Petty, but Pretty

Ok, I admit up front that this is a rather petty thing to be happy about, but today I am celebrating “Suns Elimination Day” in honor of the Dallas Mavericks clinching the Western Conference’s final playoff spot last night, which simultaneously eliminated the Phoenix Suns from the post season.

I have nothing against the Phoenix Suns. In fact, prior to last season, they were one of my favorite teams in the league to watch. I still like players such as Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, and Amare Stoudemire. The problem is, and I’m sure you all know where I’m going here, is that the Suns currently employ the two largest purveyors of Orlando Magic destruction, and fan misery, in the franchise’s short history.

How ironic that Grant Hill left the Magic two seasons ago because he wanted to play for a contender. Well, while we could argue whether the Magic even took an on-court hit from his departure, what can’t be argued is the sweet justice this fan feels by watching the classy, but disloyal, Hill’s fortunes fall when he left us. After all, our fortunes fell from the moment when he came to us.

And what more needs to be said about Shaq? Shaq, in his second to last season in the league (according to him), will be missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season with the Magic back in 1992-1993. I guess he forgot that you don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk.

As if there weren’t enough Shaq-related issues in Magicland, Shaq has turned things up a notch this season with his back-and-forths with Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. Of course, Shaq will never be a player that can just straight up give a compliment to a rival. His back handed “compliments” of Dwight Howard this season actually seemed to bother the younger Superman. It is one thing for Shaq to leave the Magic franchise like he did in 1996. That was bad, for certain. But it is another thing entirely for him to attempt in any way, shape, or warm-up, to mess with the one man capable of making us forget Shaq and even take us to places that Shaq couldn’t and wouldn’t.

So, allow me my moment of being petty. Allow me to get a quick feeling of satisfaction that two players who were so instrumental in the direction our franchise took will now be sitting at home watching us achieve greatness without them, and despite them.

Photo credit: Charlotte Observer.

You are what's wrong with the world

Going to a Magic game is a fun thing to do. Instead of sharing the thrill of a game winning shot with your cat Fluffy, you get to share the experience with thousands of fellow Magic fans. Also, there is usually plenty of ladies around, which is always a good thing considering the same can't be said for your apartment. Still, it's not all good.

Every game I attend I am sure to run into a handful of people who require me to close my eyes and take a deep breath. They are, undoubtedly, what is wrong with the world.

• You are sitting in front of me, which isn't that big of a deal. I'll accept you standing up to cheer throughout the game because a) it shows that you are really into the Magic, and b) it gives me an excuse to stand up and cheer too. However, you don't stand up and cheer during a pivotal moment of the game. No, the only time you get up to make noise the entire game is when you want a silly, stupid, meaningless t-shirt. You would think this person is devoid of clothing and shelter and this was really a big deal. No, they just want something because it's free.
  
• There is five minutes left in the 4th quarter and the Magic are up 8. You get up and leave. You "want to beat the traffic." Good, go home.
  
• We are halfway through the 2nd quarter. You walk up to my row and look down at the row letter, then you gaze back at your ticket, then back at the row letter, then back at the ticket. You are clueless. Now, I don't mind getting up and letting people in and out of the row. My problem here is that you have missed a quarter and a half of basketball.
• You cheer louder for JJ Redick than you do for any other player.
• You bring your children to a game. It's a great thing. I remember going to Magic games when I was a youngster and they were amazing. Kudos to you, mom and dad. However, you don't control your children. Those thunder sticks your 7 year old boy is using? Yeah, those. They are constantly hitting the head of the guy in front of you. And at what point does your little girl's screaming like she just saw Justin Timberlake become too much for you to put up with?
• The MVP chant. Serenity now. Where did this fad start? Dwight Howard is at the line in the 4th quarter of a close game. As I hope you know, he struggles with his free throws. Here, let's throw him another distraction by chanting "MVP," like it will actually change the mind of those who vote for the meaningless award. You watch too much SportsCenter.
  
• You drink Bud Light. Yuck.
• You might be wearing your Dwight Howard jersey to the game, but at home you have a Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant jersey. Let me guess, you probably have matching shoes for each one too. I'd bet you like Stuart Scott.
  
• It's the national anthem. The lady is doing a decent job, even though she thinks she is Christina Aguilera. For some reason, you decide to yell out a rather silly cheer right after she says "O'er the land of the freeeeee." Why not just wait until she finishes?

Alright, I have to go. There are some kids on my lawn.

Hmmmm....

While watching tonight's broadcast of the Orlando/Atlanta game I came across this interesting stat courtesy of Sun Sports:

Records vs. Other Top 4 Teams:

Orlando Magic: 6-3

• 2-1 vs CLE
• 2-0 vs LAL
• 2-2 vs BOS

Los Angeles Lakers: 4-2

• 2-0 vs CLE
• 2-0 vs BOS
• 0-2 vs ORL

Boston Celtics: 4-5

• 2-1 vs CLE
• 0-2 vs LAL
• 2-2 vs ORL

Cleveland Cavaliers: 2-6

• 0-2 vs LAL
• 1-2 vs BOS
• 1-2 vs ORL

Exactly. Hmmmm....

Tonight: Celtics @ Magic

Tonight at 8 PM on the ESPN Orlando will host the Boston Celtics in what might be the biggest game of the year for both teams. At stake is the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference and thus home court against the other team should both advance past the first round. Currently both are tied in the loss column with 18 losses. Kevin Garnett will be back for Boston, as he logged 12 points in 18 minutes against the Clippers on Monday.

Boston has taken 2 out of 3 this year from Orlando, with the Magic's only win being in Boston against a Celtic team missing both Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo.

Again, for those of you who will be in attendance, it is an 8 PM game and be loud enough to drown out those damn Celtic fans.

Here is what the internet has to say about tonight's game:

• The Canadian Press notes that Doc Rivers is more concerned with getting his team healthy than gaining homecourt advantage.
• The Boston Herald reminds us that Orlando's magic number to clinch the division is 1.
• John Denton of the Florida Today understands the importance of tonight's game.
• As Ray Allen told the Boston Globe, "We've been talking about Cleveland and Orlando all year, [The Magic] beat us last time here on our floor, so this is a big game for us."
• If you gamble, the line is Magic +3.5.
• Even the LA Times is talking about tonight's game.
• HoopsWorld touches in the amount of hype Cleveland and Boston gets.
• And finally, here is the Orlando Sentinel preview and Schmitz blog post on the game.
  

The Amount of Time It Took You to Read This Title...

