Orlando’s short-lived 2 game win streak came to an abrupt halt Monday night in Memphis while the Grizzlies continued on to their 11th straight home win.

The Iverson-less Grizzlies have turned into one of the bright spots in the NBA this season; a young team, with talent and a coach who isn’t afraid to stand his ground in Lionel Hollins, who won the battle and apparently the war with A.I.. Now the Grizzlies are much better for it. They are very similar to the Oklahoma Thunder who also sport a youthful, well coached cast of players led by Kevin Durant, who continues to improve and impress. How Kevin Pritchard still has a GM position in Portland after missing the boat on Durant, electing instead to draft Greg “Droppin Trou” Oden, boggles my mind?

Staying true to form, the Magic came out bombing from long range once again, putting up 35 three point field goals, seemingly oblivious to the fact “Superman” was being guarded by Marc Gasol(who looks more like Dan Aykroyd on the basketball court, than his brother Pau Gasol) and Zack Randolph, two of the worst athletes in the NBA. Dwight still managed to do his damage, collecting 27 points, 15 boards and 6 blocked shots, despite his teammates inability to feed him the rock. Unfortunately, for the Magic, the Grizzlies aren’t as hard headed or poorly coached, and know how to play to their strength; which is inside with Randolph and Gasol along with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo attacking from the perimeter. Notice I said “attacking”, because, as good a shooter as O.J. Mayo is, he still understands the need to keep the defense honest by driving the lane. Something the Orlando Magic backcourt and wing players refuse to do consistently.

Randolph and Gasol were huge for the Grizzlies, going for 23 points 19 rebounds and 19 points 8 boards respectively, exploiting the Magic’s frontline and exemplifying why both are garnering All-Star consideration. Rashard Lewis and Matt Barnes were simply no match for their Memphis counterparts, leaving Dwight Howard with the burden defensively and on the glass. Memo to Stan Van Gundy: Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat were both available and willing to work cheap for food!

Add Mike Conley (whose NBA career to this point is disappointing at best) to the growing list of opposing point guards having there way with Jameer Nelson. Conley was impressive as a floor general, and put up 14 points and 7 assists, both above his season averages. Jameer on the other hand, played 26 minutes and managed 1 assist while committing 6 turnovers. Not doing any wonders for his assist to turnover ratio there. To be fair, Neslon has shown glimpses of brilliance at times since his return, however, for the most part he is not getting the job done, especially on the defensive end where the Magic once ruled the realm.

The Memphis game would have been the ideal time to break out the Magics version of the “Twin Towers” with Howard and Gortat(as I have recently been calling for), to try and foil the Grizzlies up front. Instead, Stan” I’m so NOT the man” Van Gundy continues with his game plan: shoot a barrage of three pointers mixed in with a smattering of touches for Dwight Howard.

I know I was a bit harsh on Howard while he went through a tough spell, however, it appears more and more, that a lot of his struggles are a direct correlation to the Magic’s failure to as Keyshawn Johnson would say ;”Get Him The damn Ball”. Understanding how difficult it is to tinker with NBA rosters with the salary cap and teams unwillingness to take on contracts in a dismal economic climate, the Magic’s best option is to “cut off the head”. Sorry coach, but as in Miami, I believe you have worn out your welcome. Not a moment too soon if I might add. If your anything like me, you’d opt to have a root canal procedure  rather than listen to one of Stan’s post game pressers.

Technorati Tags: Allen Iverson, Dan Aykroyd, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Kevin Durant, Lionel Hollins, Marc Gasol, Marcin Gortat, Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Rashard Lewis, Rudy Gay, Stan Van Gundy, Vince Carter, Zack Randolph

The Magic earned the right to take their victory lap with some timely 3 point shooting and tough defense in the overtime period.

Yesterday, I called for better production from the Magic’s starting backcourt and Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter definitely responded. Nelson led the way with 21 points and 7 assists, while Carter chipped in 21 points and 5 assists to go along with his stellar defense against All-Star candidate Gerald Wallace.

The Magic used there outside shooting to build a decent cushion going into the fourth quarter, then suffered a cold spell and allowed the Bobcats to crawl back into the game. Unfortunately, as good as Jameer Nelson was offensively, his defense down the stretch against D.J. Augustin could have cost the Magic the game.  This is becoming a very unwelcome trend with Jameer allowing opponents to go off on him.

The biggest story line for the Magic, at least from my perspective, is the outstanding play of Dwight howard, who is finally looking like the player who carried the Magic to the Finals last season. Howard was huge, snatching a game high 20 boards and swatting away 7 shots. Dwight sets the tone for the Magic, and lately, he looks like a man on a mission, displaying a tenacity that was missing most of the season.

