MME's Articles

2006-11-19T15:15:00.000-05:00

Winning doesn’t eliminate problems

This team is playing well (currently at 7-3), but there are still things that we need to get corrected. Just because we are winning now doesn’t mean things need to be overlooked. If you forget about the flaws and don’t worry about them they will definitely come back to haunt you... in the end of the season and in the playoffs.

1. Free Throws: The Magic as a team are shooting 69.6% from the FT line. Our three "best" FT shooters so far this season are Bo Outlaw, Pat Garrity and Keith Bogans. But that’s only because they have shot 19 free throws so far this season between them and happened to make most of those shots.

But most of the main 9 (Howard, Battie, Darko, Jameer, Turk, Ariza) are shooting badly from the charity stripe. 6 of the 9 main rotation is averaging 70% from the FT line or less. Dwight, Darko, and Ariza need the most work, since they are all shooting less than 65% with Darko "leading" the pack with 48.1%.

2. Turnovers: The Magic have averaged exactly 20 turnovers per game. The worst part is that we are not forcing enough turnovers. We are giving the ball to the opponent but not getting it back from them enough. Our opponents are averaging 15.9 TOs per game against us.

Jameer is averaging a Steve-Francis-esque 3.7 TOs per game and Dwight isn’t too far behind with 3.6 TOs per game. Both Jameer and Dwight are in the Top 11 in the TOs per game category as of today. J-14 is also averaging 6.1 TOs per 48 min and D-12 is at 5 per 48 minutes. Grant Hill is averaging 2.11 TOs and Hedo is at 2.3 per game. Arroyo, Dooling and Milicic are averaging just fewer than 2 TOs per game.

3. Streakiness: We have good scorers that can score 20 a game. But we don’t have the consistency to get that production every game. So that’s why our leading scorer, Hill, averages 16.1 points per game. Not that it matters that much how much per game they score as long as we win.

I know we have a deep bench and they can put up a lot of points when needed. But the main guys have to get it to get it together and consistently put a good product on the floor or all this winning wont carry over to the end of the season and in the playoffs. Dwight needs to shed the streakiness (which ever way he is supposed to do that), and take over offensively.

Many guys can score a lot and do well one night then stink it up the next. But were still winning right? Of course but that will stop if guys cant get their act together and stop their Ben-Gordon-esque streakiness. Its not just one player its many of them... Dwight, Jameer, Darko, and Hedo are the main ones.

4. Assists: 3.8 Assists per game? Come on. That’s the average of the leading assist man: Jameer Nelson. Our team averages 17.8 assists per game. Some times the ball movement is good but other times it looks like we couldn’t hit an elephant on the court.

Bad entry passes, bad double-team-kick-outs, no look passes, sloppy down-the-court passes, and just plain bad passes are really hurting this team.

5. Brian Hill: No, not really. Hes a good coach and i have no problems with him but i think he definitley needs to change a few things.

One: forget about Garrity, hes a waste on the court. Hes streakier than Ben Gordon, on offense. And is a huge liability on defense. Hes bad at rebounding, blocking, assists, and everything else. Kyle Korver is a better defender than he is.

Two: Play Redick. Everyone kept saying how we needed a 3 point shooter and we were one of the worst teams last year in 3 pointers. But guess what? We have a sharpshooter, who averaged 26.8 points per game and who has range from here to China. But does he play...no. We are doing well with our lineup but everyone in the country wants to see this kid play and he deserves a look to at least see what he can do. Please Brian Hill, play JJ Redick.

End Thought: Are we winning now... Yes. But that doesn’t mean we should over look anything. Winning kind of makes every flaw just look that much better but if you don’t pay attention to the problems, you will be in trouble later on.

2006-11-14T23:07:00.000-05:00

This has to stop!

Who does David Stern think he is? Well, he seems to be trying to play God. Players have been hit with a dress code on and off the court, reminiscent of their parents always telling them what to do. They have been disallowed in questioning referees, and even have been told how and when to take off their warm-ups before they can enter a game.

The worst idea was changing the ball that all players have used for their entire career. The players have been just about unanimous in their dislike of the new ‘composite’ ball. Countless players have stated the negative effects of the ball, like it getting slippery when wet. Players sweat throughout the course of the game, so what else can the NBA expect except more turnovers?

When asked about the new basketball, LeBron James said: "It's not a good basketball." He added, "It kind of feels like a basketball you buy for your kids at Christmas or something."

When asked about what kinds of problems arise with the new ball, James told reporters: "Sometimes you can grip it, and sometimes during the game it sticks to your hand," he said. "It won't bounce, it will just roll on you. I don't know why we can't get used to this ball. But it's just not good."

