Orlando Magic Blog – Page 62 – NBA Blog

Vince Carter still learning to fit in with Magic

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Thirty-seven games into the season, the Magic (25-12) are still trying to adjust to [Vince] Carter — and Carter to them.

Sometimes, teammates stand around and watch Carter play. Sometimes, they defer to him unnecessarily or Carter defers to them unnecessarily.

“It’s different. We weren’t used to playing like that last year … Turk [ Hedo Turkoglu] had the ball, Jameer [Nelson] had it. It was pretty balanced at the end of every game. Everybody got about the same amount of shots,” forward Rashard Lewis said.

And now?

“Vince is the type of player who needs the ball in his hands. He dominates the ball sometimes. That’s how he became Vince Carter,” Lewis continued. “We got to adjust to that, learn how to play with him dominating the ball.

“We’re still adjusting to it, but he’s not going anywhere. He’s our teammate.”

Antawn Jamison addresses Wizards fans before Friday game

Friday night in Washington, D.C. the Wizards are hosting the Orlando Magic.

Before tipoff, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison took the microphone and addressed fans in the arena in response to recent issues with Gilbert Arenas bringing guns to the locker room, a reported possible bad response by Javaris Crittenton, and then days later, several teammates making light of the situation by laughing with Gilbert as he used his fingers to jokingly pretend to be armed and dangerous.

InsideHoops.com heard Jamison and transcribed what he said. Here’s Antawn:

How you guys doing?

On behalf of my teammates, this organization and this coaching staff, we know it’s been a trying week. One thing my teammates and I take very seriously is being a positive role model. It’s something we don’t take lightly.

There’s been a picture that’s been shown of us taking this event very lightly. This is a serious situation. It’s something that we take to heart. We never meant to make light of the situation. We’re going to do everything in our power, as long as I’m your captain, as long as these guys right here are my teammates, to make this one of the most respectable organizations in the league.

[Wizards fans cheer]

In order for that to happen, we need you guys to continue to support us. This thing right here is very embarrassing for my teammates and the coaching staff, but we’re going to do everything positive to make this one of the toughest places to play in. To make this an exciting place. But most importantly, a place where you can bring your kids, your families, your buddy, to come and have a good time.

Enjoy the game tonight. Thanks a lot!

I think he did a fine job.

Roy Hibbert has great game in win over Magic

The AP reports:

Roy Hibbert has no problem displaying the lighter side of his personality off the court. However, he was all business against one of the NBA’s premier centers.

The 7-foot-2-inch Hibbert had a career-high 26 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 97-90 victory over the Orlando Magic and All-Star Dwight Howard last night in Indianapolis.

Hibbert added 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists for the Pacers (11-23), who have won two of three after losing eight straight. Howard played with foul trouble most of the night and finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Hibbert was able to use Howard’s two early fouls to his advantage.

He scored 12 of the Pacers’ 24 points in the first quarter and added six more in the second quarter when they led by as many as 10.

Things were going so well for Hibbert, he made two jumpers as the shot clock expired and the Magic threw several double-teams at him in the post.

Hibbert outscored Howard, Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter, who combined for 21. Howard finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out in 28 minutes.

Matt Barned fined for throwing ball into stands

Orlando forward Matt Barnes has been fined $20,000 for throwing a basketball into the stands, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations Stu Jackson announced today.

The incident occurred following the conclusion of Orlando’s 99-98 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday, November 25 at Amway Arena in Orlando.

Dwight Howard asks Stan Van Gundy to stop the negativity

The Orlando Magic are off to a pretty good start, with a 9-3 record despite playing the season’s first 10 games without Rashard Lewis and also enduring injuries to Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson.

The team faces an even bigger challenge now that starting point guard Jameer Nelson is injured once again and out for weeks.

Aside from great coaching, Dwight Howard wants a bit less negativity coming from Stan Van Gundy.

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard told the Sentinel on Thursday that he asked Stan Van Gundy in a private meeting to quell what he perceived as the coach’s recurring negativity.

The fiery, demanding Van Gundy confirmed that he met with Howard, who was speaking on behalf of the team.

“I think, as a team, there was a lot of negativity and it’s not like Stan’s a negative guy,” Howard said before the Magic left for Boston to face the Celtics on Friday night. “But it’s like there’s always some clashes and focusing so much on our mistakes. Instead of bringing each other down, we have to pull each other up.

“That’s the only thing I wanted from coach.”

Van Gundy told the Sentinel that his negativity was “draining the enthusiasm” from his team. He vowed to change his tactics — from practices to press conferences to the bench on game nights — after listening to Howard’s concerns.

A ton of pressure now rests on the aging shoulders of backup point guard Jason Williams, who with Nelson out will start and play a very key role on the team. And old Anthony Johnson must regain some youth and contribute as well.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Jameer Nelson to have left knee surgery, out 4-6 weeks

Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson will undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday morning to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Nelson was injured in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game vs. Charlotte and underwent an MRI Tuesday morning.

