Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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ноября 20

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers didn't want to get into a debate with hypothetical history. After finishing his chat with the media at large, he was asked directly if the Celtics would have won last year's second-round playoff series against Orlando with Kevin Garnett in the lineup. "I don't even go down that road," the coach said. "I don't." Paul Pierce, on the other hand, had no qualms with making the trip. "I believe it," he said. "I believe if we just had Leon (Powe) we would have. That's just my belief." Garnett's knee injury spoke volumes, but the Celtics' transgressions may have been louder. You may recall they blew a Game 6 lead. Or you could note the embarrassment of Game 7, when they entered the ..."

Tough for Celtics not to believe in Magic

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ноября 20

Boston Globe

"Judging by the changes in personnel, advancing to the NBA Finals was not good enough for Orlando Magic management last season. Nor was getting to the second round of the playoffs nearly satisfactory for the Celtics. So both teams made significant additions. The Magic, who eliminated the Celtics in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series, added Ryan Anderson, Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, Vince Carter, and Jason Williams; the Celtics countered with Marquis Daniels, Rasheed Wallace, and Shelden Williams."

Antonio Daniels could be in the mix if team decides to sign another point guard

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ноября 19

Orlando Sentinel

"The agent for PG Antonio Daniels told the Sentinel on Wednesday that he spoke with the Magic about signing Daniels in the aftermath of an injury to starter Jameer Nelson. Tony Dutt, who represents Daniels and Rashard Lewis, said he talked to Magic GM Otis Smith, but said Smith isn't ready to make a move yet. The Magic said that Nelson underwent successful surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee Wednesday morning. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. "I talked to Otis about Antonio after Jameer got hurt. But I think they are going to wait a few days if they do anything," Dutt said by phone. Dutt said that the Magic could sign Daniels, 34, to a non-guaranteed ..."

Coach Stan Van Gundy wants Vince Carter gunning on offense

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ноября 19

Orlando Sentinel

"Stan Van Gundy has asked Vince Carter to play more aggressively, and that request has become even more urgent now that the Orlando Magic will be without point guard Jameer Nelson for the next four to six weeks. If anything, the coach has said, Carter has played too unselfishly. Instead, Van Gundy says he simply wants Carter "to be Vince." Carter responded Wednesday night with arguably the most aggressive game of his brief Magic tenure. He scored a team-high 18 points and collected six rebounds to lead Orlando to a 108-94 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first game without Nelson. "That's probably the reason why he wanted me to just be more in attack mode," Carter said. "He expects ..."

Orlando Magic get revenge on Thunder with blowout win

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ноября 19

Orlando Sentinel

"The play of the night epitomized the Orlando Magic's energy, effort and economy of movement against a rising team that's Thunder the radar. It began against Oklahoma City in the opening quarter with a save by Vince Carter, who flipped the ball to Jason Williams, who was ready to run his tattoos off. Williams threw a perfect bounce pass to Rashard Lewis, who tossed another bull's-eye bounce-pass to Mickael Pietrus, who dunked it home. It wasn't exactly Tinker to Evers to Chance, the old baseball poem about a vaunted double-play combination, but the fastbreak connection grew contagious. Somewhere, Jameer Nelson had to appreciate the Williams to Lewis to Pietrus relay in his absence and in ..."

Jason Williams to face difficult challenge in first start at PG

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ноября 18

Orlando Sentinel

"Jason Williams faces a tough task tonight in his first game as the Orlando Magic's starting point guard. He will defend Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, who torched the Magic by scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists in the Thunder's convincing victory 10 days ago. Williams will celebrate his 34th birthday today. Westbrook turned 21 last Thursday. You don't need to remind the Magic of how dangerous the Thunder can be — not after the Magic lost in Oklahoma City 102-74 on Nov. 8. "We didn't play with energy, and they did," C Dwight Howard said. "They were all over the place, and we were a step behind on everything: pick-and-rolls, rotations, everything." Even with PG Jameer Nelson ..."