So far there have been complaints from NBA superstars like Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, and Shaq. Many players are wondering why they changed the ball in the first place. Just think about the veterans who have been using the same ball for ten plus years. How do David Stern and the NBA expect them to adapt to a new ball so quickly, after they have used the same ball for so long? The whole situation affects many players and their games. Steve Nash talked about how he can’t bounce pass like he once could last year. The ball sticks to the floor more so he has to pass in other ways. The ball is also known to stick to the hands, which can affect the timing of the passes, leading to a turnover. If Steve Nash has a problem with passing the ball, then you know it’s serious.

LeBron was asked why he thinks the league changed the balls in the first place: "You can shorten our shorts, tell us how to wear wristbands, things like that. Change the dress code. But the one thing we care about is the basketball," he said. "When you start changing the thing we play with every single day, it doesn't make sense to me -- at all."

LeBron also has to get used to the new, no-nonsense, no-whining rule in place. "Technicals are being thrown like Peyton Manning passes," James said. "You have to watch you say and me being an emotional player, I've always been passionate about the game. So I've got to be cool."

There have been 37 technical fouls and 4 ejections in the season’s first 17 games, 84 technicals and 6 ejections in the season’s first 39 games, and now 104 technicals and 7 ejections in the first 51 games.

To Kevin Garnett, enforcing the no arguing rule is just crazy. "That's almost like Communism," the Timberwolves' star said last week. "That's like Castro."

"It's not anything new like a dress code, when you can make a couple calls and get some suits," Miami's Dwyane Wade said. "It's something that really goes with the way that you play."

Rasheed Wallace learned quickly that the league is serious about its new policy. He was thrown out in the third quarter of the first game of the season. The fans also found out real quickly when Mike Bibby and Carmelo Anthony were tossed for their whining and complaining.

Right about now Rasheed feels as though the NBA is treating the players like slaves. "I know they're going to have to do something about this crazy zero-tolerance law," Wallace said during the weekend. "In my mind, it's kind of like a slave and master or father and son. You've got your little son and (you say), 'Don't say nothing back to me.' And to me, that's totally wrong. It ain't like that in any other sport."

The dislike of calls is a part of basketball and all sports. Calling technicals the entire time can and will affect the games. When it gets down to crunch time, emotions are flowing and it’s extremely hard to keep your cool. Refs could make or break teams by calling a technical on a player, and ultimately give the opposing team a chance to win the game.

I am sure David Stern is happy with the new changes, but it is about time he realized that this league is at an all-time high in popularity for a reason. He needs to get his head in the right era.

2006-10-12T20:08:00.000-05:00

The Importance of the Preseason

Some people don’t care if players miss exhibition games, and would rather see their stars miss games so that they are at full health when the season starts.

First off, one should remember that most of the NBA basketball teams haven't played together all summer. They need practice and competition to get them back in game shape. Playing in the preseason games can be a huge benefit once the season starts because the players are ready for the season. It can be useful to get all the injuries out of the way during the preseason to be able to start the regular season healthy.

Another common misconception (in my opinion) is that resting during the preseason will somehow help players avoid injuries. Of course resting is important, but if the players are healthy enough to play then they should be on the floor to get in game shape. On top of that, the players must get in shape fast or the first part of the season won't go as planned. If they don’t play in game situations the simple fact is that they wont be in top form for the regular season. The preseason can be a great benefit to all players in the NBA by helping them get back in the rhythm of the rigorous 82-game season ahead.

2006-10-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

Improvement doesn’t necessarily mean a trade

The Magic made bold moves during the off-season, and it didn't involve trading their best player. Otis Smith did not make any big trades or major free agent signings during the off-season. Obviously he thinks the talent to be a winning team already exists on the Magic’s roster. Smith’s hope is that Brian Hill can put it all together and help the Magic stop their playoff drought. Well, this past summer we saw the beginning of that.

In a sign of leadership, this past summer Jameer Nelson organized a gathering of most of his teammates in Pennsylvania for a week. "I feel like I'm the leader of this team, and I should act like it,'' Nelson said. "My whole purpose was to make sure we continue building on the way we finished last season. I always thought in college, you became a better team if the guys really understand and enjoy each other, develop a chemistry. We can do that with the Magic.'' At 5 feet 10, Nelson has stepped out of Francis' shadow completely and is preparing to handle his first season as a full-time starter.

"His leadership has always been there, and him showing his leadership, you'll see a little bit more and more as he matures," Magic general manager Otis Smith said.

Coach Hill said the difference in this year's team is noticeable.

"We got a bunch of guys, I've said it, we've got character," Hill insists. "And maybe we've had characters in the past, but now we have character, and it's important. I think any winning organization, any winning team has that."

The Magic don’t have to prove anything to anybody but themselves. They know what they can and have accomplished. The Magic know their winning streak at the end of last season wasn’t a fluke. They also know the run wasn’t just because teams let up since they were in playoff contention. “We know certain teams were playing hard because they were out there arguing with each other.” Nelson said.