The move to Matt Barnes in the starting line-up over Mickael Pietrus is continuing to pay dividends as well. While his numbers don’t always jump out at you while perusing the box score, his effort and intensity are clearly evident when watching him play. The same can be said about JJ Reddick, whose hard work and dedication have helped him become a consummate pro. Otis Smith’s decision to hold onto Reddick looks like a brilliant one.

Now it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t use this or any other opportunity to blast off on good ol’ Rashard Lewis. Sure, he had what appeared to be a nice game with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. However, he took 13 three’s and made only 4, a couple of which came when the Magic already had the game in hand. Excuse me if I’m missing something, but on what planet is it ok for a 6′10″ power forward to jack up 13 three point shots? Mercury, Juptiter, Venus or maybe Uranus? I’m not sure about those places in the solar system, but here on Earth, this simply isn’t acceptable. Dude, drop a shoulder and drive the lane, trust me what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. At this point, some girl push-ups might even be an improvement. Rashard apparently got gypped out of his “Roid Rage”, while he was using performance enhancers, since I’ve never seem him express anything remotely close to aggression.

As much as you fall in love with them when there going down, you cannot simply rely on 3 pointers to be the focal point of your offense if you want to win consistently. Last night the magic hoisted 39 three’s and while it helped Orlando build their lead, it also almost cost the Magic the game.

With that being said, there are still a lot of positives for the Magic to build on, and if Dwight Howard continues his ascent back to last years form, the Magic should be in great shape the rest of the way.

Technorati Tags: Charlotte Bobcats, D.J. Augustin, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter

If you’re a fan of the Orlando Magic, you probably already know where I’m going with this. Yes, that “something” I’m referring to is EFFORT.

The Magic have been wildly inconsistent through the first half of this season, and much of that has to do with the lack of effort and intensity they bring to the court on any given night.

After returning home from a disastrous road trip that concluded with a disconcerting loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, in what was ’suppose’ to be a chance to avenge their defeat in the NBA Finals last season. The Magic apparently channeled their inner “Gooch”(pardon my reference to the old sit-com “Different Strokes” and the character who routinely harassed poor Arnold “what you talkin’ bout Willis”) and took their aggression out on two clearly overmatched opponents in the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Queens…..Oooops, I meant Kings.

Before moving on, I’d like to address the Laker game if I may. I was honestly expecting Orlando to at least come out of the locker room ready to play and show some pride. Laker fans are notorious for showing up late to games, much like the Magic this season who usually get going around the 2nd quarter. So it would have been a great opportunity to take the crowd out of the game and build some momentum.

Unfortunately, the Magic chose to do things the hard way, waiting until the 3rd quarter to find their shooting touch. At this point, the Lakers already imposed their will on the game and simply dusted the Magic off in the fourth quarter, despite a lackluster performance by Kobe Bryant who has been hampered with an injured finger. As much as I hate Kobe (and believe me that hate runs deep…lol..), I have to give him respect for his willingness to play hurt. I wish Vince Carter had that kind of resolve.

The lone bright spot in the Magic’s loss to the lakers, was the 1st half performance of Dwight Howard. Superman was very aggressive, attacking offensively and even displayed a nice feathery touch on a few face up jumpers off the glass. Why the Magic went away from Howard in the second half is a mystery to me? Instead, they reverted back to chucking 3 pointers, a total of 33 on the night to be exact. When will Stan Van Gundy realize this Rick Pitino “Ken-Chucky Wildcat” approach is not going to get it done?

Wednesday nights game against the Pacers was another opportunity for revenge from their last meeting in Indiana where Roy Hibbert had a career night against Howard and company. Howard clearly seemed to remember as he dominated and showed why he is considered one of the best centers in the game. When Dwight plays physical and stays aggressive, there isn’t a player out there who should be able to guard him.  Matt Barnes also had a very productive game with 10 points and a rather impressive 16 boards for the slightly built Forward. Following the Game, Barnes summed things up perfectly stating “We(The magic)need to be the hunters more instead of just the hunted”.

Last nights game against Sacramento was much to do about nothing. So I will keep it short. Aside from Tyreke Evans “Rookie of The Year” campaign, the Kings have nothing left to play for this season. That was very apparent as the Magic took it to the Kings from start to finish. Dwight Howard was impressive once again, especially at the free throw line, where he was a shocking 11-12. If he continues to improve on his free throw shooting as he has of late, it will be increasingly difficult for teams to foul him.