A.I. the answer to Magic woes

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ноября 18

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"Be bold, Orlando. There's no satisfaction in second place. Been there, done that. Isn't that the first loser, anyway? Break free from your image as a goody-two shoes franchise run by the Amway king, and bring some attitude into the huddle with the dysfunctional king of the NBA. Sign Allen Iverson. The Answer is your answer. Anybody else know of another 10-time All-Star and league MVP who is available at the moment? Cheap, too. We're talking Dollar Store prices in the NBA economy, because Iverson becomes an unrestricted free agent tonight after his release by the Memphis Grizzlies. All Rich DeVos has to do is cut a check for $1.8 million, take a deep breath, and not get too caught up in the ..."

Magic's Jameer Nelson to have knee surgery

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ноября 18

Orlando Sentinel

"Jason Williams turns 34 today and was retired at this time last season. But the Orlando Magic will be asking more from the veteran point guard out of the University of Florida after learning on Tuesday that all-star Jameer Nelson will be out four to six weeks with a knee injury. The club said that Nelson will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. After enduring injuries, illnesses and Rashard Lewis' suspension since training camp, the Magic figured their luck had changed until Nelson's injury caught them by surprise. He apparently was hurt during the fourth quarter of the Magic's 97-91 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night. Williams, ..."

Jameer Nelson to undergo arthroscopic surgery on left knee Wednesday

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ноября 17

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic suddenly have another injury concern. And this time, it's their starting point guard. Jameer Nelson will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee tomorrow morning to repair a torn meniscus. Team officials estimate that Nelson will miss four to six weeks following the procedure. Nelson was injured in the fourth quarter of Monday night's win over Charlotte and received an MRI this morning, team officials said."

Orlando Magic beat the Charlotte Bobcats in Rashard Lewis' first game back

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ноября 17

Orlando Sentinel

"Suspension-free, Rashard Lewis was back in Amway Arena for the first time in a month and a half. He had arrived earlier than any of his Magic teammates on the floor, as per his pre-game shooting routine. He noticed something he hadn't ever seen before in the rafters: The 2008-09 Eastern Conference championship banner. "I haven't been in the arena and it was something I missed," he said, referring to the banner-raising opening night. "I was looking at the banner and it brought back memories of something we had accomplished." Lewis scored just 10 points in a rusty return to help the Magic beat the Charlotte Bobcats 97-91 on Monday night. They improved to 8-3, but 8-3 is a Magic mirage of ..."

Rashard Lewis: Orlando Magic F says 'I don't think I'll be nervous' during return from NBA suspension

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ноября 16

Orlando Sentinel

"Rashard Lewis' wait is finally over. His 10-game, league-imposed suspension for testing positive for an elevated testosterone level has ended. Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has said that Lewis will start at power forward Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. Lewis was in a good mood following the Magic's workout Sunday. He acknowledged that the speed of a regular-season game is different from anything he's seen in practice these last few weeks. As a result, fatigue could become a bit of a factor tonight. "I don't think I'll be nervous," Lewis said. "I think I'm a more calm person than anything. If I miss my first couple of shots, then I'm going to try my best not to force shots. ..."

Dwight Howard has had help in building his social-media empire

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ноября 15

Orlando Sentinel

"Dwight Howard often carries two cell phones. He uses one of them to make and answer calls. He uses the other one to tweet, record videos and post messages on Facebook to connect with his growing legion of fans via the Internet. The Orlando Magic all-star continues to delve deeper and deeper into the World Wide Web's social-media portals. Howard now has a major presence on seven different platforms, including his own blog, Twitter and a relatively new site called SuperFan.com. Howard is the creative force in all of his online ventures. It was his idea, for example, to fly his one-millionth Twitter follower and her son from Sacramento to Orlando for the Magic's season opener at Amway Arena. ..."

