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J.J. Redick Finally Carving His Niche

Tim Povtak — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Magic

ORLANDO -- After three seasons of banging his head against a wall, J.J. Redick finally has proven he belongs in the NBA.

He never thought it would take this long.

Redick may have come into the league as one of the most celebrated college basketball players in recent history, but it has taken a complete remaking of his game and his attitude to finally carve his niche.

"I've been thinking about it recently, and maybe I wasn't ready to do this last year, or my second year, and certainly not as a rookie,'' Redick said Friday night after helping the Orlando Magic hold off the Detroit Pistons 110-103. "I could not have stepped in and played well like this, but I've learned how to be a pro. And that wasn't easy.''

Redick, now in his fourth season with the Magic after playing four years at Duke University, has used the start of this 2009-10 season and an injury to starter Vince Carter to solidify his role on a legitimate championship contender.

And around the league, they have noticed.

In six games - four as a starter - Redick has played consistently well, averaging 14.7 points, three rebounds and three assists in 32.5 minutes per game. Instead of being the hot-shooting bomber that most remember from his college days, he has become a heady, steady player, something he struggled to learn in his first few years in the NBA.

He doesn't do turnovers. He plays good team defense. And he helps the offense work better by moving the ball and finding the open man instead of finding his shot.

"For most guys in this league, it's about being in the right situation at the right time. You hate to have a teammate go down to give you a chance, but you have to be ready, and that's something I've learned,'' he said. "I think I've taken advantage of this opportunity. I've played well. I've put myself in a position where I can succeed now.''

Carter will return soon from his sprained ankle. Rashard Lewis will come back next week from that 10-game suspension. And when they do, the playing time for Redick will shrink considerably, putting him back into a reserve role with inconsistent minutes because the Magic are so deep.

Yet Redick now knows what he can do, and where he can fit. In the first few years, when he got brief opportunities, he failed to sustain them. He never averaged more than six points or 1.1 assists, in part because his playing time was so sporadic.

The Magic's off-season trade for Vince Carter actually helped him because it sent promising Courtney Lee to New Jersey, giving him a much clearer role. He also has gotten stronger physically, enabling him to withstand the physical punishment that comes from driving the lane. He was hammered Friday by a frustrated Kwame Brown, but he bounced up quickly.

"He's played well for us,'' Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He's learned what works for him.''

Redick scored a career high 27 points in his first start this season against Toronto. He has scored in double figures in five of the six games. He has hit 16-of-31 shots (51 percent) from 3-point range. He doesn't take bad shots anymore.

"Obviously, I'm not Vince Carter, and I'm not trying to be like Vince Carter,'' he said. "I don't feel like I have to show people anything. Just be who I am out there, a ball mover who can help this team succeed. And I can do it now in the flow of what we're trying to do.''

J.J. Redick Finally Carving His Niche originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Van Gundy: NBA Rules Penalize Howard

Tim Povtak — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Magic

ORLANDO -- Coming to the defense of his All-Star center, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy didn't criticize the officials Wednesday night -- he didn't want another fine -- but he was clearly critical of the way Dwight Howard is being officiated this season.

Howard, the biggest, strongest, best center in the NBA, is being unfairly penalized, according to Van Gundy.

"He gets penalized for being so strong. We give guys an advantage in this league for being quick, but we penalize them for being strong like Dwight,'' Van Gundy said after Howard finished with 11 fouls in the last two games combined. "If you hit a perimeter guy on a drive the way they are allowed to hit Dwight all the time around the basket, it would be a flagrant foul.''

Orlando Magic 122, Phoenix Suns 100: Recap | Box Score
Previously: Van Gundy Steamed Over NBA Fine

The Magic pounded the Phoenix Suns, 122-100, Wednesday night and Howard had 25 points, but he played only 23 minutes because of early foul trouble. On Tuesday night, he fouled out after just 17 minutes in a loss against Detroit.

In both games, Howard was clearly frustrated by the way the game was being officiated. He received a technical foul in each game, giving him three for the season. After Tuesday's game, he was openly critical of the officials, using his website to express his frustration.

"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,'' Howard said in his blog after the loss to Detroit.

"It's frustrating, but I can't let the frustration get the best of me. ... They can hack, pound whatever, but I have to try and stay calm."
- Dwight Howard In the first half Wednesday, Howard had three offensive fouls and only six points in just 12 minutes. It took a halftime pep talk from general manager Otis Smith to calm him down before his big third quarter when he scored 17 points.

"It's frustrating, but I can't let the frustration get the best of me,'' he said Wednesday night. "I have to find other ways to pay back those people who are just fouling away at me. They can hack, pound, whatever, but I have to try and stay calm.''

Howard has been slowed by a strained right shoulder, sustained Sunday night in Toronto, although he continues to play. The injury is the result of the increased physical play he has faced early this season.

Van Gundy was careful to say he had no complaints about the officials, only the way the rules have been written and enforced.

"Because the big guys are so strong and don't go tumbling to the floor, the defenders wind up and whack away,'' Van Gundy said. "That's just the way it is. That's a fact. It's not the referees fault. It's the way they are told to call the games. They want freedom of movement on the perimeter, but they are not worried about the big guys being able to move and use their skills. Strength is penalized. And that's frustrating for Dwight, and for me.''

Despite Van Gundy's concerns about Howard, the Magic (4-1) dealt the Suns their first loss of the season. The Magic showed again just how deep they are, winning again without All-Star starters Vince Carter (ankle sprain) and Rashard Lewis (who started the season with a 10-game suspension).

"We're a good team,'' Howard said. "But I have to stay on the floor to help this team. Yes, it's a concern. I just have to handle it better.''

