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Orlando Magic News

Magic's Dwight Howard All-Star Game's leading vote-getter
February 3
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 26 in Orlando might as well be known as "Dwight Night." As expected. Magic center Dwight Howard emerged Thursday as the leading vote-getter in the final returns for the game to be staged on his home court, the Amway Center. The league announced that Howard led the league in number of ballots, garnering 1,600,390 million votes. He set an All-Star Game record by earning 3,151,181 votes in 2008-09."
Orlando Magic work past lowly Washington Wizards for much-needed win
February 3
Orlando Sentinel
 
"As tipoff approached Wednesday night, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he had no doubt his players would begin their game against the Washington Wizards with plenty of energy. Something concerned him, though. He worried what would happen if the Wizards went on a run. Would the Magic's fragile confidence shatter? Would everything snowball out of control, just as it had several times within the last week? Would the Magic lose a fifth consecutive game for the first time in Van Gundy's tenure? The Magic wound up passing the test. But not without a struggle. Fueled by their 3-point shooting, Orlando overcame a turnover-filled first half to beat Washington 109-103 at Amway Center."
Nets have Dwight stuff to deal for Howard
February 3
New York Post
 
"Raise your hand if you've heard this before: The Nets view their chances to eventually land Dwight Howard as anywhere from "favorable" to "confident" to plain old "good." All those who remember the Knicks' pursuit of Carmelo Anthony last season, put your hands down. But the Nets like where they are. The Magic have tried everything to keep Howard, 26, but little suggests the franchise center is amenable to remaining in central Florida. The Orlando Sentinel reported that, despite Howard's recent endorsements of the Bulls and Celtics, his preferred landing spots remain the Nets, Lakers and Mavericks. There will be talk, but the Nets do not expect Howard to be dealt before All-Star weekend,"
Orlando Magic work past lowly Washington Wizards for much-needed win
February 2
Orlando Sentinel
 
"As tipoff approached Wednesday night, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he had no doubt his players would begin their game against the Washington Wizards with plenty of energy. Something concerned him, though. He worried what would happen if the Wizards went on a run. Would the Magic's fragile confidence shatter? Would everything snowball out of control, just as it had several times within the last week? Would the Magic lose a fifth consecutive game for the first time in Van Gundy's tenure? The Magic wound up passing the test. But not without a struggle. Fueled by their 3-point shooting, Orlando overcame a turnover-filled first half to beat Washington 109-103 at Amway Center."
Magic waive Hughes, on verge of signing PG Ish Smith
February 2
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The Orlando Magic were on the verge of signing Ish Smith late Wednesday night to shore up their injury-depleted point guard spot. To make room for Smith on their roster, the Magic waived Larry Hughes after Hughes played 14 minutes in the team's 109-103 victory over the Washington Wizards. Smith, 23, is a truer point guard than Hughes. Team officials decided that they needed to make a move largely because the regular starter, Jameer Nelson, is recovering from a concussion and probably won't return to playing until Monday at the earliest."
Free-throw disparity leaves Wizards' win vs. Magic just out of reach
February 2
Washington Times
 
"The Wizards were at a distinct disadvantage Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, playing not only the five opponents in white pinstriped jerseys, but the officials as well. The Magic went to the line 39 times to the Wizards' nine and still managed to keep the game close, losing 109-103 at Amway Center. "It's hard to win a game 39 free throws to nine, let alone be in a game," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "I told our guys, 'We can't stop playing as hard as we do.' "We got nine guys on their rookie contracts. Right now, they're, not getting the respect. That will come. We keep playing as hard as we play night in and night out, we'll eventually get calls, but tonight, that's hard to"
Washington battles, but comes up short in Orlando, 109-103
February 2
Washington Post
 
