Trick or Treat?!
By Nick Adams | October 29, 2007
Trick or Treat!
This statement becomes more of a question for the Orlando Magic as they open up their 2007-2008 season on Halloween night, Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Arena.
Will the start of the season be a trick, or a treat for the Magic?
This question will be put to the test immediately as the trick for the Magic will be getting past a challenging beginning schedule which the team will treat as a positive opportunity.
The trick...
The Magic face a grueling start to the season as they will play seven games in their first 11 days and 13 out of their first 20 games away from Amway Arena.
Out of those 20 games, 11 of them are against teams whom made the playoffs a year ago.
Furthermore, in their first seven games, the Magic will face teams in which they were a combined 7-20 against last season including the playoffs.
The treat...
The Magic have turned the adversity of the punishing schedule into a positive by using it as an opportunity to become a tougher team.
"It will be a great opportunity for us to gain some mental toughness and learn how to deal with adversity," stated Coach Stan Van Gundy. "We are aware of the obstacles ahead, but we will take it one game at a time and look to build as a team."
Instead of complaining or avoiding the topic of the rough schedule, the team has embraced it and look forward to the challenge both mentally and physically.
"We have discussed it," said point guard Jameer Nelson, "and we have talked about using the preseason and this tough first stretch as an opportunity for us to grow both mentally and physically."
Nelson continued, "We can't let teams come out and push us around physically, and mentally when we get into those stretches when we aren't playing well, we can't let it get to us."
Of course this possess the long-term question: Will the off-season and preseason success trick the fans of Orlando, or will they be a treated with back-to-back appearances in the postseason?
The Magic seem poised and ready to answer that question as their season beings in two days.
Other Team Notes...
Team at Full Strength
All 14 members on the Magic roster practiced on Monday. J.J. Redick, who did not play in the last preseason game or in practice this past Saturday, went through an entire workout today recovering from a hand injury which has nagged him throughout the off-season. In addition, Rashard Lewis, Keyon Dooling, and Trevor Ariza, all of which have missed time with injuries this preseason, were at full strength at practice as well. The team expects to have everyone ready for Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Jameer Contract Talks
General Manager Otis Smith and representatives for Jameer Nelson have been in talks recently in hopes of extending Nelson's rookie contract.
"It is a business, and I am a business," Nelson stated. "If it doesn't happen now, hopefully it will happen after the season."
Trick or Treat!This statement becomes more of a question for the Orlando Magic as they open up their 2007-2008 season on Halloween night, Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Arena.
Will the start of the season be a trick, or a treat for the Magic?
This question will be put to the test immediately as the trick for the Magic will be getting past a challenging beginning schedule which the team will treat as a positive opportunity.
The trick...
The Magic face a grueling start to the season as they will play seven games in their first 11 days and 13 out of their first 20 games away from Amway Arena.
Out of those 20 games, 11 of them are against teams whom made the playoffs a year ago.
Furthermore, in their first seven games, the Magic will face teams in which they were a combined 7-20 against last season including the playoffs.
The treat...
The Magic have turned the adversity of the punishing schedule into a positive by using it as an opportunity to become a tougher team.
"It will be a great opportunity for us to gain some mental toughness and learn how to deal with adversity," stated Coach Stan Van Gundy. "We are aware of the obstacles ahead, but we will take it one game at a time and look to build as a team."
Instead of complaining or avoiding the topic of the rough schedule, the team has embraced it and look forward to the challenge both mentally and physically.
"We have discussed it," said point guard Jameer Nelson, "and we have talked about using the preseason and this tough first stretch as an opportunity for us to grow both mentally and physically."
Nelson continued, "We can't let teams come out and push us around physically, and mentally when we get into those stretches when we aren't playing well, we can't let it get to us."
Of course this possess the long-term question: Will the off-season and preseason success trick the fans of Orlando, or will they be a treated with back-to-back appearances in the postseason?
The Magic seem poised and ready to answer that question as their season beings in two days.
Other Team Notes...
Team at Full Strength
All 14 members on the Magic roster practiced on Monday. J.J. Redick, who did not play in the last preseason game or in practice this past Saturday, went through an entire workout today recovering from a hand injury which has nagged him throughout the off-season. In addition, Rashard Lewis, Keyon Dooling, and Trevor Ariza, all of which have missed time with injuries this preseason, were at full strength at practice as well. The team expects to have everyone ready for Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Jameer Contract Talks
General Manager Otis Smith and representatives for Jameer Nelson have been in talks recently in hopes of extending Nelson's rookie contract.
"It is a business, and I am a business," Nelson stated. "If it doesn't happen now, hopefully it will happen after the season."
