Ball or Nuthin' » Vince Carter

Magic Make Pressure-Packed Trades for Turkoglu, Arenas

T Lamont — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:19:26 +0000

One week before Christmas, the Orlando Magic were feeling the pressure.

Two seasons ago, the Magic made a surprise appearance in the NBA Finals. That year, Orlando dispensed of two teams who fans gave a better chance of advancing to the Finals – the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics (albeit without Kevin Garnett, who was injured at the time). The team from South Florida did it with relative ease, earning a championship date with the Lakers. Although they were unable to cash in on the ultimate prize, a line had been drawn in the sand. The expectations were high, and fans and analysts began to tag the Magic as a franchise to reckon with for the forseeable future.

But what happened next? The business of the National Basketball Association took priority over the continued development of the franchise.

Much of the team’s dismantling came at the hands of Hedo Turkoglu. He was the driving force behind Orlando’s postseason surge in 2009 and, predictably, was in the final year of his contract. What Turkoglu did was no different from what players do frequently – outperform their normal standard level of play, and make a splash in the free-agent market. And the Turkish import did just that, landing an overpriced, 5-year, $53-million deal with the Toronto Raptors.

The Magic, realizing that they now had a playmaker void on their roster, traded for the athletically talented, poorly driven Vince Carter. While he and Dwight Howard might have been a match made in video game heaven, the promise that general manager Otis Smith hoped for never materialized. Orlando perhaps experienced its worse nightmare – that their decision to let Turkoglu walk had turned around and bit them on the backside.

Yesterday, they banked on yet another hope – that the franchise could rekindle the magic that existed when Turkoglu was on its roster. Orlando made two notable trades, and let’s take a look at the potential impact of each one:

Magic get Turkoglu, J-Rich and Earl Clark for Vinsanity, Pietrus and Gortat

Jason Richardson, doing what he does best these days...

Otis Smith gets his man (Turkoglu), but the cost was way too steep. Let’s just assume that Turkoglu was still playing at the level that he did when he left Orlando. In that case, this deal would be understandable. However, even if Orlando got the old Turk back, what the Magic coughed up for him may have still been considered a bit too much.

At this point, we’d be safe to ignore the unproven Earl Clark in this transaction. In addition to Turkoglu, the Suns gave up Jason Richardson for the combination of Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat. Carter and Richardson are high-flying, 3-point shooting scorers who have very similar styles…and in the same offense, should produce very similar results. Right now, that looks like a fairly even swap. But the deal gets sticky from here.

Turkoglu for his former teammates Pietrus and Gortat? That’s basically trading one skill set for another. In the long run the Magic have to ask themselves “do we have anyone on our roster who will attempt to play tough defense against a player like LeBron James?” They did until yesterday. Or perhaps they need to ask themselves “do we have another capable big who knows our system to back up Howard?” Once again, they traded that person away. Pietrus, in particular, is an effective two-way player. His long-range ability also adds a great fit as yet another floor spacer, which is one of the biggest assets on a team built around a bruising center. But since Stan Van Gundy had limited playoff success last year without Turkoglu, he may be willing to part ways with the team’s existing offense to adopt a different scheme. Seeing that Hedo was money on pick-and-rolls, the team may revert to more movement.

Magic get Gilbert Arenas and send away Rashard Lewis

The universe – or at least those in the Washington D.C. metro area – were wondering when the other shoes was going to drop for the Wizards. Washington finally got rid of the high-priced shoe, and they managed to get a fairly good return (as far as talent level goes). So from Washington’s perspective this deal was a must because it allows them to get help at the small forward position (and based on the matchups, possibly power forward), while enabling sharpshooter Nick Young to get more guaranteed burn.

It’s a little more baffling from Orlando’s perspective. Van Gundy will need to quickly decipher how, when and where he will play Agent Zero. Orlando has more traditional positional players filling the point guard (Jameer Nelson) and shooting guard (Jason Richardson?, J.J. Redick)spots, therefore, it remains to be seen as to whether Arenas will be providing firepower off the bench. But one thing about Gilbert – he will be much more assertive in key moments than VInce Carter could ever dream of. And that may be the single attribute that was imperative to the Magic.