...was greater than the amount of time Dwight Howard spent in the lane last night during a crucial play near the end of the Magic's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Howard was whistled for a three-second violation that negated the Magic’s possession and gave the ball back to Cleveland with 30 seconds left and a two point lead.

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy was beside himself in reaction to the call. Three-second violations are not uncommon, in general, but they are rarely called late in a close game.

“You won't see that call again. That, I guarantee you," Van Gundy said. "You will not see, with the game on the line, a 3-second call in the last 10 seconds. That's part of the reason they're 30-1 at home. They're a very good team, and when you get calls like that [expletive], you're in pretty good shape."

What made it worse is the fact that Howard was on his way out of the lane when the ref blew the whistle. So, Howard was policing himself, going by the rules, and exited the lane in the time allotted. But the ref jumped the whistle. Howard implied that their may have been some home cooking involved.

"I was very surprised," Howard said. "I was in the lane and I got out. It seemed like their bench or their coaching staff got into the ref's ear about me being in the lane. Instead of letting the refs make the call, I guess the bench made the call."

I had the game recorded on my DVR and reviewed that play over and over with my stop watch from the moment that Howard entered the lane until the moment that I could hear referee Jack Nies blow his whistle. By my measurement, the whistle was blown well before 3 seconds, in fact, it was barely past two seconds. This makes me think that the ref had been watching Howard the whole game and maybe after enough complaining from the Cavs bench, he made a conscious decision to blow his whistle right then.

The problem I have with this goes beyond the idea of “make up” calls or even placing an emphasis on when during the course of a game it is acceptable to make or not make certain calls. The idea that rules already being enforced by subjective individuals are themselves subjective is extremely consternating. But in this case, the problem is that the call was incorrect! Howard was not in the lane for three seconds. Had he clearly been in the lane for over three seconds and the ref blew the whistle, we would still be talking about the call not being appropriate at that time. But at least we would have to admit that it was the right call. But this isn’t the case. Howard was not in the lane for three seconds…not even close.

I won’t go so far as to say that this call cost us the game. Most folks in the Magic blogosphere prefer to place the focus on Rashard Lewis and his recent slump. I agree that this is a bigger issue than one call. However, it is clear to me that when two elite teams are this evenly matched, it only takes one bad call to make a difference in which team wins and which team loses.

Happy Monday!

Orlando had a pretty good weekend, picking up a win on the road against the Wizards on Friday night and putting it to the tired Utah Jazz last night. Here's some highlights:

And let's see what the internet has to say.

• ESPN recap
• Box score
• Orlando Sentinel story
• CBS Sports story
  
• Dwight needs to watch his technical foul count, and Jerry Sloan didn't make it too long last night
  
• David Whitely asks us to thank Billy Donovan for changing his mind.
• ESPN's Outside the Lines discussed children out of wedlock which included an interview with Royce Reed, the mother of Dwight Howard's child.
  

Battle of the Mascots Part IV

Monday, 11/03/2008: Benny and Stuff square off as their respective teams collide inside the Amway Arena. Stuff gets the best of Benny, as the two goliaths destroy half the city of Orlando. Fortunately enough, the NBA Cares program repaired the damage before the game was over and anybody even noticed. Magic win in a tight one 96-93.

Wednesday, 12/31/2008: The two meet again. Benny falls victim once again to Stuff's fury of destruction. He is sent to the hospital after taking a kick right to the horns. The Magic show no mercy either, as they cream the Bulls 113-94 in the United Center. The New Year doesn't start right for the once mighty Bull mascot.

Tuesday, 2/24/2009: Benny defends his turf this time around. Benny defeats Stuff by running over his foot with a tricycle. Stuff can't recover his balance, knocks over a childs snow cone, and admits defeat. As Benny celebrates, Stuff swears the two will meet again (pictured above in the only known photograph salvaged). The Magic aren't lucky either, as they are blown out in embarrassing fashion, 102-120.

Wednesday, 03/11/2009: In what will be the last meeting in the regular season between the two, Benny and the Bulls look to even the score, as they come to the Amway Arena and take on Stuff and his Magic Men. It should be an epic battle, though the Magic may or may not be with one of their key players, F Hedo Turkoglu.

Some notes for the game tonight:

• The Magic are coming off a heartbreaking loss against the Detroit Pistons. Fortunately for the, the Bulls are also coming off a heartbreaking loss, where Dwyane Wade made a running 3pt shot to win in Double OT.
• It's mandatory we mention this picture every time the Bulls play the Magic.
• The Magic can clinch a playoff berth tonight with a win.
• The Bulls made a minor move today, signing free agent forward Linton Johnson. Johnson will be available for tonight's game against the Magic, and looks to fill the depth at the forward spot, with Luol Deng injured.
  

We celebrate our 100th post by giving you 100 Magic moments and memories!

In case you haven’t heard, the Orlando Magic have been in the NBA for 20 years. TPASTBM has a way to go before we hit 20 years, but none the less we have a little milestone of our own. Ya see, in what was the brainchild of a group of crazy Magic fans with a little bit of time here and there, we have hit our 100th post. Not too bad for only being around a few months, right? Right? Over these previous 99 posts we have cried over Jameer’s injury, reveled in the Rafer trade, lost respect for Shaq, and even given away free tickets to a game. That said, in honor of our 100th post, here are 100 things about our team that we, well, think are magical…