Nets still only winless team in league

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ноября 14

New York Daily News

"It doesn't take Superman to beat the Nets these days. After all, everybody's doing it. But it certainly helped the Magic to have the best center in the league on its side Friday night because the depleted Nets gave Dwight Howard's team all they've got, which isn't much. Despite hanging with the defending Eastern Conference champs for three quarters, the Nets eventually wilted and lost, 88-72, to fall to 0-9. The league's only winless team has another tough game tonight in Miami, where Dwyane Wade awaits. Howard lived up to his Superman nickname, scoring 20 of his 26 points in the first half, when the Magic needed him most. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and had plenty of help from former ..."

Magic send Nets to ninth straight loss

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ноября 14

Bergen Record

"Being so close to winning their prior three games has lifted the Nets' spirit and given them confidence while they play with a mashed unit. But those things took a hit Friday night. The Nets were in the game in the fourth period against the reigning Eastern Conference-champion Magic. Then talent won out and Orlando All-Stars Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson weren't even on the floor, but former Net Vince Carter was. It was as if the Magic said they couldn't lose to this Nets' team that had nine players for the first time in a week and was missing three starters. The Magic put the game out of reach quickly, handing the still-winless Nets an 88-72 beating at Amway Arena. "We were right ..."

Nets fall to Orlando Magic, 88-72; remain winless

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ноября 14

Newark Star-Ledger

"Another night, another loss, another harsh lesson. This one was designed mostly for Brook Lopez, who had been one of the few people the Nets had to crow about this month.

The lesson: The next time you see Dwight Howard, it might make sense to hit first, stand your ground, and worry about the officials later. Oh, and duck when you see an elbow headed for the middle of your throat. The 21-year-old Lopez was taken to school - and the woodshed - by the game's greatest center Friday night, when Howard dominated the Nets from tap to buzzer to lead Orlando to an 88-72 triumph at Amway Arena. The 0-9 Nets had 2½ good quarters again, and they wasted a career night for Rafer Alston, who recorded ..."

Energetic Dwight Howard sparks Orlando Magic defense

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ноября 14

Orlando Sentinel

"Before Friday night's game against the New Jersey Nets, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wrote the NBA's reigning defensive player of the year a note. In it he reminded Dwight Howard how good he could be if he just played with energy. So Howard made a conscious effort to spark the Magic's defense. He did in a big way in the Magic's 88-72 win over the Nets. In addition to his 26 points and five offensive rebounds, Howard pulled in seven defensive rebounds and blocked five shots. "That was a word that I told myself all day," Howard said. "Just to come out with a lot of energy just get myself going, get my teammates going. Pretty much did it for the most part. Now the thing is do it on a ..."

Magic beat winless New Jersey Nets in last Rashard-less game

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ноября 14

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic now hope to officially join the NBA season, already in progress. They have played 10 games, but the Magic look to start their campaign in earnest with their next outing. On Monday night, the Magic expect to have their whole active roster together for the first time since the preseason, providing Brandon Bass can keep his Cheerios down. And the news can't come fast enough. Case in point: On Friday night, the Magic (7-3) struggled in an 88-72 victory against the winless New Jersey Nets, who were missing four starters. Were it not for Dwight Howard finally playing like, well, Dwight Howard?. and Vince Carter showing up just in time? and Jason Williams scoring all the bench ..."

Ryan Anderson says there's a "great" chance he'll play on Monday

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ноября 13

Orlando Sentinel

"Ryan Anderson, who is recovering from a sprained right ankle, had hoped he could play tonight against the New Jersey Nets, his former team. But Anderson acknowledges it would take a "miracle" for that to happen. Anderson has run and worked out at RDV Sportsplex in recent days, but he hasn't practiced with his teammates. "Honestly, I want to come back when it's 100 percent," he said Thursday. "I want to be 100 percent ready conditioning-wise and everything to come back on Monday. It's looking great for Monday." The team has missed Anderson's 3-point shooting since he suffered the ankle injury a week ago. The Magic will receive a big boost to their power-forward depth even if Anderson ..."