As a former basketball player, I can tell you from my experience, it is much easier to shoot uncontested 3 pointers, compared to shooting with a hand in your face. Which is what happens when the Magic play inside out, as opposed to just coming down and spotting up. If you allow Dwight Howard to draw a double team and then kick it out to the open man, you will get better looks and ultimately, shoot a higher percentage. The Magic are loaded with great shooters, such as Rashard Lewis, JJ Redick and Ryan Anderson, who should benefit from Dwight’s re-emergence as an offensive force.

Even in the blow out wins against Indiana and Sacramento at home, the Magic are still relying far too heavily on the deep ball, and are not getting enough from their starting back court. Vince Carter, injured or not, has to play better on both ends of the floor and start taking better shots. As for Jameer Nelson, I’m afraid diagnosing his problems aren’t quite as easy. His outside shooting has been terrible, and the same can be said for his decision making and leadership. Since his return from knee surgery, he hasn’t had the same explosive quickness to get by opposing players, and his confidence seems shaken. The team plays much more fluidly when being run by back up Jason Williams. Maybe, the Magic need to insert Williams back into the starting role and give Jameer a chance to regain his form against the opposing teams second units.

Tonight Orlando heads back on the road to take on the “Red Hot” Charlotte Bobcats. Yes, you heard me right, I said the Charlotte Bobcats are currently the NBA’s “hottest” team, having won 9 of their last 10 games. Since acquiring Stephen Jackson from Golden State, the Bobcats have been playing much better basketball. And similar to last years Magic team with Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, the Bobcats are giving opponents fits with the mismatches their line-up of Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw create.

I would love to see the Magic try and play Gortat alongside Dwight Howard, similar to the Lakers approach with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. I’m just curious to see how teams would be able to defend, especially, with the shooters the Magic possess on the perimeter.

Let’s see if the Magic can carry their  home dominance with them on the road.

Technorati Tags: Andrew Bynum, Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats, Different Strokes, Dwight Howard, Gerald Wallace, Indiana Pacers, Jameer Nelson, jason williams, JJ Reddick, Kobe Bryant, Marcin Gortat, Matt Barnes, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Rick Pitino, Roy Hibbert, Ryan Anderson, Sacramento Kings, Stan Van Gundy, Stephen Jackson, The Gooch, Tyreke Evans, Vince Carter

Things began nicely, with a convincing win in Sacramento against the injury riddled Kings.

Then reality struck once again on Wednesday night in Denver as the Nuggets dissected the Magic en route to a 115-97 trouncing over Orlando. Playing short-handed without their leading scorer Vince “Cupcake” Carter for the secong straight night, Orlando simply had no answer for the physical play of the Nuggets. Dwight “The Coward” Howard struggled mightily against the likes of Kenyon Martin and Chris “Birdman” Andersen, managing a meager 8 points on 1-7 shooting. A far cry from the 30 points and 16 rebounds he collected the night before in Sacramento.

In what may have been the funniest sound bite I’ve ever heard from a player came from Dwight Howard after the loss to Denver in which he stated “the Nuggets took away the inside game and FORCED the Magic to shoot jump shots”. Excuse me if I’m missing something here, but have you ever seen anyone having to force Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson or JJ Redick(let me stop here, before I name the rest of the roster) to shoot a jump shot?

In the last three games including last nights loss to the Blazers, which I will get to momentarily, the magic took 27,31 and 30 three point shots. So what was so different about the Nugget game as far as the game plan Dwight?

Now we move on to last nights debacle in Portland against the Brandon Roy-less Blazers. Portland came out strong building an 11 point first quarter lead, taking advantage of Orlando’s ritual of slow starts, and never looked back. Without Roy, the Blazers looked to Andre Miller and Steve Blake to lead the charge and also got a strong outing out of Martell Webster who scored 24 points(more than twice his average of 10 a game) and 9 boards. While Dwight Howard managed only 11 points playing against Juwan Howard. Yes, Juwan Howard is actually still in the NBA; amazing isn’t it?  Vince Carter, finally back after suffering a debilitating(wink wink) sprained shoulder, was a non factor, while his backcourt mate, Jameer Nelson, continued to get lit up by opponents point guards. First Chauncey Billups had his way with Jameer “The Steer”, then came Andre Miller( the slowest man on earth, getting paid to run) and Steve Blake to take advantage of the Magics fearless leader . The Tattoo on Jameer’s back reads ” All Eyes On Me”, and if that is the case, there are a lot of people out there witnessing him getting used and abused night in and night out.