• 1. Never knowing if Tree Rollins' body was going to turn to dust as he ran up the court.
• 2. Calling Pat Garrity "The Assassin", because whenever he shot the ball more than 5 times in a game, he'd murder the Magic's chance of winning.
• 3. Nick Anderson goes off for 50 points in a game and it gets completely overshadowed by this other thing that happened that night.
• 4. The illustrious tradition Greg Kite started of the Magic signing as many aging, white stiffs at the 4 and 5 as was humanly possible.
• 5. Dwight Howard's inability to grow non-hilarious facial hair.
• 6. That goofy clapper thing they passed out during the '95 conference Finals that I still have.
• 7. Anthony Bowie's triple-double*.
• 8. Mike Miller = Rookie of the Year?
• 9. The fact that Rashard Lewis's shot looks worse than Jeryl Sasser's, but actually goes in.
• 10. Hedo Turkoglu's German pornstar facial hair.
• 11. Fearing the Warlock
• 12. 20 years of Puns
• 13. Getting to wear these bad boys as a kid.
• 14. Stachetastic
• 15. The Fat Guy
• 16. Unity of a message board during one of the most significant moments in Magic history.
• 17. Trading Brian Cook
• 18. Good times on the bench
• 19. Dante & Galante
• 20. I like this team
• 21. The newly formed expansion Magic getting their first win against the then World Champion Pistons.
• 22. Nick Anderson's steal against MJ to beat the Bulls and get the Magic to the NBA Finals.
• 23. Pat Williams mastery over the ping pong balls during the NBA draft lottery.
• 24. Hedo's fadeaway shots hitting nothing but net.
• 25. Darrel Armstrong proving he has the biggest heart in one of the smallest bodies on the court.
• 26. Knicks GM Isiah Thomas taking Steve Francis off our hands for Penny's expiring contract and Trevor Ariza.
• 27. The 2004 NBA draft bringing us two All-stars in Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson.
• 28. Scott Skiles NBA record 30 Assists night.
• 29. Bo Outlaw shooting free throws making you want to look away in horror.
• 30. Watching teams frantic to crowd the paint on Dwight and then scramble to cover three point shooters.
• 31. Trevor Ariza making Emeka Okafor his girlfriend.
• 32. A horrendous season bubbling over for Tracy McGrady's Magic as he gets ejected for kicking the ball twice!!
• 33. How easy it is to get people upset about ACC Legend JJ Redick.
• 34. Hedorics
• 35. Dwight's absurd alley-oop dunk against the Celtics.
• 36. Keyon Dooling vs. Ray Allen
• 37. The amazing ability of young Penny Hardaway and of course lil penny.
• 38. Setting the NBA record for 3 pointers as a team.
• 39. Dennis Scott making it rain from beyond the arc.
• 40. Stuff and his hijinks.
• 41. Sitting in front of the TV, begging Ice to shoot it so Skiles could get assist #30.
• 42. Breathing a sigh of relief when Rony Seikaly got off the plane in Orlando.
• 43. Eating my first O-Rena Chicken Tender Basket.
• 44. Making friends with fellow Magic Fans on the Orlando Magic Message Boards.
• 45. Sweeping the Lakers and the Spurs in the same season.
• 46. That wonderful, magical time during June of 1995.
• 47. Dwight Howard signs a contract extension.
• 48. Hearing that the Magic had signed Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill (hey, it was a good memory at the time!).
• 49. The night that Joe Wolf couldn’t miss.
• 50. Shaq takes down the whole basket in Phoenix.
• 51. Nick scores 50 in three quarters and makes Bernard King look OLD.
• 52. McGrady’s off the backboard self alley-oop.
• 53. Shaq and Dennis Scott rapping on the Arsenio Hall show. You can't write comedy that good.
• 54. Mario Kasun’s porn star posse.
• 55. Darrell Armstong fixing Doc Rivers’ tie during the games.
• 56. Two ROYs and three #1 picks
• 57. Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, Derek Harper, Mark Price, Rod Strickland…right team, wrong time.
• 58. Yinka Dare getting in on the team photo, AFTER he was waived!
• 59. The Skiles to Turner pick and roll.
• 60. Dwight Howard over Tim Duncan…the play that will never get old.
• 61. Greg Kite's flattop
• 62. That there is no photo evidence we could find of Anthony Avent's tenure here
• 63. That Shaq left Orlando before making Steel.
• 64. Penny dunking on Ewing.
• 65. "We want Brooks!" Thompson, that is.
• 66. The night that Anthony Bowie shut down Michael Jordan, holding him to just 64 points in a Magic win.
• 67. Nick Anderson learning how to shoot 3s
• 68. Scott Skiles always looking like he was one cheap shot away from landing in the papers the next day with an article starting with "he always seemed so nice..."
• 69. Dennis Scott making 11 three pointers in a single game
• 70. The night Shaq blocked 15 ******* shots.
• 71. Stay in School Jam
• 72. The free doughnuts that caused me to gain 10 pounds in a season.
• 73. Getting my own season tickets.
• 74. JJ inviting my best friend and I for a siesta.
• 75. Goggles!
• 76. 110 Points = Mac Attack!
• 77. Where else can you find a team mascott that is the result of some heavy drug use. I mean a colorful rainbow dragon for a basketball team? And not the Orlando Dragons, but the Magic. Then name named him Stuff...kinda like Puff The Magic Dragon....you know what I mean.
• 78. Being excited over the release of "Blue Chips". Hey, I was young, shut up!
• 79. Orlando rickshaws
  
• 80. The leaky, red seated, sticky floor that is the Amway/TD Waterhouse/O'Rena
• 81. Steele and Guokas
• 82. Adonal Foyle
  
• 83. The Orlando Magic hosting the NBA Summer League
• 84. Billy Donovan, or the lack thereof
• 85. Terry Catledge pump faking
• 86. Watching Rookie Courtney Lee defend a who's who of NBA stars on a nightly basis.
• 87. Brian Hill breaking clipboards
• 88. Bobblehead nights
• 89. Rubber Duckies
• 90. The fact that a hockey scout ran the team and managed to draft Dwight over Okafor.
• 91. Reading draft recaps from 2004
• 92. The black pinstripe uniforms
• 93. The hilarious fact that Chris Jent is employed as Lebron's personal shooting coach.
• 94. The Turko Glue Stick
• 95. Tailgating outside the O-Rena before playoff games
• 96. The Christmas tree that remains atop the O-Rena year round.
• 97. Nick Anderson becoming the first Magic draft pick
• 98. T-Mac scoring 62
  
• 99. Magic closing the old Boston Gardens by knocking the Celtics out of the playoffs.
  
• 100. The Best Magic Blog ever: The Puns are Starting to Bore Me

All the bloggers of TPASTBM contributed to this post. Thank you for reading, we couldn't have lasted this long without you.

Orlando @ Boston Highlights

Here are some highlights from yesterday's 86-79 win over the Boston Celtics. Also, check out the Orlando Sentinel's story on the game as well as today's Daily Dime over at ESPN.

