Magic Wands: November 20, 2009

-Hedo Turkoglu was nearly a Phoenix Sun instead of an Orlando Magic.

-Orlando has put in its application to host the 2012 All Star Game and as the Orlando Sentinel reports, it might cost them $1.5 million to prepare the city.

-An Ohio State study finds that expecting less from your team helps you get more enjoyment out of them.

-Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has an open invitation for LeBron James to try out and help the Browns.

-No words can describe Kirk Hinrich singing "Love, lift us up where we belong." So video will have to do.

-In New Orleans' never-ending quest to have the ugliest jerseys in basketball, they unveil their new Mardi Gras alternates. Oh boy.

-Larry Bird talks with Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe about the little interesting tidbits in his new book, When the Game Was Ours, co-written with Magic Johnson and Jackie MacMullan.

-Yahoo! Sports reported Tracy McGrady got into a heated, emotional discussion with Rockets coach Rick Adelman about when the team is planning to bring him back. McGrady -- as hard as it is to believe -- was in uniform for warmups before Wednesday night's game and is trying to force the issue and prove he is ready to play. Where was this passion and drive in 2004?

-Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times writes about the play that's all the rage in the NBA -- the pick and roll.

Magic Wands: April 3, 2009

-The NBA has unveiled its latest movie partnership. After highly successful partnerships with Fantastic Four and various other movies (they were so bad, I cannot remember them anymore), the NBA is doing heavy advertising for the best film of the year: Keanu Reeves' The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Look I know sponsorships are tough to come by in this economy, but the partnerships the NBA has made with bad movies for their playoff promos has been downright awful. At least it was not a TNT original series... yet.

-Congratulations to Dwight Howard for winning the Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award at the Black Tie & Tennies Gala last weekend.

-Curious which NBA players on Twitter. Here is the complete list from Hooped Up. Now if we could only figure out what Twitter is.

-The Magic have officially entered their nominees for postseason awards. Figure Dwight Howard is a front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year and an All-NBA First Team slot. Not so sure about Rashard Lewis making an All-NBA team though or Stan Van Gundy winning Coach of the Year. Courtney Lee DOES deserve a spot on the All-Rookie Team (if not the Rookie team at the All-Star Game).

Plus an interesting stat from Joel Glass (scroll all the way to the bottom at the Coach of the Year segment). The Magic communications department man says they are 48-1 this season when leading with less than five minutes to play.

-Dwight Howard is on Twitter. Is JJ Redick now tweeting?

-Dwight Howard answered questions from fans, ranging on his views of dominating to the effectiveness of Stan Van Gundy's screaming.

-If doing well in the NBA were measured by wins and how much you spend for them, than the Magic are the No. 1 seed according to a formula discovered by Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus. Interesting stuff about how teams did compared to how much they spent. As Pelton said: who would have thought Orlando would be sitting pretty at the top of the list after signing Rashard Lewis to that mega contract?

Magic Wands: February 20, 2009

-In case you missed this from All Star Weekend: Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson had a blog from Phoenix. Pretty good stuff and a great look at the whirlwind life of an NBA All Star. It is not really a break for these guys. ...

-But at least you get some nice swag. This courtesy of LeBron James. A crystal trophy(?) with the names of the entire Eastern Conference engraved on it. It is good to be the king.

-Dwight Howard recently graced the cover of ESPN the Magazine. But the article itself is not about Superman. Rather it is about Clark Kent. And how the NBA has been transformed from the Super Flashy Men it was in the late 90s and early 00s to the dressed up, clean cut (and marketable) NBA of today. Lot of issues at work here, but David Stern has gotten the NBA right where he wants it.

-It probably did not get the notice it should have Saturday night. But what Rudy Fernandez did during the dunk contest with his first attempt was something truly special. Fernandez paid homage to the NBA's first Spain-born player, donning a throwback Fernando Martin Blazers uniform. I did not even know who the guy was, but he apparently died in a tragic car accident. A nice tribute for his countryman that certainly deserves notice.

West 146, East 119

A yawner of a game in the desert. Not a whole lot of huge dunks or highlight-style plays. There were a fair share of them, but not exactly the great entertaining game the All Star Game usually provides.

I won't say much about it because it is an exhibition, but overall I was disappointed by this weekend's festivities. The Rookie Game was by far the best of all the events with Kevin Durant's exhibition (he should have been in the main event).