It is estimated that Nelson will be out four-to-six weeks following the procedure.

Nelson had started all 11 games for the Magic, averaging 13.7 ppg. and a team-high 5.5 apg.

The Magic (8-3) return to action Wednesday night by hosting Oklahoma City at Amway Arena (tip-off 7 p.m.)

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dwight Howard gets hacked a lot

Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard is a bad free throw shooter, so it’s a good gamble for defenders about to give up a potential easy inside shot to be sure to foul him and force him to sink the charity stripe shots.

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

The Hack-a-Howard is in a lot of opponent’s game-plans just as the Hack-a-Shaq was when O’Neal was a young Magic center.

The Magic have no more answers today for Howard than they did in the early-to-mid ’90s with Shaq.

The club complained to the league back then about the intentional, body-jarring fouling and little changed. Ditto in the Dwight era.

On Friday, General Manager Otis Smith threw up his hands and said, “What’s the league going to do?” Coach Stan Van Gundy has talked like a defense attorney this season on behalf of Howard, hoping the NBA might get the message through the media.

The answer?

“We — and Dwight — have to adjust to the situation the way it is,” Van Gundy said.

Howard for his career shoots 56.9% from the field, and only a little better, 60.2% from the free throw line.

Dwight Howard frustrated by foul night

Tuesday night in Detroit, the Pistons hosted the Orlando Magic and behind 20+ point games from three players managed to come away with a home victory. Magic star Dwight Howard played just under 17 minutes, yet fouled out with six fouls and finished with just 8 points, 5 rebounds, no assists (3 turnovers) and 3 blocks.

Today, on his own website (DwightHoward.com), Dwight wrote:

Yo, what up, world??? Not sure how many of you guys saw the game last night in Detroit, but let me tell you that was one to forget. We lost for the first time all season, the first time since the Finals, I guess. But it was how we lost that frustrated me the most.

I was on the floor for 16 minutes and fouled out!!! Let me say that again: 17 minutes and six fouls!!! How can that be, ya’ll? It was crazy. They called me for a charge on a flop, a push off when the defender was on me and two fouls on blocked shots.

Man, 16 minutes is a lifetime low for me I think. I haven’t played that little in a game since I was 10 years old in pee-wee ball. It was crazy from the start of the game all the way to when I fouled out with about 4 minutes to play.

What really bothers me is they are letting guys hammer me at one end of the floor, yet I’m being called for everything. All of those hits take a toll on my body after a while.

The Magic were 3-0 to start the season. The loss was their first in 2009-10. Wednesday night they head to Phoenix to battle the 4-0 Suns.

Ryan Anderson a great Magic fit

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

After watching this Ryan Anderson kid through his first three starts as a stand-in, you have to ask (if only in jest):

So how are the Orlando Magic going to find Rashard Lewis playing time when he comes back?

Even Anderson laughed at the question.

Anderson, 21, has been doing more than just keeping Lewis’ power-forward spot warm, but he realizes his days as a starter are numbered. He’ll be heading to the bench when Lewis returns from a league-mandated suspension in seven more games.

Anderson has been very Lewis-like in playing the role, averaging 17.3 points per game, second only to Dwight Howard’s 21.7 ppg. He, too, is 6 feet 10, and can shoot 3-pointers, nailing 11-of-20 for 55 percent.

And he’ll be looking to provide offense again if shooting guard Vince Carter (sprained left ankle) and small forward Mickael Pietrus (flu-like symptoms) are unavailable tonight against the Detroit Pistons.

Lewis will obviously start when he comes back. But it’s still a great “problem” that Anderson has fit in so well it’ll be difficult for coach Stan Van Gundy to move him back to the bench.

Adonal Foyle has right knee surgery

Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. His return to action will depend on how he responds to treatment.

Foyle has not played in any of Orlando’s preseason outings. He appeared in 10 games last season with both the Magic and Memphis, averaging 1.7 ppg. and 2.6 rpg. in 6.2 minpg. Foyle was traded to Memphis as part of the three-team deal that sent Rafer Alston to Orlando on Feb. 19, later waived by Memphis on Mar. 1, then re-signed by Orlando on Mar. 23.

Originally selected by Golden State in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft, Foyle (6’10”, 270, 3/9/75) has appeared in 733 regular season games during his 12-year NBA career with Golden State, Orlando and Memphis, averaging 4.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 1.63 blkpg. in 17.8 minpg. Foyle is Golden State’s all-time franchise leader in blocked shots with 1,140.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Foyle, 34, likely wouldn’t see much playing time with the Magic even when healthy. Dwight Howard and Marcin Gortat are ahead of him on the depth chart at center, and Brandon Bass can play the position also if necessary.”