Van Gundy: NBA Rules Penalize Howard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Trail Blazers, NBA Last Night, Thunder

Welcome to the NBA FanHouse podcast, where our writers get together a few times a week to talk about everything going on in the world of hoops. Want to participate? Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @NBAFanHouse.

In a Wednesday edition of the HouseCast (and our first of the season), Matt Watson and Matt Moore joined me to discuss this week's Power Rankings. Of course, we couldn't do that without mentioning that once again, the top-ranked team -- Orlando, in this case -- went down the very same day the rankings were published.

We also recap a busy and interesting night of action, one where the Celtics remained dominant, the Suns remained undefeated, and the Lakers remained underwhelming, while barely surviving the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Download MP3

NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Spurs, Suns, NBA Power Rankings

We're just a week into the season, so don't get mad if your team isn't where you might have expected. It's just that if we go by what we've actually seen, as opposed to what's been predicted, then this is for the most part where teams should fall based on their early performances. But if you're offended by the spot your favorite team holds, fear not: they likely have 79 regular season games remaining to right the ship.

1. Magic (3-0)
Sure, they've only beaten Philly, New Jersey and Toronto. But they've done so by an an average margin of double digits, and they've done it without the suspended Rashard Lewis. Might be the deepest team in the league; time will tell how they match up against the big boys.
2. Celtics (4-0)
Opened the season with a solid road victory in Cleveland, before absolutely pummeling inferior competition for the next three games. If the whole team plays with that Rondo-sized chip on its shoulder for the entire season, who knows what Boston is capable of.
3. Nuggets (3-0)
Impressive wins against Utah and Portland already, and Carmelo Anthony could be to this season what Dwyane Wade was to last season: someone with something to prove, and maybe a dark horse candidate for MVP.
4. Mavericks (2-1)
Can't blame them for losing to Gilbert Arenas' supremely motivated squad in the opener, especially after they regrouped nicely by throttling the Lakers on the road in their second game. This team has one of the best pick-and-roll offenses in the league when it's firing on all cylinders, which will be extremely tough for most other teams to stop.
5. Lakers (2-1)
With Pau Gasol missing the first three games of the season, L.A. has looked far from spectacular. Their lack of depth has been exposed, and Ron Artest has yet to fit in. Still, an 18-0 run in the third quarter on Sunday put away the Hawks, and the Lakers did it with defense, offensive rebounding, and getting out on the break for easy baskets. They're the defending champs for a reason.
6. Spurs (2-1)
The one game that Tim Duncan has looked like his old self this season -- when he put up 28 and 16 against the Bulls -- San Antonio lost. In the two wins, Tony Parker was the catalyst, leading the team in scoring and getting everyone else involved. Of course, if Ginobili continues to play the role of Batman, the sky's the limit.
7. Suns (3-0)
Undefeated against the Clippers, the Warriors, and the T'Wolves, the Suns aren't exactly world-beaters. But after squeaking out a close one in L.A. to open the season, Phoenix has had no trouble imposing their will on their opponents, on the way to a couple of comfortable victories. A tough five-game road trip awaits, but this is a confident group that will likely surprise a team or two on that East coast swing.
8. Heat (3-0)
Undefeated is undefeated, and despite some fairly weak competition (Bulls excepted), that's where the Heat stand. Still, they've done it convincingly, with the second best point differential in the league at 14.3.
9. Rockets (3-1)
Yeah, I'm surprised they're this high, too. But you can't deny three straight wins, including Monday's in Utah where they held Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap to a combined nine points on 1-of-8 shooting, while getting eight players in double figures offensively.

10. Cavaliers (2-2)
Can't really justify having LeBron and company any lower than this, but have they really earned it? It's going to be a while before the Cavs are clicking, and with the team trying to get familiar with Shaq and work Delonte West back into the offense, the gap in the standings could be pretty big by the time things get figured out.

11. Hawks (2-1)
Played two and a half solid games really, before completely falling to pieces in the third quarter against the Lakers. This is a long, athletic team that has no trouble on either end of the floor, so consistency and mental toughness will be the qualities that they search for as the season goes on.

12. Wizards (2-1)
Gilbert Arenas appears to be all the way back, and has led his team to a couple of nice wins to start the season, even as the club is missing Antawn Jamison. Tough back-to-back at Cleveland and then hosting Miami will tell us a lot about where this team is at right now.

13. Trail Blazers (2-2)
Brandon Roy can be All-World, but he's struggled shooting the ball since the Denver game. Andre Miller is -- at least so far -- a very underwhelming addition. The injuries to Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge aren't going to help the team get straight early, but we have a long way to go, and Portland is still loaded and can be right there when it counts at the end of the season.

14. Thunder (2-1)
As Kevin Durant goes, so goes the Thunder? KD had 25 and 11, then 25 and 12 in his team's first two games -- both victories. He struggled a bit against the Blazers with 16 and 5 (on a miserable 3-21 shooting), and OKC managed just 74 points in their first loss of the season.

15. Sixers (2-1)
In just 23 minutes per game off the bench, second-year player Marreese Speights is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a blocked shot per game, while hitting 18 of his 24 field goal attempts. Elton who?

16. Bulls (1-2)
Opened the season with a nice home win over the Spurs, before having to go to Boston the next night to get thrashed by the Celtics. Chicago then took Miami down to the wire, so the schedule-makers more than anyone are to blame for the Bulls' middle-of-the-pack ranking here.

17. Jazz (1-2)
Rough one against the Rockets on Monday, as Utah turned a three-point halftime lead into a 17-point home loss.

18. Bobcats (2-2)
Charlotte gets a little credit for standing at 2-2, but they did manage just 79 points against the awful Nets on Monday ... which was, in fact, good enough for a win, thanks to New Jersey's dreadful seven-point third quarter.