Dwight Howard, like most centers in these games, was mostly on cleanup duty. He did a decent job at that. And then he decided to yack it up in the second half, getting a pass sent between his legs by All Star co-MVP Shaquille O'Neal (ironically with Kobe Bryant) for a give and go, and then attempting a three (he made a long two) after the game was decided in the fourth.

It was odd that the teams played some pretty decent defense in the first half. But the West had a better roster and the better team tonight.

By better roster I mean, the East had two post players and they both played at the same time. It was comical watching Rashard Lewis try to guard Shaq throughout the game. Lewis is used to playing out of position and he was happy to do his part.

The final stat lines: Howard had 13 points and nine boards. Lewis finished with eight points and six rebounds.

It was an All Star Game for sure and it is over. Time to get serious about the season now.

A forgettable Saturday night

No, not just because both Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard came up short in their respective competitions. It was just a lackluster night.

The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest was the best event of the night by far, but even it lacked the luster that it gained from Howard the last few years.

Nate Robinson was the deserving winner -- taking a 52-48 advantage in the fan vote in the final. And he was certainly playful, donning his green Knicks jersey and green shoes with a yellow elbow sleeve to represent the irradiated kryptonite.

But the dunk of the night was his jump over the 6-foot-11 Howard. It was an impressive feet for the 5-foot-5 former (and now current) dunk champion. Other than that, his dunks were more or less a copy of what he has done in the pass.

Yes Nate, we know you are smaller than most basketball players. And yes, we know you can dunk.

Howard's dunks were largely uninspired. The throw off the side of the backboard and his throw from behind the backboard were nice dunks.

But his now trademark Superman dunk was not worth the setup it received. He has been wanting to bring in a 12-foot rim for two years, he finally did and he did not do anything special. The phone booth was a nice touch and I enjoyed the Magic jersey Under Armour (not sure if that is the brand, but I think it is synonymous by now) he sported (thinking about it, the thing had to be from Adidas).

I am curious if Jameer Nelson's injury ended up limiting what Howard could do in the contest. I am sure Howard had some things planned with Nelson that he obviously could not do with his injury.

Howard looks done with the contest. Hopefully he brings it tomorrow night for the big game.

Lewis did his best in the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout. He reached the finals, but had nothing left for the shootout. He was beaten easily by Daequan Cook.

I do not think Lewis has a shot that really suits a 3-point contest. So, I was impressed by his performance.

Follow the Magic at the All Star Break on their offiicial blog here.

The Big Question for All Star Saturday Night

So with Jameer Nelson officially out of the All Star festivities, Dwight Howard has a big question to ask?

Who is going to be throwing him the ball for the obligatory teammate dunk?

Everyone around the Magic know Nelson and Howard are almost inseparable on the court. The past two seasons, the point guard has been a key to Howard's dunk performances.

Whether it is throwing the ball up to the big man to slap a sticker -- and then unveiling a poster he was carrying reading 12'6". Or throwing the ball over the hoop for Superman to fly.

The dunk is only as good as the pass that creates it, right?

The next clear answer is Hedo Turkoglu. The combination of Turkoglu and Howard has been the equation that has resulted in plenty of alley-oops. Turkoglu of course through the game-winner against the Spurs a few years ago.

But the obvious answer is going to be Rashard Lewis, and that is who I think will be teaming up with Howard tomorrow night. Lewis will be in uniform Saturday night as part of the 3-point shootout.

This might matter for Howard. His two most memorable dunk contest dunks were set up by Mighty Mouse. Nelson probably is not going to be pulling a Willis Reed and show up to throw a few passes -- it probably would not be good for his shoulder.

So it should be Lewis and Howard tomorrow night. Hopefully Lewis keeps Howard's good vibes going.

Follow the Magic players at the All Star Game on OrlandoMagic.com with their blog!

Magic Wands: February 13, 2009

-Lucky day today... use it wisely.

-Keyon Dooling made his first visit to Orlando since a somewhat testy summer between he and the Magic. But as Brian Schmitz reports, Dooling is still close to his Orlando teammates -- especially Jameer Nelson. The Florida native's father is also sick and his family will not be driving up from Fort Lauderdale for the game. I speak on behalf of all Magic fans when I wish his family the best and a speedy recovery for his father.

-A chronicle of The Curse from long-time Magic beat writer Brian Schmitz after Nelson's injury. He only hits the highlights, leaving out the countless poor draft picks, crippling contracts and questionable transactions in the years since Shaquille O'Neal left.

