The Magical Bums

The Orlando Magic are a team that has just downright gotten under my skin. It has hardly anything to do with a biased opinion. This literary lashing that is about to ensue is derived from their lack of effort but mainly their incompetence.

A lot of people probably thought the Magic would beat the Celtics fairly handily without Kevin Garnett, with the series going no more than six games, especially since they were 3-1 against Cleveland, 3-1 against Boston, and 2-0 against the Lakers in the regular season. You know why they had such great records against those teams in the regular season but don’t look like it in the post season (like the way they let the Philadelphia 76ers start out to a 2-1 lead in their first round series)? Because they keep playing like the team that looked so good in the regular season, as opposed to the type of team that it takes to get through the postseason… one with heart, and guts, and that wants to live up to the hype, rather than expecting to.

An example of this is Dwight Howard. How many times has he missed on his short hooks in this series? More than someone who is considered in some circles “the next Shaq.” He has the same expression and drive in playoff games as he does in the regular season games, and I would not be surprised if he never worked on that might-as-well-be eyes closed hook shot of his. And who is to say that he should try to live up to Shaq, but he sometimes seem to have an heir as if all the hype is true and that’s that…. no need to work on it or prove it.

Then you have guys like Hedo Turkoglu and Mikael Pietrus looking like all they can do is shoot three pointers. They need to play smarter than that. They are the three seed in the Eastern conference and sport the fourth best record in the entire league, not the three-balling 29-53 Golden State Warriors. Turkoglu and Pietrus need to trust their inside game more and try to force fouls on that Boston interior defense. They have no excuse. Like they say… “You live by the three and you die by the three.”

In game four, they were down by 10 or so with six minutes to go, and only had a little over 80 points total, and needed the help of a six plus minute Celtic scoring drought in order to catch up for the one point lead they blew on Davis’ jumper. Then, in game five, when they seemed to get it right as they had a ten or so point lead on Boston with about four minutes to go, they blew that, and lost by three! You know what that smells like? Pure, plain, and simple incompetence.

Until they change, I will be an advocate of what Charles Barkley said a few nights ago… “If they can’t beat the Celtics without Kevin Garnet, then how in the world do they expect to beat them with him?” It’s not a pity to say the following either, because they’ve only brought it on themselves… The Magic are the second round version of those loaded teams who can never get out of the first round. Except in this case they just can’t get out of the second.” – Alex V

 

 

Jamal Crawford will be moved at end of this season, according to Don Nelson

Jamal Crawford, just after being traded to the Warriors, has been told by Don Nelson that he should opt out of his contract at the end of the season. Don Nelson told reporters on March 12th that “We did meet. I’ve always been very open and honest with my players, and I did tell him he probably would either opt out, or we would move him next year. That’s a fact, and I just don’t see that that’s going to work.”

Personally, I feel that this is something that should really be looked at. Players should be able to trust in their coaches and organizations and poor Jamal is being pushed around and pressured into making decisions that might hurt his paycheck and career. Don Nelson continued to explain his position by saying, “he makes too much money as a backup player,”. What ever happened to sticking by your guys. Honestly I realize that coaches don’t always have a say in what goes on, but once a move is made you must treat every player like he is apart of the team’s family. Jamal obviously is not getting this courtesy. Yes the warriors are loaded in the back-court but is this conversation appropriate? I say No, especially when you leaking this info the media.

Basketball is 90% mental and this is the worst thing I believe you can do to a player. This speaks volumes about the NBA. This sport has become a complete business even in places where it shouldn’t be. This could be the reason that the true team game in Basketball is dead, because of actions like this. How can you grow a team, if they probably will never get any real time to truly mesh. Considering the amount of moves team’s make per year in the NBA, I just can’t see any team knowing they can truly count on one another!

Knicks shock world, and trade leading scorer!!

Jamal Crawford was sent to Golden State today in a trade deal that will bring disgruntled Foward Al Harrington to New York. Mike D’Antoni has had his eyes on this player for a long time, ever since Harrington had gone public with his distaste for his basketball situation in golden state. Now, the big question is who is going to be the big shooter for the knicks? Is it possible that Mike D’Antoni will now look back to Steph, to come replace crawford? Is it possible that he has played everyone for a sap, resting Steph keeping him fresh, for when he would move Jamal! Could it be that he increased Jamal’s value ?

Knicks new Foward AL Harrington

One thing is for certian, Donnie Walsh is making changes. The next trade on the table is Zach Randolph, who has been supposively place with Mardy Collins in a deal for Tim Thomas & Cuttino Mobley of the Golden State Warriors. I don’t see the point of this trade, though. Hopefully Walsh will get more back than just Thomas and Mobley cause personally I don’t see the value in that trade.