19. Knicks (1-3)
It took New York three overtimes to lose two of its games, before putting together a solid fourth quarter on Monday to get the team's first win of the season. Now if only they can get some consistency going so that D'Antoni doesn't have to change his starting lineup and rotations every night, they'll be in business.

20. Hornets (1-3)
New Orleans has no depth once you get past the starting unit, and the team looks to be far worse off than it was a season ago. So let me be among the first to say it: the Hornets are not making the playoffs.

21. Raptors (1-2)
Dropped two straight after beating the Cavs in their opener, but don't blame Chris Bosh: he's averaging 31 points and 14.7 rebounds through the first three games. *cough* contact year *cough*

22. Bucks (1-1)
Brandon Jennings is the story here, as he's done better than expected early, and led the team in scoring the first two games. Which is important, considering the fact that Michael Redd is going to be on the shelf for a couple of weeks with a knee injury.

23. Pistons (1-2)
Rip Hamilton has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, which has paved the way for Ben Gordon to both start and lead the team in scoring. Ws are what matter most though, and without Hamilton in the lineup, Detroit is 0-2.

24. Grizzlies (1-3)
Zach Randolph has two 30-point games in the team's first four, and O.J. Mayo put up a career-high 40 on Sunday. Allen Iverson made his debut on Monday, and big surprise: he was unhappy coming off the bench.

25. Clippers (1-4)
If Baron Davis ever finds his shot again, L.A. might become dangerous. Davis is shooting just 33% from the field through the team's first five games, having made just 18 of his 54 attempts.

26. Kings (1-3)
Kevin Martin's 48 led Sacramento to their first win of the season on Monday, an overtime joint over the Grizzlies. Between Martin and the potential of Tyreke Evans, the Kings might be worthy of more than an occasional flip over to their games on a random night of League pass action.

27. Timberwolves (1-3)
Kurt Rambis actually has his team running some basic triangle offense sets in this young season. Funny how things seemed to turn out a whole lot better with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol involved.

28. Warriors (0-2)
Stephen Jackson and Don Nelson have completely checked out, and couldn't care less what happens to this team this season. Not cool for guys like Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Curry, who are all talented young players with a potentially bright future in the league.

29. Pacers (0-2)
Rookie Tyler Hansbrough has been practicing, and could make his debut this Friday against the Wizards. That is all.

30. Nets (0-4)
Unbelievably bad, managing just seven points in the third quarter on Monday in Charlotte. Other lowlights included going over 11 minutes without a field goal, and getting outscored by the Bobcats 24-0 during a stretch that spanned the third and fourth quarters. Finally, the team lost Yi Jianlian to a knee injury in this one as well. I'd make a joke about how dismal things are for the Nets right now, but honestly, it's not even funny.

NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Hawks, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Raptors, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

It's not every day that we get to see a player hit for 40 points or more in an NBA game. So on Sunday, when we had three different players meet or surpass the mark, it's definitely something worth discussing.

Especially when two of them did it in the same game.

Anytime the Grizzlies take the court, you can just throw defense right on out the window, because no matter what you do, Memphis is going to light it up with their dizzying array of deadly scorers.

Okay, not usually. But the Grizz had no trouble keeping pace with the Nuggets for most of the night, led by a career-high 40 points from O.J. Mayo. Mayo got there by going 17-25 from the field, and also grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists.

On any other night, Memphis probably leaves with a win. But not when Carmelo Anthony is on the opposing team, and puts up 42 points of his own, on 15-26 shooting, with seven boards and five assists. It was the first time in his career that Anthony has posted consecutive 40-point games, after going for 41 in his team's Thursday night victory at the Rose Garden over the Blazers.

One more 40-point performance to mention, and that was Kobe Bryant going for 41 against a plucky Atlanta Hawks team. Bryant also had eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists -- all to make sure that the defending champion Lakers didn't dip below .500 after the team's first three games.

Other notable numbers from Sunday's action:

Joe Johnson had 18 points in the first quarter for the Hawks, but finished with just 27.

Chris Bosh had 35 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort to the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had 24 and 11, but most importantly, he hit 14 of his 16 free throw attempts.

Channing Frye had 25 points and five rebounds, but that's not the interesting part: he made six three-pointers for the second straight game (this time on 10 attempts), and now has 13 threes on the season. This is a season career-high for him in made threes, after only three games as a Phoenix Sun.

Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey

Tim Povtak — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets, NBA Injuries

Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, the eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic, Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (serving a 10-game NBA suspension), had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets' guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, their eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (a 10-game NBA suspension) had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elton Brand No Longer Fits in Philly

Tim Povtak — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Magic

ORLANDO -- Elton Brand sure seems like a nice enough guy -- respectful, courteous, thoughtful, engaging. He works hard, too.

Yet he also is beginning to look like an albatross hanging around the neck of the Philadelphia 76ers, the guy with the contract that will prevent them from building a serious contender in the coming years.

Brand, 30, is starting his 10th season in the league, but just the second year of that five-year, $80 million contract he signed as a free agent two summers ago. Although the Sixers were convinced that signing him was wise back then, they are having serious reservations now about the move.

It's one painful decision they would like to have back.

In Philadelphia's opening night game Wednesday in Orlando, Brand looked like a car with too many miles on the tires. Injuries have robbed him of the power and athleticism that once made him so attractive.

Brand played only nine games in 2007-08, his last with the Clippers, after tearing his Achilles tendon. He played only 29 last season, his first in Philly, before leaving with a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.

"Sure, I feel like I have something to prove, to our organization, our fans, to my teammates, to myself,'' Brand told FanHouse on Wednesday. "Every night I have something to prove. I feel good, but after 10 years, not everything comes back.''