Right time to make 13 a lucky number: The Orlando Magic are 4-6 all-time on Friday the 13th

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ноября 13

Orlando Sentinel

"Do you think the Orlando Magic's matchup tonight against the winless, injury-ravaged New Jersey Nets is a gimme -- a game the Magic could win in their sleep? Just remember this: Today is Friday the 13th, a day when nightmares supposedly come to life. We know it's all a bunch of hocus-pocus -- a bit of folklore perpetuated by a popular horror film and its sequels -- but Friday the 13th historically hasn't been kind to the Magic. The franchise has lost six of the 10 regular-season games it has played on the date. Here's how the Magic have fared on Friday the 13th, along with any strange events that happened to them on that day."

Orlando Magic face a crossroads tonight against the New Jersey Nets

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ноября 13

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic have played just nine games this season, but to hear their coach tell it, they already face a critical crossroads. Stan Van Gundy says his team doesn't play hard enough on defense. He says Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, his two captains, need to step up their games. He says his team couldn't compete right now if it faced the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat in a best-of-seven series. "What I'm hoping is that some people will get embarrassed — actually embarrassed — and wake up and start doing something about it," Van Gundy said. So, will they? That answer will begin to come tonight when the Magic (6-3) face the cellar-dwelling, injury-ravaged ..."

Short-handed Nets seeking some Magic

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ноября 13

New York Post

"The Nets might -- might -- have 10 available players tonight. Unfortunately, so will the Magic. There is a mighty "might" for the Nets, because though Courtney Lee (groin) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (swine flu) made the trek with the team, there are no guarantees either could or would play. Lee appeared to tweak his injury -- though he downplayed it -- while working out yesterday in preparation for tonight's game (7:00; YES, WFAN 660 AM). And Douglas-Roberts, back with the team for the first time since coming down ill nine days ago and later being diagnosed as the first known NBA player suffering from the H1N1 virus, admitted the sickness took a heavy toll on his strength. "The first day, ..."

Cavs find way to stop Magic

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ноября 12

Akron Beacon Journal

"For an early season game that supposedly didn't mean a lot, the Cavaliers and Orlando Magic tussled as if it were the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night at Amway Arena. Ultimately, the Cavs won 102-93. They can attribute the win to LeBron James and Mo Williams, both of whom played as if they had boulder-sized chips on their shoulders. They combined for 64 points. James connected for 36 points and Williams 28 points. At one point in the first half, Williams made nine consecutive shots, including 4-of-4 on 3-pointers. Without All-Star Rashard Lewis and forward Ryan Anderson, the Magic's lone spark came courtesy of guard Vince Carter, who scored 29 points on ..."

Cavaliers get winning returns on off-season moves with dominating win over Magic

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ноября 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Playing their most complete game of the young season, the Cavs looked like a cohesive, deep and tough unit in dismantling the Orlando Magic, 102-93 Wednesday night. LeBron James picked up right where he left off last time the teams played, scoring a season-best 36 points with eight rebounds and four assists. But the rest was far from the same. The preface is this: It is early, the Magic were missing two of their key players including one of their stars in Rashard Lewis and Orlando was playing on the second night of a back-to-back while the Cavs had four days off. All of those factors impacted the game on some level. But here is the core of the night: The Cavs never played the Magic this ..."

Slow start, Orlando doom Bobcats

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ноября 11

Gaston Gazette

"It would be easy to simply chalk up the Charlotte Bobcats' 93-81 loss to the Orlando Magic Tuesday night as an example of a team falling behind too much too early. But coach Larry Brown and top scorer Gerald Wallace see the defeat as showing a bit of a catch-22 of the trouble the team continues to face in a season in which the franchise badly needs to make a playoff run.At 3-4, Charlotte is like many teams in the NBA. But a trend is developing that will make it incredibly unlikely for the Bobcats to reach their heretofore elusive goal. With the 6-foot-7 Wallace as the team's only effective post player, Charlotte has developed a reputation as a jump shooting team - even as the team is off ..."

