Vision of the NBA future

The economic recession is affecting everyone in the country. It is not just a middle class, lower class, Wall Street, Main Street issue. And certainly talking about it through the scope of sports is not going to really lead to any solutions to the problem.

But this is a Magic/NBA blog, so how it affects the Magic and the NBA is something that needs to be addressed.

They say sports is recession-proof. We are going to learn that this is not true this time around. Henry Abbott of TrueHoop has talked a lot about the economy and how it will affect the NBA. He had another one (linked above) Thursday.

In this increasingly murky economic world, it appears that owners are looking to slash payroll and pay as little as humanly possible -- not to just to go after LeBron James in 2010.

This means a few things.

The obvious is that free agent contracts are going to start decreasing. Teams are going to be willing to shell out money less and less.

The not-so-obvious thing is that careers might be shortening. Think about it: Veterans in the NBA are guaranteed a higher minimum salary than younger players. It would not surprise me to see teams willing to go younger rather than take on the contract of an older player.

I am foreseeing careers getting shorter as teams opt for younger minimum talent rather than older minimum talent.

I do not know if league revenues will decrease substantially. But it looks like they will a little bit. This could lead to a decrease in the salary cap. The cap is linked directly to league revenues. So again, this means contracts are going to be decreasing.

It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out next summer (and in the future. But hopefully it does not last too long.

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.

Magic Wands: January 30, 2009

-Doc Rivers tells The Orlando Sentinel that the East is back. With three of the top four teams in the NBA and titles in two of the past three years, who can argue with him? Everyone, that is who. 1-8 the West is still better.

-There is no crying in cheerleading. At least not anymore as a Wisconsin court rules that cheerleading IS a contact sport, ESPN Rise reports.

-Don't hear about this often. Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Magic have begun thinking about offering coach Stan Van Gundy an extension. He certainly has deserved it after transforming Orlando into a contender in two short years. I hope he makes it through whatever extension he does receive.

-A ringing endorsement for Jameer Nelson as an All Star by Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer from Wednesday (the day before the reserves were announced). Of course, his main point was to get Mo Williams consideration after his 40-point outburst against Sacramento on Tuesday.

-The NBA announced the teams for the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge for the All Star Weekend on Wednesday. The glaring omission for Orlando was Courtney Lee. There were plenty of guys who got snubbed out of this game. There are simply too many good guards in this draft as Mario Chalmers of Miami was also left off the roster. But I honestly cannot complain about anyone who got picked ahead of Lee. They too deserve to be there. Better luck next year.

-Darrell Armstrong has accepted a job as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, according to Brian Schmitz. Armstrong was with the Nets earlier this season but was waived and was trying to get back into the league. No one wanted him and so he begins the second phase of his basketball career. He is definitely someone who will be coaching in the league a very long time.

-Mark Cuban is always relatively entertaining. Read all the bullets for sure, but definitely bullet No. 5. NBA Live is apparently quite useful.

-"All I know is sex sells." -Jameer Nelson. Who is he talking about here? Watch this video.

-With Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis heading to Phoenix. It makes you wonder where else the Magic might be competing during the All Star Weekend. Unfortunately Courtney Lee will not be joining them this year. But word is Nelson will be in the Skills Competition and I would be either Nelson or Lewis will be in the 3-point shootout. And of course, Dwight Howard is in the Slam Dunk Contest.

-Howard was the top vote-getter for the All Star game, but he is just 12th in the list for most popular jerseys in the NBA. Somehow he is behind Nate Robinson. The top 15 are listed on ESPN's Daily Dime today (box three, all the way at the bottom). It is a pretty Magic-ful Daily Dime too, so give it a read.

Orlando Magic 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 88

Wally Szczerbiak was dominating their defense for crying out loud. It was not even LeBron James.

The defense, a sore spot during Orlando's two-game slide and the games surrounding it, was porous. Stan Van Gundy let his team know it at halftime.

And abra-cadabra (I wrote a really bad cliche) the defense finally appeared. And it shut down James. It shut down Szczerbiak. And It shut down the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Orlando held Cleveland to 32 second half points (the amount the team scored in the first quarter) and won 99-88 thanks to a barrage of 3-point shots in the third quarter.

But the key was the defense. After taking its hits and laying back in the first half, Orlando began getting physical and pushing Cleveland outside of the paint. It was evident that the Cavaliers were not going to try and challenge Dwight Howard throughout the game. When they did, they got hit (fouled or knocked to the ground) or had their shot blocked.

Look at James' stat line: 23 points on 10-of-27 shooting, 3 for 6 from the line.

James took only six foul shots because Courtney Lee turned him into a jump shooter -- the only chink in his armor right now. It turned Cleveland into the one dimension offensive team that has been coming up short in past years.

Orlando got the ball to Dwight Howard early and often and it set up the 3-point shooting of Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, who were both named to the All Star team Thursday. The 3-point shots were not falling in the first half, but they fell in the second.

When they fall at the rate they were in the second half, Orlando is an extremely tough team to beat.