Rashard Lewis remains MIA, and is either unable to adjust to playing with his new teammates(especially Vince Carter) or is simply missing his medicine. Remember, Lewis A.K.A. Mr. Softy, was suspended for violating the NBA’s banned substance list for the first 10 games of the season. Rashard is making close to max money and is playing himself into a possible reserve role. Look at what the Philadelphia 76ers did with their version of an overpaid, underachieving player in Elton Brand, who is currently coming off the bench. In the last two games Lewis has scored a total of 15 points and collected a staggeringly low 4 rebounds. The man is 6′10″ 230 pounds, plays power forward and manages to grab 4 boards in a combined 50 plus minutes of action. Pardon me while I scroll through my trusty thesaurus for alternative words for PATHETIC!

The fact is the Magic are a soft, finesse, jump shooting team masquerading as title contenders. Now if this is what they aim to be as an organization; let me be the first to issue a mea culpa: Mission accomplished.

Unfortunately, we all know this isn’t true. The Magic were successful last season because they played much better defensively, and Howard and others asserted themselves more both offensively and on the glass.

Chemistry is a key ingredient, one often overlooked by fans and GM’s alike, who simply look at players numbers and highlights and fall in love with the idea of having them on their team. This Magic team is severely lacking leadership and a sustained consistency. There is a phrase ”The whole is greater than the sum of its parts“. However, when it comes to the Magic, it seems the parts just don’t fit, and it’s time to start assessing the value of each individual piece of the puzzle. The trade market is plentiful this year with all the impending free agents and economic turmoil that has plagued the NBA this season.

If the players aren’t going to be aggressive on the court; management needs to step up and get aggressive off the court.

New Orleans is a prime example of a team suffering crippling losses financially; maybe the Magic can swoop in and pilfer Chris Paul away from the Hornets. Another option to look into is Chris Bosh. Toronto is almost certainly going to lose Bosh at seasons end, and the Magic and Raptors were able to orchestrate deals this past off season, so there is a good working relationship there.

At this point, anything the front office can do to bring about change will be welcome by Magic fans. In most cases the coach is usually the easiest target, and with Stan Van Gundy’s approach wearing on his players, I’m sure there wouldn’t be too much resistance to him being ousted.

The Magic face the lakers Monday night in Los Angeles, a rematch of last years NBA Finals, and I can only imagine what lies in store for them. One things for sure there will be plenty of Kobe Beef on the menu. Vince Carter better rest that shoulder and get ready to do battle, or else, things could get ugly. I’m almost certain we will be seeing a lot of Mickael Pietrus if things start going south early.

Technorati Tags: Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick, Kenyon Martin, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Marcin Gortat, Martell Webster, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic, Portland Trailblazers, Rashard Lewis, Ryan Anderson, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Blake, Toronto Raptors, Vince "Cupcake" Carter, Vince Carter

Last night’s performance by the Magic against the turmoil filled Washington Wizards was absolutely deplorable. Despite the Magics horrific shooting woes which continue to plague them, they managed to build a ten point lead in the fourth quarter, only to fall victim to a frenetic Wizard rally.

The Magic have now lost four straight games against sub .500 teams, three of which came on the road where Orlando has struggled mightily this season.

Before I begin to dissect the plight of the Orlando Magic following last nights debacle, I would like to clarify that I’m in excellent spirits. I would hate for my rant to be attributed to me possibly waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Which would have been impossible anyway since I slept on the good old couch last night (ah yes, one of the many fringe benefits of living with your girlfriend…lol).

It would be easy to point out once again, the Magics dependence on the 3 point shot (they were 7-27 or .259% for the game against the Wizards), lack of effort, poor execution and defensive intensity. However, I feel the problems go much deeper than that.

Yesterday, I questioned whether the team may be quitting on Coach Stan Van Gundy prematurely. However, after listening to Van Gundy’s post game presser last night, I too may be leaning towards severing ties. Van Gundy had the audacity to state that it was his responsibility to get the most out of his star players(which I can agree with), and that he simply does not know how to at this point. That is simply not the answer you give when your being paid to do a job at the NBA level.

Maybe Pat Riley knew something we are starting to find out about Stan “No Longer The Man” Van Gundy? Even Shaq questioned his mental fortitude and I am starting to agree. When things aren’t going well, Van Gundy always looks out of sorts, unable to maintain composure. How can you expect to lead a group of professional athletes, when you start whining and pouting like a fat kid who had his cake snatched out of his hands.