Cavs, Magic not really a rematch

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ноября 11

Akron Beacon Journal

"When the Cavaliers and Orlando Magic tip off tonight, two significantly altered teams will hit the court. Both teams were aggressive in the offseason in finding players who can help dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers. Gone from the Cavaliers are Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak. Replacing them are Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. The Magic's most significant loss was forward Hedo Turkoglu. In his place, the Magic added forward Ryan Anderson and guard Vince Carter to pick up some of the scoring slack. The status of both for tonight's game is uncertain because of injury. That shouldn't lessen the hype of this rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, ..."

Complaining on his blog costs Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard $15,000

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ноября 11

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic C Dwight Howard has been fined for saying things to officials during games, drawing technicals. On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Howard was being fined $15,000 for public criticism of the officiating that appeared on his personal blog. Howard's comments appeared following Orlando's 85-80 loss to Detroit on November 3 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. "What really bothers me is they are letting guys hammer me at one end of the floor, yet I'm being called for everything. All of those hits take a toll on my body after a while," Howard wrote. Howard had made similar statements in the Sentinel. GM Otis Smith had "no comment" about Howard's fine for blogging. Howard has drawn three ..."

Cavs will be well-rested for Magic

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ноября 10

Orlando Sentinel

"The schedule certainly doesn't favor the Magic in their ESPN showcase game on Wednesday night at Amway Arena against LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and the Cleveland Cavs. The Magic will get the Cavaliers on the second game of a back-to-back as they will have played the Bobcats in Charlotte, N.C., tonight. The Cavs, meanwhile, have enjoyed an unusual all-star-like break — four days off before facing the Magic. They haven't played since beating the New York Knicks last Friday. It all leaves Magic conspiracy theorists to wonder if the NBA figured The Diesel needed the time off to lift the hood, check the oil and let the engine cool."

Shaquille O'Neal eagerly awaits season's first matchup with Magic's Dwight Howard

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ноября 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Forget Ben Roethlisberger, Albert Pujols and Michael Phelps. The only "Shaq Vs." that Cavaliers fans are interested will come Wednesday night when Shaquille O'Neal faces off against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. O'Neal spent the summer filming his ABC show competing against athletic stars in their respective sports. His new employers and their fans no doubt circled this game on their calendars -- the first meeting between the Cavs and the team that upset them in the playoffs last season. Both teams made significant changes. The Cavs sent Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix for O'Neal, and then signed free agents Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. The Magic ..."

Vince Carter could return tonight

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ноября 10

Orlando Sentinel

"Even if Vince Carter and all the points he brings returns to the lineup tonight, the big early-season issue for the Orlando Magic isn't offense. Not the way Coach Stan Van Gundy sees it. And he's seeing red. "We are one of the worst defensive teams in the league," he snarled after the Magic were upset by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 102-74, on Sunday. Carter, who has missed the last four games with a sprained left ankle, could be back against the Charlotte Bobcats. The shorthanded team is hopeful after Carter went throughportions of the team's practice on Monday, although next-day soreness is always a concern. Carter or no Carter, Van Gundy believes it is time for the Magic to stop depending ..."

Orlando mails one in as Thunder rolls

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ноября 9

Orlando Sentinel

"As if the loss to a reigning lottery team wasn't bad enough, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard said it appeared his team "quit" during the dreary proceedings. "We haven't had a game like this in a long time. We'd miss shots and guys would hang their heads," Howard said. "I don't think we should quit in a game. Seems like, as a team, we shouldn't quit." It's one thing for the Magic to be routed by the Oklahoma City Thunder 102-74 on Sunday night at Ford Center. It's another thing for Howard to suggest the Magic (5-2) retired early against a team that is improving, but one that won just 23 games last season. Howard showed no anger. He was singing some song as he sprayed a cloud of cologne. ..."

Depth tested again with flu bug and bum ankles

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ноября 9

Orlando Sentinel

"You couldn't blame Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy if he's reluctant to answer his cell phone when Tom Smith's name comes up on the caller ID. Smith is the team's trainer. Van Gundy learned late Saturday night that starting small forward Matt Barnes had flu-like symptoms. "Matt's sick," Van Gundy said Sunday. "He doesn't have a fever, though. I got that news last night." The Magic had nine players available, stretching the limits of their depth. Van Gundy indicated that because Barnes did not have a fever, he would remain with the team. Because of the league's concerns with the swine-flu virus, it has encouraged teams to be cautious, which is why shooting guard Mickael Pietrus was sent home ..."

