It's not easy to reach the NBA Finals as the Eastern Conference champs, bolster the roster with another All-Star, and still open training camp next month talking about being overlooked.Magic coach Stan Van Gundy is going to try.
Van Gundy intended to talk Thursday about the recent addition of veteran point guard Jason Williams, but he couldn't help veering into the perceived slights his team has received this summer as it got overshadowed by the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
"For a team that went to the Finals, we really haven't gotten the respect teams normally do,'' Van Gundy said at the Magic's headquarters. "Based upon what we did last year, I think our players do feel a little under appreciated and under respected.''
Although the Magic beat both the Celtics and the Cavaliers last spring on the way to reaching the Finals, their draft-night trade for Vince Carter was shadowed when Boston added Rasheed Wallace and Cleveland traded for Shaquille O'Neal.
"It was a lot of little things, and in the long run they're not very important, but you feel it,'' Van Gundy said. "Like the television schedule. Normally on Christmas Day, you get a rematch of the teams that played in the Finals. But instead, we get a Christmas Day matchup of the teams that they (TV executives) wanted to see in the Finals.''
The Magic do play the Boston Celtics Christmas Day on national television, but only as the preliminary game to the Lakers-Cavs on ABC.
The Magic did get plenty of attention this summer when All-Star Rashard Lewis received a 10-game suspension to start the season for violating the league's Anti-Drug Agreement, another reason the Magic have slipped to third in the Eastern Conference pecking order.
Van Gundy admitted that the early suspension could lead to a slow start and cost the Magic valuable playoff seeding, which is determined by regular season records. The Magic already were facing a change-of-chemistry adjustment by adding Carter, Williams, Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes to the regular playing rotation.
"Anytime you lose a guy like Rashard for 10 games, it's hard to see it in a positive light. We have so many new guys and now Rashard will likely be replaced mainly by new guys. So instead of one or maybe two new starters this season, we'll have two or three new starters,'' Van Gundy said. "It's not the ideal situation.''
Williams, when he was introduced at the press gathering Wednesday, said the team he was joining had some similarities to the team he played for in Miami that won the 2006 NBA title. He was the starting point guard there, playing between center Shaquille O'Neal and guard Dwyane Wade.
In Orlando, he will have center Dwight Howard, guard Vince Carter and Lewis when he returns.
"There is more talent on this team in Orlando than we had in Miami,'' Williams said. "Having this kind of talent around you just makes it easier. I think I'll be as good or better (than I ever was). Your teammates make you.''
Both Williams and Van Gundy made it clear that Williams was signed to compete with Anthony Johnson for the backup role behind Jameer Nelson, who has been injury prone throughout his career.
Williams, 33, sat out last season after prematurely retiring because he didn't want to honor the contract he signed in Los Angeles with the Clippers. The Magic signed him primarily because of his experience and his passing ability, which was key on a team of stars.
"If they want me to play 30 minutes, or 10 minutes, I'll be fine,'' he said. "I love to pass, and Dwight Howard loves to score. He's obviously the focal point offensively. If he's open, he's getting the ball.''
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
respect must be earned over time
it takes more than one season
(jason williams?)
The Magic lost Turk in the off season, so folks aren`t quite sure the team will be quite as good without him, which is why the Magic`s otherwise reasonably good off season wasn`t viewed better. Best starting five for the team would probably be Howard, Gortat, Barnes, Carter, Nelson. But with Shaq back, an all star, no longer has been, it might be better for the league for the Magic to add a center, Ostertag is 36 and has sat out a few years, to alternate with Foyle, letting Howard start at forward long enough to be listed there on the all start ballot, so Shaq can start one more all star game (ahead of Garnett, who would also make the team if he recovers from the injury which kept him out of the playoffs. Never assume a guy is going to be the same of better after an injury, always see what you`ve REALLY got). Barnes started a fair bit a forward for Phoenix las year, Bass came off the bench at power forward. He is not big enough to start at power forward, and would need to learn new skills before he`d be as good as Barnes at wing forward. Ostertag might be a help to San Antonio. They have gone from starting three centers several years ago, Robinson, Purdue, Duncan, to having Duncan as the biggest man on their roster, whether they want to continue to call him a forward or not. Williams is worth a shot, if only as a courtesy, at making the team, he won`t start if Nelson has recovered, which he hadn`t in the playoffs.
What made Orlando so good last year? I'll tell you what,they were UNCONVENTIONAL.It was a huge advantage for them pairing Howard with a pair of 6'10" forwards who could rain 3's if you doulbled Dwight.They were unguardable.By losing Hedo for Vince,that is not the case anymore.They have become just another conventional team.They're still 1 of the better teams,but they no longer create the matchup nightmare for teams like Boston (w/Sheed) and Cleveland (w/Shaq).Losing Hedo is a much bigger deal than what is being written here and Orlando will pay for it.
NEWSFLASH!
Vince Carter is much, much better than Hedo Turkoglu!
If you watched the Magic during the regular season, as all real Magic fans did, you were saying to yourself "My God. If we re-sign Hedo for anything above the midlevel I will be furious." Then dude has a couple exceptional playoff games and now hes the key to our offense? Get real folks. Before Jameer went down, Jameer ran the offense MUCH better than Turk did. Vince is a better player than Turk in EVERY statistical category (including 3-pointers I might add). Turk is fun to watch, and can do some crazy things for being 6'10" but don't think hes something different than what he is: A woefully inconsistent basketball player that shows flashes of greatness. The Magic, barring serious injury, will have a better record this year than last. Mark it down.
Just to add one more thing, its painfully obvious how many people only tuned in to watch the Magic once they reached game 7 of the Boston series. Turk was absolutely HORRIBLE in the Philly series and had a very down year the whole regular season. You don't evaluate a player based off 5 good games, you look at the whole package. I, for one, would much rather have Vince than Turk not to mention Bass and Barnes. Face it, the Magic are better this year than last.
Newsflash to Stan Van Dangerfield. Respect comes when you win championships. Period, end of story.
Waaahn Van Gundy needs to grow up. He's playing on xmas day...just not as the marquee matchup...
It makes sense to schedule Cavs/Lakers not because they wanted to see them in the finals last year (big deal if they did) but because it has a lot of airplay with Lebron/Shaq and the Kobe Lakers... this is much bigger marketing than Vince (all I've ever really done is jump over someone in the olympics) Carter and Dwight ( I lost my first finals) Howard against the Kobe Lakers....
It's just business Stan...get your ego out of the game...which is maybe why you lost...because you couldn't get YOUR ego out of the game