Before he joined the Sixers, he was averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds during his career, which is why he looked so appealing in the free agent market. The way he looked on opening night, though, he couldn't average 20 points and 10 rebounds this season in his dreams.

With new coach Eddie Jordan, the Sixers are not running the post-up type of offense that Brand once thrived in when he played with the Clippers. Trying to fit Brand into Jordan's Princeton offense didn't look like much of a fit at all.

It's a system that will be great for players like Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams, but not for Brand, who must try to adapt his game to fit alongside the others.

He looked awkward and out of place. He also didn't look as physically strong or as quick as he once was. Always a little undersized around the basket, he looked completely overmatched with Orlando's Dwight Howard in the vicinity. The erosion of his skills now makes him look very average.

He had eight points and six rebounds in 31 minutes, which wouldn't be bad if he were a role player making $3 million this season. But he's not. He is a $15 million player. He is a two-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year (2000).

His drain on the salary cap wouldn't be bad if he were a dominating player again. But now his long-term contract makes him virtually untradeable, and he will prevent the Sixers from adding other key pieces in the coming years.

"I'm going to be disappointed if I have to look back and say 'man, I didn't accomplish what I set out to do in Philadelphia,''' he said. "That would be a huge disappointment. I still think we can build a contender. I want to be a big part of that.''

After talking to Brand, you want to root for him to succeed. It just doesn't look realistic anymore.

Elton Brand No Longer Fits in Philly originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Twitter Fan Got Howard's Attention

Tim Povtak — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:45:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Twitter

ORLANDO -- Stephanie Fisher thought it was just another internet scam when she signed up to follow Dwight Howard on Twitter (@DwightHoward) two months ago, and up popped a message saying she was a lucky prize winner.

Yeah, right, she thought.

The message said she was Howard's one millionth follower, which meant she had won a trip for two to Orlando to meet the Magic star and watch the opening game Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I didn't believe it at all,'' she said after the game. "So I just ignored it at first.''

Fisher, who is from Sacramento, kept getting personal messages from Howard's Twitter account until finally it sunk it. She had won the prize that included airfare, game tickets and hotel accommodations downtown. She and her son Lawrence flew to Orlando Wednesday and watched the game from the 10th row. They were scheduled to fly home Thursday.

They met Howard after the game and thanked him. Howard has embraced the social networking of Twitter, building an enormous following.

"This turned out to be unbelievable for me,'' Fisher said. "I'll remember it for a long time. This is not something you do every day. It made me a fan, that's for sure.''

This Twitter Fan Got Howard's Attention originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Williams Proves Worth in Magic Win

Tim Povtak — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:28:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Magic

ORLANDO -- When the Orlando Magic signed out-of-work Jason Williams this summer to a one-year, minimum wage contract, they made it sound like he was coming merely to be an insurance policy, giving them a past-his-prime, third point guard in case the bottom fell out on the other two.

He's obviously going to be more, a lot more for a real good team.

Williams, 33, is no longer the flashy, wrap-around-passing entertainer he was earlier in his career in Sacramento, but he looks refreshed and ready to play at a high level once again, adding another strong weapon to the defending Eastern Conference champs.

A year off certainly did him well.

Williams, who retired prematurely in Miami with aching knees after the 2007-08 season, was outstanding in the 120-106 squashing of Philadelphia Wednesday night, leading a second unit that made the Sixers cry for help.

Williams hit four of his five shots -- including three of four from 3-point land -- and added five assists for 15 points in 23 minutes. He was sloppy when he first entered the game, committing two quick turnovers, but he found his rhythm quickly. And it showed.

"He's a game changer for us,'' said Magic power forward Ryan Anderson, who started at power forward in the absence of Rashard Lewis. "He's a point guard who really gets everyone in the game. He looks for you. He finds you. I'm sure everyone here is happy to have him.''

Williams didn't stick around to evaluate his performance Wednesday, leaving the arena without talking to reporters. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, always the contrarian, praised Williams, but not without noting the turnovers.

"I thought the same thing during the exhibition games. When the game is close and in big situations, he's playing solid basketball,'' Van Gundy said. "But with the lead, he tends to get careless with the ball.''

Williams played for Van Gundy in Miami. He was the starting point guard on the Heat team that won the NBA title in 2006 when he played alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade. He has said throughout this month that this Magic team is deeper and better than the Heat team that earned him a championship ring.

Starting point guard Jameer Nelson played 21 minutes and finished with seven points and six assists. Although Van Gundy has made it clear that Williams is only a backup, Williams may become the closer if he plays like he did Wednesday.

After the year off, Williams looks strong physically, but his knees may not be able to sustain more than 20-25 minutes a night, which explains why Nelson's status as the starter is not in jeopardy.

"He is playing well. He's really going to help us,'' said Nelson, who missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery. "Guys like Jason, I can learn from. I know that. And I'm not afraid to say it.''

Williams is just the tip of the depth that is expected to make the Magic so good this season. Even with All-Star Rashard Lewis watching from home and serving Game 1 of his 10-game suspension, the Magic easily brushed aside the Sixers. A second team of Brandon Bass, Marcin Gortat, J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes and Williams looked like a luxury for the Magic.

They led by 23 at halftime and by 31 after three quarters. Lewis made more 3-pointers than anyone in the NBA last season, but the Magic still had seven different players make 3-pointers in the first half. They finished by hitting 16 of 29. Center Dwight Howard dominated around the basket with 21 points and 15 rebounds, opening all the 3-point lanes.

"With so many guys able to do so many things, this is like heaven around here,'' said All-Star Vince Carter, who had 15 points. "This is a team that expects to go places.''