The OCTB's Fat From the Fryer: Magic vs. Suns

• Shaq vs. Dwight: epic battle in the post against the game’s best big man and the game’s biggest, uh, big man. First time in a while that I focused more on an individual matchup vs. the team matchup.
• You ever used a medicine ball? After shooting or passing with a weighted medicine ball, a regular ball suddenly seems lighter than air. Dwight Howard must have experienced this concept when Shaq left the game and he suddenly found himself guarded by...wait for it...Louis Amundson.
• Still plenty of boos for both Grant Hill and Shaquille O’Neal. Anyone who thinks that these guys shouldn’t be booed just can’t appreciate how a sports fan takes things to heart. And with affairs of the heart, logic is not a factor.
• During a timeout, the jumbotron showed Rafer Alston answering the question, “what is your favorite movie.” His answer, “Breakin” and “Breakin II: Electric Boogaloo!”
• Tyronn Lue’s new role: world’s ugliest cheerleader.
• Robin Lopez = Sideshow Bob
• Another technical foul called on Dwight…this is beginning to be a habit and I hate to see it. He is already in double-digit techs for the season and if he keeps this up, he will start to look more and more like Tim Duncan, but not in the “four rings and great glasswork” way.
• Shaq actually flopped! Shaq!! Is there another player in the NBA besides Dwight Howard who could have made Shaq even consider flopping? Shaq flopping is as strange a site as seeing me without the Fries On The Side!
• The Magic were a mess with the turnovers, they kept pushing too much, rushing their passes, and making dangerous passes. The Suns looked like an NFL secondary.
• I was relieved to finally have a team visit the O-Rena who, despite having some serious star power, didn’t have much of a vocal following in the audience like we’ve seen lately with Detroit, Boston, and Cleveland.
• Both Dwight Howard and Shaq received technical fouls for arguing fouls drawn by the other. No further proof is needed that the two players were “super”-hyped (see what I did there?) for this matchup.
• From the “Jump In the Fryer If You’ve Heard This Before” Department: In the fourth quarter, when Shaq was called for a technical for arguing a foul called on Steve Nash, Rashard Lewis shot the technical free throw. Then Dwight stepped to the line to take his two free throws. After making the first one, the ref gave the ball to Steve Nash and the Suns headed up the court! All the Magic players and the entire audience was alarmed, saying “he gets two shots!” I was pleased to see that the Magic players had the presence of mind to head back up the court on defense while they protested. Obviously the ref made a mistake but it says right here that Steve Nash was pretty sneaky to take advantage of it like he did. There should have been a delay of game warning given. I don’t care if it was the refs fault. Kudos to Howard for hitting both free throws despite the interruption.

After the game, I went to the visiting locker room. I was able to get a quick moment with Grant Hill. Here are two questions and two answers from The Ankle. The first question is one that another media member asked, but I thought it was worth sharing, because it dispells stories of Hill and Shaq coming back as owners. The second question was asked by the OCTB himself.

Question: “Do you see yourself being involved with this team (the Magic) down the line at some point.”
Grant Hill: “Being involved? Nah…I’ll be a fan when I’m done playing. I’ll be involved as a fan.”

Question: “This is your second game back and there was still a negative reaction from the crowd. Did that affect your game?”
Grant Hill: “Nah, nah, I just played bad. I’ve played bad all year at the four position. So...uh, nah, I came out…played a good first quarter but just didn’t get into a good rhythm there. That’s just part of the game.”

Shaq v. D12: The Morning After

In one of the more entertaining games of the year, the Orlando Magic defeated Shaq and the Phoenix Suns last night, 111-99.

There were some great post game quotes.

"This dude is huge. I just realized that I've got to go home and eat like five chickens to put a lot of weight on." - Marcin Gortat

"I was shocked, seriously, shocked," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of O'Neal's flopping. "And very disappointed cause he knows what it's like. Lets stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that tonight."

Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Dwight fended off foul trouble to score 21 points and pull in 9 rebounds. TPASTBM favorite Marcin Gortat filled in for Dwight after picking up his 2, 3, and 4th fouls beautifully, contributing 8 points and 8 rebounds. For the Suns, Jason Richardson scored a team high 27, while Shaq had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

• Check out the box score.
• The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi doesn't want Shaq and Dwight to be buddy buddy after these games.
• Kyle Hightower asks, "Did Magic Fans forget about Grant Hill?"
• Yankees pitchers Joba Chamberlain, CC Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang were in attendance.
• The Orlando Sentinel's take on the game.
• John Denton over at Florida Today has his.
• The Arizona Republic writes that one Superman leads in scoreboard seniority.
  

Coming this week

This week Orlando plays three pretty big games as they try to find some consistency. Tuesday the now off and running Phoenix Suns come to town followed by New Jersey on Friday. The week is capped by a visit to Boston on Sunday.

Phoenix Suns @ Orlando Magic: Tuesday, March 3, 7:00 PM. SunSports and NBATV

The Suns enter the game winners of two straight, including a big with against the Lakers on Sunday. The Suns are now 6-2 since Alvin Gentry replaced Terry Porter as coach after the All-Star break.

Prediction: Phoenix will score points, and probably quite a bit of them. On the other hand, Orlando can score points also (You're welcome for the crack TPASTBM analysis). Shaq will score 17 but only grab 3 rebounds. However, on the other side Dwight will put up 27 and totally dominate Shaq on the boards with 16. Throw in 3 blocks for Dwight.

The key to this game is Steve Nash, who didn't suit up in the win against the Lakers on Sunday. Right now it is anyones guess if he plays. If he sits, the Magic win. If he plays, the Magic still win. Score: Orlando 115, Phoenix 109

New Jersey Nets @ Orlando Magic: Friday, March 6, 7:00 PM. Fox Sports Florida

The New Jersey Nets are trying to get themselves back into the playoff picture after sitting inside for most of the season. Frankly, (Is that a Lawrence Frank pun?) the Nets have been all over the place this year. Taking a look at their schedule, they have had lost 8 of 9, then won 4 in a row, then lost 5 in a row, and followed that up by winning 2 of 3. So, who knows what we are going to get on Friday.

Prediction: In their only previous meeting this season Orlando came out on top, 101-84. Dwight led the Magic with 30 points and 16 boards while Devin Harris paced the Nets with 28 points and 12 assists. Look for similar numbers again on Friday by both players. However, in the previous matchup Vince Carter did not play, so look for him to add an element of difficulty for an Orlando team that is having a hard time keeping quality scores from getting their share. Score: Orlando 105, New Jersey 102

Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics: Sunday, March 8, 1:00 PM. Fox Sports Florida HD

Well, it's time to play the Celtics again. The Magic are 0-2 this season against the reigning world champs. The Celtics beat down on Orlando by 19 earlier this year in Boston and took the matchup in Orlando by 10. That said, the Magic are due to play well against these guys. In case you haven't heard, Stephon Marbury plays for them now.

Prediction: Dwight has struggled in scoring against Boston this year, putting up 11 and 15 in the two games. He will struggle again. Rashard and Hedo will pick up some of the slack, but not enough to break Boston's luck against the Magic. Score: Boston 97, Orlando 85

Magic @ Sixers Highlights

"Let's keep in touch..."

