Vince Carter News: Pro Sports Daily

Magic thump San Antonio Spurs behind Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis

Comment

March 18

Orlando Sentinel

"Fighting a sinus cold, Jameer Nelson said he went to bed early Tuesday night and didn't realize his team had wrapped up a playoff spot until Wednesday morning. A physical therapist stretching out his various body parts broke the news. The Orlando Magic realize the postseason is practically a given these days and part of a much bigger picture. "We don't take it for granted. And we can't get satisfied, with what we went through last year. To have a taste of the championship, you want to win it," Nelson said. "It's what we're playing for. We don't want to celebrate just making the playoffs." The Magic continued fine-tuning for the postseason Wednesday night with a 110-84 rout of the San ..."

Vince Carter not concerned about 'individual stuff'

Comment

March 16

Orlando Sentinel

"The points have piled up over the years at such an impressive pace that he has lost track. Orlando Magic shooting guard Vince Carter had no idea that he had passed Bob Lanier to take over No. 43 on the NBA's all-time scoring list with a 23-point effort in Sunday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. For the record, Lanier had 19,248 points and Carter has 19,265 … and counting. Only Carter doesn't really count. Scoring has come so natural to him in this, his 12th season in the NBA, that the news is often greeted with a surprised look and a nod. The "individual stuff" that he's accomplished, well, it can all provide a nice backdrop one day to what Carter really wants now: A championship for the ..."

As Vince Carter comes to town, NJ Nets reminded his leadership is missed

Comment

March 6

Newark Star-Ledger

"Want to know how much the Nets miss Vince Carter? The math is pretty simple. Through 61 games this season, following Friday night's 97-87 loss at Izod Center to Carter and the Orlando Magic, the Nets are 6-55 and remain on track to finish with the worst record in NBA history. Through 61 games last season, with Carter on their team, the Nets were 27-34 and in the hunt for a playoff spot. "Vince was a huge piece last year,'' said Magic forward Ryan Anderson, who was traded with Carter last summer in the deal that brought back Courtney Lee to the Nets. "A lot of guys were playing well because of Vince, getting open because of Vince, getting open looks.'' Carter was the Nets' second-leading ..."

Nets miss Vince Carter's leadership

Comment

March 5

Bergen Record

"The Nets have missed 2,735 shots this season, 174 player games due to illness or injury and countless chances to throw the ball inside to Brook Lopez. But none of that equates to how much they've missed Vince Carter - in the locker room perhaps as much as on the court. "Where don't we miss him, that's the bigger question," Jarvis Hayes said. "Where don't we miss him? Just his presence on the floor, in the locker room, everywhere." Carter returns to Izod Center tonight for the second time since the Nets traded him to the Orlando Magic last June. The move helped shed salary to help facilitate an ownership change as well as create salary-cap space for this summer. The Nets (6-54) knew they ..."

Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter could play more minutes as the season continues

Comment

February 22

Orlando Sentinel

"Starters Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter could see playing-time increases in the near future. Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged Sunday that he might play Lewis and Carter more often with the Orlando Magic's second unit. Van Gundy thinks the second unit's halfcourt offense occasionally bogs down and, therefore, would benefit from having Lewis or Carter on the floor. "When you get caught in the halfcourt sometimes we're out there with not anybody to really go to, and if we're not getting great, great ball movement, it gets tough," Van Gundy said. "But I don't want to overstate it either. I don't know that we'll necessarily worry about it all the time. That group's been very ..."

Slump over? Vince Carter efficiently scores 20 points against the Pistons

Comment

February 18

Orlando Sentinel

"What slump? Vince Carter told his teammates that he would snap out of his funk once February rolled around, and he delivered again Wednesday night. The hallmarks of his difficult January -- the ill-advised fadeaway jumpers, the tentative drives to the hoop, the questionable decisions whether to shoot or pass -- have vanished. In yet another sign of progress, Carter scored 20 points and recorded four assists as the Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-91 at Amway Arena. "I never want to in my older years let things bother me," Carter said. "Just go out there and play basketball, and it will get better. I've proven myself time and time again, and I'll just let that speak for itself. The ..."