At least in Miami, Van Gundy had a proven leader and warrior in D Wade, not to mention a strong veteran presence in Shaq, to keep players in line and demand better effort on the court, which they exemplified through their own play.

Unfortunately, the Magic lack a veteran who can command that type of respect. Which leaves the coach to shoulder that burden. This is where I feel Van Gundy has failed, since the majority of his core players are all underachieving this season.

Vince Carter, who up until this point in his career, in best known for dunking over Frederick Weiss in the Olympics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PPhbHMaf7k) and for admitting he quit on the Toronto Raptors by not always competing hard. So I’m not surprised that Vince hasn’t warmed up to the coaching methods used by Van Gundy. This is no excuse for Carter’s recent struggles, however, it may be a part of the reason he is not excelling. If anything, it appears as if he has regressed since joining the Magic.

The Magics other floor general Jameer Nelson has continued to struggle since his return from knee surgery and I would actually prefer seeing him come off the bench for the time being. Let him regain his confidence playing against the oppositions second unit, rather than allow him to be abused further like he was by Derrick Rose earlier in the week in Chicago.

Now for my favorite target, Rashard ” Please Don’t Touch Me” Lewis, who is either the luckiest man on earth or has a world class publicist. How else can you explain a player making that much escarole flying under the radar and not being trashed for his severe lack of production. Lets be honest, aside from his three point shooting ability, there’s not much else to be enamored about with Rashard’s game.

With all that being said, the Magic are still one of the top 5 teams in the league and can definitely salvage this season. In order for that to happen, there will have to be some major changes made. Ever heard the phrase ” drastic times call for drastic measures”? Memo to Otis Smith: We are in Crisis Mode.

If anything can be learned from last nights collapse, it’s how to respond to adverse situations. Here are the Wizard’s faced with all kinds of on and off court distractions, yet, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler showed how consummate professionals are suppose to carry themselves. Hopefully, some of the Magic players took notice.

Technorati Tags: Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Frederick Weiss, Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Pat Riley, Rashard Lewis, Shaq, Stan Van Gundy, Vince Carter, Washington Wizards

Instead of ripping the Magic for losing to the Bulls, who were in the midst of self destructing themselves, I decided to bite my tongue or in this case my fingers and give them a chance to redeem themselves against the Pacers on Tuesday. With the Pacers dealing with injuries to Danny Granger and Troy Murphy, you would think this was an ideal scenario for a team looking to regain their composure on the road.

Much to my dismay, the Magic mailed it in against the Pacers, being severely outplayed by a second rate team and even more surprisingly a second rate big man in Roy Hibbert, who simply embarrassed Dwight Howard.

Hibbert turned in 26 points and 8 rebounds against Dwight “The Coward” Howard, who manages a mere 11 points on 2-7 shooting and 15 boards. I was unaware Roy Hibbert was even on the Pacers until this game, and then to see him play like an All-Star against the Magic front-line was appalling.

After two tough road losses, the Magic returned home on Wednesday night to face the Toronto Raptors who are lead by Chris Bosh.

Once again, the Magic simply didn’t show up to play and were dismantled by Bosh and company.

What troubles me more than anything about the losses, is the lack of effort and intensity by the players. Are they quitting on Stan Van Gundy this early in the season?

Perhaps the criticism Dwight Howard levied against Coach Van Gundy earlier in the year about his negative attitude was a sign of what was to come.

No matter what the reasoning, Dwight Howard is simply not playing near the level he was at last season. His shot attempts are down drastically in recent games, which can be attributed to foul trouble to some degree, or a possible change in the Magics offensive strategy.

I’ve said it repeatedly that Howard is not a number one option on offense and that the Magic need another low post scorer to help balance out their attack. The continued reliance on outside shooting is the exact reason why they are playing inconsistent and not winning games against weaker opponents.

Shots aren’t always going to drop, so you have to have another scoring option. Otherwise, teams will pack it in and make you beat them from the outside.

All teams go through peaks and valleys during a long regular season. However, you rarely see a championship caliber team drop three games in a row. Especially, against teams with losing records who are dealing with injuries and internal strife in the case of the Chicago Bulls who were rumored to be on the verge of firing their Head Coach.

Since the NBA wants a glass half full story, I will try and put a positive spin on things. Yes, the season is long, so there is plenty of time for the Magic to right the ship. Secondly, Orlando is still loaded with talent and in my opinion lead by an excellent head coach.

So if in fact Orlando chooses to stand pat and move forward with the current roster, there are changes they can make such as; moving Rashard Lewis to the small forward position and inserting Brandon Bass in at the power forward. Or, go retro and bring back the “Twin Towers” with Gortat and Howard featured up front.

