Orlando Magic Making Believers Out of Fans
After winning their first playoff series in the last 12 years, the Orlando Magic got a chance to experience what it was like to compete for the NBA title.
You would think losing in the second round of the playoffs destroyed the Magic’s hopes and dreams of becoming NBA champions, but it just left the Magic wanting more—a lot more.
Before the start of the '08-09 NBA season, the Orlando Magic’s entire organization had high hopes of getting a chance at winning the NBA title.
General Manager Otis Smith stated for the NBA.com Magic '08-09 Season Preview that, “There is nothing wrong with raising the bar..If you expect a ‘C’ that’s generally what you are going to get. You will get C-work. But if you expect an ‘A’, then we are going to die trying to get there.”
So far this season, that is exactly what the Orlando Magic are doing.
Standing at 24-6, the Magic have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, and the fourth-best record in the NBA. They are playing like a playoff contender, but have not gotten much publicity being behind the curtains of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Do the Magic have a better chance at winning the Finals than the Cavaliers?
In the past five games since Dwight’s return from a knee injury, he has not recorded one 20-point game. A year ago, you would guess that the Magic lost each of these five, games since Dwight was the nucleus of the team.
However, the Magic won all five games. While Dwight is still the nucleus of the team, this year the Magic have learned that they do not need Dwight to win NBA games.
In the two games that Dwight missed—the first he has ever missed in his four-year NBA career—the Magic managed to put up two Ws against the Jazz and Warriors, both on the road.
This proves that the Magic have realized that it is not all about Dwight in order to win games and that they do not have to rely on him to put up a win. This statement clearly separates the Magic and their play from the Cleveland Cavaliers, making them the stronger team.
Who is doing magic for the Orlando Magic this season?
Jameer Nelson is putting up career numbers in minutes (31.9), field-goal percentage (53.1), points (17.0), rebounds (3.6), and steals (1.3). He has scored in double figures in each of his last 11 games, and is on a serious hot streak. Nelson’s ability to play has been criticized by many, but if he can continue to play this way he will prove everybody wrong.
Rashard Lewis is leading the league in three-pointers with 84 on the season. Lewis has stepped up his game by not always relying on his shot and driving the ball to the hoop more often. He is on pace to make 270 free throws and 549 field goals, clearly breaking his last season’s 218 and 516 made.
Rashard is in his prime, and will be a huge contributor to the Magic’s success during the playoffs.
What can you expect from the Magic this season?
The Magic are on pace to win over 55 games this season. While it seems a little crazy, it is definitely not out of range, Otis Smith would say.
Season Prediction Record: 58-24
So the question comes down to this—do you believe in Magic?