This evening the Orlando Magic welcome the Detroit Pistons to town in what is a rather important game for both squads. Detroit is trying to get back to their old winning ways while Orlando is trying to get past a team that has been giving them troubles for years.

A focal point of this game will be Rasheed Wallace, everyone's favorite crybaby. After receiving his league leading 15th and 16th technical fouls against Denver on Wednesday night he should have been suspended for tonight's game. However, the NBA withdrew two techs from a previous game this year, thus lowering his season total to 14 and allowing Sheed to suit up tonight.

Mr. Wallace is a poor sport. He whines, moans and complains at every opportunity. He comes off as what is what is wrong with sports and society today: Me first all the way.

Now backup to yesterdays Orlando Sentinel.

Last week when Orlando traded for PG Rafer Alston the Magic parted ways with Brian Cook, Mike Wilks, and Adonal Foyle. That said, Mr. Foyle purchased some ad space and sent this message to the community.

"Let's keep in touch..."

How pleasant and relieving. Mr. Foyle was here less than two seasons and never made much of an impact on the court. Buried on the bench behind Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat, and Tony Battie, we never heard him complain. We never saw him act unprofessionally. Towels were never thrown on the court and at Stan Van Gundy. Most of this season Adonal was dressed in a suit with no chance of playing. However, he was always up congratulating and willing on his teammates. He had a clipboard in his hand, either making game notes or breaking down Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Social Contract.

But that was just his basketball side. A few weeks ago we discussed Adonal's presidential abilities. To take from that:

Adonal grew up in the tiny island of Canouan, where he was raised by his grandmother and pet donkey and relied on a kerosene lamp to light up his room while doing homework.

At the age of 15, he was adopted by two college professors and moved to New York. He lived the middle-class American lifestyle throughout college, and after being selected 8th overall by the Warriors in the 97 draft, he entered the life of an NBA player, basically guaranteeing him financial security and a sudden opinion on the Capital Gains Tax.

So there you have it, rags to riches. Nice story. But that is isn't even half of it. Just take a visit to AdonalFoyle.com. He is at the helm of Democracy Matters (Seriously, look at this) and the Kerosene Lamp Foundation (Seriously, look at this one too), two organizations that tackle both political issues and poverty.

No one twisted his arm on this one. He's not doing this to further his career. It's not a publicity stunt. Heck, I'm sure most people don't even know about any of this. As a reader pointed out on our last Adonal post:

You left out how genuinely nice he is. I went to high school with Adonal. He's not just smart, he's educated - and he worked hard to be. Between the end of school and the start of practice he would get extra help from his teachers in all subjects so the he could be a straight A student.

Just a few days before the trade Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel wrote a piece about Adonal. Bianchi received a letter from a coach who took a group of kids to see the Magic play in Denver. The letter said:

There were about 20 people (mostly kids) on the bench just as the Magic players took the court. Within the first few minutes, many of the Magic players took the time to wave, say hello and throw a smile toward our group. One player in particular went out of his way to interact with us. As it turns out, this player was Mr. Adonal Foyle.

Mr. Foyle came over and sat on the floor in the middle of our group. He faced us (not the court) and made small talk as he stretched. The kids (ages 4 to 12) were quite scared of Mr. Foyle at first (he is a VERY large man). This is when Mr. Foyle literally laid down on the floor and asked the children if he could be included and play with them. Now that this enormous man was lower than the kids, they warmed up to him quite quickly. Mr. Foyle smiled and spoke to the kids with a very sincere and gentle voice and before we knew it, he was holding the kids on his lap for photos. Mr. Foyle shook hands, high-fived and signed autographs for about 10minutes.

As he started taking practice shots, Mr. Foyle passed the ball back and forth with the kids and then invited them to come on the court and run some line drills with him. All I can think of are the stories that must have gone around at school on the Monday after the game. This is the stuff of dreams; these memories will be cherished by these kids for the rest of their lives!

Mike approached Adonal and asked why he treated the fans the way he did. The answer? "Why not?"

This is the anti-Sheed. I really hope Orlando keeps in touch.

Thanks to TPASTBM contributor El Fantasma de Carlos Arroyo for catching the Adonal ad.

Pun Watch

While watching "NBA Fastbreak" on ESPN, I noticed the producers couldn't resist using a bad pun while showing an email from a so called "disgruntled" Magic fan. Yeah guys, he's disgruntled because the puns are starting to bore him. See what I did there?

TPASTBM reacts to the Rafer Alston Trade

Well, we here at TPASTBM have consensus on viewing the trade for Rafer Alston as a big win for the Orlando Magic. Here are the reactions from some of our contributors:





The Nickel Steak:
It's hard to take seriously the notion that any trade that works on an internet trade checker is seconds from happening, which most of the internet community seems to buy into. But it's the same logic that makes this trade so strange.

The Magic gave up as close to nothing as humanly possible and got a serviceable point guard who was, at the time, starting for a playoff team. He'll be a decent starter for the remainder of the year and he'll give the Magic a very good rotation at the 1 next season when Jameer is healthy. And it cost Brian Cook and a late first round pick, and if the way teams acted at this deadline is an indication, the Magic will be able to buy as many picks as they want this year if they're willing to spend, and if the Magic weren't willing to spend, then the pick had no value anyway.

I still don't understand how this happened.

Jackie Moon:
While Rafer Alston is no Jameer, I love this deal. Replacing Jameer without giving up a core player or taking on a bad contract shows Otis is growing as a GM. Alston is legitimate starting veteran NBA PG who already knows Stan's system. Plus his contract expires next year and is only guaranteed for $2.5 million. So once he gets done helping us continue our goal of competing for a championship, his contract becomes a valuable trade asset this off season should we choose not to keep him as a backup.

Maxwell Effort:
I really thought the whole "Otis working the phone" thing was a ploy to make the fans feel like he tried but holy heck was I shocked when he pulled this off. Starting caliber point guards on playoff teams are usually not available at the deadline. I compare my feelings to finding a $20 bill in your pocket a week after washing your jeans. Totally unexpected yet awesome at the same time and always puts a smile on your face. I have more Magic pep in my step this morning and that is a good thing!

The Big Train:
I like this deal, not so much because it puts us once again on the level of Boston and Cleveland, because it doesn't. But rather what it does for this team next year. Jameer will be starting again with Alston as the backup PG... A drastic upgrade over Anthony Johnson. Second, this allowed the Magic to get rid of Brian Cook's contact - a player option of 3.5 million next year - without taking back a drastically larger one (Alston is slated to make $5 million next year). As for the first round draft pick, in a weak draft a late first round pick isn't really a loss. Finally, this does not throw a wrench in the process of resigning Tuck when he opts out this summer. I will miss Adonal though....

The OCTB:
Although I am excited about the trade and feel that it should give a boost to this season’s potential, I have to point out the irony that two or our most discussed trade pieces – Keith Bogans and Brian Cook – were both traded for point guards and because of an injury. Many Magic fans were hoping that those players could have been used to add bulk in the frontcourt.

But no one can predict these injuries and it speaks well of Otis Smith that he effectively used those assets to fill a need. We really only sacrificed a low first rounder in a weak draft. Bogans and Cook were likely gone in the offseason anyway.

Jareth Cutestory:

So what do the Magic do now?

Yesterday was a dark day for Magic fans. It's looking like Jameer Nelson will be out for the season with a torn labrum. Lovely. Here at TPASTBM, tears were shed, walls were punched, whiskey was chugged, and the existence of God was questioned. Now that the sun has risen again, it's time to get solutions oriented. That said, we each put on our Otis Smith glasses and size 14 designer dress shoes and got to work.

What do the Magic do now?

The Big Train - The key is not to panic. Obviously a point needs to be brought in, the question is who, where, and for what price. The answer: Carlos Arroyo. He knows Van Gundy and the system. He is currently over in Israel, and from what I have heard is not too happy. The only problem would be that the Magic would have to buy out his contract. Get on the phone with Tel Aviv and make it work so Carlos is ready to go right after the All-Star break. What this also does is allow the Magic to still make a move for more rebounding help down low, which until yesterday was the biggest hole on the team. Also, perhaps more importantly, this does not tie up money for this summer when Hedo opts out. The same couldn't be said if Orlando traded for Tinsley, Atkins, or Watson.

Jareth Cutestory - The answer is simple: Kill the Batman. Excuse me, I thought I was in a warehouse discussing illegal financial transactions, and not sitting at my computer ready to discuss what to do to keep my Magic from missing out on an opportunity to play for the Larry O'Brien trophy at the end of the season. While the news of Nelson's injury has depressed nearly every Magic fan, the sun will rise another day and we still have the most dominant center in the league, along with an all star forward and Hedo Turkoglu. An Eddie Gill isn't going to cut it to be a prominent factor in leading this team to the promised land. My suggestion is the Magic look to trade some spare parts such as Brian Cook and Keith Bogans for a serviceable PG. Guys such as Jamal Tinsley and Earl Watson could be had for the right price. If nobody wants the talents of those 2 studs, then I would look overseas at guys such as Jannero Pargo or Earl Boykins. If all else fails, there is always Smush. That last one was a joke.

The Nickel Steak - I'd argue that the most important thing to do is not panic. There are teams in this league with assets that they have no use for that the Magic can use. There is no reason to do something asinine, like trading for an overpriced possible starter like Beno Udrih or Jamaal Tinsley, because we need a point guard. The first thing the team should do is figure out if Jameer's back for the playoffs or not. Any move made should be made with knowledge of that, and based accordingly. There's no reason to bring in a spot starter if Jameer is back in 2 months for the playoffs. The Magic's best bet may be to dump expirings for an aging vet like Watson. That's a short term solution, which is a good thing. Even if Jameer's done for the year, he'll still be back in October. There's no reason to pretend the world just ended, even if this is a serious blow.

Paul Ego - Jefe, would you say that I have a plethora of options? Do we turn to free agency and pick up a guy currently sitting at home watching the NBA on TNT? Do we look to the NBDL for a guy looking for his chance? Do we make a trade to get us through the year? Do we try to bring back Carlos? Best case scenario. Nelson opts for rehab (with surgery over the summer), and is back in 3 weeks. We turn the reigns over to Johnson/Turk/Lee in the meantime, just like we did when Nelson sat earlier this year, and hope for the best. This also opens up some playing time for JJ or Bogans. Worst Case. Nelson opts for surgery now, and misses the rest of the season. We pick up someone that does not cost us a player or pick (unless that player is Cook or Bogans). Someone like JWill, a player from the D League, or Carlos Arroyo. If Carlos steps in and the team doesn't miss a beat, there is no way he doesn't get a decent contract next season somewhere in the NBA. I think trading for a more expensive PG at this point in the teams plans is not an option. It is going to be difficult enough going forward to retain talent like Hedo and pick up pieces the team needs to improve. Trading for a PG now (unless its a move that brings in a decent PG and PF with guys like Cook and Battie outbound) will hamper the ability of Otis to bring in solid pieces later. With our future struggles on the horizon (re-signing Turk for example), that would be tantamount to shooting ourselves in the, uhm, shoulder, so to speak.

Vile Feminista - I will try my hardest to ground myself in reality and not waste my time lamenting the loss of Mr Travis Diener, it will be hard. I am in panic mode, it may not be the most logical emotion but that cannot be easily altered. I know it may not be the sexiest choice but I would talk to White Chocolate. We do not need someone long term and I have always loved his game. He may not even want to play anymore but if he did it wouldn't be long and he should be fine with that. I'm sure he would come cheap, if at all and I definitely think he would be worth the conversation.

Maxwell Effort Well I after crying, getting angry, I now have to think. The first thing I do is decide I am not going to make a panic move. I bring in a guy like Eddie Gill for the next few games and act like everything is great! See although everyone thinks my leverage is shot there is a harsh reality out there which is the economy. Teams that are struggling are going to want to save money anyway they can. Heck Mark Cuban called this summer nuclear winter. If I were a competing team I would shoot for the moon right now because that is your job. But I know the more I wait the more teams should loosen up but when reality should set in. If a competing GM can save 6.5 million by trading say Earl Watson or Luke Ridnour they make that move. That also gives the Magic nice expiring deals next season in say Watson or Ridnour. If the asking price is raised to high to my liking then I stick with my D league guy because the difference between Earl Watson and a D leaguer is not as big as you think. I would also invest in some oxygen tanks for AJ.

Jackie Moon - Trade the team's washing machine for veteran PG Ed Monix. What do you mean he and I are not real??? The point is we can sit here and propose all the fantasy land trades we want but the problem is that replacing Jameer Nelson is nearly impossible without giving up a core player or taking on a bad contract (i.e. Tinsley or Watson). Even then it is unlikely to find a player who can keep this team playing at the elite level it had achieved. So I would propose adding a vet like Jason Williams who will cost the team almost nothing in the way of trade assets and leave our roster intact in case Jameer gets back for the playoffs. The good news is this team is still young and likely has more championship runs left in them than the aging Celtics and Cavs. The key now is not to overreact and screw up the future to get a player who is a gamble anyway or he wouldn't be available.