Only an NBA title will validate Magic's trust in Carter

Comment

February 11

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"Dwight Howard gets the superstar status and the McDonald's commercial breaks with LeBron James and Larry Bird. Vince Carter is the guy who is supposed to super-size this franchise into an NBA champion. You're they guy, not Howard, who gets the ball in the closing minutes of a tight game. You're the guy who must shake his label as an extremely talented player who isn't the consummate team guy. You're the guy who is supposed to take this franchise to the next progressive step. We all know where that leads: An NBA title. I'm not a poker guy, but it's obvious that the Magic went all-in when they signed Carter and ignored any pretense of rolling with Hedo Turkoglu again. Been there, done that, ..."

Vince Carter's big night shows promise, possibilities

Comment

February 10

Orlando Sentinel

"Any other time, it wouldn't have been considered such a big deal, such a major breakthrough, such a revelation. But Vince Carter had not quite been Vince Carter yet in Orlando. He had only showed us some outtakes from the legend file. And lately, after a cruel January in which he also turned 33, Carter had heard the whispering, wondering and worrying during a suddenly awkward homecoming. Smatterings of boos at Amway Arena somehow avoided his ears, but not his mom's. Had Carter's star burned out? Was he injured? Did he fit? And what would Hedo Turkoglu do? Would "Half-Man, Half-Amazing" ever be whole? (Maybe Dwight Howard's line about Carter being "Half-Man, Half-Retired" wasn't so funny.) ..."

Magic ride vintage Vince Carter performance to beat Hornets

Comment

February 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter said he'd be a new man in February. Carter wasn't only a new man on Monday night at Amway Arena. He reinvented his legend, scoring 48 points to lead the Orlando Magic in a 123-117 comeback victory against the New Orleans Hornets. Carter, who struggled through a forgettable January slump, hit 19-of-27 shots and six 3-pointers in his first signature performance since signing with the Magic, his boyhood team, last summer. It takes a lot to overshadow Dwight Howard. Howard had a monster game, too, with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but it was a night for Vinsanity. Clinging to a 111-110 lead in the last two minutes, Carter drained his sixth 3-pointer of the night --- and Carter's ..."

Vince Carter said he'll be a 'new me' in February and he delivered Sunday

Comment

February 8

Orlando Sentinel

"After one of the worst months of his career, Vince Carter promised his Orlando Magic teammates that he would improve in February. He made good on that pledge during Sunday's 96-89 road win over the Boston Celtics. Carter scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The performance contrasted sharply with a horrid January in which he made just 28.4 percent of his shots. "It's been a long time coming," Carter said in the Magic locker room after the game. "I told the guys coming into this month. I said, 'It's a new me.' " Carter also excelled in Orlando's 83-78 win in Boston on Nov. 20, scoring 26 points in that game."

Van Gundy is tired of talking about Vince Carter's shooting slump

Comment

February 6

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has grown tired of the constant questions about Vince Carter's ongoing shooting slump, especially after Friday night's painful 92-91 loss to the Washington Wizards. "Stan, Vince still seems to be having problems with his shooting game," a reporter said to Van Gundy midway during his postgame press conference. "He had a good one the other night and kinda fell back tonight." "Yeah, he did," Van Gundy responded."

Vince Carter comes alive to lead Orlando Magic over the Bucks

Comment

February 3

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter revealed he still has a machine that plays VHS tapes. Now that's old school. It seemed fitting on a night that he returned to looking like Vintage Vince that he talked about watching some dated footage of past dunk contests. Carter, 33, has been caught measuring his present with his past lately, mired in a mystifying shooting slump with the Orlando Magic. Even after eight all-star berths and almost 19,000 career points, he needed people reminding him of just who he is and what he's done. Or as coach Stan Van Gundy said after the Magic whipped the Milwaukee Bucks 99-82 on Tuesday night, "Vince has to remember who Vince is." After struggling through January --- averaging just ..."