Tugging on Superman's cape: Constant hacking angers Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard

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ноября 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, who has been there and dunked that, was asked to name another prominent NBA center who works full-time in the painted area. Another center other than Dwight Howard. Ewing thought hard before saying, "Dwight's the only one that comes to mind." Ewing threw in Shaquille O'Neal, the first Man of Steel. But even Ewing conceded that Shaq doesn't stay on the floor — much less in the paint — long enough anymore at his advanced age, certainly not like the old days when he played power ball. "Yao doesn't. Andrew Bynum doesn't. It's just Dwight, really," he said. "Most centers drift out to the perimeter today. You play in the paint all game, you get the ..."

Ryan Anderson will get an MRI on right ankle Saturday morning

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ноября 7

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic power forward Ryan Anderson walked out of the Magic locker room, sullenly, on crutches, his right foot lifted from the ground. "I'm getting an MRI in the morning," Anderson said as he left. His ankle and part of his foot were wrapped. Anderson sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of the Magic's 110-103 win over the Detroit Pistons. He didn't return to the game. Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy didn't know much about the injury, but said Anderson's ankle is sprained, not broken."

Brandon Bass ready for bigger role with Ryan Anderson hurt

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ноября 7

Orlando Sentinel

"Brandon Bass has played in six regular-season games for the Orlando Magic, but he's already demonstrated a knack for making the highlight reel. He unleashed his latest jaw-dropping dunk Friday night in the third quarter of Orlando's 110-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons. His right-handed put-back dunk off a Jameer Nelson miss sent the Amway Arena crowd into a frenzy. Soon, though, Bass could transition from SportsCenter "Top 10 Plays" contributor to Magic starter. Starting power forward Ryan Anderson sprained his right ankle against the Pistons, and the injury almost certainly will thrust Bass into an expanded role. Bass could be in the starting five Sunday against the Oklahoma City ..."

Bench comes up big as Orlando Magic hold off Detroit Pistons

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ноября 7

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic have a deep bench, but this is stretching it to ridiculous proportions. They finished an 110-103 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night with just eight players after power forward Ryan Anderson became the latest to be miss time. Anderson limped off the floor at Amway Arena early in the third quarter after spraining his right ankle and is listed day-to-day. The Magic already were without starting shooting guard Vince Carter (sprained left ankle), back-up point guard Anthony Johnson (personal reasons) and, of course, power forward Rashard Lewis (suspension) on their active roster. Center Adonal Foyle is recovering from knee surgery. At one point early in the ..."

Easy looks doom Detroit as coach's words ring true

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ноября 7

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons coach John Kuester emphasized during the Friday morning shoot-around that the Magic would go for a knockout punch in the first quarter. And it appears the team didn't do a very good job of listening. The Magic (5-1) scored 40 points, rolled to a 17-point lead at the end of the first quarter and held off a late Pistons' (2-4) rally to take a 110-103 victory. The victory gave the Magic some momentary respite as it had lost 20 of the past 25 games to the Pistons. And Dwight Howard was the catalyst with 22 points and 12 rebounds to bounce back from his poor performance when he fouled out against the Pistons at the Palace on Tuesday night."

Slow traffic delays bus after Orlando shootings Pistons Basketball

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ноября 7

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons coach John Kuester knew something was up when the team bus, headed to Friday morning's shoot-around, was delayed by slow-moving traffic and sirens. Just over a mile away from the Grand Bohemian, where the team was staying, a gunman had entered a downtown Orlando office building, killing one and injuring five, and law enforcement had started a manhunt. Bustling downtown Orlando came to a stop for almost 3 hours before the suspect was apprehended, but not before he caused some concern for the Pistons. Kuester learned of the situation after the team had returned from the shoot-around and received a call from trainer Mike Abdenour. The team was in contact with the league office, which ..."

