Orlando Magic News & Notes: Magic Active in the Community

Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy does not think Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time.

Joshua Robbins writes that the Magic are at a crossroads.

Stan Van Gundy says his team doesn’t play hard enough on defense. He says Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, his two captains, need to step up their games. He says his team couldn’t compete right now if it faced the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat in a best-of-seven series.

“What I’m hoping is that some people will get embarrassed — actually embarrassed — and wake up and start doing something about it,” Van Gundy said.

Click here to read the fully story.

Robbins also takes a look at how the Magic have traditionally fared on Friday the 13th here.

Chad Waylon Pouncy wonders if the Magic could be a candidate to sign LeBron James this summer.
Certainly LeBron would like a legitimate running mate, not someone like Mo Williams or a 37-year-old Shaquille O’Neal. Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen. Kobe Bryant had Shaq (in his prime). Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The duo of LeBron James and Dwight Howard would be the best one-two punch in NBA history.

If it’s the media spotlight James is after, Orlando, though a fairly small market, has got it covered. During Shaq’s stay in the O-town, he released rap albums (not that they were good), starred in movies (ok, not so good either), and was the top pitchman for Reebok.

Obviously, this scenario is far-fetched but Pouncy does a good job of explaining how it could happen. Click here to read more about James and the Magic.

Once again, the Magic are helping out in the community.

ORLANDO MAGIC’S J.J. REDICK AND FEED THE CHILDREN HELP FAMILIES IN NEED
**Feeding 400 Orlando children and families**

WHO: Magic player J.J. Redick, STUFF The Magic Mascot, Magic Dancers, Magic staff

WHAT: Orlando Magic Feed the Children Event

International hunger relief organization Feed The Children will partner with the Orlando Magic and guard J.J. Redick for a food distribution.

Feed The Children and the Orlando Magic, working with local partner agency Orlando Community & Youth Trust, will provide a box of food and personal care items to 400 low-income families in need. The boxes are designed to help supplement a family for up to one week.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 17
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ivey Lane Neighborhood Center
4439 Old Winter Garden Rd
Orlando, 32811

Bright House Networks, FOX Sports Florida and Orlando Magic Player Ryan Anderson Teamed Up
to Help Children Win at the Game of Life

In an effort to encourage youngsters to read more, Bright House Networks, FOX Sports Florida and the Orlando Magic’s Ryan Anderson teamed up to present a customized motivational book to students at Markham Woods Middle School. Copies of “Orlando Magic Hoop City” were distributed to students during a special ceremony at Markham Woods Middle School on Thursday, November 12

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)