Feb 26, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 98-84. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Think back to this summer. After months of the “Dwightmare,” the Magic finally dealt Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team trade. They also shipped out Earl Clark and Chris Duhon to Los Angeles and sent Jason Richardson to Philadelphia; all of whom were simply thrown in to make the money work.

In return, the Magic received Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless and a future first-round pick from Philadelphia, and Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga from Los Angeles.

If someone looked at the names coming back to Orlando last summer, what would they think? Well, Aaron Afflalo is a very solid rotation player, and Al Harrington is a veteran who could maybe help you off the bench, but nothing spectacular.

Most casual NBA fans probably hadn’t even heard of some of the players, especially not Nikola Vucevic.

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The 7-footer from Montenegro, by way of the University of Southern California, was taken 16^th overall by the 76ers in the 2011 draft. Many regarded him as a big body; someone who could rebound and chip in offensively, essentially, a back up center in the league.

In his rookie season in Philadelphia that’s basically what he was. He played in 51 games, starting 15 of them, averaging 5.5 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes a night. It was an inauspicious start to the young big man’s career. And after just one season as a Sixer, he was off to Orlando.

In his first season as a member of the Magic, however, Vucevic has shown that he can be much more. Vucevic has started all 63 games this year for the Magic, averaging just over 12 points and 11 rebounds a game.

His improved play has impressed everyone around the league, including his head coach, Jacque Vaughn, who said about the big man,

“His ability to get rebounds, to provide a touch around the rim with both hands, has been extremely impressive to me”

Vucevic has shown improvements across the board, but his rebounding ability has really stood out. At just over 11 rebounds a game, he ranks 5^th in rebounding in the league. He also boasts an impressive 20.0% total rebounding percentage, good for 4^th in the league. (Total rebound percentage is an estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while he was on the floor.)

In just his second season, Vucevic is already an elite rebounder. And the bad news for the rest of the league is that he can get even better, at least that’s what Coach Vaughn thinks.

He added about Vucevic,

“I think he’ll even be better once he gets more physical in the sense of stronger as an individual, and matures. He’ll be able to get some of those rebounds where he’s just stronger and bigger than the other guy”

His size and high level rebounding ability is good enough by itself to earn Vucevic a starting role in the league for a long time to come.

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Offensively, Vucevic isn’t great, but he is improving, and has a lot of room to grow at just 22 years old.

First, check out his shooting chart from this season.

He shoots 52% from the field (18^th in the league), which is up from 45% last season and while taking more shots. While his percentage around the basket can be definitely be improved, he shoots pretty well from mid range.

When Vucevic gets the ball in the post, his go to move is a little jump hook. He can shoot it with either hand, and can go towards the baseline and towards the middle of the court.

He also likes to shoot mid range jumpers, and can do so in a variety of ways. Instead of going to the hook in the post, he is capable of turning and facing for a jumper. He will also spot up and is even a threat on pick-and-pops.

As a big man, he will also continue to get baskets just by hanging out down low. In just his second year, Vucevic doesn’t have a polished offensive game, but he has already shown good growth. Coach Vaughn pointed out,

“Now I think you see him putting it all together. He’s extremely confident shooting the basketball. I think he’s gaining confidence getting the ball on the block, surveying, making moves, making passes out of the post position.”

Given the opportunity to start this year in Orlando, Vucevic has proven the skeptics wrong. He’s more than just a back up big man. If he can continue to improve his offensive game, he has the potential to become one of the league’s better big men.

No longer will the Orlando big man be glanced over when looking at whom the Magic got back for Dwight Howard. His name will be the first you notice; because he is an elite rebounder, because he’s shown he belongs in this league, and because it deserves to be recognized.

His name is: Nikola Vucevic.

The biggest trade of the deadline was the swap Milwaukee and Orlando made, which sent Tobias Harris, Doron Lamb, and Beno Udrih to Orlando, and J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon, and Ish Smith back to Milwaukee.

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So how has the trade worked out for Milwaukee so far? Milwaukee made the deal solely to obtain Redick, so let’s take a look at how Redick and the Bucks have played since the deal.

Mar 2, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard J.J. Redick (5) during the game against the Toronto Raptors at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Since the deadline, the Bucks have played 6 games, going 4-2, and widening the gap between themselves and teams behind them for the 8^th seed in the playoffs. In those games, Redick has been very solid. He’s averaged about 13 points and 2.5 assists in 27.5 minutes a game off the bench.

While Redick has been coming off the bench, he has played all of the crunch time minutes so far. And there has been a lot of them, considering the Bucks have had two overtime games, and three other games decided by 5 points or less since he came to Milwaukee. Since the trade, Milwaukee, for the most part, has been closing games with Redick, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis all on the floor together.