Orlando Magic still believe in Vince Carter

Comment

February 2

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic said they have no plans to bench Vince Carter a day after the eight-time all-star's mystifying slump apparently hit rock bottom. Carter scored a season-low two points and — in a recurring trend — wasn't called upon to play the pivotal fourth quarter in a narrow 91-86 win on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons. General Manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday that the possibility of benching Carter — even for a while — has not been broached. "I don't know if (benching Carter) would help or hurt, but I don't see that being the case at all," Smith said. "It isn't an issue with us." Van Gundy said he can't sit Carter if the team intends to meet their stated goal ..."

Vince Carter scores 6 points as the Magic defeat the Hawks

Comment

January 31

Orlando Sentinel

"One play Saturday night epitomized Vince Carter's January to forget. Carter received a pass underneath the basket, went up for a dunk … and missed. To be fair, Carter was fouled on the play, but the errant dunk was emblematic of another night in which Carter didn't contribute much offensively. Carter finished with six points and three rebounds as the Orlando Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 104-86 at Amway Arena. The eight-time all-star sat out the entire second quarter and much of the fourth as fellow shooting guard J.J. Redick scored eight points and dished out a career-high seven assists. "I didn't think he was bad tonight," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of Carter. "I didn't see ..."

Stan Van Gundy on Vince Carter: It's too much scrutiny on one guy

Comment

January 21

Orlando Sentinel

"It's not good form to pile on a team when they're up, but Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy offered a weak — and I mean, weak — defense of struggling shooting guard Vince Carter on Wednesday night. After the Orlando Magic's 109-98 win over the Indiana Pacers at Amway Arena — one that featured a 6-point Carter performance on 2-of-8 shooting – SVG said this when asked about Carter's continued funk: "Look, it's just too much scrutiny on one guy. That's all we come in and talk about every game. 'What did you think of Vince, what did you think of Vince?' We played well." You're right, Stan … your team played well, but let's keep things in perspective. You just punked the 14-28 Indiana Pacers. ..."

Orlando Magic's problems start with Dwight Howard and Vince Carter

Comment

January 20

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"You want to know what the problem is with the Magic? It starts with this quote : "It's like we're going through the motions. Just because you went to the Finals last year, you can't go out on the floor and expect teams to lay down. We got no heart." The problem isn't the quote itself because somebody needed to say it; the problem is the guy who uttered it. The comment came a few nights ago from small forward Matt Barnes, a scrappy, hard-working journeyman who is apparently disgusted with the loafing, lackadaisical attitude on his new team. With all due respect, why is Barnes the one stepping to the plate and showing the leadership this team is starving for on and off the floor? Why isn't ..."

Carter remains out, not expected to play until end of trip

Comment

January 13

Orlando Sentinel

(scroll down)

"Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said that SG Vince Carter's injured left shoulder has improved but the eight-time all-star isn't expected to play until near the end of the club's four-game road trip. Carter sat out Tuesday night's game against the Kings in Sacramento. He sustained what the team called a "mild" separation last Friday night in a loss to the Wizards in Washington, D.C."

Vince Carter didn't practice Monday afternoon in Sacramento

Comment

January 12

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic SG Vince Carter remains listed as "day-to-day" as he recovers from his mild — yet painful — left-shoulder injury. But the eight-time all-star did not participate in the team's practice Monday afternoon in Sacramento, team spokesman George Galante said. Carter injured his shoulder Friday night when he ran into a pick set by Washington's Andray Blatche. A couple of different terms have been used to describe Carter's injury. It's been labeled as a "sprain" and also as a "separation." But those terms are interchangeable when it comes to the acromioclavicular joint, the joint at the tip of the shoulder."

Vince Carter day-to-day with mild seperation in left-shoulder

Comment

January 10

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic SG Vince Carter, who didn't play in Saturday's game, said he has a painful but mild separation in his left shoulder and he has no timetable on his return. He said there was no discussion of possible surgery with the team doctor Craig Mintzer. "Day-to-day, I guess," Carter said before the club faced the Atlanta Hawks. "It's all the same to me: sprain, separation, pain. They're all intertwined. It made for some uncomfortable sleep." J.J. Redick started in Carter's place. Carter was injured Friday night when he ran into a pick set by Washington Wizards forward Andray Blatche. Carter said he heard a "loud pop" when he ran into Blatche. "I've had a bruised shoulder before and ..."