"John Wall rested his head on a towel on an equipment bag, his back on the parquet floor, flustered with his performance as he couldn't hit a shot or draw a foul. JaVale McGee angrily shook his head as he had his usual struggles trying to contend with Orlando Magic all-star center Dwight Howard. And Nick Young spent most of the game saddled on the bench in foul trouble. Three of the Washington Wizards' starters were having forgettable outings, but somehow, some way, they were in the middle of a hotly contested game, on the road, in a place where they were dominated quite easily last month. Interim coach Randy Wittman managed to get a better, more sustained effort since replacing Flip"
Chicago? Maybe God will direct Dwight to stay in Orlando
February 1
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Mike Bianchi
"Dear God: Sorry to bother you because I know you're busy dealing with important issues like world hunger, peace in the Middle East and acquiring Tebow some better receivers (LOL!), but something has been brought to our attention here in Orlando. The Magic's franchise center Dwight Howard said the other day that he might go play in Chicago with Derrick Rose "if God wanted that to happen." I know NBA Commissioner David Stern sometimes acts like God, but I'm assuming Dwight is talking about you, the real God. I have to admit, though, I'm going against my longstanding position by even writing you this letter. I have never believed you would get involved in the triviality of sports or play"
Hold on, Bulls fans . . . Dwight's preferred trade list remains the same
February 1
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Fans of the Chicago Bulls probably rejoiced when Dwight Howard indicated to the Chicago Tribune that he would be open to playing on the same team as reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose. "If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen," Howard said. "It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That's my brother.'' But not so fast, Bulls fans. Magic General Manager Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel that Howard's camp has not indicated to the Magic that the superstar center has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations beyond his original three teams: the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas"
Sixers, Magic headed in opposite directions
February 1
CSN Philly
 
"For some reason Dwight Howard was walking around the Orlando Magic's locker room before Monday's game against the Sixers, carrying two bricks. "Brick squad," the Magic's star center kept saying, over and over. "You wanna get hit with a brick?" Forget the obvious metaphor about Howard's horrid free throw shooting. It was more like he had sifted through the rubble of the Magic's rapidly disintegrating season, which would only continue a few hours later, with a 74-69 loss to the Sixers – a game in which Howard shot 6 for 17 from the field and 5 for 13 from the foul line for his 17 points."
Dwight Howard lost pass to rip teammates
January 31
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Adrian Wojnarowski
"Humiliation hung over these Orlando Magic like an anvil, and somehow Dwight Howard still didn't understand these are the moments everyone judges him. On the bench in the fourth quarter, the Magic getting blown out and that arena Kiss Cam had stopped on Howard and J.J. Redick. Just ignore it, superstar. Just sit sullen, sit with stature, and play the part of the forlorn franchise star. Only, Howard's eyes were on the video board, his mouth curling into a smile, a laugh, and finally he made an exaggerated lean to the right, separating himself and a teammate for the camera. No kisses here, people. No kidding. Fitting scene, a perfect punctuation to the sudden freefall of a franchise. Laugh"
Another bad showing: Magic offense struggles in loss to Sixers
January 31
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Dwight Howard sat stone-faced near the end of the Orlando Magic bench as the final minutes ticked down inside the Wells Fargo Centeron Monday night. The Magic were about to lose their fourth consecutive game, and Howard must have hated what he was witnessing. The final score — Philadelphia 74, Orlando 69 — does not show just how poorly the Magic offense played. Orlando made only three baskets in the entire third quarter and had scored only 51 points with three minutes remaining in regulation. "Look, if a team doesn't play hard, that's one thing, but I thought our guys competed hard tonight," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "And it's my responsibility to find a way to create good shots for us,"
Despite late stumble, Sixers hold off Magic
January 31
CSN Philly
 
"It has gotten to the point where the Sixers are now grading their victories. And Doug Collins' grade for Monday night's 74-69 win over Orlando was "incomplete" (see game breakdown.) They limited the reeling Magic to 33.3 percent shooting – 17.6 percent while outscoring the visitors 21-9 in the pivotal third quarter – and built a 19-point lead early in the final period. But the Magic cut the gap to five in the closing minutes, which if nothing else gave the Sixers' exacting coach something to harp on."
Howard mum on possibly joining Sixers
January 31
CSN Philly
 