Hamilton, Prince to miss Pistons game

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ноября 6

Detroit News

"The Pistons aren't going to have Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince tonight when they face the Orlando Magic. This will be the fifth game Hamilton has missed with a sprained right ankle. Prince will miss his second game with a lower back problem."

In the tales of two cities, Detroit and Orlando, one isn't pretty

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ноября 6

Orlando Sentinel

"On Tuesday night in Auburn Hills, Mich., the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons played a basketball game in front of an announced crowd of 15,487. That left at least 6,589 empty seats inside an arena that until recently had hosted five consecutive years of sold-out NBA games. On Thursday morning in downtown Orlando, about 200 guests gathered as workmen fastened the final two structural steel beams to Amway Center, the future home of the Orlando Magic. That arena — which opens next October — and the team's 2009 NBA Finals appearance have helped the Magic build their ticket base and maintain sponsorship levels. Teams like the Pistons, who face the Magic tonight at Amway Arena, haven't been so ..."

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says Rashard Lewis will start immediately after his suspension

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ноября 6

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said on Thursday --- an off-day for his team --- that he will start suspended forward Rashard Lewis the very game he becomes eligible. There'll be no easing Lewis into the lineup. Lewis, suspended by the league for the first 10 games of the season for taking a banned supplement, can play on Nov. 16 against the Charlotte Bobcats at home. "I'm starting him the first game --- for who, I don't know," Van Gundy said. "It's like when we got Rafer (Alston) at midseason last year. When you know a guy is going to be there long term, you don't mess around.""

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't expect him to play vs. Pistons

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ноября 6

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he doesn't expect to have SG Vince Carter (sprained left ankle) available Friday night against the Pistons. Carter sat out Wednesday night's game against the Phoenix Suns. Carter reinjured the ankle on Tuesday night against Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich, and Van Gundy is second-guessing himself on whether he should have played him. "We probably shouldn't have played him in Detroit, but Vince said he wanted to go," Van Gundy said."We'd probably would have been better off sitting him." Carter originally injured the ankle last Friday night in New Jersey against the Nets."

Magic's Mickael Pietrus picture of perfect health in win over Phoenix Suns

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ноября 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Mickael Pietrus sat at home Tuesday night as his teammates lost to the Detroit Pistons. He could barely watch the game on TV — not because the Orlando Magic played poorly, but because he suffered from a fever, an aching body and a pounding headache. Twenty-four hours later, he made the Phoenix Suns feel ill. Pietrus woke up Wednesday morning feeling better and told Magic trainer Tom Smith that he wanted to play against the Suns at Amway Arena. He would come off the bench to score 15 points in 27 minutes and help the Magic to a 122-100 victory over the Suns. "I'm feeling better now that we won that game," Pietrus said. "It doesn't matter if I have the flu or how I feel. Every time I step on ..."

Grant Hill advised Jameer Nelson not to play in last season's NBA Finals

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ноября 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic fans probably don't want to hear about Phoenix Suns SF Grant Hill advising any Magic player about playing with injuries. But Hill said before facing his old club on Wednesday night that he did speak with point guard Jameer Nelson last season and encouraged his former teammate not to come back to play in the playoffs. "Put that on the record. You can ask him. I told him not to play, just from my own experience," Hill said. "Not so much from a basketball standpoint. Maybe I shouldn't have, because you don't want to plant that seed in somebody before they're going out to play. But I said, 'Look, I've been out there when [I'm] not right and even when you are right, it's a process when ..."

Relax! Magic have long road ahead

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ноября 5

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"So the Orlando Magic aren't going to go 90-0 this season? Whoa. Didn't see that one coming. Wasn't everybody enjoying the euphoric rush of an 8-0 preseason, followed by a 3-game winning streak to start the regular season? Only 79 more games to reach perfection before making an undefeated playoff run! "We're deeper, stronger, with so many shooters at least remove the fictional asterisk you nay sayers have assigned to the Orlando Magic's Eastern Conference Championship last year," read a comment on my En Fuego blog post on the Magic last week . "Hear me roar, Respect Us, That's right we Bad. The East the Black and Blue Defense Division." All-righty then. Get those NBA Finals tickets now ..."