Jameer just had to pay his dues and wait his turn. He was patient, he just had to be ready for when his chance came, and when it came he shined.

2006-10-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

Carlos Arroyo: Little guy, Big heart

He has been called an underachiever, a guy who doesn’t like to pass, and nothing more than a bench warmer. Little do his discreditors know Carlos Arroyo could start on most NBA teams and has vision better than most other point guards. He’s just a little 6 foot 2 inch guy who weighs 202 pounds. Some people said: “Just way too small and too thin for the big NBA.” He went undrafted, as teams didn’t expect this little Puerto Rican guy to be good enough to play with the big men.

Arroyo used to start for the Jazz and had a chance to learn from Stockton and Mark Jackson. He then was traded to the Pistons but didn’t get enough of a chance there because of Larry Brown’s tight, controlling defensive style of play.

During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Arroyo lead the Puerto Rican basketball team throughout the competition with 18 points per game, and led them to a 92-73 victory over the United States with 25 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals.

On February 15, 2006, Arroyo was traded, along with Darko Milicic, from Detroit to the Orlando Magic, in exchange for Kelvin Cato and a future 1st-round draft choice. With the Magic, Arroyo averaged 22.1 minutes per game, 10.8 points per game, 2.9 assists per game, and 2.2 rebounds per game off the bench. These stats are a very significant increase from his days in Detroit where he only averaged 12 minutes per game. Larry Brown never gave him the chance to show the true point guard qualities that he possesses. He has the ability to lead a team with his passing ability and vision of the court. He can play offense, shoots well, can get easy baskets near the hoop, and hit the occasional three pointer. He doesn’t slack on defense either, getting steals and forcing the opposing point guard into taking a bad shot or passing the ball away.

When Carlos Arroyo was traded to the city with the second-highest Puerto Rican population in the United States, he knew he was in for a treat. When Arroyo made his debut in Orlando wearing a Magic uniform on Feb. 24, he was welcomed to an enthusiastic response from a crowd that included many Puerto Rican flags. With the Magic, Arroyo has come out of his shell and has been challenging Jameer Nelson for the right to be the Magic starting point guard. During home games at the TD Waterhouse Center, when Carlos steps on the court there is an uproar from the crowd cheering on their hero. He always brings a spark off the bench and is a fan favorite, which is reminiscent of former Magic guard Darrell Armstrong.

Carlos Arroyo shown dominance and leadership when he gets the minutes to show his game. This season Arroyo will get another chance to show all the doubters what he can truly accomplish

2006-10-10T21:10:00.000-05:00

Magic’s doubters will have questions answered next season.

There have been a lot of speculations and questions about the Magic’s Twin Towers. People wonder if Darko can carry it over from last season and prove that he’s starter material. Many ask if Dwight is really HOF material and if he is ready to lead the Magic.

Can he really live up to his #2 draft status? Will he ever be as good as the rest of the stars in his draft class? This is a tough question to answer, but its certainly not impossible in the future if he improves as much as he has this past season. Milicic is young and has many years to get better and prove what he can do. One thing that is a definite is that he will prove to be a devastating option on defense and a wonderful compliment to Dwight on offense. Darko is a very smart player, he has good passing skills (in the post and on the perimeter), he has good vision of the court, and knows where to position himself for an easy basket. Darko has the ability to realize where the opposing player is going and can quickly get into the lane to force or block a difficult shot. If Darko continues to build on his solid end to last season, he will be in the running for Most Improved Player, and the Magic will be one of the most improved teams.

Will Dwight live up to expectations and prove he can be a dominant force? Can he carry the Magic to the playoffs? Most definitely! Young Dwight Howard revealed flashes of Hakeem and Shaq last season with record-breaking performances on offense and defense. He’s had huge games and proven he can lead the Magic when needed. Dwight had the daunting task, as a young player, to be the go-to-guy late in the game. Sometimes he would hurl down a thunderous dunk or swat a shot into the stands late in the 4th quarter, and in the process proved he could be the leader. Dwight knows what it takes to lead the team to victory. To lead you can’t just talk the talk, you must also walk the walk. In other words, in order to lead, Dwight must be an example. He can do this not only by telling teammates what the team will accomplish, but by showing them on the court. Amid all the hardships, young Dwight Howard looks ready to be the leader. If Dwight can be more of a consistent low post scorer, then he could be on his way to a Kevin Garnett-like season.