-Still great to see No. 10 around the Magic. Would have been nice to see him retire as a member of the Magic (experienced point guard... don't know if he can still play 20 minutes a game). Darrell Armstrong was on Magic Overtime with Dante & Galante. Watch the whole episode on their blog.

-In these times more franchises will probably be doing this and more. But The Orlando Sentinel reports that the price for season tickets will not be increasing in Amway Arena's final season.

-H-O-R-S-E makes its premier at All Star Weekend on Saturday night. Kevin Durant, O.J. Mayo and Joe Johnson will be you competitors on the outdoor court in Phoenix. Wish they got bigger names to be in it, but we will see how the inaugural event goes.

-Mike Bianchi received a letter from Denver that makes you love athletes again... or at least remember why having Adonal Foyle on the team is so good.

-With injuries to Jameer Nelson and Chris Bosh, Ray Allen and Mo Williams have been named to the All Star team. Williams was named Bosh's replacement Tuesday ending a lot of screams and shouts from Cleveland about his exclusion. Which brings up the question: who is going to back up Dwight Howard at center now?

-Elgin Baylor filed a suit against the Los Angeles Clippers claiming owner Donald Sterling treated him and players in a racist manner. My first thought was, no way could you be suing him when he stood by you for 20-plus years while the Clippers struggled on the court. Sterling is guilty of not caring about the product on the court if anything. Then I read the story and thought about it more and there might be something to this. It is always sticky with race in the NBA and the outcome of this case could be interesting.

3 ALL STARS!!!!!!!

Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson were selected as reserves for the NBA All Star Game on Thursday, marking the first time that three players from the Magic have been on the same All Star team.

Think about what this means... besides the fact Orlando is really good this season.

Actually that is exactly what it means. The All Star reserves are voted on by opposing coaches (Stan Van Gundy could not vote for his own players). So really Lewis and Nelson's selection is a ringing endorsement of what Orlando is doing and how the team is playing.

Clearly this is a sign that the league believes the Magic are heading in the right direction.

I think both players are more than deserving (I really only have a complaint with David West making the All Star team, but to say Carmelo Anthony is a snub is ludicrous... he is injured, he cannot play anyway).

This is a great accomplishment for the franchise.

Picking the East reserves

Thursday the Eastern Conference All Star reserves will be announced on TNT (an hour before the Magic take on the Cavaliers). And it is not at all out of the question that Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson will be joining Dwight Howard in the Phoenix desert.

Here is my two cents on who should go from the East:

Guard Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets -- Harris has been one of the top players in the Eastern Conference all season. The Nets did not have much hope for anything at the beginning of the season with both Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson gone. But Harris has truly elevated his game and become one of the top point guards in the NBA.

Guard Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic -- Nelson has the pressure put on him early in the season when Otis Smith gave him a big contract extension. He has taken that calling and turned the Magic into one of the elite teams in the NBA. No one thought Orlando would make that jump this season and certainly not with Nelson at the point. He has carried the team offensively at times and has taken total command of the offense.

Forward Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics -- Pierce has always been a stalwart. Even during Boston's championship run, he was the one taking the scoring burden. He is clearly an all star player and his great run with the Celtics will get him a spot.

Forward Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers -- If there is a player that has improved more than Harris, it is Granger. Granger has transformed from pretty solid player with help around him to take the pressure off to a fantastic player who can carry a team. Still too young to get the struggling Pacers to the playoffs. But he is the front runner for the Most Improved Player Award and a superstar of the future.

Center Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors -- Bosh is another one of those consistent guys on a pretty poor team. Bosh and the Raptors have not had the year they would like. But CB4 is still a solid player worthy of an all star nod. On any night he is likely to go for 40 points, a rarity with big men.

Guard Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks -- Still one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He can get a shot wherever he wants and can score with the best of them. The Hawks are no longer a laughing stock and have become a consistent playoff team (this year will be a second straight year in the postseason, unheard of since a guy named Dominique Wilkins in Atlanta) under his watch and play.

Guard Ray Allen, Boston Celtics -- It is tough not to send all three of the Celtics' big players to Phoenix. All three are so integral to that team's success. It almost seems that taking one out would make the whole team ineffective. Allen is still one of the best shooters in the league and deserves another shot at the All Star game.