Can Arenas' game-changing abilities make Orlando forget about Rashard Lewis' big shots?

Overall Assessment: Orlando may have hurt itself. Over the past year and a half, there’s no evidence that Hedo Turkoglu even remembers how well he played when he was a member of the Magic. Can he really pick up where he left of at the drop of a hat?

The separate deals seems to be solely focused on one aspect of the game – offense. Neither Arenas, Richardson nor Turkoglu pride themselves on defense, yet they got rid of two tough guys who did – Pietrus and Gortat. The new offensively minded players come into town to complement a roster that is already heavily offensive. Including Matt Barnes over the summer, Orlando has now parted way with three key defensive-minded role players.

Is it any wonder why Van Gundy can’t return this team to greatness? Can a team really expect to dethrone the Celtics without rugged defenders? How would Orlando plan to thwart the superior athleticism displayed by the Heat’s trio of James, Wade and Bosh?

With these deals Orlando may have wielded their wands, but it’ll take some real magic for this new unit to achieve the desired goal of an NBA Championship.

There’s No Shortage of “Good” Athletes

T Lamont — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:23:49 +0000

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A couple of days ago, I came across an article highlighting the recent trend of sports heroes being disgraced by their actions, injuries, or general incompetence.

It was an interesting read. But what really caught my attention was the proclamation that – due to these occurrences - children are void of athletes that they can look up to in professional sports.

In that assessment, the author could not be any farther from the truth. While some superstar athletes have certainly had their share of blemishes appearing on their records, there are tons of professional athletes who may be flying just a tad below radar. The media circus always gravitates towards the headlines that grab attention – and rightfully so. However, a blanket statement that there aren’t any sports heroes encompasses an entire set of athletes…and we should definitely realize that there are plenty of competitors who are playing by the rules, not cheating on their significant others, staying out of trouble with the law and being productive citizens to the global community.

After all, isn’t that what being a role model is all about?

By my definition, the article that I read included a few names that I would not have – especially if the circumstances of diminished performance are a part of normal life. There hasn’t been a successful cure for aging. And who can be bashed for starting a family? The other things – actions related to poor decision-making – should indeed impact the hero status of that particular athlete.

Sure, Tiger Woods, Michael Vick and Alex Rodriguez may steal all of the headlines. But what about these big-time athletes:

Vince Carter – The guy who produced the most memorable dunk contest ever has been universally criticized for not giving his all on the basketball court. Well, maybe that’s because he saves a little so that he can give his all where it really counts. A highlight waiting to happen, Vince has always stressed the value of education, and he even walked the walk by almost missing a pivotal Game 7 in the playoffs to receive his college diploma. Carter has always been one of the most charitable people in sports.

Raiders' defensive wizard Nnamdi Asomugha has maintained an active role in his community.

Nnamdi Asomugha – Recently, most press clippings that mention the Pro Bowler are only referencing him as a part of a story featuring Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. You’d think that the defensive back who was regarded as the best in his position for three years – and who arguably is still the best – would get more media attention. But the public has learned not to expect that from a quiet humble team player who’s helping future students and athletes in his community, as well as people in his home country of Nigeria.

Albert Pujols – Now we all know how good ‘Fat Albert’ is on the baseball diamond, but he takes even more pride in what he does for others. The most feared hitter in the game has perhaps become the most generous giver as well. Among the many charities that he’s involved in, the three-time NL MVP has a foundation that assists children and young adults with Down Syndrome. Pujols is a former recipient of the Roberto Clemente award, which honors baseball’s most socially aware players.

These are a few athletes who represent the upper crust of talent in their respective sports. But most importantly, they are great people who are excelling at the most important game – - the game of life.

Orlando Magic Respond to Late Game Pressure

T Lamont — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:22:41 +0000

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The Orlando Magic had their backs up against the wall in an 0-3 series deficit. They were leading in Game 4 in Boston, 85-78 with 2:20 left in the game.