Redick’s three-point shooting is his main attribute, and has been a big help for the Bucks. He creates better spacing when he is on the floor, because his defender isn’t as willing to help off of him. While Jennings and Ellis like to shoot threes, they aren’t good at it. Redick gives the team another legit shooting threat to go with Mike Dunleavy.

So far, this trade has been a successful one for the Bucks. Redick has played well thus far, and will be a big help in the playoffs (which are looking more and more certain for the Bucks). It will be interesting to see if they are able to resign Redick, as he will be a free agent after the season.

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Trading Redick wasn’t something the Magic wanted to do, but since it was unlikely he was going to resign there in the summer, they tried to get the best deal they could. Beno Udrih will be a free agent after the season, and is most likely gone. Doron Lamb is a young, but has played sparingly since the trade. So the best piece Orlando got back from Milwaukee, and the one I’m going to look at, is Tobias Harris.

Mar 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) reacts after fouling out of the game against the Miami Heat during the second half at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Magic 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Harris, in his second year in the league, is only 20 years old. He played decent minutes early in the year with Milwaukee, but suddenly fell out of the rotation and rarely got off the bench in the middle of the season.

In the 7 games he’s played in since the move, Harris has been fantastic. He’s averaged almost 17 points and just over 6 rebounds in about 29 minutes a game while coming off the bench. What looked like just another prospect thrown into a trade to make the money work could end up being a steal for the Magic.

At just 6-8, there is some worry that Harris could be a tweener. Not big enough to be a 4, but not enough of an outside game to be a 3. So far, however, Harris has played very well.

He has certainly become a player to watch, and at just 20 years old, he looks to have a bright future ahead of him. If Harris can become a solid rotation player in the league, and another piece for their rebuild, then this will have been a successful trade for the Magic.

Behind big performances from Nikola Vucevic and Jameer Nelson, the Orlando Magic battled back to take a 96-95 lead with 12 seconds left.

Unfortunately for them, the Heat have LeBron James. James drove the lane, and simply overpowered DeQuan Jones as he put home a lefty lay-up to give the Heat a 97-96 victory. The Heat now have a 16 game win streak, the longest in franchise history.

Feb 20, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick (7) drives against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Redick’s name had been swirling about trade rumors all day, and just before the deadline, he finally got moved. The Magic had been holding out for the best possible deal all day, and they finally agreed to send him to Milwaukee.

From ESPN.com’s Chad Ford,

“The Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic have agreed to a trade that will send J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith to the Bucks in return for Tobias Harris, Beno Udrih and Doron Lamb.”

With Redick (an unrestricted free agent) almost certain to leave after this season, it made sense for the Magic to look for a deal. It was better for them to get at least something before Redick left in the summer.

So what did the Magic get exactly?

Tobias Harris, in his second year, is only 20 years old. He has rarely played for the Bucks, but he gives the Magic another young asset in their rebuilding quest. The rookie Doron Lamb has also barely gotten off the bench in Milwaukee this season, but once again the Magic get a young player on a cheap contract. Finally, Beno Udrih. Udrih has seen limited minutes this season, averaging about 7 points and 3.5 assists over 18 minutes a game. He has shown over his career that he can be a solid backup point guard, but the main benefit to Udrih is that his contract expires after this season.

Now from the Bucks perspective.

Obviously Redick is the centerpiece of this deal. He can shoot the lights out, and is an underrated passer. Redick will also be a big addition to a thin backcourt in Milwaukee. With Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis already there though, it will be interesting to see where Redick fits in the rotation. It will also be interesting to see if the Bucks are able to resign Redick, who will surely attract a lot of attention in free agency. The two other players in the deal, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith were thrown in for cap considerations, and will play minimal roles.

With the Bucks (currently in 8^th) hanging around in the playoff race, Redick will surely be a big help in maintaining their spot during the playoff push.

Feb 19, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Charlotte Bobcats at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Redick

As we close in on the trade deadline, it surely seems that Redick will be dealt. There are numerous teams involved at the moment, and it would make sense for the Magic to move the sharpshooter. Redick will be a free agent after this year, and it doesn’t look like the Magic will resign him, so they might as well try and get the best offer they can for him.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Orlando has multiple offers of first-round picks.

Orlando has secured offers of first-round picks for J.J. Redick, sources tell Y! Sports. So far, those belong to teams drafting in the 20′s.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

One possible landing spot for Redick appears to be San Antonio.

I discounted San Antonio-Redick talks a bit earlier, but sources insisting there are legitimate scenarios in play that make Spurs a factor.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Redick would be a great fit in San Antonio. The Spurs love to space the floor and find open shooters. They already shoot about 22 three-pointers a game, and having Redick would make their offense much more dangerous.