"When the biggest free agent to be shows up in your arena after he had requested a trade and blew up at his teammates after a loss, the question is inevitable… So Dwight, would you like to play for the 76ers? "This is a great team. They're playing great basketball right now. For myself, it's a blessing to be wanted by a lot of teams and cities. I feel honored. Right now, the only thing I can control is what I do with my team," Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard said diplomatically. "The Sixers do look great. They've got some great fans behind them. But my job is to my team. And I'm going to continue to lead my team no matter what.""
Sixers hold on to defeat Magic
January 31
Courier-Post
 
"It's well known that Dwight Howard made a trade request to get out of Orlando, reportedly submitting a list of three teams he'd consider approving a trade to. The 76ers, to little surprise, were not one of them. While the Magic All-Star center is probably not going to change his mind about coming to the Sixers, Howard did like what he saw from the Sixers after they completely smothered the Magic in their 74-69 win Wednesday."
Rose on Magic's Howard: 'Who wouldn't want to play with him?'
January 31
Chicago Tribune
 
"Dwight Howard told the Tribune's Vaughn McClure he "loves" Derrick Rose and "that's my brother." Rose, who has been knocked out of two games by Howard, reacted similarly to when he talks about any opposing player. "Me and Dwight definitely have a relationship, especially because of Adidas," Rose said. "I know that our market and the city speaks for itself if someone was interested to come to the Bulls. Dwight is a great player. Who wouldn't want to play with him? You never know what's going to happen.""
Dwight Howard open to being a Bull
January 30
ESPN.com
 
"Earlier this month Dwight Howard wouldn't say whether he would be interested in playing for the Chicago Bulls. He's open to the idea now. Just days after ripping his Orlando Magic teammates for their effort in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Hornets, Howard added MVP Derrick Rose's Bulls to his list of potential destinations. "If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen," Howard told the Chicago Tribune. "It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That's my brother." Media reports earlier this season speculated that adidas, which both Howard and Rose represent, would not want two of their stars in the same"
Orlando Magic suffer another blowout, this time at home against the Pacers
January 30
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Something ails the Orlando Magic. Is it fatigue created by a brutal schedule? Or is something deeper at work? Whatever the case, the team looks awful right now. The Magic lost for the fourth time in five games Sunday, falling 106-85 on their home floor to the Indiana Pacers. Even Orlando's normally placid fans rained boos down on the Magic during the final period, and the crowd had plenty of reasons to feel frustrated. The defense looked uninterested at times. The offense struggled to protect the ball. And, worst of all, the Pacers flat-out outhustled the Magic. "We're in a real tough stretch," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We're playing very poorly. Guys know it, and we've got to fight"
Magic need to shake up lineup - now
January 30
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Brian Schmitz
"The Magic committed 11 turnovers in the first 12 minutes, surely a record pace. It barely registered as an alarming matter, though, after the club experienced its worst week since the overthrow of Brian Hill. You couldn't blame Jameer Nelson. The starting point guard was not near the ball or the building. He was home, presumably, dealing with a concussion, a souvenir from New Orleans. Teammates were trying to clear their heads as well. No such luck."
George Hill and Indiana Pacers blow past the Orlando Magic 106-85
January 30
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill's first season playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers hasn't been an easy transition. The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star has spent the better part of the early season trying to get a feel for his role. Hill hasn't wanted to be too aggressive, but he has also wanted to be able to play his game. He hopes he has finally found a happy medium."
Pacers end road trip with 106-85 victory at Orlando
January 30
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill will be the first to tell admit that his first season playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers has been a trying one. The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star has spent the better part of the early season feeling his way out with his new team. He hasn't wanted to be too aggressive, but he's also wanted to be able to play his game. Hill hopes he's found a happy medium."
Jameer Nelson will not play against Pacers or the 76ers
January 29
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Jameer Nelson will miss tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers and Monday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers because he is suffering from concussion-like symptoms, coach Stan Van Gundy said. Nelson absorbed two shots to the head during Friday night's loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Van Gundy said Nelson is suffering from nausea and won't be inside Amway Center tonight or travel to Philly. Chris Duhon will start at point guard in Nelson's place and will be backed up by Larry Hughes. Ryan Anderson, who has a bruised calf, will attempt to play tonight, Van Gundy said. Anderson was kicked in the calf during Thursday's loss to the Boston Celtics and sat out Friday's game against"
Magic's woeful offense needs Anderson
January 29
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Magic PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis is expected to get the start again Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers if Ryan Anderson misses his second consecutive game. Anderson was kicked in the calf by Boston Celtics F Brandon Bass on Thursday night in the club's loss to the Celtics. PG Jameer Nelson is expected to play against the Pacers after taking an elbow to the head early and then leaving in the third against the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, complaining of a sore jaw. Coach Stan Van Gundy said the Magic missed Anderson's offense after the team again struggled to score points in a 93-67 loss to the Hornets. Anderson ranks second on the Magic in scoring behind Dwight Howard at 16.6"
Reeling Orlando Magic suddenly are at a crossroads
January 29
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Brian Schmitz
"You don't want to light a match or even rub two pencils together near the Magic's locker room. All the fuming makes it highly combustible given the tension, turbulence and travails at the moment. And speaking of things that could go kaboom, this has been the kind of lost week that provides kindling for the following question: Should the Magic blow it up and hit the re-mix button again? Little too late to start over by reducing the money pit, the usual NBA way, not after Otis Smith signed Big Baby and J-Rich. The bitter irony is that the Magic want to rebuild with Dwight Howard, but now have to rebuild using their best player in a trade. So sorry, Dwight. No matter how much you might want"
Ryan Anderson out against Hornets
January 28
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Magic starting power forward Ryan Anderson missed Friday night's game against the New Orleans Hornets after getting kicked by a former teammate. Coach Stan Van Gundy said that Anderson was inadvertently kicked in the leg Thursday night by Boston Celtics power forward Brandon Bass, oddly enough. Bass shared time with Anderson at power forward in Orlando last season, and he was dealt to the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal involving Glen Davis after the lockout ended. Van Gundy said he hoped that Anderson can play Sunday night when the Magic play host to the Indiana Pacers. "He's really, really sore. He'll probably be a couple days. We'll be hopeful for the weekend, but we're not"
Van Gundy calls effort "awful, just awful" in 93-67 loss to Hornets
January 28
Orlando Sentinel
 