Terry and The Pump Fakes - Says another season another shoulder injury. I was just getting used to expecting wins every night so this is a big hit for me. I think we can still win quite a few games without Jameer and I think we can still take a top 3 seed into the playoffs but what is going to sting the most is not having Jameer there to hit those cold blooded daggers that downed teams like the Lakers. If he is done for the year we need to make a move for a vet that can defend and shoot and has 1-2 yrs left on his contract. We aren't going to find someone that can attack, defend and shoot on the cheap but I think a guy like Earl Watson wouldn't be a bad choice in the short term.

Ayo! - It's very difficult seeing Mighty Mouse go down like that. While my gut tells me I want him playing again as soon as possible (rehab route) so he can help this team in the playoffs, I have to think about the long-term investment. But the decision is up to him. Depending on what Jameer decides in the next couple of days, I will tailor my view at the available options accordingly. I have a lot of confidence in Turk and Courtney to fill in behind AJ, but I'm also looking for deals that could benefit the team. What I do know is that teams are probably going to increase their asking price for a player knowing that we have a need for another PG. If that's the case, I don't do business with them. I have plenty of options in mind to get us by, and I have great confidence in our squad to step it up in Jameer's absence.

OK, so you want to know what players really interest me? I'll list them for you in no particular order. Carlos Arroyo, Sergio Rodriguez, Ramon Sessions. Carlos already has experience with SVG and is a crafty minded PG, that's what I like most about that option. Sergio Rodriguez might be in a situation where the Blazers might not need him anymore once Blake gets back. He has a good eye for the game, can score and make the necessary pass. I like Ramon Sessions because he's a young kid who has shown flashes of being a good PG in this league, most specifically with his assists. He's also quite quick. If he doesn't work out for us this year, he can sign with another team if he likes.

I have some D-League players in mind, but I'll explore those options if it comes down to it. At this point in time, I'm remaining vigilant, and keeping my eyes open for a sound decision.


El Fantasma de Carlos Arroyo - So the incredible all-star run from our little guard might have come to an end. El Fantasma believes it is my fault because of the post I made the night of the game. I know, I know, Carlitos might be gone but his ghost is still here. I have been running around RDV and the O-rena looking at Nelson's rise to stardom a little jealous because my other half is playing in Israel. With that said, and because I am very very close to the man, I know Carlitos would love to come back. All that bombing and terrorism on that side of the world has him worried about the family. I know it wouldn't be easy, but it would be great if someone he could come back, but of course this will never happen.

It all depends on what Nelson decides to do.

Rehab and finishing the season -This would be great if there is no more risk of permanent damage for him. We do still remember Grant Hill's glass ankle. I would hate that for Nelson. If this happens, I say we go with the team as is, maybe pick up a free agent third stringer or a D-leaguer.

Out for the Season - Ready for this....I still say, we go with the team as is, maybe pick up a free agent third stringer or a D-leaguer. That's right, I said it.

As crazy as that might sound, the Magic can't go out there and break up a championship caliber team for a half season patch for an imaginary title run. Fact is no trade or signee will bring us what Nelson had, unless we trade someone on our core group(Hedo, Lee, Pietrus) for a star/starting PG. But why do that for half a season, knowing Nelson will be back next year. That would be retarded.

I say you try your best. Let your players bring up their game and make them be better and get better. Do we really want to win a championship without Nelson on the court? I want to see all of our guys in there, winning it all. If it happens I won't be upset, I will be extremely happy. But if we panic and trade one of our core guys for a Nelson replacement, we can say bye bye to a title run next year, and the year after, etc, etc.

------------------------------

So there you have it people. Anyone know what time the liquor store opens this morning?

Credit NBA.com for the Otis image.

Courtney Lee Has No Fear

The OCTB is a popular cat, as you all know, and so I’m always a welcome site in the Magic locker room, especially after a win. So let me tell you about a locker room visit I made after the big win over the LeBron Crabaliers last Thursday.

In his post-game press conference, Stan Van Gundy (aka BCE – Best Coach EVER) talked about how the plan was to have Hedo Turkoglu guard LeBron (yo! BCE! What’s up with THAT!). But the offensive scheme the Cavs were running forced a switch and rookie Courtney Lee was on LeBron. Turns out, Lee wanted the assignment so much, he asked BCE if he could keep it the rest of the game! I was so impressed to hear this that I just had to get it from the rookie himself.

So after quickly recounting what BCE had said about him, I asked Lee to comment on it. To paraphrase, he said “Man, I’m just having fun out there. It’s exciting! I’m playing against all of these all-stars each game, even in practice (a nod to the THREE all-stars on his own team!) and its just fun to play against the best in the world.”

What I didn’t hear Lee say was that he was scared. He didn’t say that he wasn’t up to the challenge. He didn’t say that he was nervous in the least. Now, while I’m sure that all NBA players get nervous now and then, especially in big games, I wouldn’t begrudge a rookie a whole, uh, basket of nerves. But on this night, going up against the game’s most dynamic player for the first time, Lee not only held his own on defense (as good as you can do against the Crab-man) but took it strong on offense. The highlight for me was his hard drive to the rim with LeBron right on him. Lee took it straight to the top and finished it.

Lee is still a rookie for sure (last night in a loss to the Mavs he was only 2 for 8), but he doesn’t lack confidence, doesn’t hesitate, and he doesn’t show fear. Those three qualities by themselves are the reason the Magic have finally broken the string of wasted 1st round picks.

Credit for the photo: AP Photo by John Raoux

El efecto de la salida de Carlos Arroyo en Jameer Nelson

La pasada temporada todos los fanaticos de Orlando vimos la salida de el base armador de la isla del encanto. Muchos pensaron que el equipo necesitaba sus servicios, y que era un error grande el dejarlo ir sin intentar de volverlo a contratar. Muchos pensamos que Jameer Nelson no era la solución para la posición para el equipo, y teníamos la idea de que simplemente fracasarían. Nelson nunca fue consistente, no tomaba buenas decisiones, y muchas veces intentaba hacer demasiado en la cancha. Lo bueno era que el equipo tenia otra opción en el banco con Carlos Arroyo, y también Kenyon Dooling, de ser necesario.

Pero ahora, ¿Qué podriamos esperar?

