2010-11 NBA Blogosphere Previews: Orlando Magic
Posted by Neil Paine on October 27, 2010
Welcome to our 2010-11 NBA Blogosphere Previews, in which we contact the finest team bloggers on the web and ask them to contribute their thoughts on the squad they cover. What follows is their take, along with the team's depth chart (courtesy of ESPN.com), projected 2011 stats via our Simple Projection System, and polls where you get to have your say. Enjoy!
Orlando Magic
Coach: Stan Van Gundy
2010 Summary:
Record: 59-23, Finished 1st in NBA Southeast Division
SRS: 7.12 (1st of 30) ▪ Pace: 92.0 (18th of 30)
Off Rtg: 111.4 (4th of 30) ▪ Def Rtg: 103.3 (3rd of 30)
Expected W-L: 61-21 (1st of 30)
2011 Depth Chart (with 2010-11 projected per-36 minute stats ... yellow = newcomer)
| Pos | Player | Age | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FG% | 3PM | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | Jameer Nelson | 28 | 16.3 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 0.464 | 1.7 | 0.401 | 0.846 |
| PG | Chris Duhon | 28 | 9.7 | 3.2 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 0.397 | 1.5 | 0.364 | 0.789 |
| PG | Jason Williams | 35 | 10.7 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 0.429 | 1.7 | 0.368 | 0.772 |
| SG | Vince Carter | 34 | 19.3 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 0.429 | 1.7 | 0.367 | 0.824 |
| SG | J.J. Redick | 26 | 15.1 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.436 | 2.1 | 0.400 | 0.857 |
| SF | Mickael Pietrus | 28 | 13.9 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.430 | 2.3 | 0.372 | 0.669 |
| SF | Quentin Richardson | 30 | 12.3 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.412 | 2.2 | 0.380 | 0.741 |
| SF | Stanley Robinson | 22 | ||||||||||
| PF | Rashard Lewis | 31 | 16.2 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.437 | 2.6 | 0.395 | 0.817 |
| PF | Ryan Anderson | 22 | 17.0 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.436 | 2.5 | 0.379 | 0.853 |
| PF | Brandon Bass | 25 | 15.9 | 7.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.505 | 0.1 | 0.291 | 0.843 |
| C | Dwight Howard | 25 | 19.7 | 13.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 0.598 | 0.0 | 0.209 | 0.600 |
| C | Marcin Gortat | 26 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.534 | 0.1 | 0.313 | 0.676 |
| C | Daniel Orton | 20 | ||||||||||
2010-11 Blogger Outlook by Eddy Rivera, magicbasketball.net
Coming off a disappointing series against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Orlando Magic are on a mission to right the wrongs from last season.
Dwight Howard put it upon himself to work out with Hakeem Olajuwon during the summer in Houston for a week in hopes of improving his low-post game, and the early returns have been positive. Vince Carter worked out furiously in the off-season to become stronger and more conditioned for the long road ahead and as a result, shaved off almost four percent off his body fat. As such, Carter is looking spry and has an extra pep to his step.
Rashard Lewis, knowing that he's going to see much more time at small forward this year, worked on his agility, footwork, and quickness to better prepare for the responsibilities of the position. So far, so good for Lewis, who's looked comfortable in that familiar role (started at the small forward position for nine seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics) during preseason.
The desire to improve can be said for every player on the roster for the Magic. All in all, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and the Boston Celtics are looming in the background but the hope in the City Beautiful is that continuity will lead to improvement and, hopefully, a championship when it's all said and done.
Poll Time