Josh Smith

Smith has been the talk of the deadline this year, with rumored destinations ranging from Milwaukee to Phoenix to Brooklyn to Boston. As of this morning, it seems that the best offer for Smith may actually be from the Bucks, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Wojnarowski.

Hawks, Bucks seriously talking on Josh Smith deal, sources tell Y! Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh among players discussed for Smith, Devin Harris.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Wojnarowski has reported, however, that the Hawks would rather send Smith to the West.

Atlanta has to do the best possible deal for Smith. That could still be the Bucks in the East, but again, Hawks prefer to send him West.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

If the Hawks are truly set on not re-signing Smith, then they might as well try to trade him. Because other teams know this, and factoring in Smith’s expiring contract, it will be tough for the Hawks to get a lot in return.

Josh Smith

Feb 11, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) dunks against Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (0) at the American Airlines Center. The Hawks beat the Mavs 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Smith being traded is probably the most inevitable move that will be made in the next few days. The question is though, where is he going to end up? According to HoopsRumors.com, several teams have shown interest in acquiring Smith’s services. Teams like the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards are reported to have been in contact with Atlanta Hawks GM, Danny Ferry.

ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted that if the Hawks were to make a deal with the Bucks, Atlanta would want to receive Monta Ellis in return. Atlanta believes that Ellis would be a great compliment to Jeff Teague. The Hawks are confident in Teague and apparently plan to move forward with him.

On Bucks/Josh Smith talk: Hawks’ interest believed to start w/Monta Ellis, since Monta could play next to Jeff Teague, whom Hawks still like

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 19, 2013

The Phoenix Suns have also been rumored to be strong suitors for Josh Smith. However, reports are that both teams are concerned that Smith may not be willing to resign with the Suns after he becomes a free agent at season’s end. If a deal were to get done, I can almost guarantee that Marcin Gortat would be involved due to the fact that the Hawks are looking to bring in a center in exchange for Smith. Bringing in Gortat would allow the Hawks to move Al Horford back to his natural power forward position. Perhaps out of desperation, the Washington Wizards have let Atlanta know that everyone on their team is available with the exception of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Nene Hilario.

In talks with ATL for Josh Smith, Wizards have said all but 3 players available: J Wall, B Beal & Nene — Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

  I don’t believe that there is a great chance for the Wizards to grab Smith unless Emeka Okafor was sent to Atlanta. Again, Okafor would allow the Hawks to satisfy their desire to move Horford to the power forward. Finally, what has emerged as the most probable destination for Smith has been reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein. The Brooklyn Nets are predicted to land Smith in a three team deal, says one unknown team close to the situation. Although this has been reported, I’m not so sure who the Nets would include in the group they would end up exporting. Kris Humphries isn’t exactly a valued commodity in the NBA right now, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Nets trying for Josh Smith but ATL has no interest in offers w/Kris Humphries. Neither do many teams they’re trying to involve for 3-way — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 19, 2013

JJ Redick

JJ Redick might be rumored to be on the move less than Josh Smith is but nonetheless, Redick has been talked about. The Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and most recently, the New York Knicks have all showed interest in the sharp shooter.

The Magic and Knicks have discussed a J.J. Redick for Iman Shumpert trade. Other players (and maybe a third team) would have to be involved.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 19, 2013

Feb 8, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks point guard Iman Shumpert (21) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

A deal of this nature really makes sense to me. Redick would fit right in with a Knicks team that absolutely loves to hoist up 3′s. The veteran two guard will also contribute to the Knicks’ “win-now” mentality. Redick has experienced the playoffs a few times, including a 2009 NBA Finals appearance with the Orlando Magic. On the other side of the coin, Iman Shumpert would be a great addition to the Magic. He’s a young, athletic player with plenty of potential that can help this team through the rebuilding process. Not that Shumpert is going to be the next Messiah in Orlando, but he’ll surely be apart of their future plans.

As you see above, Alex Kennedy of Hoops World reports that there would need to be other players or teams involved for this deal to get done. Said players/teams are unknown but when it comes down to it, if these two teams are serious about this, they will find a facilitator to get it done by Thursday. One thing to keep in mind though is that GM Rob Hennigan has told Redick that the team is open to resigning him when he hits free agency this summer, according to reports from Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Other Murmurs

• The Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Mike D’Antoni wants to make a move to acquire guard, Raja Bell. D’Antoni coached Bell in early Phoenix days.

Mike D’Antoni has remained intrigued with bringing exiled Jazz guard Raja Bell to Lakers, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• The Portland Trailblazers are still open to move JJ Hickson but apparently haven’t been blown away by any offers they may have gotten from teams around the league. Portland still willing to move J.J. Hickson, but hasn’t found an appealing offer yet, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• Eric Maynor and Sebastian Telfair of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns respectively, are available.