Shots fall in home return as Orlando Magic scorch Phoenix Suns

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ноября 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Sometimes the worst thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. And sometimes the best thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. In World Series parlance, they can't wait for that next at-bat after a strikeout — or in this case, a flame-out. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson were eager to jettison the memories of Motown out of their minds from the previous 24 hours. They all erased the taste on Wednesday night at Amway Arena in a collective comeback, helping the Magic beat Phoenix 122-100 and hand the Suns their first loss. For once, this was a blessed back-to-back bounce-back after the ..."

Revamped Pistons humble Orlando Magic just like the old version

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ноября 4

Orlando Sentinel

"And they call this place "The Palace?" For the Orlando Magic, who entered the building as NBA royalty, it's more of a prison. There's simply no escaping their Detroit demons. The Pistons did not resemble the same team that has bedeviled the Magic for years and years, but the result was no different. Despite missing two starters, the rebuilding Pistons beat the Magic 85-80 to hand Orlando its first loss of the season on Tuesday night at the, ahem, Palace of Auburn Hills. The Magic were looking to become the first team in franchise history to start a season 4-0, and they had Vince Carter back in the lineup while the Pistons were missing stalwarts Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Oh, and ..."

Pistons continue spell over Magic without Prince

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ноября 4

Detroit Free Press

"Dwight Howard has been known to don a Superman cape for dunk contests, but it's the blue-and-red uniform of the Pistons that appears to be his Kryptonite. The short-handed Pistons handed the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic its first loss of the season on Tuesday night, 85-80, and in the process continued their mastery over Howard. The Pistons were without shooting guard Rip Hamilton (right ankle sprain) and Tayshaun Prince (lower back strain), but it didn't matter against the team the Pistons were a perfect 3-0 against last season. That's because Howard was limited to only 17 minutes before fouling out and the backcourt trio of Ben Gordon, Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey combined ..."

Will Bynum, Pistons frustrate Magic

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ноября 4

Detroit News

"Will Bynum saw white flashes before his eyes. It scared him and he immediately thought he had a detached retina when he was knocked to the floor during the Pistons 85-80 victory over the previously unbeaten Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at The Palace. He had surgery on both eyes a year ago, and doctors said if he got hit the wrong way he might have to have surgery again. "I was scared," he admitted. "But I am OK now." Bynum was blinded by the white but he kept on attacking the basket. He knows that's his job and it was the only way the Pistons could win this game. He finished with 20 points and made a number of critical baskets during a grind-it-out second half. "We knew if we could ..."

V.C. Mulling plan to be feted at ACC

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ноября 3

Toronto Sun

"As part of the club's 15th anniversary celebrations, the Raptors are hoping to honour, of all people, Vince Carter on Nov. 22 when Orlando returns. ''Everybody wants to know how we can do it, but Vince is part of the history here," GM Bryan Colangelo told the Orlando Sentinel. "Most of the people that he had problems with here are gone.'' Fans who love to bash Vinsanity may differ. Baffling Bargs Head coach Jay Triano says Andrea Bargnani's inconsistent shooting is letting it affect other parts of his game. "Like everyone, when your shot is not going, the key is do the other things -- get rebounds, defend and make sure you're coverages are complete," Triano said."

Howard, Anthony named Players of the Week

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ноября 3

NBA.com

"The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Howard led the Magic to a 3-0 week, including two road wins, averaging 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. The 6-11 center posted point-rebound double-doubles in all three of Orlando's games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on Oct. 30 at New Jersey. Behind the league's leading rebounder, the Magic is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1993-94. Anthony led the Nuggets to a 3-0 week, averaging a league-best 37.7 points on .536 shooting from the ..."

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