Can Dwight fulfill his prediction of winning a championship this season? What a tough question and a huge expectation to live up to! The Magic have high hopes for this season and the years ahead. They have a bright future with their two young big men, Dwight and Darko. Jameer is leading the pack by administrating the offense and dictating the plays. Turkgolu gives us a scoring touch and shooting ability from the perimeter to spread the offense. Battie, as we all know, is a consistent option on defense and can put up good numbers on offense when he gets touches. Hill can give us All-Star-like numbers when he’s healthy and should be a huge offensive spark off the bench. Dooling, Redick, Ariza, and Bogans should give us one of the deepest benches in the league, as well as the versatility to match up against almost any defense a team could put up against us. The rest of our bench will give us a great push down the stretch and late in the season when the injuries will be getting to us.

2006-10-10T20:32:00.000-05:00

What it means to be a team leader

Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Another quote by Lombardi: “Leadership rests not only upon ability, not only upon capacity; having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it. His leadership is then based on truth and character. There must be truth in the purpose and will power in the character.” The team leader must be able to direct the other members of the team and have the leadership qualities to win.

Without a team leader, it’s hard for the team to play cohesively without the guidance of the captain. A leader has to find ways to get his team to win. To be a leader, you got to be big and play big. Not in a sense of physical height but ability to be versatile and use your skills to make others better.

2006-10-09T15:36:00.000-05:00

The Real Meaning of Team

Coming together, sharing together, working together, succeeding together ... that’s the real meaning of team. When you think of a team, whether it is basketball, football, or baseball, what do you think of? A bunch of players traded, signed, or drafted together that play against other teams, right? Wrong. Wearing the same jerseys does not make you a team.

Most teams in the NBA don’t have team players. Most NBA players play for one thing: their paychecks. It’s all about contract years and signing longer extensions worth more money. The important thing to remember, however, is that if you don’t think about the other players on your team, and what is best for the core group, then you will probably never win a championship. Phil Jackson once said: “The strength of the team is each individual member...the strength of each member is the team.” The team depends on each member of it to put forth their best effort and do their part while on the court. -That’s why teams with slackers (like the players on the TrailBlazers) don’t win. Players, who slack off, play for themselves instead of playing team basketball.

The basis of team basketball is making the extra pass, never letting up on defense, and hustling for the full 48 minutes. I remember once hearing this quote: “A team is defined as a collection of people who rely on group collaboration such that each of its members experiences an optimum of success level reaching of both personal and team based goals.” This expresses the need for teamwork and total effort from all the team members.

Success in any team environment is a challenge. A great man once said, “Because team members have different behaviors and thinking styles, this leads to conflict. Poor handling of conflict leads to disunity, quarrels, jealousy, and reduced morale. The process of team building investigates the personal characteristics of team members.”

One quote I've heard many times is by Robert Yates: “It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.” This is very true because no player concerned with his own stats ends up playing to the best of their abilities that way. Teamwork: Is simply less “me” and more “we”. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.

2006-10-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

The Ultimate Comparison

“With the 1st pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select Dwight Howard.”

“With the 2nd pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats select Emeka Okafor.”

Howard and Okafor will always have a rivalry watched closely by fans and the expectation to play hard and win against each another. Just like Shaq and Zo’, Elton Brand and Steve Francis, Hakeem and Sam Bowie, Dwight and Emeka will have the daunting task of always being compared with each other as the #1 and #2 picks. "The comparison between Dwight and Emeka will only help to push them to constantly improve.

“We've always teased him about Emeka, and he would get real defensive”, Former Magic guard DeShawn Stevenson said, “But you've got to do that to make Dwight understand he was the number one pick. It's always going to be like that.” Stevenson added, “We're just like, 'You see that Emeka had 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds] last night?' It's just little jokes like that. We stick by him, but we're looking to give him that edge and bring the best out of him.”

No doubt Dwight Howard will play hard. If he doesn’t, he'll hear about it. “The guys tell me, 'You're sorry', 'You can't jump'. They want me to play hard," Dwight Howard said. He then adds with a smile, “It works.”

Their games against each other are even more compelling in terms of the way they match-up, because not only have they improved since, but they've also gained confidence in what they're able to do. They now realize how the NBA works: it’s all about entertainment. They don’t hate each other but rather realize the rivalry between all 1st and 2nd picks. They always play at a high level and are consistently scrutinized and watch by the fans. Fans don’t want to see the Magic vs. the Bobcats; they want to see Dwight vs. Emeka. The top two picks of the 2004 draft have already accomplished something few rookies manage: They've not only lived up to the hype, they've surpassed it. Darko couldn’t live up to his hype and is just now getting his chance to show the talent he has. Lebron was an amazing talent to come out of high school, but the young phenom and Darko couldn’t be compared in their rookie years.

Howard and Okafor have excelled as NBA big men and will have very productive careers ahead of them. Both of them have unlimited potential that can be unleashed by hard work and determination. Its pretty scary since both of them haven’t stopped growing yet.