"If this isn't rock bottom, what is? The Orlando Magic completed a forgettable week Friday night, falling to the hapless New Orleans Hornets 93-67 on Friday night at New Orleans Arena. Continuing to have trouble scoring even when not playing against the Boston Celtics, the Magic (12-7) are suddenly, desperately looking for answers after losing three of their last four games. After two devastating losses during the week to the Celtics --- one an offensive brown-out, the other a monumental collapse --- the Magic expected an easier time against the Hornets. They came in at 3-15 and lugging a nine-game losing streak. "It's the whole thing. We were awful…three worst losses we've had since I've"
Mickael Pietrus returns to Orlando and starts for the Celtics
January 27
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Thursday's game between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics was special for Mickael Pietrus. Ray Allen's absence elevated Pietrus into the Celtics' starting lineup for the first time since Pietrus joined the team. Thursday also was Pietrus' first game at Amway Center since the Magic included him in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18, 2010. Being back meant something to him. "I love it," he said. "That's a franchise I did a lot for, and they decided to trade me, and there was nothing I could do about it. But I'm very happy to be back and very happy to see my teammates from the Magic, Stan [Van Gundy] and the fans. They mean a lot to me." Celtics coach Doc Rivers said"
Celtics pile another embarrasing loss on Magic
January 27
Boston Herald
 