This was a game Orlando needed. After getting blown out and dismantled on national television at home last week, this was a redeeming trip on TNT for the Magic. It legitimizes them as an Eastern Conference title contender in the national spotlight -- and not some one trick pony that thinks it can compete.

However, it did not seem Cleveland had the same intensity as Orlando defensively. To them, it seemed like a ho-hum middle of the season game and it looked like both teams were trying to conserve energy in the first half.

That is a tough thing to sell to anyone being that this game could go a long way to determining home court in the playoffs (the two teams meet only three times this season). But that is what it felt like.

Orlando has played well against Cleveland and it will be interesting to see how they match up the rest of the season. This loss, the worst of the season for the Cavaliers, will stick with them for a while.

Thinking of trades, maybe?

So ESPN is running a series on players that should be available at the trade deadline. It is a pretty good list and you can peruse it at your leisure on the NBA page on ESPN.com.

But it got me wondering: If the Magic are going to make a deal, what would they be looking for?

This of course is assuming Orlando is looking to deal. There is no indication that general manager Otis Smith is looking to trade any player. But I have the feeling the result of tonight's game against Cleveland will make him think a little harder about his team.

The Magic can be a title team. But I agree with a lot of the pundits that it is missing something. That something might be experience... or it might be something else.

There are not going to be a whole lot of proven title winners Orlando can pluck from in the trade market. But there are plenty of players available for the right price.

So what can the Magic trade?

With Mickael Pietrus back, Orlando has its glut at the shooting guard position. It is a nice luxury since everyone in the group seems to play very erratically. But that is where Orlando should first look to trade.

I think Keith Bogans is ripe to be traded. He is a solid defender that can shoot from the outside and is on a nice, small contract. Courtney Lee's emergence has made Bogans almost useless (no offense, Keith). Lee duplicates everything Bogans does and he has higher prospects at this point.

Who will take Bogans? That is a question for another day.

JJ Redick will also be offered around. But everyone knows what he gives you and the same question has to be asked: who will take him?

Thus a trade is pretty unlikely.

But humor me. What would Orlando want?

Anthony Johnson has been average and not spectacular. It is clear that the team is relying on Jameer Nelson a lot more than they probably should. Orlando might be in the market for a third point guard. There are a few guards that appear to be available but none that fit the experienced bill the Magic are probably looking for.

The other thing the Magic might be looking for is a defensive enforcer. This makes Tony Battie a little bit of an excess, but Orlando needs a guy who can bang around and support Dwight Howard in the post.

This is all just long-winded talk from me. Just stirring the pot whree it doesn't need to be stirred. Orlando is not going to pull the trigger on a trade unless someone offers something spectacular for Hedo Turkoglu.

So get used to this roster. At least until the end of the year.

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.

Magic still not a road draw

So I got a chance to check out the Magic on the road recently. A nice showing of blue in the building for sure -- especially against a division rival. But otherwise, I was underwhelmed by how many total people were at the stadium.

Orlando is not going to ever travel well. It is not the biggest city. It is not the biggest team. It doesn't have the star power of most other teams.

But with one of the best records in the league entering the game, and the team I was visiting playing so well, I figured it would draw a little better. It was a Saturday night for crying out loud.

The stadium was pretty full. But not to capacity. I expected a little more people to show up for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, that is for sure.

No complaints. Respect from the ticket-buying public has to be earned. And Orlando is not quite there yet.

They will be soon.

Making Magic at the halfway point

Orlando decided to start the second half of its season the same way it started the beginning of the season -- with a two-game losing streak.

But it really is no matter. What the Magic have done in 41 games is truly astounding. They have become relevant again and are giving fans real hope that a title is within grasp.

Just take a second to digest what Orlando has accomplished in 41-plus games. The team tied the best start in franchise history at 33-8. It swept San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers, teams that have been to nine of the past 10 NBA Finals, for the first time in 20 seasons.

For the first time since the Tracy McGrady-Grant Hill pairing, the Magic might have two NBA All Stars and for the first time every could realistically get three.

It has been an incredible ride.

Dwight Howard has shown some maturity and gotten better in the post. More importantly, he has decreased his turnovers substantially and become a better passer. This has given Orlando more open looks from beyond the arc and made Stan Van Gundy's offense a reality.

Jameer Nelson has transformed from a fringe starting point guard to a true leader on the court. Howard has needed someone on the perimeter to take over and give him the space to operate. Nelson's maturation has helped do that.

He has proven me wrong, among others, and become one of the top point guards in the Eastern Conference. He SHOULD be an All Star for the way he has played this season. He seems to have complete control of the offense, knowing when to score and when to pass.

Rashard Lewis has also become more comfortable with the team and that has led to a more aggressive game from him. Lewis is a great 3-point shooter and has played well from beyond the arc. But he is attacking the basket with renewed fervor and aggression. Lewis has been a big difference in this year's team.

Orlando has gotten a rare thing from a young team -- everyone has improved. The next step is to deal with the pressure that comes with being a top team. It comes from the media, from the fans and from within. It is a pressure the team has not faced.