Williams Proves Worth in Magic Win originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Holiday First NBA Player Born in the '90s

Tim Povtak — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Magic

ORLANDO -- To many who follow the NBA, it doesn't seem that long ago that Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer led the Detroit Pistons -- the famed Bad Boys -- to their second consecutive NBA title in 1990, cementing their place among the great teams in league history.

It was two days after Jrue Holiday was born.

Holiday, a rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, isn't just the youngest player in the NBA this season. He also earned the distinction of being the first person born in the 1990's to be on an NBA roster.

That makes a lot of us feel old.

The '90s in the NBA were dominated by the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, who won six championships, overshadowing good teams in Houston, Utah and New York who never quite received their due. It also was the Bill Clinton decade, which no one has forgotten.

Today's NBA stars were born mostly in the late '70s and early '80s. Tomorrow's stars will come from the '90s, filtering into the league through the next few years. Holiday was just the first, benefiting from an early start to his schooling.

Holiday turned 19 this summer, following one year at UCLA before the Sixers made him the 17th pick in the 2009 Draft. There are some in the league who believe he was the steal of this draft, giving the Sixers a reason to feel good about their future.

"It's a little weird to think about it (being the first player born in the '90s), but I'm living the life right now,'' Holiday told FanHouse Wednesday before the game began. "I've talked to some of the guys around me, asked if they remember when they were 19, and they say 'it feels like a long time ago.'''

Because the Sixers are a relatively young team, the age difference isn't that great. Holiday, though, is 16 years younger than Magic guard Anthony Johnson, who was sitting on the opposite bench Wednesday night. The league is now younger than it's ever been.

Even the oldest guys in the league this season -- Lindsey Hunter (38), Shaquille O'Neal (37), Kurt Thomas (37) and Grant Hill (37) -- don't seem so old anymore.

"I grew up watching a lot of these guys play, but I'm not intimidated by them. Being at UCLA and growing up in that area, I've been playing against NBA guys for a few years now,'' he said. "This has been great so far."

Because of the rule change in 2005 that requires players to be at least a full year out of high school before they could be drafted, Holiday isn't close to being the youngest player ever on an NBA roster.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum was 18 years and six days when he started with the Lakers. Kobe Bryant is the youngest to appear in an NBA game, playing his first at 18 years, two months and 9 days.

"I don't think twice about how old he (Holiday) is, or when he was born,'' said Sixers coach Eddie Jordan. "I know it's been a joy coaching him so far.''

Holiday First NBA Player Born in the '90s originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suspended Rashard Lewis Starts Magic Season at Home

Tim Povtak — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Magic

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic will raise their Eastern Conference title banner Wednesday night at Amway Arena, then begin the most anticipated season in franchise history. And Rashard Lewis will be at home watching on television, riding a stationary bicycle.

Just the thought makes him cringe.

"I knew this day was coming but I'm still upset every time I think about it,'' Lewis said Tuesday after a Magic practice. "I was part of winning that banner, and I won't be there to see it go up. But you do the crime, you pay the fine.''

Lewis will be home serving the first game of a 10-game suspension he incurred last spring for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy. A routine drug test revealed an elevated testosterone level, stemming from a banned substance (DHEA) found in an over-the-counter supplement he was taking.

It will cost him an estimated $1.6 million from his $18 million salary.

Even without Lewis for the first 10 games, the Magic still are expected to battle the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers again for the top spot in the East. All three teams added proven All-Star veterans to last season's roster.

"I won't enjoy this (being at home) at all. I'm sure we'll do well, but if we lose a game, I'll be blaming myself for not being there,'' he said. "There's nothing good about it.''

Lewis still can practice with the team during his suspension, but he must be out of the arena at least two hours before game time. He still will travel with the Magic on early road trips, but will return to the team hotel to watch it on television. For the first five games, the Magic will only be allowed to have an active roster of 11 -- one fewer than everyone else -- but they will be allowed to add a 12th player beginning with their sixth game.

Lewis practiced Tuesday, but he didn't play in the final two preseason games so the Magic could work on their playing rotation without him.

Starting in his spot Wednesday will be second-year forward Ryan Anderson, obtained this summer from New Jersey in the trade that also brought Vince Carter. Anderson is much like Lewis as a power forward whose best weapon is a three-point shot.

Lewis said he likely will start the game on his stationary bike in front of the television, and watch most of the game by himself, studying it like a coach.

"I'll be focused on the game and won't really have time to react with family or friends. I'll be critiquing everything, paying attention to little things we do,'' he said. "I just want to make sure I'm up to speed when I come back.''

Lewis has been working closely with the team's strength and conditioning coach, moving into a different phase of his workout when the rest of the team finishes.

"He's been stepping aside a little bit, making sure our other guys, the new guys, are getting the repetitions they need,'' said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "Rashard has been great. He's focused on staying in shape to make sure he's ready when he does come back.''

Suspended Rashard Lewis Starts Magic Season at Home originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Carter Loving the Game Alongside Dwight Howard

Tim Povtak — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:06:00 EST

Filed under: Magic

ORLANDO -- After 10 consecutive seasons of averaging at least 20 points a game, Vince Carter is likely to see his scoring drop significantly this season.

And he'll be happy about it.

It didn't take Carter long during the preseason to realize that playing with a dominant center like Dwight Howard -- a luxury he never has had before -- will change the way he plays the game.

"This is going to be great situation for me. It's one I've never been in before,'' he said before Friday night's lopsided 123-86 exhibition victory over the Atlanta Hawks. "It's a luxury that will be pretty easy to get used to.''

Carter, an eight-time All Star with a career scoring average of 23.5 points, never has been past the second round of the playoffs, either, and only reached the postseason five times in his 11 years. Although he always led his team in scoring, he never had a great big man behind him.

