Archive for November, 2010

The Orlando Magic defeated their former rivals, the Detroit Pistons, by a score of 90-79 at the Amway Center Tuesday night.  Once again, the Magic overcame a sloppy first half filled with low energy and even worse execution on the way to their 4th straight victory.  The Magic were led in scoring by Rashard Lewis who dropped in 20 points on 7-10 shooting.  Only one other Magic starter scored in double figures (Vince Carter, 13 points) and the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Dwight Howard, was held to only 9 points.  Despite not scoring much, Dwight still played [...]

Per Scott Schroeder of NBA Fanhouse, Magic rookie Daniel Orton will be assigned to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Developmental League. With the Thunderbirds, Orton will be able to ease back into game shape while also testing out the offensive repertoire Magic big man coach Patrick Ewing has been teaching him. His D-League coaches might also be able to teach him a few tricks as both head coach Darvin Ham and assistant Sean Rooks — who played his final NBA season as a member of the Magic — have NBA experience in the post. The assignment is particularly [...]

The Orlando Magic return home to host the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night. The two teams became rivals after Detroit knocked Orlando out of the postseason in three separate seasons (2003, 2007, and 2008). The Magic had a 3-1 series lead against the Pistons in 2003 when former Magic win made the infamous statement about advancing to the second round. The Pistons won the series 4-3. McGrady is now a member of the Pistons and is averaging just 4.3 points per game. McGrady has been hampered by a leg injury but scored 13 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 3 [...]

For years, Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith and the Magic brass have coveted former Duke Point Guard Chris Duhon. When the Magic signed the point guard to a 4-year contract worth around $15million, fans probably expected immediate results from the six-year veteran. It hasn’t been that easy. Duhon has struggled to fit in with his new team early in the season; trying to find his role as the backup point guard. Through 15 games, he’s averaging just 2.8 points and 3.4 assists per game. At one point, with Jameer Nelson out with an injury, he even lost minutes to [...]

Here is the official word from the NBA and the Orlando Magic: ORLANDO’S DWIGHT HOWARD NAMED NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Orlando, Fla. – The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 28. It marks the 13th time of his career and the second time this season that Howard has earned the league’s top weekly honor. With double-doubles in all four games, Howard led Orlando to a 3-1 record, averaging 26.3 ppg. and 14.5 rpg. on .632 shooting. Howard hit the game-winning shot [...]

Dan Savage of OrlandoMagic.com broke the story via twitter. The @Orlando_Magic’s @MrVinceCarter15 will play tomorrow night against the Pistons. It’s widely assumed this means Carter will return to his spot in the starting lineup at shooting guard, replacing J.J. Redick, who has played very well in Carter’s absence. (Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com) and ESPN 1080′s Magic Insider (http://espn1080.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here).

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel thinks the Magic are still trying to make a big trade. The Magic are no fools: They want to win a title and they know they need either a big-time scorer or playmaker to get past the Celtics or Heat, and then the Lakers. They would even be willing to take a step back this season to restock if it meant they could land either Anthony or Paul. Vince Carter and all their youngish, proven pieces are available in some sort of blockbuster package: Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, Brandon Bass, J.J. Redick [...]

The Orlando Magic defeated the Washington Wizards on Dwight Howard’s put-back with just over 4 seconds to go Saturday night. Nelson attempted a high floater, and when that shot missed, Howard was free to collect the rebound and bank the ball in off the backboard before he hit the ground. “When he threw it up,” Howard said, “I knew I didn’t have a chance to come back down and try to go back up because they was going to foul right away. So, I just tried to shoot it off the glass as quick as possible. That way, if I [...]

Here is Dwight Howard’s game-winning putback shot against the Wizards Saturday night. (Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com) and ESPN 1080′s Magic Insider (http://espn1080.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here).

In a rematch of each team’s opening night, the Orlando Magic will head up to Washington to battle the Wizards. The Wizards have been fun to watch with #1 overall pick John Wall running the shoot but they enter the game with a record of just 5-9. The Wizards have showed some promise with their two young big men and their future superstar point guard but have still struggled and were blown out 116-96 by the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night. The Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-100 Friday night to improve to 11-4. The game will be shown locally by [...]