On the other hand, if Otis Smith does decide to tinker with the roster, their is a wealth of talent for him to deal, giving him plenty of leverage.

It’s too soon to give up on what could still turn out to be a great season, so let’s stay positive for the time being.

There is a silver lining here, as the Magic head up north tonight to face the Washington Wizards who are in complete disarray.

The Wizards have given new meaning to the phrase “Strap em up” and get ready to play. Sorry I couldn’t resist the temptation

Technorati Tags: Chicago Bulls, Dwight Howard, Indiana Pacers, Marcin Gortat, Orlando Magic, Rashard Lewis, Roy Hibbert, Stan Van Gundy, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

In my humble opinion, this action is clearly the right call, and is actually overdue. If the NBA would have reacted more swiftly they could have avoided further damage to it’s already tarnished image. Instead, they allowed Aren-ASS to continue playing even after he admitted to bringing guns into the Wizard’s locker room. And what does Aren-ASS do? He continues to make light of a very serious situation via his Twitter account(which much like facebook and all other social networking sites is proving to be the demise of many) and had the audacity to point his index fingers as if they were guns while surrounded by his teammates in pre-game introductions in his last game against Philadelphia.

These antics most certainly drew the ire of NBA Commissioner David Stern, who ultimately handed down the suspension.

It’s poetic justice that the NBA  was seemingly punished as well for allowing Aren-ASS  to play and giving him the public forum to continue to act like the “Class Clown”. Can’t help but think of the old cliche “some people just never learn” after witnessing Aren-ASS’s cavalier attitude toward his indiscretion even after having talked to local and federal law enforcement.

The way this incident is handled by all parties involved has far reaching implications well beyond the NBA. As we witnessed with the Plaxico Burress fiasco, which lead to a two year prison stretch, athletes and everyone in society as a whole need to be held accountable for their actions. Otherwise, what kind of message are we sending to kids out there who watch these highly paid athletes and celebrities who continuously skirt the law and are allowed to walk away unscathed?

Throughout his entire career Aren-ASS has always been his own worse enemy and now he is paying a hefty price for his tomfoolery. It is going to cost Aren-ASS around $150,000 for each game he is suspended. Wouldn’t he have been better off just paying his original gambling debt in the first place? I can see it now; a league wide ban on card games during team flights.

I have a message for any other professional athletes out there who may own a firearm. GET RID OF IT NOW!

Athletes are paid quite handsomely for their talents and if needed can certainly afford to hire licensed security if they feel threatened.

In the last few years, there have been several tragedies in the sports world related to gun violence such as Steve McNair, Plaxico Burress, Richard Collier and Shawn Taylor just to name a few. In the NBA alone there were several mishaps involving illegal possession of a firearm. The list of culprits included Sebastian Telfair, Stephen Jackson, Delonte West and now Gilbert Aren-ASS for the second time has a gun related issue.

Let’s not forget former NBA standout Jayson Williams, recently in the news for a DUI, who shot and killed his limo driver while supposedly joking around showing off his shotgun, then attempted to cover up the whole incident.

What’s alarming is that most professional athletes come from disenfranchised neighborhoods where the evidence of gun violence is so prevalent. You would think they would be grateful to no  longer be subjected to that type of environment instead of trying to perpetuate the lifestyle so many can’t seem to leave behind. There is no excuse for bringing a gun to any workplace, much less an NBA locker room, where safety concerns are clearly not an issue.

If Aren-ASS lived in the real world he would be out of a job already and most likely charged with some sort of criminal conduct. Instead, his punishment was meted out by the NBA first, and he is still awaiting further possible action by law enforcement.

I’m shocked that the Washington Wizards didn’t take a stand initially, especially, since their recently deceased owner Abe Pollin was a staunch supporter of anti-gun legislation.

The simple fact is that most of these athletes that we watch and admire, are simply brazen enough to feel they are above the law and oblivious to public scrutiny. I hate to beat a dead horse by saying that this may somehow provide an impetus for people to change their behavior and learn from mistakes made by others.

Unfortunately, this will probably prove to be just another story to fuel the gossip columns until the next scandal breaks.So until then…… Stay Tuned!

Technorati Tags: Abe Pollin, David Stern, Delonte West, Gilbert Arenas, Gun Violence, Illegal Firearm, Law Enforcement, NBA, Sebastian Telfair, Shawn Taylor, Stephen Jackson, Steve McNair, Washington Wizards

The move gives the Magic a much more aggressive/active player to help combat their inability to start games with a high level of intensity. Barnes is a tireless worker on the glass and gets out and runs the floor hard on every play. Hopefully, this type of play can rub off on his fellow teammates.