He said the best previous center he played with was journeyman Antonio Davis in Toronto. Carter, 33, couldn't help but wonder how his career might have unfolded differently if he had played with Tim Duncan or Shaquille O'Neal or even Alonzo Mourning.

"I probably would have had a few (championships) by now,'' he said. "It would have been awesome. But I have no regrets. You play with the hand you're dealt, and do the best you can. You always wonder would it would be like, and now I'm getting that chance. I already know I'm going to like it.''

After splitting his career between Toronto and New Jersey, Carter has approached this season with a newfound enthusiasm. He played considerably more in the exhibition games (28.4 mpg) than he has in recent years, wanting to get comfortable with his new and improved teammates, particularly Howard. He also joined a roster that includes All-Stars Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson. Lewis will miss the first 10 games serving his NBA suspension, but once he returns, Carter knows he won't be seeing the ball nearly as much as he has in the past.

Carter did his usual scoring routine Friday night, making it look so easy by scoring 26 points in 27 minutes against the hapless Hawks.

"It's not so much a different role as I won't be doing it for as long each night. I won't have the ball 32-34 minutes a game trying to create for everyone else,'' he said. "I'll be playing off other people. Dwight will have the ball. Rashard will have the ball. Our short, little point guard will have the ball.''

Carter laughed because he was talking about Nelson, who was standing nearby. Carter sees this opportunity with Howard as his first real chance at winning a championship. It's also a way to change the perception that he has been more of a showman and a scorer than a real winner in his career.

With Howard attracting so much attention around the basket, Carter will have much easier scoring chances. And if this exhibition season was any indication, he still has plenty of lift in his legs.

"With Dwight, this is kind of easy. Just throw it in there, and he's like a vacuum, sucking in the defense and leaving room for everyone else,'' he said. "I know I'm going to like this.''

Vince Carter Loving the Game Alongside Dwight Howard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player to Watch: Jameer Nelson

Tom Ziller — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Preseason

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Two of the most frequent questions through this Player to Watch series have been "Is he real?" and "Is he back?" That stands to reason: so many teams rely on internal improvement, especially with the league's financial situation restarting a leaguewide thaw on superstar trades (Shaquille O'Neal aside). Fans need to know whether they can count on improving players to keep on going, and whether injured stars can be expected to return to form.

You'd think Magic point guard Jameer Nelson would be facing the latter query -- has Jam's separated shoulder healed well enough to recreate Orlando's awesome starting five? But to me the real question is whether the pre-injury Nelson was even real, or just a short-lived mirage of elite play ready to fall back to Earth.

To choose an answer with any conviction, we need to discern what exactly made Nelson so much better last season, in comparison with previous campaigns. And I think I found a big clue: his jump shoot was unbelievably wet.

Here are a set of line graphs showing Nelson's effective shooting percentages on "close" shots and jump shots over his career. You may notice a red flag somewhere near the end.

Last season, Nelson shot jumpers like he never had before. Jam's previous season high effective field goal percentage on jumpers was 49.8 percent in 2005-06. He shot an amazing 58.2 percent on jumpers last year. You expect improvement from your young guards, and Orlando's team offense was certainly more stable last season than ever before. But that sort of superlative performance screams like a fire alarm. Can the Magic really expect Nelson to shoot so deftly again?

I would argue that Nelson is surely set to come back toward Earth. Even the best shooters in the game -- guys like Jason Terry (51.9 percent on jumpers last season), Steve Nash (54.7 percent), Chauncey Billups (49.9 percent), Ray Allen (56 percent), Jason Kapono (51.5 percent), Kevin Martin (48 percent), Roger Mason Jr. (53.3 percent), Dirk Nowitzki (48.2 percent), Steve Blake (54.1 percent), Michael Redd (46.4 percent) -- don't shoot like that. And we're supposed to believe a player who was an average jump shooter over his first four seasons got that much better in Year 5? It's just not very plausible.

Luckily for Orlando, a substantial drop-off would still make Nelson one of the most effective shooters in the league, and would still mean great things for the Magic offense. With Dwight Howard getting better every year at passing out of the post, a weapon like Nelson on the perimeter -- a deadeye shooter who can keep defenders honest with his driving and passing skills -- is vital. Nelson should still be a great asset for the Magic, even if he can't replicate his unbelievable shooting season of a year ago.

All shooting data from 82games.com.

Player to Watch: Jameer Nelson originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Orlando Magic

Tim Povtak — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

ORLANDO - It wasn't Stan Van Gundy, or any of his assistants, who stopped Orlando Magic practice Friday morning to make a coaching point, correcting newly-acquired power forward Brandon Bass and making sure he understood clearly his defensive assignment on a particular play.

It was center Dwight Howard. Coach Stan Van Gundy just stood back and nodded his approval. He liked what was happening.

"Our returning guys are taking more of a leadership role, trying to make sure everyone is on the same page, and that's our biggest challenge right now,'' Van Gundy said. "We're putting a lot of new pieces together.''

Howard, going into his sixth NBA season, has grown not only into the best center in the NBA but also into the clear leader of the defending Eastern Conference champs. He isn't just leading by example. He's leading vocally, too.

"I want it (the responsibility) on my shoulders,'' he said. "I can carry that load.''

The Magic have put together the deepest, most talented team in franchise history, setting the sights clearly this season on their first NBA title. Whether they can surpass the success of last season, or the Magic team of 1995 -- both lost in the NBA Finals -- is another question.

Not satisfied with just reaching the Finals, the Magic make some surprisingly significant changes to the roster this summer, adding five new players who will be part of the opening night rotation. At least two newcomers will be in the starting lineup when they open against Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The safest and easiest option this summer would have been to just re-sign free agent Hedo Turkoglu and bring back much of the same team, expecting they would improved with another year of maturity and continuity.