Vince Carter is "day-to-day" with a sprained shoulder

Comment

January 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith said shooting guard Vince Carter is "day-to-day" after Carter sprained his left shoulder in Orlando's 104-97 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday night. Carter walked out of the Magic locker room before it opened to reporters. I chased Carter down a hallway and tried to ask him about his injury. "I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," Carter said politely. So that leaves us guessing whether Carter will play Saturday night when the reeling Magic host the Atlanta Hawks. Stan Van Gundy said he didn't know about the severity of Carter's injury. Carter sprained his left shoulder in the second quarter against Washington when he ran into a pick set by the ..."

Orlando Magic officials say Vince Carter is "day-to-day" with a sprained shoulder

Comment

January 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith said shooting guard Vince Carter is "day-to-day" after Carter sprained his left shoulder in Orlando's 104-97 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday night. Carter walked out of the Magic locker room before it opened to reporters. I chased Carter down a hallway and tried to ask him about his injury. "I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," Carter said politely. So that leaves us guessing whether Carter will play Saturday night when the reeling Magic host the Atlanta Hawks."

Vince Carter hurt and Orlando Magic drop 4th straight

Comment

January 9

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic are making history now. It's not the good kind of history, either. The defending Eastern Conference champions on Friday night lost their fourth consecutive game for the first time under coach Stan Van Gundy. The Washington Wizards came back from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to humble the Magic 104-97 before a sellout crowd of 20,173 at the Verizon Center. "It just gets worse," Van Gundy said. "I mean it was terrible. We were fine until the last 10 minutes of the game and then we gave up fastbreaks, second shots and didn't have one guy on the floor that could make a shot." And the loss could be costly. Guard Vince Carter sprained his left shoulder in the second ..."

Vince Carter practices, will play Tuesday night vs. Indiana

Comment

January 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Looks like Vince Carter's sprained left ankle really was much ado about nothing. The eight-time all-star participated in all of the Orlando Magic's practice Monday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and should be in the starting lineup Tuesday night when the team plays the Indiana Pacers. "I feel fine," Carter said after practice ended. "We got after it a little bit and it felt good." The workout lasted about two and a half hours, and coach Stan Van Gundy reported that Carter looked good. "He looked fine today," Van Gundy said. "There wasn't anything noticeable in terms of his inability to move or he was limping or anything like that. There was none of that.""

Magic's Carter looks to continue hot streak against Pacers

Comment

January 5

Indianapolis Star

"Vince Carter no longer defies gravity. Almost 33, knees wrapped, he definitely doesn't leave fans hanging on the edge of their seats with electrifying dunks. He can't hang, literally, with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. That doesn't mean Orlando's eight-time All-Star is any easier to defend. Just ask the Indiana Pacers. They know all too well what Carter can do. No one in the NBA has scored more against them. Second-year swingman Brandon Rush grew up watching vintage Vince. Rush noticed the former NBA dunk champion is running more pick-and-roll plays and becoming more of a jump shooter. "He's not the same attack Vince like he used to be, but he's got one of the coldest mid-range ..."

Carter's left-ankle injury shows again that ankle sprains are common in the NBA

Comment

January 4

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Josh Robbins

"The Orlando Magic know all too well just how easily NBA players can injure their ankles. The team received another reminder Saturday night, when Vince Carter sprained his left ankle for the second time this season. The injury occurred as Carter drove to the hoop; as Taj Gibson was guarding him, Carter's left foot stepped on one of John Salmons' feet. Carter said the injury is not serious and said he expects to play in the Magic's next game on Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. "I'm gonna play," Carter said. "I'm not one for missing games. I'm going to go out there and do everything I need to do. But I'll be able to play. The good thing about it is I don't swell." ..."

Vince Carter says his left-ankle injury is not serious, insists he'll play against Indiana on Tuesday

Comment

January 3

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter says his left-ankle injury looked much worse than it actually is. In fact, he said he'll play Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. "I'm gonna play," he said. "I'm gonna play. I'm not one for missing games. I'm going to go out there and do everything I need to do. But I'll be able to play. The good thing about it is I don't swell." Midway through the fourth quarter of Orlando's 101-93 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Carter drove to the hoop against Taj Gibson. Gibson contested the shot, and Carter fell to the court. It looked like Carter was in significant pain as Magic athletic trainer Tom Smith attended to him on the bench. Carter hopped into the Magic locker ..."

Air Carter highly rarefied

Comment

December 28

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Feschuk

"Sometimes it's easy to forget how amazing he was. Everybody, after all, knows what Vince Carter is now. He is, age 33 next month, still a force of sorts – a spotty, moody, do-it-when-he-feels-like-it force. Once a slam-dunking, world-endearing machine known as Vinsanity, he has reinvented himself as Vinefficiency, a jacker of jump shots to the tune of a 40 per cent field-goal rate. Let's see how that works for his long-term relationship with Dwight Howard, Carter's Orlando Magic teammate, who shoots much less and at 62 per cent."

Feeling of déjà vu in Raptor defeat

Comment

December 17

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Feschuk

"In the Raptors locker room the other night, Jarrett Jack, the Toronto point guard, spent a few moments admiring a piece of Chris Bosh's wardrobe. It was an undershirt – otherwise known as a tank, a singlet, a wifebeater. But Bosh was draped in an off-white model that looked better than the usual discount-store stock. "Where'd you get that sandpaper wifebeater?" said Jack. "That (shirt's) taupe." The shade of Bosh's garment could have also been described as beige, cappuccino, biscuit, tan. And the point of the anecdote? When you write about the Raptors, it's always useful to think of different ways to say the same thing. Wednesday night's blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, 118-99, was ..."

Stan Van Gundy thinks Vince Carter will play tonight against the Indiana Pacers

Comment

December 14

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter didn't practice Sunday, but his absence from the parquet practice court at RDV Sportsplex had nothing to do with his sore hip and knee. Instead, Carter had a stomach ailment and was sent home. Coach Stan Van Gundy said his team's medical staff doesn't think Carter has the flu, and Van Gundy thinks Carter will play tonight against the Indiana Pacers. "We're pretty hopeful that he'll be ready to go," Van Gundy said. "I'd be surprised if he didn't." Nelson inches closer Jameer Nelson is making steady progress in his rehabilitation from his Nov. 18 arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair torn lateral meniscus cartilage. Though the point guard is doing more and more rehab ..."

Vince Carter misses Sunday practice with illness, expected to play Monday

Comment

December 14

Orlando Sentinel

"The Magic were down to 10 players for a majority of practice on Sunday. Vince Carter wasn't feeling well when he got to RDV Sportsplex today and missed practice with a stomach bug. "He stayed here for a long time before he even felt good enough to go home," Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Nobody thought it was the flu or anything. I actually had it the other night in Utah and the stuff [team trainer] Tom gave me cleared it up pretty good." Carter left Friday night's game against the Phoenix Suns with a sore hip and knee. Because he wasn't well enough to practice, the Magic couldn't evaluate his injury. Van Gundy said he thinks Carter will play on Monday. When asked if Van Gundy is takes ..."

Carter hobbles off floor with sore left knee and hip

Comment

December 12

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic power forward Rashard Lewis left the coaching to Stan Van Gundy after a spat with the bench boss the previous night, but his effort wasn't quite enough on Friday. Lewis, who declined to check in when Van Gundy called his name Thursday night against the Jazz in Utah, scored a team-high 24 points in a 106-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Magic (17-6) closed their West trip at 2-2, losing for the eight consecutive time in Phoenix. Vince Carter hobbled off the floor with a little over nine minutes left in the third period with a sore left knee and hip, and did not return. He is expected to be okay. Van Gundy said he liked Lewis' "aggressiveness," but Lewis ..."

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy calls Vince Carter's performance 'best of season'

Comment

December 7

Orlando Sentinel

"If Dwight Howard wonders why he doesn't earn so-called "superstar" foul calls, he surely won't receive sympathy from a teammate who's had his name in lights longer. Some guy named Vince Carter. "That name means nothing," Carter said, only half-jokingly. But Saturday night, in the Orlando Magic's 126-118 shoot-out victory against the Golden State Warriors, Carter had not only won over the referees but his coach, Stan Van Gundy. Carter scored 27 points and added seven assists to help lift the Magic's record to 16-4, a performance that Van Gundy labeled as Vince's best this season. What Van Gundy loved seeing on Carter's stat line most was his 12-of-12 effort at the free-throw line. The ..."

Magic hope to best the west on their four-game road trip

Comment

December 5

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic haven't completed the first quarter of their regular-season schedule yet, but they already have endured a year's worth of adversity. Rashard Lewis' suspension, Vince Carter's ankle injury and Jameer Nelson's knee injury — the Magic have cleared all of those hurdles and emerged with one of the best records in pro basketball. Now comes another obstacle: a West Coast road trip in which they'll play four games in seven nights. The sojourn will test their defense, their focus and, above all else, their stamina. The challenges will begin this evening when the Magic (15-4) play the Golden State Warriors (6-12) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Eastern Conference teams make two ..."

Carter no comment on Frank

Comment

November 30

Bergen Record

"Vince Carter, for the most part, appeared to get along with Lawrence Frank during their time together with the Nets. Yet Sunday, asked twice after scoring 23 points in the Magic's 114-102 victory over the Knicks about Frank's firing earlier Sunday, he offered no reaction. "None," he said when first asked for his thoughts. "I don't want to talk about it." When a foreign reporter tried later, Carter simply shook his head and said, "Uh-uh." Ryan Anderson, traded with Carter to Orlando during the off-season following his rookie season in New Jersey, offered far more, saying, "Lawrence taught me a ton last year because I obviously had to learn so much. He taught me to stay positive, hungry to ..."

Vince Carter shoos boos as Orlando Magic beat Toronto Raptors for fifth straight win

Comment

November 23

Orlando Sentinel

"Not surprisingly, Vince Carter quickly turned down the opportunity to be, ahem, honored by his former team, the Toronto Raptors, on Sunday. He didn't turn down the chance to beat the Canadian club again and remind Raptors fans of his bittersweet legacy with some live highlights. Carter led the Magic to a fifth consecutive win with a 104-96 triumph against the Raptors, ultimately silencing a crowd that has booed his every return to Air Canada Centre the past five seasons. Carter scored 24 points, including a show-closing beat-the-traffic 21-foot jumper with 37 seconds left. The shot gave Orlando a nine-point lead and Carter another round of satisfaction. Since forcing a trade from Toronto ..."

Song remains the same for Raptors

Comment

November 23

Toronto Star

"It was an old refrain, and a familiar one, Jose Calderon was singing as he stood in front of his locker, trying to explain away another Raptors loss. It's something of a funeral dirge for the team; something they can trot out after almost every defeat. "We just have to finish games and play all 48 (minutes)," the point guard said. "I know it sounds like I'm saying the same thing, but this is what it is. "We play sometimes, one quarter, two quarters, we need 48. It's tough without it to beat these good teams." The Raptors had just lost, 104-96, to the Orlando Magic and there is really no shame in being beaten by a superior squad, one that's 11-3 and showing it's a good bet to repeat as NBA ..."

Like usual, Magic's Carter will hear plenty of boos in Toronto

Comment

November 22

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter laughed as he watched as many as FOUR (ital) of his prankster teammates attempt to pin Dwight Howard to the floor while another tried hog-tying him with white athletic tape. It looked like some sort of post-practice rookie hazing. "This happens all the time and they never get Dwight," Carter said, incredulously, as Howard threw off one teammate after another to bust free, strips of tape clinging to his 6 foot 11, 270-pound frame. "Dwight always gets out of it, always gets free." Carter had looked up at the scene while talking about a predicament of his own -- one he can't escape. He'll always get booed whenever he plays at Air Canada Centre. Today in the building, even playing ..."

Southeast Division heats up for Heat

Comment

November 22

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Perhaps the optimism was a bit premature. Perhaps we should have expected the Wizards to come out hobbling, since it seems Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison do their darndest never to be seen at the same place at the same time. Perhaps we should have seen the Bobcats as being one scorer shy of a full deck, especially the way Larry Brown frowns on his point guards scoring. And perhaps we should have foreseen a few uneven moments for the Magic, with Rashard Lewis out for the first 10 games due to his substance-abuse suspension. But now Washington's big three all are ambulatory at the same time, now Charlotte has added the scoring punch (and punchiness) of Stephen Jackson, and ..."

Live by the three, die by the ...

Comment

November 22

Boston Globe

"The Celtics lost 83-78 to the Orlando Magic on Friday, and Boston finished a putrid 2 for 19 from the three-point stripe, including 0 for 8 from Rasheed Wallace, 0 for 4 from Paul Pierce and 1 for 4 from Eddie House. The Celtics are living -- and dying -- by the three-point shot, and it has becoming apparent that Boston can't win if it doesn't shoot the three-pointer effectively. The Celtics should be able to win without always canning three's, but the numbers show they don't, and that could become a major concern as the season progresses."

Celtics have new trick for Magic

Comment

November 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 ..."

Coach Stan Van Gundy wants Vince Carter gunning on offense

Comment

November 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 ..."

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

Comment

November 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 ..."

Vince Carter could return tonight

Comment

November 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 ..."

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

Comment

November 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."

V.C. Mulling plan to be feted at ACC

Comment

November 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."

Raptors fans' taunts for Magic SG Vince Carter will have to wait

Comment

November 2

Orlando Sentinel

"Raptors fans with long memories didn't get the chance to boo Magic SG Vince Carter, who was scratched with an injury on Sunday. But that opportunity might come Nov. 22 at Air Canada Centre when the player who demanded out of Toronto after six-plus seasons will be ... honored by the franchise as part of their 15th anniversary celebration. The Raptors say they will first ask Carter if he wants to go through with a ceremony, realizing the back-story. "Everybody wants to know how we can do it, but Vince is part of the history here," Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo told the Sentinel. "Most of the people that he had problems with here are gone.""

No Vince for Orlando today

Comment

November 1

Toronto Star

"At least it'll cut down on the incessant booing. Just got finished listening to Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy say Vince Carter won't go Sunday afternoon against the Raptors. Carter's out with a mildly sprained left ankle suffered Friday in New Jersey We had seen Vince come down from the practice gym about 20 minutes earlier after trying to loosen up the ankle but it didn't work."

Vince Carter ankle injury update: 'We'll see how it feels in the morning'

Comment

November 1

Orlando Sentinel

"Across the hall in Air Canada Centre late Saturday afternoon, Jay-Z's road crew was performing ear-splitting sound-checks, seeing if all systems were go for the rapper's show that night. Inside the practice facility a few feet away, the Orlando Magic were doing some tests on the left ankle of VC — shooting guard Vince Carter. Carter was stretched out on a table, applying a flashing light of a laser device to the area he sprained Friday night while playing the Nets — his old team — in New Jersey. "This thing is incredible," Carter said of the laser's healing powers. Carter hopes modern science does the job. He said he's going to attempt to play today against the Toronto Raptors, the team he ..."

Vince joins contender in Orlando

Comment

October 31

New York Post

"So much has changed. There was Vince Carter running around in the colors of the Magic, urging the likes of Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. And then there was Carter engaging in a shooting contest with teammate Mickael Pietrus at the Meadowlands yesterday morning. They shot from beyond the front row of courtside seats. Pietrus barely hit the side of the backboard. Carter swished his try as if it came from the foul line. So little has changed. The uniform colors were different, but Carter was still Carter, firing in impossibly long shots with ease and then speaking earnestly about winning above all. And there is another noticeable difference for Carter this season, beyond home zip codes and ..."

Vince returns, but Howard steals the show as Nets fall

Comment

October 31

New York Post

"The NBA schedule maker planned a reunion party for Vince Carter at the Meadowlands last night, as the Nets' home opener featured Carter and the defending Eastern champ Orlando Magic. But Carter didn't stay around very long. Unfortunately for the Nets, neither did Brook Lopez. Even worse, Dwight Howard did. "Howard had such a profound impact on that game defensively," said coach Lawrence Frank, whose Nets fell to 0-2 through a 95-85 defeat that was sculpted by Howard with a 20-point, 22-rebound, four-block masterpiece. "That's why the guy is defensive player of the year. Not only did he do what he did to Brook, he did it to our whole team." Carter, traded on draft night after nearly five ..."