Orlando has been plagued by slow starts at the beginning of games, to go along with their woeful low post scoring and extreme reliance on 3 point shots.

It’s unfortunate that the Magic needed to suffer a couple of losses to serve as the impetus for change. However, it is better late than never.

The move also illustrates Van Gundy’s commitment to winning and not just being satisfied with the status quo. The Magic have a tremendous wealth of talent and ultimately it is up to the coaching staff to utilize it most effectively.

I’m still waiting for Marcin Gortat to be given a permanent spot in the rotation and a larger role in the Magics offensive scheme. Dwight Howard has regressed severely and clearly cannot be counted on to shoulder the load up front.

Technorati Tags: Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic, Stan Van Gundy

It is a scene I became all to familiar with while watching him play in New Jersey for the Nets. The slightest chance of faking an injury would send Carter into full “Drama Queen” mode.

The replays of this play clearly showed there was no contact between Carter’s head and IIyasova’s shoulder, no matter how many times the Magic announcers tried to tell us otherwise.

Much to my chagrin, I was forced to listen to media outlets attributing Carter’s false bravado as the spark that helped lead the Magic to victory against the mediocre Milwaukee Bucks.

The Magic got off to a slow start, a consistent theme this season, then eventually found their shooting touch and ran the inferior Bucks out of the gym.

Once again, the Magic lacked  defensive intensity and relied on their depth and the three ball to carry them to the win. As I’ve said repeatedly, this formula will work against weaker opponents, however, it will continue to hinder the Magic against the leagues top teams. The Magic have feasted on the losing teams and benefited greatly from playing in the pathetic Eastern Conference, where two-thirds of the teams are sporting losing records.

If the Indianapolis Colts are actually right in their view that the ultimate goal should be winning a Championship. Then the Magic clearly have to make some adjustments and roster moves. Otherwise, we will be relegated to finding satisfaction in a bunch of meaningless wins and false hope.

Coach Van Gundy’s decision to replace Mickael Pietrus in the starting line-up with high energy reserve Matt Barnes could be a step in the right direction. I like Pietrus, however, he tends to settle for too many jump shots, mimicking Carter and Rashard Lewis on the offensive end.

Barnes could provide that necessary spark to help the Magic get out of the gate quicker.

Jammer Nelson continues to be MIA, and is simply not the same player he was prior to his shoulder injury. Coach Stan Van Gundy addressed the Jameer Nelson Dilemma after the Bucks game, saying ” we have to re-evaluate where we are at with Jameer”. Unfortunately, Jason Williams seems to be regressing as well since jameer’s return into the line-up. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Last year Rafer Alston helped lead the Magic into the Finals against the Lakers only to be foiled by Nelson’s selfish desire to play.

Dwight “The Coward” Howard came up small against the very talented and equally inconsistent Andrew Bogut, who baited Howard into  early foul trouble. Bogut and the rest of the Milwaukee front line did a good job limiting Howard’s effectiveness on the offensive end when he returned and even interrupted a few alley-oops intended for Howard.

In limited spot duty Marcin Gortat and Brandon Bass continued to play well when given the opportunity. Which begs the question; When will Coach Van Gundy insert either of them in the  regular rotation?

Up next for the Magic are the Minnesota Timberwolves, another of the NBA’s cellar dwellers, who are proud owners of the second worst record in the association. I guess we should expect another repeat performance of the Magic taking advantage of a lesser opponent and eventually prevailing in the end.

It’s amazing, I find myself almost rooting for the Magic to lose, so just maybe the powers that be will somehow miraculously wake up and make some changes. Santa must have missed my house again, because I wanted a Point Guard and Power Forward for the Magic. Instead, I’m left with Jameer “The Steer” who continues to shoot blanks, and Rashard “Please Don’t Touch Me” Lewis who is deathly afraid of human contact.

Didn’t take long for me to break my New Years resolution to be more positive!

Technorati Tags: Andrew Bogut, Brandon Bass, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, jason williams, Marcin Gortat, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Rafer Alston, Rashard Lewis, Stan Van Gundy, Vince "Cupcake" Carter, Vince Carter

No I’m not referring to Paul Pierce, who didn’t even play due to a knee infection.

The truth I’m speaking about is the transparent state of the current Orlando Magic, a team with no real leader and a slew of finesse players. Hopefully, this serves as a wake up call, for the always asleep at the wheel GM Otis Smith, to finally make a preemptive strike and make some desperately needed changes to this roster.