Instead they gambled, trading for eight-time All-Star Vince Carter, letting Turkoglu leave for Toronto, and adding role playing guys like Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams and Ryan Anderson. All five are part of the 10-man rotation that Van Gundy has promised to use early this season.

"We had one of the lowest scoring benches in the league because I played our starters big minutes,'' Van Gundy said. "Our bench has been very, very good in preseason. We'll open playing 10 guys because it's going to be hard for me to take anyone out of the rotation.''

Preparation for the season has been complicated by the looming, 10-game suspension given to power forward Rashard Lewis for violating the league's substance abuse policy last spring. A random drug test uncovered a banned substance in a supplement he was taking.

For at least the first 10 games, the Magic will be using either Anderson or Bass at power forward while Lewis watches from the sideline. Bass gives them a true power forward, something they didn't have last season. Anderson gives them another outside shooter, which is what Lewis will provide when he returns.

They also will start Jameer Nelson and Carter in the backcourt, along with Howard at center and Mickael Pietrus at small forward.

"I think we can function pretty well with just about anyone we put on the floor,'' Van Gundy said. "There are a lot of ways we can go.''

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 59-23. Finished first in the Southeast Division, and third in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Made it to the NBA Finals, beating the 76ers, Celtics and Cavs before losing to the Lakers.

Offense: 109.2 points per 100 possessions, 11th in the NBA. 3rd in shooting, 20th in turnover rate, 28th in offensive rebounding, 7th in free throw rate.

Defense: 101.9 points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in the NBA. 1st in shooting defense, 26th in opponent turnover rate, 2nd in defensive rebounding, 4th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Dwight Howard was the force in the middle that led the Magic to the NBA Finals, leading the team in points per game (20.6), rebounds per game (13.8) and blocks (2.9). Jameer Nelson was the team leader in assists, dishing out 5.4 a game with Rafer Alston being the king of the steals, with 1.8 a game.

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Ziller's post on Jameer Nelson.

Last season, Nelson shot jumpers like he never had before. Jam's previous season high effective field goal percentage on jumpers was 49.8 percent in 2005-06. He shot an amazing 58.2 percent on jumpers last year. You expect improvement from your young guards, and Orlando's team offense was certainly more stable last season than ever before. But that sort of superlative performance screams like a fire alarm. Can the Magic really expect Nelson to shoot so deftly again?

See Ziller's full post on Nelson.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Vince Carter (trade), Ryan Anderson (trade), Matt Barnes (free agency), Brandon Bass (free agency), Jason Williams (free agency)

OUT: Hedo Turkoglu (free agency), Courtney Lee (trade), Rafer Alston (trade), Tony Battie (trade).

FanHouse Preview: Orlando Magic originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwight Howard Might Have to Wear an Eye Patch for Halloween

Tim Povtak — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Injuries, NBA Preseason

Magic center Dwight Howard may have decided Wednesday night on what costume he will wear Halloween night.

He might be the biggest pirate ever to go trick-or-treating.

Howard got poked in the right eye by Solomon Jones late in Wednesday night's victory over the Indiana Pacers, giving the Magic a brief scare until his vision cleared.

Howard remained in the game for three more minutes, but his eye was bloodshot in the locker room after the game.

"I might have to wear a patch. Call me `Patch Howard,''' he said, adding in a pirate voice, "Arrrrrgh, matey.''

Howard also suggested he might start wearing goggles, like former Magic player Bo Outlaw, or even a facemask like the one worn last season by former Magic player Courtney Lee.

Howard assured everyone after the game that his right eye wasn't as bad as it looked, but he also told reporters that he couldn't see for a brief time on the court.

"It was pretty bad for awhile. It was blacking out while I was on the court,'' he said. "I was trying to tell coach I couldn't see, but I wanted to finish out until he could get a sub in the game.''

"I'll be fine,'' he said.

Dwight Howard Might Have to Wear an Eye Patch for Halloween originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Van Gundy Steamed Over NBA Fine

Tim Povtak — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Magic

ORLANDO -- Magic coach Stan Van Gundy butted heads with the NBA office Saturday, accepting the $35,000 fine that was levied against him earlier, but questioning its rationale and the interpretation of its own rules that prohibit criticism of officials.

Commissioner David Stern is not going to be happy.

The NBA originally fined both Van Gundy and the team for general remarks about replacement officials he made Thursday after practice. In those remarks, he praised the regular officials who have been locked out, and praised some of the replacements, but said others weren't ready for the task facing them with the regular season opening later this month.

"What I said was accurate, reasoned and positive,'' he said Saturday after practice. "I don't regret anything I said.''

Van Gundy also didn't like the wording of the league's announcement, which stated that he was fined "for publicly criticizing officials." He said he was speaking in general terms, and not being critical of any individual officials.

"It said I was fined 'for publicly criticizing officials,' and that's not what I did at all," he said. "I didn't do that. We haven't done it."

These were his original remarks:

"Here's the thing about replacement refs: there's no problem with them. These are guys the NBA in large part has identified. They're good, young officials on the way up, and one day they'll be ready. It would be like us having to play now with an entire D-League roster. A lot of those guys will be ready to play in three or four years. If you took one of those guys (replacements) and put him on an NBA crew every night, they'd probably be OK. But they are all out there together. It would be like me taking a D-League team and saying 'All right, let's go play the Hornets.' It's not going to work too good."

Van Gundy, who took the Magic to the NBA Finals last season, sounded more than ready to move on, but he may not have heard the last of this situation.

"You work under the auspices of David Stern. He decides what you can talk about and what you can't talk about. I talked about a subject I'm not supposed to talk about," he said.

