leading the league,) and 2.2 blocks per game, including 73 double doubles. 

Dwight hasn't missed a game in his four-year career and will be relied upon as the captain to take his team to the championship.

The 6'11" Polish Marcin Gortat will get a chance to play backup center behind Dwight this season. He can rebound well and if he gets more minutes this season, he can actually get a chance to show what he is all about. Adonal Foyle is getting old, and will slowly begin to lose minutes to Gortat.

Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and Assistant Coach Patrick Ewing will have to step up this season if they are expecting to win this season as well.

With the talent and determination, this young team will have a great chance to surprise the world this season. They have the weapons to beat any team in the league. Hey...the Tampa Bay Rays made it to the World Series.