On the surface, it may look like I’m another overzealous fan reacting hastily to a tough loss against a very formidable opponent. However, if we take a closer look at the numbers, I think there is genuine cause for concern. The Magic have no low post scoring presence, do not rebound well, with the exception of Dwight Howard,  and rely far too heavily on the 3 point shot to score. Not to mention they are missing one of the most important intangibles of a championship caliber team: Heart.

It was painful to watch the Magic repeatedly get beat to loose balls and out muscled for rebounds on a nationally televised stage against a supposed rival. Their depth and talent will continue to carry them against lesser opponents, but it’s simply not going to get the job done against the likes of the Lakers, Celtics or Cavaliers, who are all rounding into shape and playing excellent basketball.

Dwight “The Coward” Howard, Orlando’s alleged franchise player and dominant big man, only managed one field goal in 43 minutes to go along with 20 rebounds and 7 turnovers. This might be acceptable if he was Charles Oakley or Dennis Rodman, but this is clearly not a performance worthy of the “Superman” status Dwight “The Coward” Howard has somehow managed to acquire.

Could you imagine Shaq, Hakeem Olajuan, Patrick Ewing or David Robinson putting up a 1 for 7 showing in 43 minutes played?

The Magic have to come to the realization that Dwight Howard is not an offensive threat or franchise player. I’m not going to diminish his contributions as a rebounder or defender, where he performs at an All-Star level. However, you cannot continue to try and run an offense thru him. Sorry Patrick Ewing, but your stewardship as Dwight Howard’s offensive guru has been blown way out of proportion and in my eyes is a complete failure. Dwight still lacks the most basic low post moves, cannot shoot free throws to save his life and relies solely on the one signature move in his repertoire; the tomahawk dunk.

The Magic are in desperate need of a reliable low post presence and a player who can create off the dribble and draw fouls going to the rim. In years past, Hedo Turkoglu provided the Magic with a very unique option; a big man who could run the point, space the floor with his shooting and get to the basket.  Unfortunately, with Hedo’s departure to Toronto, the Magic are now left with Vince “Cupcake” Carter as his replacement and he is clearly not getting the job done. Sure, he puts up gaudy numbers and supplies us with some great highlight footage on occasion, but it never seems to translate to wins.

Referees don’t even respect Vince Carter. Look at how often his flailing fade way drives result in no foul calls. Turkoglu was a master at lulling the defense to sleep, then attacking the rim and drawing the foul. Heck, even Rafer Alston gave us a boost offensively last season after he was acquired in a trade and brought some much needed moxie along with him. I guess the old adage,  ”you never know what you got til it’s gone”, may be appropriate here.

What a prefect segue into my next topic of conversation. Welcome back Mr. Jameer Nelson, the Magics mythological leader and All-Star point guard. Shouldn’t we be able to notice a significant change one way or the other from your presence in or out of the line up? Rajon Rondo is probably, no definitely, the worst shooter on the planet. Yet, he managed to blow by Jameer Nelson, even when given a substantial cushion,  and carve up the Magic for 17 points, an impressive 13 boards and 8 assists.

Nelson, much like his replacement in last years All-Star Game, Mo Williams, benefits greatly from the talent that surrounds him and isn’t a game breaker. His size and fragility will, in my opinion, always limit his effectiveness.

Not to be confused with those who just rant and never offer any solutions, I have a few suggestions for Mr. Smith if he is listening. Carlos Boozer would be a great addition to the Magic, addressing both their low post scoring deficiencies and interior toughness. Boozer, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and Utah will most certainly lose him for nothing. So I’m sure they’d listen to a legitimate trade offer, such as Marcin Gortat or Brandon Bass. There are other pieces such as Matt Barnes or Ryan Anderson who could be thrown into the mix to make salaries match.

Another option could be Nate Robinson, who seems to be in permanent exile in New York. He may be contami”Nate” to the Knicks, however, this guy has a ton of game and can provide the Magic with a much needed scorer off the bench, and some grit on the defensive end.

Don’t be afraid Otis, pick up the phone and make some inquiries. Remember the only dumb questions are the ones that aren’t asked.

Technorati Tags: Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Carlos Boozer, Charles Oakley, Cleveland Cavaliers, David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, Dwight Howard, Hakeem Olajuan, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Los Angeles Lakers, Marcin Gortat, Mo Williams, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Patrick Ewing, paul pierce, Rafer Alston, Rajon Rondo, Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter