Denton: Lack of Respect Motivates Magic
By John Denton
December 9, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard was flipping through the television channels recently when he came across ESPN’s Tim Legler breaking down the powers that be in the Eastern Conference.
With his Magic riding last spring’s berth in the NBA Finals and an impressive start to this season, Howard figured this would be the moment when Orlando finally got some love nationally as one of the NBA’s elite teams.
Well … not so much.
Legler boldly said that it was Boston who is the best in the East even though the Magic beat Boston last spring in seven games and had just gone into Beantown a few weeks earlier and defeated the Celtics.
Understandably so, Howard couldn’t believe what he was hearing and the words just made the Magic’s center even more determined and focused.
``I know that everybody is going to have their opinions, but I just don’t know how you can call somebody the best team when they are tied with another team,’’ Howard said incredulously. ``We still haven’t gotten that much respect. I just hope that we continue to get better as a team and by the time the playoffs come we’ll be rolling.’’
Howard didn’t say it, but what he was inferring was that playoff time might be the next true chance the Magic have to show that last spring’s march through Philadelphia, Boston and Cleveland was no fluke.
In some ways, the Magic have garnered a measure of respect this season by earning their way onto the national television stage 24 times – the most in the history of the franchise. Two of those games come the next two nights – Thursday against Utah on TNT and Friday in Phoenix on ESPN.
``We’re getting some recognition now, but we have to keep playing because now that people are kind of recognizing us as an elite team we have to know that everybody is going to give us their best shot,’’ Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. ``Teams and fans across the NBA are starting to notice that we are an elite team and we have to be ready to take those punches that they are going to give us.’’
The Magic have proven themselves to be elite in almost every way of late. At 17-4, they have equaled the franchise’s best 21-game start ever and with a win Thursday against Utah they can go where no Magic team ever has (as in 18-4). The eight straight road wins are the most ever in any one season and they are on pace to shatter the team mark of 27 road victories set each of the past two seasons.
Naturally, relentless, hard-driving coach Stan Van Gundy yawned at the accomplishments, pointing out that they won’t help the Magic stop Carlos Boozer in the post or slow down Deron Williams off the pick and roll come Thursday night.
``They don’t give you anything for the best 21-game record in the history of the franchise,’’ Van Gundy said. ``Maybe (team operations manager Rodney Powell) will give me a basketball, one of those painted balls. But if they’re not going to do that, then I don’t put any stock in any of it.’’
Even the Magic will make roughly as many national television appearances this season as Ryan Seacrest, there were some ruffled feathers among the players at the placement of some of the TV games.
When the NBA tipped off the regular season, it was Cleveland and Boston – the two teams that Orlando defeated in the playoffs – who played the first game. And while the Magic are playing the Celtics again on Christmas Day, the game is the opening act for the Lakers and Cavaliers in the prime-time slot. Strange considering that it was the Magic, and not the Cavs, who won the Eastern Conference last spring.
``Around the league I think we’re well respected, especially among players and coaches who know the game of basketball,’’ Magic reserve guard J.J. Redick said. ``We have three legitimate superstars and four really when Jameer (Nelson) is healthy. But we’re a small market and we’re not L.A., we’re not New York and we don’t have LeBron James.
``We’re starting to get some attention, but we don’t set out for that. We just want to win,’’ Redick continued. ``I think we’d rather be called the best team in June than the best team on Dec. 9th.’’
The Magic are usually among the best teams in the league when Howard plays like he did Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. He celebrated his 24th birthday by stuffing the stat sheet with 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven blocked shots and five assists.
Howard said Van Gundy’s insistence that he’s double-teamed almost every possession in practice has helped him become a better passer, leading to the five assists. And his improved patience and expanded maturity has helped him realize that there’s more to the game than scoring.
``I’m getting used to being double-team because they do it every day in practice and I’m to the point now that I know where everybody’s going to be,’’ said Howard, whose back and chest were sore Wednesday from some of the hard fouls he received from Chris Kaman. ``I know where Rashard and MP are going to be now.
``Since I’ve been growing up every coach that I’ve ever had has told me that I don’t have to score 20 points to impact the game. That’s one thing that I understand better now. I know now I can impact a game without having to score a whole bunch of points. People want to see me put the ball in the basket, but if I can find ways to get my teammates open shots, block some shots and rebounds, that’s what really gets a team a big advantage.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonDecember 9, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard was flipping through the television channels recently when he came across ESPN’s Tim Legler breaking down the powers that be in the Eastern Conference.
With his Magic riding last spring’s berth in the NBA Finals and an impressive start to this season, Howard figured this would be the moment when Orlando finally got some love nationally as one of the NBA’s elite teams.
Well … not so much.
Legler boldly said that it was Boston who is the best in the East even though the Magic beat Boston last spring in seven games and had just gone into Beantown a few weeks earlier and defeated the Celtics.
Understandably so, Howard couldn’t believe what he was hearing and the words just made the Magic’s center even more determined and focused.
``I know that everybody is going to have their opinions, but I just don’t know how you can call somebody the best team when they are tied with another team,’’ Howard said incredulously. ``We still haven’t gotten that much respect. I just hope that we continue to get better as a team and by the time the playoffs come we’ll be rolling.’’
Howard didn’t say it, but what he was inferring was that playoff time might be the next true chance the Magic have to show that last spring’s march through Philadelphia, Boston and Cleveland was no fluke.
In some ways, the Magic have garnered a measure of respect this season by earning their way onto the national television stage 24 times – the most in the history of the franchise. Two of those games come the next two nights – Thursday against Utah on TNT and Friday in Phoenix on ESPN.
``We’re getting some recognition now, but we have to keep playing because now that people are kind of recognizing us as an elite team we have to know that everybody is going to give us their best shot,’’ Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. ``Teams and fans across the NBA are starting to notice that we are an elite team and we have to be ready to take those punches that they are going to give us.’’
The Magic have proven themselves to be elite in almost every way of late. At 17-4, they have equaled the franchise’s best 21-game start ever and with a win Thursday against Utah they can go where no Magic team ever has (as in 18-4). The eight straight road wins are the most ever in any one season and they are on pace to shatter the team mark of 27 road victories set each of the past two seasons.
Naturally, relentless, hard-driving coach Stan Van Gundy yawned at the accomplishments, pointing out that they won’t help the Magic stop Carlos Boozer in the post or slow down Deron Williams off the pick and roll come Thursday night.
``They don’t give you anything for the best 21-game record in the history of the franchise,’’ Van Gundy said. ``Maybe (team operations manager Rodney Powell) will give me a basketball, one of those painted balls. But if they’re not going to do that, then I don’t put any stock in any of it.’’
Even the Magic will make roughly as many national television appearances this season as Ryan Seacrest, there were some ruffled feathers among the players at the placement of some of the TV games.
When the NBA tipped off the regular season, it was Cleveland and Boston – the two teams that Orlando defeated in the playoffs – who played the first game. And while the Magic are playing the Celtics again on Christmas Day, the game is the opening act for the Lakers and Cavaliers in the prime-time slot. Strange considering that it was the Magic, and not the Cavs, who won the Eastern Conference last spring.
``Around the league I think we’re well respected, especially among players and coaches who know the game of basketball,’’ Magic reserve guard J.J. Redick said. ``We have three legitimate superstars and four really when Jameer (Nelson) is healthy. But we’re a small market and we’re not L.A., we’re not New York and we don’t have LeBron James.
``We’re starting to get some attention, but we don’t set out for that. We just want to win,’’ Redick continued. ``I think we’d rather be called the best team in June than the best team on Dec. 9th.’’
The Magic are usually among the best teams in the league when Howard plays like he did Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. He celebrated his 24th birthday by stuffing the stat sheet with 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven blocked shots and five assists.
Howard said Van Gundy’s insistence that he’s double-teamed almost every possession in practice has helped him become a better passer, leading to the five assists. And his improved patience and expanded maturity has helped him realize that there’s more to the game than scoring.
``I’m getting used to being double-team because they do it every day in practice and I’m to the point now that I know where everybody’s going to be,’’ said Howard, whose back and chest were sore Wednesday from some of the hard fouls he received from Chris Kaman. ``I know where Rashard and MP are going to be now.
``Since I’ve been growing up every coach that I’ve ever had has told me that I don’t have to score 20 points to impact the game. That’s one thing that I understand better now. I know now I can impact a game without having to score a whole bunch of points. People want to see me put the ball in the basket, but if I can find ways to get my teammates open shots, block some shots and rebounds, that’s what really gets a team a big advantage.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