OKC aggressively shopping PG Eric Maynor. Asking price is high. Phoenix looking to move Sebastian Telfair to clear PT for Kendall Marshall.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

January 30, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) is defended by New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton (2) during the third quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Unusual news in the NBA world today, as it was announced that the Orlando Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu has been suspended for violating the league’s drug policy.

The NBA PR department announced the news on Twitter earlier today.

Whoa. RT @nbapr: ORL’s Hedo Turkoglu Suspended 20 games for violating terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) February 13, 2013

According to the press release from the Magic, the drug in question was called methenolone, which is an anabolic steroid.

From the same press release, Turkoglu had this to say about the suspension.

“While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury. I didn’t know that this was a banned substance and didn’t check before taking it.”

He added,

“I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates, and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake.”

Turkoglu, who has barely played this season, last appeared on February 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 0 points over 18 minutes. For the season, Turkoglu is averaging just 3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Dec 31, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) attempts a layup between Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) and power forward Josh McRoberts (17) during the third quarter at Amway Center. Miami defeated Orlando 112-110 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Grizzlies (19-9) 83 @ Pacers (18-13) 88

•  Leading scorers: MEM –  Zach Randolph 21, IND – Paul George 21.
•  Despite the win, the Pacers got outscored in the paint 44 to 18.
•  Paul George led the way for Indiana with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
•  Z-Bo posted another double double for the Grizz with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
•  Rudy Gay put up an ugly 3 for 17 shooting performance (11 points total).

Bobcats (8-23) 91 @ Bulls (16-13) 81

•  Leading scorers: CHA – Kemba Walker 18, CHI – Luol Deng 19.
•  The Bobcats FINALLY ended their 18-game losing streak with a rare road win.
•  Kemba Walker put up 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and even 2 blocks.
•  Little known Jeff Adrien (Connecticut) put up 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 23 minutes off the bench.
•  Luol Deng put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
•  Carlos Boozer also put up a double double with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Heat (21-8) 112 @ Magic (12-19) 110 – OT

•  Leading scorers: MIA – LeBron James 36, ORL - Aaron Afflalo 28.
•  LeBron had a ridiculous game with 36 points (15-16 FT), 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
•  Ray Allen poured in 17 (6-9 FG) off the bench.
•  Nikola Vucevic had an incredible 20 points and 29 rebounds (11 offensive).
•  The Magic outrebounded the Heat 50-33.

Hawks (19-10) 104 @ Rockets (17-14) 123

•  Leading scorers: ATL – Lou Williams 21, HOU – James Harden 28.
•  The Rockets kept to their league leading scoring ways with 123 points on 53.6% shooting (55.2% from three).
•  Omer Asik posted 11 points and 17 rebounds.
•  Carlos Delfino had a great game off the bench with 22 points (6-8 3PT) and 8 assists.
•  Lou Williams got the start and had 21 points (9-16 FG).

Nets (16-15) 73 @ Spurs (25-8) 104

•  Leading scorers: BKN – MarShon Brooks 16, SAN – Tony Parker 20.
•  The Spurs shot an incredible 58.9% (43-73) from the field and outscored the Nets 56-32 in the paint.
•  Tony Parker led the way with 20 points (9-13 FG) and 6 assists.
•  The Nets “Big 3″ of Williams, Johnson and Lopez combined for 12 for 34 for 31 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
•  MarShon Brooks led the team with 16 points (7-12 FG) in only 19 minutes.

Suns (11-21) 96 @ Thunder (24-6) 114

•  Leading scorers: PHX – Luis Scola 24, OKC – Kevin Durant 30.
•  The Thunder shot 50.6% from the field and committed only 5 turnovers for the game.
•  Durant (30) and Westbrook (24) accounted for 47% of the Thunder’s points.
•  Kevin Martin struggled, shooting only 2 for 12 from the floor.
•  Luis Scola continued his solid scoring run with 24 points on 10-17 shooting.
•  Michael Beasley earned a “DNP – Coaches Decision” for the game.

December 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) controls the ball against the defense of Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Suns (7-11) 99 @ Knicks (12-4) 106

• Leading scorers: PHX – Marcin Gortat 18, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 34.
• Carmelo got his 34, but shot only 11 for 27 from the field (which included 4-10 from behind the arc).
• The usual steady J.R. Smith managed only 4 points off the bench, shooting a dreadful 1 for 11 from the floor.
• Tyson Chandler posted a double double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
• Rasheed Wallace 1 minute (and 25 seconds) before getting ejected with 2 technical fouls during that short time.
• The Knicks remained a perfect 7-0 at home.
• The Suns were led by Gortat’s 18 points (8-11 FG) and 10 rebounds.
• Shannon Brown contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds in his new starting role.
• Michael Beasley (9 pts, 4 rebs) posted a game-worst -20 rating.

Magic (6-10) 113 @ Lakers (8-9) 103

• Leading scorers: ORL – Aaron Afflalo 30, LAL – Kobe Bryant 34.
• The Magic used a 40-point 4th quarter to shock Dwight Howard and the Lakers at home. Revenge maybe?
• The Magic were also 19-20 (95%) from the free throw line, while the Lakers were 25-39 (64.1%).
• Orlando was led by Aaron Afflalo with 30 points (11-18 FG), 5 rebounds, 5 assists.
• The Magic had double doubles all over the place. Glen Davis (23 pts, 12 rebs), Nic Vucevic (17 pts, 12 rebs) and Jameer Nelson (19 pts, 13 asts) all posted them.
• J.J. Redick was his usual self off the bench with 14 points and 7 assists.
• Kobe Bryant needed 27 shots (made 12), but finished with 34 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Dwight Howard put up 21 points and 15 rebounds, but was an almost unbelievable 9 for 21 (43%) from the free throw line.

Nov 21, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) and point guard Jameer Nelson (14) talk during a stop in play against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter at Amway Center. Orlando defeated Detroit 90-74. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE

In case you haven’t noticed, there is still a basketball team in Central Florida.  After being the center of media attention for 1.5+ seasons, the Orlando Magic are now the forgotten team of the NBA.  Now that Dwight Howard can no longer hold the franchise hostage, it’s time to evaluate how the team can work its way back to relevance.  Even before Howard was traded, the Magic were given two nationally televised games during 2012-13.  Since then, those networks re-assigned the national telecast to other games, so few will ever have the opportunity to watch this team and give them a fair shake.  As a Magic season ticket holder, I’m among the few who have been able to evaluate the team first hand.  And despite my heavy pessimism about the team’s outlook heading into the season, I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised.  Last night, I watched the team give Boston a run for their money in OT after being down for most of the game, and despite the loss, think there is a lot of good that can come out the game that can carry through the rest of this season.

In what was Dwight’s (and coach Stan Van Gundy’s) last season with the Magic, it was painfully evident how awful the team’s chemistry was.  Even though they were still somehow won 56% of their games, you could tell there was something wrong.  You could see it in the other Magic players’ body language:  they were sick and tired of the soap opera revolving around Dwight.  They couldn’t stand him pointing out their inadequacies.  They simply didn’t want to play with him anymore.

In the blockbuster trade over the summer where superstars were dangling around among three other teams (LA, Denver, and Philadelphia), none of the biggest names were going to Orlando – not Andrew Bynum, not Pau Gasol, not anybody the Magic were originally considering trading for.  Instead, they completely dismantled the team and got a boat load of trade exceptions and draft picks, as well as middle-of-the-road players like Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless.  Then began life After Dwight Howard (A.D.12), where the team is now being built around Afflalo, JJ Redick, and Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis – a trio hardly anybody considers to be top tier.

Expected to be the laughingstock in most preseason predictions of various NBA affiliates worldwide (myself included), this Orlando team has been consistently displaying something I never saw last season:  Heart and Hustle.   While their lack of superstar talent is extremely evident, they have been playing like a playoff team, and are better than what their record (5-8) indicates.  As the season progresses, they will either become a lottery team or be a threat to make the 7^th or 8^th seed in the East.  We won’t know which way they will go, but here are a few strengths and weaknesses to consider:

Strengths

Coaching:  Considering the circumstances, new head coach Jacque Vaughn clearly has been managing the team extremely well.  Many scoffed at Orlando’s decision to hire Vaughn over the likes of Brian Shaw, but even Shaq – one of the biggest critics of the acquisition – pointed out that Doc Rivers was the last coach hired by the Magic with no head coaching experience, and we all know he turned out to be one of the best.  I’m not sure if Vaughn will get there, but he has been a dark horse Coach of the Year candidate to me so far.  He has been able to maximize the effort from his young  and inexperienced team.

Shooting:  Most lineups that coach Vaughn has put on the floor have featured five players that can all shoot from the perimeter.  Because they don’t have a dominating force in the paint anymore, this is mostly a perimeter team without any real good slashers (other than a few glimpses of vintage Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu). Nelson, Afflalo, Redick, and Turkoglu can all light it up from downtown, and big guys like Vucevic and Big Baby are fairly consistent from mid-range.

Ball Movement:  With the lack of a go-to superstar, ball movement has been a crucial element to the Magic so far.  A year ago, their offense mostly consisted of force feeding it to Dwight Howard in the post, which often resulted in him displaying his still-raw post game and poor free throw shooting.  Now, there are several shooters spacing the floor, and Nelson and Redick have been able to facilitate the offense fairly efficiently in certain pick-and-roll situations.   Although they are a perimeter oriented team without any great playmakers, they somehow have a decent amount of firepower on offense.

Weaknesses

Rebounding:  Although Vucevic and Big Baby have been holding their own so far, the Magic have often shown an inability to close out defensive plays.  The stats don’t reflect it yet with a small sample size of games, but with undersized bigs like Big Baby and Harkless, this team is going to get outrebounded regularly.

Dribble Penetration:  A team without elite playmakers, slashers, or post players, the Magic do not exactly feature an inside-out attack.  They are currently 2^nd to last in Offensive Efficiency.  Most of their points come from pick and rolls featuring Nelson and Redick, as well as Big Baby’s creativity underneath the basket.  Afflalo, who is the most gifted scorer on the team, needs to improve his ability to penetrate in order to add another dimension to this offense – especially while Hedo Turkoglu is out with a broken hand.

Perimeter and Post Defense:  Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez were licking their chops when they saw this team on their schedule.  The Magic have nobody to keep elite bigs out of the paint.  Also, great point guards like Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo have had absolute field days against this team due to their inability to contain quick perimeter players.  Josh McRoberts has been doing his best against bigs like Lopez and KG, but he can only do so much.

Overall, I have been impressed by the Magic so far.  They are a scrappy, hard-playing team that won’t quit on any given night.  Obviously they have a long way to go, but considering that the team was decimated over the summer and is basically being built from the ground up, Magic fans have a reason to be optimistic about their future.  Of course, they could easily lose a lot of games this year given all their inexperience and weaknesses, but there is light at the end of the tunnel in the A.D.12 era.

Nov 06, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic power forward Glen Davis (11) during the second half at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Orlando Magic 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Magic (2-1) 93 @ Bulls (3-1) 99

• Leading scorers: ORL – Aaron Afflalo 28, CHI – Luol Deng 23.
• For the Magic, Glen Davis and Nikola Vucevic both posted the exact same double doubles with 16 points and 10 rebounds each. However, their shooting numbers were quite different: Davis was 7-22, while Vucevic was 5-13.
• Aaron Afflalo was incredible in posting 28 points (10-17 FG), 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
• J.J. Redick is quietly averaging 6.3 assists per game off the bench (7 tonight).
• The Bulls frontcourt of Noah, Deng and Boozer combined for 55 points and 25 rebounds (Noah recorded 5 blocks).
• The Bulls only went 2-6 for the entire game from 3-point range.

Raptors (1-3) 88 @ Thunder (2-2) 108

• Leading scorers: TOR – Jonas Valanciunas 18, OKC – Russell Westbrook 19.
• In a blowout game where no Thunder starter played more than 30 minutes, it was quiet for box score material (Durant with 15 pts, 6 rebs and Westbrook with 19 pts, 8 asts).
• Hasheem Thabeet recorded 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 23 minutes. Are we ready to talk about adding him in deep fantasy leagues yet? Ummm… no.
• Kyle Lowry left the game with a sprained ankle, only recording 2 points and 4 assists in 17 minutes.
• Valanciunas was the lone Raptors bright spot with 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Pistons (0-4) 97 @ Nuggets (1-3) 109

• Leading scorers: DET – Greg Monroe 27, DEN – Andre Iguodala 17.
• Extremely balanced scoring for Denver in this game: Iggy 17, McGee 16, Faried 15, Lawson 15 and Koufos 14.
• Nuggets had 11 blocked shots in this game.
• Greg Monroe led the way for the Pistons with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Rodney Stuckey made 5 of 17 field goal attempts, which is pretty poor, but actually an improvement on his 1 for 23 season start.

October 19, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; Orlando Magic power forward Glen Davis (11) defends as Indiana Pacers power forward David West (21) shoots during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Knicks (2-1) 88 @ Raptors (4-1) 107

• Leading scorers: NYK – Carmelo Anthony 24, TOR – Andrea Bargnani 20.
• Even though Melo had 24, he was 0-7 from 3-point range. The team overall was 5-27 (18.5%).
• The Knicks only had 2 fast break points the entire game, while the Raptors had 16.
• Kyle Lowry had a nice second game in a Raptor uniform. He posted 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 5-6 from behind the arc.
• The Raps had a 45-35 advantage on the glass.

Pacers (2-2) 96 @ Magic (1-4) 112

• Leading scorers: IND – Tyler Hansbrough 23, ORL – Glen Davis 21.
• The Magic shot a blistering 54.9% from the field to get their 1st win of the preseason in 5 games.
• The Pacers were a dreadful 2-19 (10.5%) from 3-point land (Paul George 0-8).
• Big Baby Davis led the way again for the Magic with 21 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes.
• The Magic starting backcourt of Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick dished out 15 assists as they matched the entire Pacers team total.