Just Missed the Cut: Rashard Lewis, Magic; Rajon Rondo, Celtics; Mike Bibby, Hawks.

And now for the West:

G Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers
G Tony Parker, Spurs
F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
F Kevin Durant, Thunder
C Pau Gasol, Lakers
G Chauncey Billups, Nuggets
C Shaquille O'Neal, Suns

Just Missed the Cut: Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets; Manu Ginobili, Spurs; Deron Williams, Jazz

Expect Lewis to be heading to the 3-point shootout and Courtney Lee to the Rookie-Sophomore Game.

What They're Saying: Magic vs. Spurs 1/11

Orlando heads to San Antonio to begin a four-game swing out West. The Magic have not fared well in San Antonio -- whether it be the Alamodome or the AT&T Center -- going 3-17 in San Antonio. Their last win over the Spurs was a 92-80 win in April 2006. I remember that game as the one where Tim Duncan told reporters he was glad he was not going to be playing when Dwight Howard was in his prime.

The Magic took care of the Spurs at home earlier this season with a dominating 90-78 win on national television. Don't think Gregg Popovich and the Spurs have forgotten that. But Orlando is playing pretty well right now and own the best road record in the NBA. Should be an interesting one.

-Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel goes into the brutal stretch that the Magic will have until the end of the month. This road trip alone features games against the three division leaders in the Western Conference. After San Antonio, Orlando heads to Sacramento, then to Los Angeles for a match with the Lakers and then off to Denver. When the Magic get home they will see the Celtics and Cavaliers.

-Dave Darling of The Orlando Sentinel reports on the ongoing battle for Central Florida fans to watch Orlando on FSN Florida. At the beginning of the year, Brighthouse Networks and FSN Florida agreed to a deal allowing Central Florida fans to get every Magic game. But Lake County fans with Comcast still do not have Magic games on FSN Florida.

-Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News chronicles how Tony Parker has put behind his worst performance of the season in Orlando last month and become a candidate for the All Star team. Parker is a good player and he simply had an off night against Orlando last time around. Parker is playing a lot better now.

-More from McDonald: the Spurs know Howard usually brings his A-game against them and had two days off to prepare for a now-healthy Superman (remember he was coming off that sore knee before the first matchup). Howard has thrown in some pretty big games against Duncan and the Spurs. Also, both teams are pretty solid behind the 3-point line. It is no coincidence that both teams have surrounded their superstar big men with such great shooters. And former Florida player Matt Bonner is getting ready to appeal to Stu Jackson to make the 3-point shootout at All Star Weekend.

-Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse makes an interesting point with the help of stats from 82games.com. Both the Magic and Spurs are near the top of the league in defense -- more interestingly in forcing jump shots. Sixty-eight percent of field goals taken by Orlando's opponents are jumpers. Sixty-nine percent of field goals taken by the Spurs' opponents are jumpers. More interestingly, both teams rank near the bottom of the league in turnovers per game. That is good defense.

-Graydon Gordian of the Spurs blog 48 Minutes of Hell talks to 3rd Quarter Collapse's Ben Q Rock about the Magic this season. Ben Q Rock, like me, believes Orlando has its first title contender in more than 10 years. Now if only the rest of the world would realize this. They also discuss Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard's maturation as players. Thinking about it now, there are a lot of similarities between Orlando and San Antonio in the way they have built their teams.

Magic Wands: December 5, 2008

-Apparently Dwight Howard is not the only player thinking of skipping the Slam Dunk Contest in February. Rudy Gay is thinking of skipping the fun in Phoenix now.

-Era of impatience continues. Eddie Jordan and Sam Mitchell were both coach of the year candidates last year. Now they are both jobless. Jordan's Wizards got off to a bad start. But Mitchell's Raptors were a respectable 8-9 when he was fired. I don't know what Toronto expected when they acquired Jermaine O'Neal, but he is far from the healthy all star he was in Indiana three or four years ago. This one is on Bryan Colangelo, not Mitchell. 82 games is a long time.

-Sad stories about injuries to some 1990s NBA players. Wayman Tisdale's is an inspirational story. And everyone remembers Rodney Rodgers from his days with the Nets.

-Power Rankings Check: the Magic's injuries have slowed down the party train. They are up to six in ESPN.com, No. 9 by John Hollinger's count (does not know injuries exist). And NBA.com thinks Orlando is No. 4. Of course that was before the loss to Boston.