Hemos pasado la mitad de la temporada. Los Magic de Orlando tienen una marca de 36-10, que es bueno para liderar su división, el tercer mejor record de la conferencia, y cuarto en la liga, y han comprobado ser uno de los equipos elite de toda la liga. Tienen la mejor marca en partidos jugados como visitantes con 18-6, lideres en tiros de 3 puntos intentados y muchas otras cosas mas. En un momento has estaban como numero 1 en la lista de poder.

¿A que se debe esto?

No hay duda de que es el efecto de varias variables. El hecho de que Dwight Howard encontrara el monstruo defensivo que estaba durmiendo dentro de si, líder en rebotes y tapones esta temporada, mientras continua siendo una fuerza ofensiva, es gran ayuda. Rashard Lewis nos ha impresionado con su juego combinado de tiros largos y penetración. Pero los dos ya mencionados han sido estrellas en años pasados.

La razón principal para mi, Jameer Nelson. Y ¿Por qué esta jugando baloncesto como nunca antes? Mi opinión es el efecto Carlos Arroyo. El no tener a Carlos como suplente a ayudado a empujar a Jameer a incrementar su producción. En los últimos años, si Jameer cometía un error, no estaba enfocado, o lo que sea, Carlos (o Dooling) podía entrar en el juego y correr la ofensa y todavía ganar el partido. Ahora no hay una opción viable para Jameer. Anthony Johnson a sido decente para jugar los 10 minutos, mas o menos, que le dan para que Jameer descanse, pero no es una opción para la temporada entera.

Esto ha obligado a Nelson a jugar enfocado, no cometer errores, y seguir jugando a un nivel sin precedentes. Un buen base armador es el que guía un equipo a tener éxito. Y Nelson a demostrado ser la respuesta en lo que va de temporada. Prueba mayor que ser nombrado como reserva en el juego de estrella no existe. El verdadero Jameer Nelson ha llegado para quedarse. Y todos nosotros los fans de Orlando, tenemos que darle las gracias a Carlitos por eso. Asi que aquí le va.

Carlos…."Muchas Gracias"…

The Carlos Arroyo effect on Jameer Nelson.

Last season all of us fans of the Orlando Magic saw the exit our point guard from the island of enchantment. A lot of us thought that the team needed his services, and that it was a mistake to just let him walk, without trying to sign him back or doing nothing. Many of us thought that Jameer Nelson was not the answer for the team and thought they will not be successful this year. Nelson was never consistent enough, would make bad decisions and many times tried to do way too much on the court. The good thing for the team is that they always had another good option off the bench in Carlos Arroyo (or Kneyon Dooling) if needed.
So now, What can we all wait for?

We have passed the mid point of the season. The Orlando Magic have a record of 36-10, which is good to lead their division, it’s the third best record in their conference, and fourth in the league and they have proven to be one of the elite teams in the league. They have the best record on away games at 18-6, are leading in 3 points attempted, and so on. At one point they where even #1 in the power rankings.

What is the reason for this success?

There is no doubt that it is because of a few reasons. The fact that Dwight Howard has found a defensive monster that was sleeping inside of him, he is the leader in rebounds and blocks, while continuing to being an offensive force is a big help. Rashard Lewis has impressed us all with his inside outside game this year. But these two have already been All-Stars before.

The main reason to me is Jameer Nelson. But, Why is he playing basketball at a level he has not before? My opinion, The Carlos Arroyo Effect. Not having Carlos as a sub, has pushed Nelson to increase his production. The last few years, if Jameer made a costly mistake, he wasn't playing focused, or whatever else might have been happening, Carlos (or Dooling) could come into the game, take over, run the offense and win the game. Now there is no other viable option for Nelson. Anthony Johnson has been decent while playing 10 minutes or so to give Nelson a rest, but he wouldn't be the option for a full season.

This has forced Nelson to play focused, not make many mistakes, and to play at level we had not seen before. A good point guard is the key to a good team. Nelson has proven to be the answer this season. The biggest prove of this has been his selection as a reserve point guard for the All-star game. The real Jameer Nelson has finally showed up to stay. And all of us Orlando Magic fans have to thank Carlitos for this. So here it goes.

Carlos…"Muchas Gracias"…

*imagen cortesia de yahoo sports.

How the Arizona Cardinals and Orlando Magic are somewhat alike.

The Arizona Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers last night, though came very close to pulling off the upset. Many sports pundits doubted whether or not the Cardinals were a legitimate playoff team, let alone a Superbowl team up until kickoff of the game. After last nights showing, they proved they were, yet came up short regardless.

The Orlando Magic are coming off one of their most successful road trips to date, a thumping of the Cavs, and are riding high in the league. However, sporting one of the best records in the NBA still doesn't prove to the brass of the sports world that they are legit. A team with the best big man in the league, 2 All-Star reserves at the foward and guard positions, and a record of 36-10 is not considered a legitimate title contender. And why is that?

So 2 teams, 2 different sports, yet are comparable in terms of talent and the respect they receive. Let's take a look...

• Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the most dynamic and exciting receiving duos in the NFL. Both have 1,000 yard and multiple touchdown seasons year after year. Yet both are constantly overlooked when talked about as the "stars" of the league.

• Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Both average nearly 20 points a game. Both help their team in other categories nearly every night, whether it be rebounding or dishing out some assists. And both are key players to a team that is 36-10. Yet, both are constantly overlooked when talked about as the "stars" of the league. Now, some can make an argument about considering these two players "stars", however, how many people would mention their names when talking about the top 15 forwards in this league?

• Both teams have rookies who have surpassed expectations in their young careers. Dominique Rodger-Cromartie has turned into one of the best young cornerbacks in the game, while Courtney Lee has shown he could one day develop into one of the best defenders in the league.

• Ken Whisenhunt and Stan Van Gundy. Both, err....remind me to send Whisenhunt an email to grow a stache.

Both teams have surpassed expectations that the ESPNs and other sports analysts gave them in the beginning of the season. While the Magic still have a while to go before the playoffs, it's safe to assume barring a complete and utter meltdown that they are a lock for one of the top seeds in their conference. Both teams are very young and hungry for a championship their respective franchises have lacked in their history. And both teams are severly underrated when talked about among their leagues "elite".

The Cardinals surprised alot of people this year, but if you paid any attention, you knew this team was bound to breakout after putting the right pieces on that team. The Magic are doing the same, and if the Cardinals proved anything this year it's that anything is possible, and the Magic have a legitimate shot at playing for that championship this year. Let's just hope the outcome is slightly different for us.


Credit: John Raoux (AP) and Getty Images for the photos.