76ers (4-1) 106 @ Nets (3-2) 96

• Leading scorers: PHI – Thaddeus Young 24, BKN – Brook Lopez 23.
• Some big games for the Sixers starters: Thad Young (24 pts, 9 rebs), Jrue Holiday (11 pts, 6 rebs, 12 asts) and Dorell Wright (18 pts, 11 rebs) all handled statistically business.
• Grantland’s Zach Lowe recently wrote this piece about the Nets “problem” in the middle, but Brook Lopez doesn’t exactly care (23 pts, 9 rebs).
• The Nets were an unimpressive 6-23 from 3-point range.

Timberwolves (3-2) 81 @ Bulls (3-2) 92

• Leading scorers: MIN – Andrei Kirilenko, Dante Cunningham 12, CHI – Carlos Boozer 24.
• The Wolves were doomed in this game by shooting 3-19 from behind the arc and committing 21 turnovers.
• Carlos Boozer finally stepped up for the Bulls with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
• The power forward position was particularly productive in this game as Taj Gibson also had 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Suns (2-2) 97 @ Thunder (2-2) 107

• Leading scorers: PHX – Wesley Johnson 15, OKC – Kevin Durant 22.
• The Suns bench got the majority of minutes in this game led by Johnson’s 15, Solomon Jones’ 10 pts, 10 rebs and P.J. Tucker’s 11 pts, 5 rebs.
• Hasheem Thabeet got the start in this game: 18 minutes, 5 points and 4 rebounds.
• Russell Westbrook had a very efficient game with his 18 points (6-11 FG) and 12 assists.

Kings (3-1) 103 @ Lakers (0-5) 98

• Leading scorers: SAC – Marcus Thornton 19, LAL – Kobe Bryant 22.
• Perhaps the most important stat from this game? 5. As in, losses. The Lakers are now 0-5 in the preseason.
• Another double double for DeMarcus Cousins  with 18 points, 10 rebounds.
• Could Devin Ebanks provide some depth to the Lakers bench this season? 20 points, 6 rebounds in 22 minutes.
• Kobe and Pau combined for 42 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.

Warriors (5-1) 101 @ Trail Blazers (2-3) 97

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 24, POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 18.
• One could argue that David Lee is one of the more under-appreciated players in the league. As usual, his 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in this game seem to always fly under the radar.
• Jarrett Jack stepped in (and up) for Steph Curry (who left with an ankle injury) with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.
• The five Blazers starters (Aldridge, Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Hickson, who averaged 27.8 minutes between them) managed to only grab 11 rebounds total.

• 

  Jan. 2, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) is fouled by Miami Heat center Joel Anthony (50) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

  AL HORFORD, C, Atlanta Hawks
  Last season: 31.6 MPG, 12.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 19.02 PER
  When he’s on the floor, Al Horford is one of the more efficient, well-rounded centers in the Eastern Conference and has made a couple of All-Star appearances as proof. However, reader Wesley Morton once pointed out that ”it’s unfair to compare him to centers.” Really? Should we compare him to point guards then? Regardless of that nonsense, Horford is considered an above-average center and will continue to perform consistently as long as he plays in the majority of the Hawks games. Given the roster was completely turned upside down in the offseason, it’s hard to pinpoint any of the new guys (could make a small case for Lou Williams) to be X-Factors. With Horford’s presence, the team at least has a chance as a postseason run, without him, they are in the lottery. We’ve been down the Zaza path before, it’s bleek.

• 

  June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky), right, is introduced as the number two overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats by NBA commissioner David Stern during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

  MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST, SF, Charlotte Bobcats
  Last season (at Kentucky, 40 games): 31.1 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG
  Surely the Bobcats won’t break NBA history once again and duplicate their .106 winning percentage from last season. I like that they did add some veterans in Haywood, Gordon and Sessions to blend with the insanely young roster of a year ago. That should make them better, albeit only slightly. With those three ultimately being of the role player variety, the true improvement of this team, now and long term, rests on the shoulders of their #2 overall pick, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Expectations will be high, but given MKG’s versatile skill set and relentless hustle, he should keep the Bobcats in a few more games this year and will certainly make them more bearable to watch, perhaps even exciting. Time will tell if this is Michael Jordan’s smartest decision yet, though it looks like it before the season tips off.

• 

  July 11 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat player Ray Allen (34), center, hold up his jersey next to president Pat Riley (left), and head coach Erik Spoelstra (right) during a press conference during a press conference at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

  RAY ALLEN, SG, Miami Heat
  Last season: 34.0 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 14.83 PER
  We all know exactly what the NBA Champion Miami Heat are… juggernauts. The team hardly needing fixing and is basically unchanged from last year, other than adding a couple of former teammates (on the cheap) named Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, you might have heard of them. Of course LeBron, Wade and Bosh are the focal points and will get theirs. Allen is the true X-Factor and with him, the Heat addressed one of the areas that they’re generally slammed for, their outside shooting. Who knows how far back the broken Mike Miller comes back and if he’ll be able to contribute at all? Even though Ray is well past his peek, the open looks he’ll get with the playmaking and command drawn by the “Big Three” (man I hate using that) makes them even more dangerous, if that’s even possible.