"Perhaps this is what growth is all about. This is what playing without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neal can do for a team. This is also what a 27-point second-quarter hole can do for a team that knows it can do better. The Celtics, facing all of those conditions last night against the Magic team they beat by 31 points on Monday, roared out of their hole with last night's 91-83 win at the Amway Center. E'Twaun Moore is especially what growth is all about. The Celtics rookie guard made big plays in every area down the stretch last night, from four 3-pointers — two in the fourth quarter — to a late block on Orlando's Ryan Anderson."
Magic blow 27-point lead in another rough loss to the Celtics
January 27
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Just three days earlier, the Orlando Magic suffered a humiliating defeat to the Boston Celtics. The Magic scored only 56 points, played with almost no energy and folded under pressure. This was worse. The Magic led by 27 points late in the second quarter Thursday and allowed that lead to slip away, losing to the undermanned Celtics 91-83 at Amway Center. Orlando suffered another offensive meltdown, lost its composure late and once again wilted under stress."
Magic have another chance to solve the Celtics' defense
January 26
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The secret to beating the Orlando Magic is no secret at all. If you have good interior defenders, you single-cover Dwight Howard as much as possible and ask your other defenders to crowd perimeter shooters to take away 3-point shots. The Boston Celtics did that when they eliminated the Magic during the 2010 Eastern Conference finals. The Atlanta Hawks followed a similar script when they knocked the Magic out of last year's first round. And the Celtics did it again Monday night, limiting the Magic to single-game franchise lows of 56 points and 24.6 percent shooting."
Dwight Howard to Hub?
January 26
Boston Herald
 columnist Steve Bulpett
"There is no need to update Dwight Howard's "list." He hasn't developed an obsessive need for fresh clam chowder. In fact, we find this whole circus to be rather distasteful. The Magic center can opt out and become a free agent this summer, and until then or such time as Orlando trades him to an attractive city of his choosing, the success of his team will be only a sidebar to the impending Dwight flight. All indications from sources close to Howard are that, while his list of preferred teams also included the Mavericks, he'd love to wind up in a star center like Los Angeles or New York, which would leave out bucolic Boston. But his repeated reverence for the Celtics fairly begged the"
Magic rebound from Monday's loss to beat Pacers
January 25
Orlando Sentinel
 
"For one month now, everyone around the NBA has tried to figure out this crazy, compressed 66-game schedule. For instance, how could a team play so terribly after two days of rest, while an opponent finishing its second game in two nights looks energetic? But there was no reason to overthink things Tuesday night. The Orlando Magic were so angry with their loss to the Boston Celtics the night before that they just took out their frustrations on the Indiana Pacers. The Magic overcame Dwight Howard's first-half foul trouble and the fatigue from their second game in as many nights to rout the Pacers 102-83 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."
Pacers crumble after strong first quarter in loss to Magic
January 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers let the Magic hang around, however, and they paid the price. Orlando overcame an early 10-point deficit to win 102-83 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."
Orlando Magic suffer historic loss to the Boston Celtics
January 24
Orlando Sentinel
 
"In their first 15 games this season, the Orlando Magic never folded, even in losses. There's a first time for everything. The Magic unraveled Monday night, and the result was the worst single-game offensive performance in team history. They set franchise single-game lows for points scored and field-goal percentage as they absorbed a 87-56 beatdown by the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. "It didn't start well, and it got worse as the game went on," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That's the most dominating defensive performance at least that I've ever had against me. There's no singling anybody out. It's the first game, I think, in my career I've ever been through where literally not one guy"
Celtics work Magic
January 24
Boston Herald
 
"Stan Van Gundy has heard all of those reports of the Celtics [team stats]' demise. He sneers at all of you. "You've got Hall of Famers — surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famers," Van Gundy said before the Celtics made the Orlando Magic coach sound prescient last night. "When I hear people say that they're struggling, I just sort of laugh to myself. They're never easy to play against, they're going to be one of the best defensive teams in the league year in and year out. When it's early in the year, people see a record they don't like and they panic. People put too much emphasis on the early part of the season, but you have to have something to talk about, too. If you're going to have all of"
Howard tips hat to C's after ugly loss
January 24
Boston Herald
 
"With five players injured and out, it was expected the Celtics [team stats] would have to play everyone. But how many were expecting Gino to get into last night's game against the mighty Magic? There was, according to Orlando colossus Dwight Howard, one overriding reason for the Celtics' 87-56 victory. "They went back to playing Boston basketball tonight," said Howard, who "struggled" to 18 points and 14 rebounds, missing his last nine shots and going 4-of-15 from the floor. "Everybody touched the ball, they ran, they played aggressive on both ends of the floor. . . . They did a good job tonight. We've just got to come back. We'll see those guys again Thursday.""
Reliving all the Magic
January 24
Boston Herald
 
"Brandon Bass is a close-to-the-vest kind of guy. So what if he dropped 19 points, off the bench, on his former Magic teammates in last night's 87-56 win against the Orlando Magic at the Garden? It might as well have been the Bobcats, for all the Celtics [team stats] forward cared. "It's always great, playing against any team," he said, flashing a smile that would have been at home on the campaign trail. "I was just letting the game come to me. It's about defending, rebounding, and letting the game come to me.""
Baby's back in old crib
January 24
Boston Herald
 
"Glen Davis was openly wondering how he'd handle things as he stood in the hallway outside the Orlando Magic dressing room before last night's game. He was concerned about how he'd react if the Celtics [team stats] put together a video salute to their former player. "I don't know," he said. "I heard they gave Perk (Kendrick Perkins [stats]) a little tribute, so if they do that, I don't know. I might not be able to hold myself a little bit. But, you know, it's good. It's good to be here. I think my emotions will be OK. I'm playing a basketball game.""
No Orlando Magic shootaround today in Boston
January 23
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The compressed schedule appears to be having a direct effect on how the Orlando Magic prepare on gamedays. About to begin a stretch of six games in eight days, the team canceled its planned-for shootaround this morning at TD Garden. Instead, coaches and players will meet in a hotel ballroom for a walkthrough and video-review session. The Magic are in the middle of a 15-day stretch in which they'll play a total of 10 games and have just one full practice."
Big Baby returns to Boston looking for "love"
January 23
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Glen "Big Baby" Davis wore the championship ring he won in 2008 with the Boston Celtics to Magic practice on Sunday "for some reason." Could it be because the Magic tonight face the Celtics in Boston, and Davis is returning for the first time? Could Big Baby have brought the ring to fire up his new team? "I don't know," Davis said, and then launched into a story about how he thought he lost the ring, then remembered it was in a safe."
Jameer Nelson: Howard trade saga affected me
January 22
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Magic PG Jameer Nelson admitted that C Dwight Howard's mention of playing with other point guards affected him. A slumping Nelson said Howard's talking about playing with Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets and Chris Paul of the L.A. Lakers, made him press some this season. "Maybe a little bit of that," he said after playing one of his better games of the season Friday night, scoring 17 points and adding nine assists in the Magic's 92-80 win against the Lakers. Magic GM Otis Smith said earlier in the day that he thought part of Nelson's poor play was because Howard "indirectly threw him under the bus." "I'm here to play basketball and I can't worry about what anybody says. I'm here"
Dwight Howard makes a convincing case to Lakers
January 21
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Bill Plaschke
"The club official had ended the group interview, but I walked alongside Dwight Howard as he left the Orlando Magic locker room late Friday night and introduced myself as a reporter from Los Angeles. He stopped. He suddenly had time for one more question. "How does it feel to know that folks in my town are hoping they can watch you do this every night?" I said. "I understand," he said, smiling down, his eyes twinkling through his horn-rimmed glasses. "And I'm really pleased to meet you." Thus ended a glorious open house for basketball's most valuable — and available — property, Howard purposely stopping to chat with a guy from Los Angeles after spending three hours dominating a bunch of"
Dwight Howard fires back at Shaquille O'Neal
January 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The relationship between Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal has run hot-and-cold for years, but it seems like they have reached a deep freeze, at least from Howard's perspective. Howard sounds ticked-off at O'Neal after O'Neal recently said on TNT, "The best big man in the game is Andrew Bynum." Howard fired back at O'Neal on Friday, saying that O'Neal is just upset that Howard has his old nickname. "He's mad about 'Superman,' " Howard told reporters about eight hours before his Orlando Magic faced the Los Angeles Lakers at Amway Center. "I didn't know he made it up. I didn't know Superman came from Shaquille O'Neal." Later, Howard added: "I would suggest he'd just sit down and get on with"
Howard (20-20) clobbers Lakers
January 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"What transpired Friday night at Amway Center almost could make an objective person feel sorry for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Orlando Magic schooled 'em from start to finish. Dwight Howard outplayed Andrew Bynum. Jameer Nelson bounced back from one of the worst games of his career. And the rest of the Magic looked like they were going full-speed while Bryant's teammates looked like they were sleepwalking. The result: a 92-80 Orlando win over Los Angeles that might have made Shaquille O'Neal regret saying that Bynum was the NBA's best big man. "Tonight's game was not about Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard," Howard said afterward. "It was about the Magic and the Lakers, and"
Report: Bryant lets Howard know who's team it is
January 20
CBSSports.com
 