Could they hold on?

Paul Pierce crossed J.J. Redick and trucked through the lane for a right-handed hammer.

Ray Allen worked Redick (again) around a screen for a three-point look that he knocked down.

After Jameer Nelson split a pair of free throws, Pierce drove into the paint and drew a conventional three-point play – and he swished the free throw to tie the game at 86 with a little over a minute to go.

A few possessions later, the Celtics and Magic were headed to the first overtime in the 2010 playoffs.

In overtime, Nelson opened the scoring with a couple of triples. Boston battled back behind two threes from Allen (22 points, 5 three’s). But it was Dwight Howard who scored on some key putbacks in the extra session to give Orlando a 96-92 win (and their first win of the series, 3-1 Boston).

Game 5 will be in Orlando on Wednesday night.

The Magic competed with more toughness tonight, and never let the Celtics get away from them at any point in the game. Stan Van Gundy ran almost all of his offense through the Nelson-Howard pick-and-roll, and it was effective in more ways than one.

First, it put the ball in the hands of their best playmaker. Nelson was aggressive all night, scoring 23 points and 9 assists. The St. Joseph’s alum was able to penetrate and score, as well as penetrate and dish.

Secondly, the pick-and-roll offense kept Orlando big man Dwight Howard (32 points, 16

Dwight Howard was successful in his quest to dominate the paint on Monday night.

rebounds, 4 blocks) on the move. Howard does not have refined skills from a back-to-the-basket standpoint, so it was imperative that the coaching staff found another way to try and make him effective. With his amazing athleticism and quick explosion, catching him on the fly made it more difficult for Boston to stop him.

But even with the improved effort, the Celtics were presented with a chance to win at the end of regulation. Pierce (32 points, 11 rebounds) had the rock near the top of the key, but was unable to make a decisive move and ended up losing the ball as the clock ran out – sending the contest into overtime.

Another difference in this game was the absence of a tempo-controlling performance from Boston point guard Rajon Rondo. He put up 9 points and 8 assists, but his imprint was not on this game at all. Rondo was not attacking, and was thoroughly outplayed by Nelson. Instead of allowing Rondo to orchestrate the offense, the Celtics used Pierce in too many isolation situations.

Although Boston has dominated the series, the Magic will return home feeling confident that they can win Game 5. Their adjustments worked and they got virtually no contribution from former perennial All-Star Vince Carter. Carter had only 3 points (1-9 FG), 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 31 minutes of action. Although Orlando obviously wants more out of him, they have to be encouraged that they were able to play well enough to win despite Carter’s lackluster performance.

If Orlando can keep the aggression, and continue to move the ball on offense, they could push Boston to a Game 6.

But if the intensity isn’t there, at least the Orlando Magic won’t have to go very far to take a good vacation.

Magic Mistakes Secure Boston Victory

T Lamont — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:17:45 +0000

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The Boston Celtics are often described as a seasoned veteran team. The Orlando Magic could use a little of that seasoning.

Amid critical miscues within the final minute of regulation by the Magic, the Celtics came away with a 95-92 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The win gives Boston a 2-0 edge in the series, with both victories coming at the Amway Arena in Orlando.

After Paul Pierce (28 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) nailed two free throws to push the lead to 95-92, Vince Carter drove to the basket and drew Pierce’s sixth foul. Carter stepped up to the line with 31 seconds remaining and bricked both shots, failing to capitalize on an opportunity to trim the deficit to one or two.

Rashard Lewis has only scored 11 points in the first two games of the series.

The Celtics milked the clock, and Kevin Garnett missed a long jumper. Orlando guard J.J. Redick secured the rebound and started dribbling up the court. He got close to half court and turned to call time out – but this was a crucial mistake which forced the Magic to inbound the ball in the backcourt with less than five second left. Jameer Nelson was left to attempt a running three-pointer which was off the mark at the buzzer.