Van Gundy Steamed Over NBA Fine originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rainn Wilson Shows Gilbert Arenas His 'Outside Game'

Tom Ziller — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Wizards, NBA Videos

Actor Rainn Wilson -- best known for his role as weirdo Dwight Schrute on The Office -- is heading up NBA on TNT promo duty this fall. This new spot with Wizards talisman Gilbert Arenas plays on the former Agent Zero's penchant for self-anointed nicknames. After the jump, we have Wilson's spot with Magic hoss Dwight Howard.

Rainn Wilson Shows Gilbert Arenas His 'Outside Game' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Courtney Lee Out to Prove Magic Wrong

Ariel Helwani — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Following his successful rookie year with the Orlando Magic last season, Courtney Lee could have never imagined being traded. But such is the life in the NBA, where the Magic decided to ship one of their bright young stars for the opportunity to team Dwight Howard up with Vince Carter. As a result, Lee enters this upcoming season with the New Jersey Nets with an Epcot Center-sized chip on his shoulder.

FanHouse recently spoke to Lee at the NBA Live 10 launch event in New York about how long it took for him to get over the trade and why the Nets shouldn't be counted out before the season even starts. The video interview is below.

FH Preview: New Jersey Nets | SI.com: Brook Lopez Key for Nets
Fantasy Basketball: Don't Sleep on C-Lee | Play for Free at Fleaflicker

Courtney Lee Out to Prove Magic Wrong originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fun-Loving Dwight Howard Talks About Faith and Nudity

Matt Moore — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

You always wonder if the personas that you see from athletes in the media are anything like they are in real life. So when FanHouse was offered a chance to talk to Dwight Howard on Tuesday, I wondered if he would actually be as fun-loving as he seems. Even if it was a brief phone interview to promote, well, himself as the cover athlete for NBA Live 10, Howard's personality shines through.

When the Magic patched me through to him, he wasn't aware I was on the line, and he was still messing with whatever other media engagement he was in the middle of. And messing with the phone. I waited, assuming he was talking to someone about something serious.

"Luuuke! I am your faaaaather."

And that's Dwight Howard.

Howard's busy promoting several things which have his mug all over it, not the least of which is the new ESPN "Body" issue, where he appears (ahem) as God intended. I asked Howard if it was weird having that much attention being paid to him, even though people usually marvel at his upper body, considering he was "nekkid." Howard, as usual, chose to have fun with it. "No, actually it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the shoot and I hope the pictures are interesting for people." I asked him if, after his talk about how the Magic are overlooked in the media if attention like this made him feel any better about it. "Well, the attention is certainly a blessing," says Howard, "but my focus right now is with my teammates and trying to compete for a championship. I just want to try and bring some joy back to the people in Orlando."

Howard's also been made the cover-man in digital form, as he's promoting NBA Live 10. Since the rest of the time he's experiencing the game first-hand, I asked him if it was weird seeing himself on screen and noting how much bigger he is than everybody else. "Mostly I just really like the game. I played the demo a few months ago and loved it and now all my friends and I play. They're always telling me 'Man, you're the Real Superman in the game, man! It's not fair!' The game is hot."

I also wanted to know who had more post moves, the video game version of him or the real-life version. "Oh, the video game version, definitely," Howard deadpanned. Good news is that the video game version won't have to face scrutiny from digital Brett Pollakoff about his post-moves.

This season the Magic will try to improve upon last year's highly successful run that saw them advance to the NBA Finals. Each year since Howard has entered the league, he's markedly improved on one area of his game over the summer, usually whatever his critics would point to. In the beginning it was his aggressiveness, until he started dominating inside. Then it was rebounding, until he took the rebounding title. Then last season, people questioned his defensive acumen. That resulted in nothing less than Defensive Player of the Year. So what has Howard been working on this summer? "Free throws, actually. I committed to trying to work on being consistent from the free throw line. I spent a lot of time in the gym this summer with the coaching staff. I'd spend about two hours a day doing nothing but working on free throws. I'd have to hit at least 200 makes a day, but even when I hit that, I usually stayed after to keep shooting. Sometimes I'd shoot 600 free throws a day."

With the All-Star Game being in Dallas this year in the spectacle that is the Jerry Dome, I wanted to ask the former Dunk Champ some questions about the contest which will be at American Airlines. Howard's been foiled in the past when league restrictions kept him from being able to raise the rim, and other restrictions on props. Does a guy who brought back the gimmick successfully using his cape and other gadgetry have any frustrations with those restrictions? "Well, the Dunk Contest is all about entertainment and the fans. Part of it is that by now, almost all the good dunks have been done. So it's really hard to come up with something new. So me and Nate (Robinson), we're always sitting around trying to come up with new stuff. I think as long as the rules are there to keep you from doing too many attempts, there shouldn't be that many rules."

Naturally, I had to ask Howard if he was competing in the big event this year, expecting a simple answer. "I don't know, man. I'm getting kind of old."

Pause.

Moore: Yeah, you're 23. You're ancient.
Howard: I know! I'm getting too old! (Haha) No, only if the fans vote me in again.

On top of all of his on-court accolades and off-the-court celebrity, Howard has also made a significant commitment to philanthropy and helping others. Did his strong religious background influence his charity work?

"Oh, absolutely. My faith is very important to me. For me, it's a great way to show God how thankful I am for all the blessings he's given me."

There's been a lot of changes in Orlando, with the arrival of Vince Carter and the departure of Hedo Turkoglu. I asked Howard how the team was adjusting to the new chemistry. "You know, we're just excited. There's different people around, but mostly it's a new season, it's a time for new beginnings, and we're just excited and ready to go out there and compete."

No doubt Howard will be doing it with a smile on his face.

Fun-Loving Dwight Howard Talks About Faith and Nudity originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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