"There are various rules and regulations that prohibit NBA teams and players from talking to one another in regards to recruiting for a trade. But when that player has been given permission to talk to other teams, that all goes out the window. Such is the case with Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, who have apparently become like teenage girls gabbing on the phone with Howard weighing where he wants to be traded to, if at all. Unfortuntely for Lakers fans, it doesn't sound like Bryant's doing a great job as a pitch man. From the Los Angeles Times: Kobe Bryant has had at least one in-depth phone conversation with Howard recently, even discussing how Howard might fit in with the Lakers'"
Friday's Magic-Lakers matchup could pit Orlando's center of the present against its center of the future
January 20
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard must make momentous choices about their futures in the weeks ahead. Those decisions, whatever they turn out to be, could affect Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum. That is what makes Friday's Magic-Lakers matchup at Amway Center so intriguing. The Magic's current center could be facing the Magic's center of the future. To understand how Bynum compares to Howard, the Orlando Sentinel asked an executive for an NBA team, ESPN analyst Jon Barry and NBA TV analyst Dennis Scott to evaluate Bynum. Their conclusions are similar: Although Bynum is a very good player who is improving, he simply is not on Howard's level. "If you took Bynum and put him on the"
Glen Davis commits one of the stranger technical fouls in recent memory
January 20
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Whatever happens the rest of this season, the Orlando Magic will be hard-pressed to commit a stranger technical foul than the one Glen Davis was whistled for on Wednesday night. Late in the third quarter of the Magic's 85-83 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker threw an alley-oop pass for Richard Jefferson. Davis contested the play at the hoop, and he was called for a personal foul when he made contact with Jefferson. Davis immediately approached the official who made the call, ostensibly to argue, and Davis pulled down his shorts, revealing black Spandex underneath. Davis was whistled for a technical seconds later. Parker made the technical free throw, giving San Antonio a"
Dwight Howard remains top All-Star vote-getter
January 20
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard continues to lead the NBA in All-Star balloting in the second wave of returns, with more than 1.1 millions votes, the league announced Thursday. Howard, who leads the NBA in rebounding, led after the first returns and now has received 1,161,797 votes for the Feb. 26 All-Star Game set for Orlando's Amway Center. Kobe Bryant is right behind Howard in overall voting. Bryant's 1,110,379 votes leads Western Conference guards, while the L.A. Clippers' Chris Paul is second at 835,026). Kevin Durant leads the forwards in the West with 973,152, followed by Blake Griffin of the Clippers with 619,913 votes."
Bynum gets big test tonight with Magic center Howard
January 20
L.A. Daily News
 
"Battle of the Bigs? Andrew Bynum was matched against the Miami Heat's Joel Anthony on Thursday night, which was a big mismatch in Bynum's favor. After all, Bynum stands 7-foot and weighs 285 and Anthony is relatively pint-sized at 6-9, 245. The bigger test will be tonight when Bynum faces Orlando's Dwight Howard for the only time this season, the player he admires more than any other NBA center and the man some pundits around the league believe he could be traded for sooner or later."