Rajon Rondo flashed that playoff dominance that we’ve become accustomed to seeing, with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Rondo made several big baskets – including some clutch jumpers – in the closing minutes of the contest. He is still getting wherever he wants to go on the floor, and forcing the Magic defense to react to him.

The Magic got big numbers from Dwight Howard – 30 points and 8 rebounds. Unfortunately, he didn’t have efficient support from his teammates. Carter ended with 16 points, but only shot 5-15. Rashard Lewis was missing in action (5 points, 2-6 FG) and Nelson didn’t shoot well from the field (4-12).

Boston has all of the momentum as they head home for Game 3 on Saturday. Not only does Boston hold a 2-game advantage, but they get three full days of rest before the next game.

The way things have gone in the first two games, Orlando will need nothing short of magic to get back into the series.

Celtics Win in Orlando

T Lamont — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:23:26 +0000

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During the halftime show of today’s contest, Dwight Howard had a little fun with his Superman persona. So did Boston.

The Celtics were able to capitalize on Howard’s inefficiency in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, beating the Orlando Magic, 92-88.

After sparkling performances in the first two rounds of the postseason, Boston has made it crystal clear that Superman has a kryptonite. And now the question becomes – can Orlando overcome Superman’s kryptonite?

Contrary to his self-assessment – which indicated that Howard’s kryptonite was a tendency to overthink on the court – we were able to witness his obvious weakness. In Howard’s six-year NBA career, there has been a very limited amount (if any) of improvement in his offensive repertoire. His back-to-the-basket skills haven’t been refined, and a team like the Celtics will not let him just back them into the paint and dunk the ball. Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis have more than enough strength to make Howard work, and force him to do something different offensively. The Magic center was not up to the task.

Howard was only 3-10 from the field. This was in contrast to his second round series against the Hawks, when he only missed five shots in all four games combined. He also committed seven turonvers in Game 1, and all around it was a very ineffective performance by Superman.

The Celtics got good contributions from Ray Allen (25 points, 8-16 FG) and Paul Pierce (22 points on 6-8 FG, 9 rebounds, 5 assists). Boston also received a lift from reserve forward Rasheed Wallace who scored 13. The green guys were able to move the ball well, accumulating 21 assists compared to only 10 for Orlando.

After getting themselves into a hole that reached as much as 20 points, the Magic forged a late comeback. Stan Van Gundy began to adjust his schemes to use some of his more versatile offensive weapons. Orlando started to uncoil plays for Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick. This was an important realization for the Magic – one that they will undoubtedly have to revisit if they wish to have any degree of success against Boston.

Kendrick Perkins' single-coverage of Dwight Howard stifled the Orlando offense in Game 1.

The fact is that Dwight Howard cannot do the following:

- Use either hand in the post

- Shoot free throws with any degree of consistency

- Diversify his offensive moves based on the defender

- Pass effectively out of any double-teams he is able to generate

Because of this, Orlando is forced to abandon its game plan to utilize the most physically gifted specimen in the NBA. Unless Howard makes the necessary improvements, the Magic will not be able to have him dominate to the potential that he could. So, the Orlando perimeter players now have to do the heavy lifting.

Today, they were able to eventually cut the lead down to three points - 90-88 with nine seconds left in the contest. But Orlando, in foul mode, had to send Ray Allen to the line. Allen, in typical fashion, calmly tickled the twine on two free throws amid the hostile Magic crowd to provide the final score of 92-88.

It’ll be interesting to see how early in Game 2 the Magic resume the offensive wrinkles that it displayed late in the first game of the series. Implementing the changes early in the game should allow them to stay competitive throughout the contest. Boston has had the luxury of playing with decisive leads as they’ve entered the fourth quarter, and they’ve seen those leads dwindle. Staying close all game long may enable the Magic to put some unusual pressure on the veteran team.

At any rate, adjustments are in order for the Magic.

And if the Magic wish to counteract the newly detected kryptonite, Superman may have to take a backseat to his other superhero friends.