But to this point, this season has been a dream come true for longtime Magic fans. It has been 12 years since Magic fans could even realistically talk championship.

Orlando is in a good spot right now. In a much better spot than it has been in a long time. I do not think it is relevant whether the team wins a title this season. The perception of the Magic has changed. And that is half the battle.

Miami Heat 103, Orlando Magic 97

10 games. That's how many times in a row Orlando had defeated Miami. A sign of the pure domination the Magic have had over the Heat the last two or three seasons as the two teams have flipped their roles -- Miami winning the title just three season ago.

After a poor effort at home against Boston, it seemed like the perfect way for Orlando to bounce back.

They didn't.

The Heat got superb efforts from surrounding players and their bench, taking a big lead in the third quarter. The Magic were good enough to erase the deficit and tie the game with two minutes left. But they were not good enough when it counted.

Doubling Dwyane Wade every time he touched the ball, the superstar found Udonis Haslem twice for layups and Orlando chirped at the referees after the Heat cleanly swiped the ball.

It was a poor effort throughout from Orlando until they made a big run to close the gap and make it a game. There was not much positive in the game besides the Magic's will to win a game against mediocre opponents when it wants to.

The first half was all about offense. Both teams shot well over 50 percent and the Heat led 56-52 at the break.

Wade was getting to the basket and Miami's shooters were making shots from the outside. That makes them a tough team to defend, but the Magic were not getting down to play defense at all. To Orlando's credit, neither was Miami.

The Heat had no way to stop Dwight Howard. When the Magic got him the ball, he had his way in the paint. Howard finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He made some nice post moves and scored in a variety of ways. He looked like he was coming out with a purpose to score after his poor game against Boston.

That fire though was used in the wrong way late in the game. Howard picked up a technical foul in the fourth quarter for arguing a call -- he was being bumped and pushed, but not any more than he usually is. It was an odd loss of composure for Howard.

Miami was frustrating the big guy. The Heat forced the Magic to beat them from the outside in by denying Howard the ball in the post. He was fronted and swarmed by players at all point of the game. Even though Orlando was emphasizing him in its offense, it struggled to get him the ball. It helped slow the team's offense in the third quarter for sure.

Fouls were a big issue throughout the game and lend itself to the larger defensive issue. Miami had 32 free throws in a game. A top defensive team does not give up that many free throws. It was a frustrating game on the defensive end.

Howard did not feel it was being reciprocated and continued complaining about a late no-call (a good no-call) with the Magic trailing by three and was thrown out on his second technical foul with one second left. An odd loss of poise, indeed.

Orlando seemed to be wearing the after effects of that Boston loss still. I think (and Doug Collins made this point Thursday night on the TNT telecast) that the team is a little high on itself after getting four days off after its 4-0 road trip.

These two losses should bring the team back down to earth. It is the first time Orlando has lost two in a row since the beginning of the season.

This does make Tuesday's game against Indiana very important. The Magic have to come out with renewed focus and a lot of energy to get a win.

The Celtics went through the same kind of lull (it is well documented). This was bound to happen in such a long season. You cannot keep up the way the Magic were playing for the entire season. It is a marathon, not a spring.

Magic Wands: January 23, 2009

-All Star voting has closed by now. But Kobe Bryant (THE Kobe Bryant) believes Jameer Nelson is playing at an All Star level. He certainly has and he should be playing in Phoenix in February with Dwight Howard and maybe Rashard Lewis. The Magic will be well represented at the All Star game.

-Marc Stein talks to advance scouts around the NBA. While the national media is not willing to fall in love with the Magic and their title chances, the people who matter are. One scout calls Orlando the best team in the NBA right now.

-It is no secret that a lot of athletes voted for and are inspired by Barack Obama, who was inaugurated as President of the United States on Tuesday. It should be no surprise that so many athletes were going -- sometimes to extreme lengths -- to attend the inauguration. Among those in attendance? Tiger Woods and Dwight Howard.

-Feel like your middle school basketball player has college-level skills? So does the NCAA. It now can regulate coach's interactions with seventh graders, deciding that players as young as 11 or 12 are now prospects.

-Jerry Sloan agreed to a one-year extension with the Jazz. Think about that for a moment. He has coached the same team for 22 years and will coach them for one more. You get the feeling though that with only a one-year extension, Sloan sees his retirement coming.

-Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports that Rudy Fernandez will be joining Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson and Rudy Gay in the Slam Dunk Contest. Click here for the official release.

-They say when you are a Playmaker, you can bend the rules. At least that is what ESPN wanted you to believe until the NFL shut them up. Then again, when the President-Elect calls you for inauguration, coach changes practice for his superstar player.

-Brian Schmitz has a solid breakdown of the Magic season so far in Wednesday's Orlando Sentinel now that we have officially hit the midway point.

-Good new Orlando fans. ClearChannel may be returning 740 AM to sports radio. That would give the 20th largest media market two local sports radio stations. Bad news about the job cuts though.

-Stan Van Gundy sure is glad he is not coaching in college football, Mike Bianchi reports.