• 

  Oct 14, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon (10) is defended by Denver Nuggets guard Aaron Afflalo (6) at the Staples Center. The Nuggets defeated the Clippers 100-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

  AARON AFFLALO, SG, Orlando Magic
  Last season: 33.6 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 14.76 PER
  With the way the Magic’s roster has changed over the past couple of months, you could literally pick an “X-Factor” out of a hat. This franchise will be in trouble this year. Big Baby Davis needs to come into camp in shape, Jameer needs to play steady, Reddick needs to step forward and of course, you never know what to expect from Hedo. That’s why I think the real star of this team needs to be Aaron Afflalo. Already a terrific defender, Afflalo’s offense has gotten progressively better in each of his first five seasons, with his point totals looking like this: 3.7, 4.9, 8.8, 12.6 and 15.2. Based on that trend, he should make another leap this year. He did get a pretty generous contact in Denver, but he has a chance to prove that he’s worth even more this year as the potential face of the new-look Magic franchise and launch himself into the conversation of the premier guards in the East. He’ll certainly get to know them up close and personally when he’s in their face every night.

• 

  January 13, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor (right) drives in against Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (left) during the second quarter of a game at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

  EMEKA OKAFOR, C, Washington Wizards
  Last season: 28.9 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 15.13 PER (27 games)
  True story: I lost $500 on this game last season when the Washington Wizards decided to put up one of the most prolific shooting barrages the NBA has ever seen while visiting Portland. I watched, I almost cried, I could barely breathe. My point is, that was the ’11-12 Wizards, a careless, zero expectations crew that could string together a ridiculously lucky offensive performance every few weeks. This season, they NEED defense. I’ve encountered people of the opinion that the Wiz are a potential sleeper and have a shot at snagging a bottom playoff seed. To do that, they need a full, consistent season from Emeka Okafor. Yes, Nene absolutely has to play the same way, as well as the young fellas that make up the bench in Booker, Seraphin and Vesely. But Okafor must revisit the Charlotte Bobcats version of himself and get back near that double double player he once was. Although if Wiz are terrible again, no one will be shocked.

Jan. 16, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) and power forward Ryan Anderson (33) talk during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Multiple sources are reporting that the Orlando Magic have agreed to trade Ryan Anderson to the New Orleans Hornets in return for Gustavo Ayon.  Anderson is a restricted free agent, and thus must be moved in a sign-and-trade.  Details of an Anderson contract have yet to emerge and the deal has yet to be finalized (EDIT: Anderson’s deal is worth 36 million dollars over 4 years), but his potential departure from Orlando says a lot about the direction of both the Magic and Hornets.

By moving Anderson, arguably the team’s second best player at just 24, the Magic have entered full re-building mode, and a deal involving Dwight Howard appears imminent.  Anderson is the perfect complement to Howard as a space-creating stretch 4, and it was easy to imagine the two of them playing off one another to great success for years to come.  Now, though, Orlando’s roster is without its best young asset and Howard playing partner.  A Howard trade has been on the horizon for weeks, but this move signals the Magic may already have something in the works involving the game’s best center.

New Orleans, meanwhile, comes one step closer to major relevancy in the Western Conference just eight months after trading franchise cornerstone Chris Paul.  With Eric Gordon (who signed a max offer sheet with Phoenix as a RFA, but will reportedly be retained by the Hornets), 2012 number one pick Anthony Davis, tenth overall selection Austin Rivers, and Anderson in the fold, the Hornets suddenly have one of basketball’s best young quartets.  Losing the supremely underrated Ayon hurts, but is more than worth it given the acquisition of Anderson, especially considering what appears to be his reasonable new contract.  Some worry that adding Anderson – a power forward despite his perimeter shooting skill – pushes Davis out of position to center, but given the preference to speed and quickness over strength and girth in today’s game, this admittedly lithe frontcourt tandem should be able to hold its own against the vast majority of inside duos.  And offensively, it presents New Orleans with numerous advantages that outweigh the opposite on the other end of the floor.

Anderson’s move swings the pendulum in opposing directions for the Magic and Hornets, and it’s not hard to figure out which way for each.  Orlando can take solace in the fact, though, that their newest trade partner has turned things around so quickly after dealing its own face of the franchise.  Trading a superstar is never ideal in the NBA, but New Orleans has shown that with prudent decision-making and a bit of luck an organization can recover faster than we originally thought.

Box Score

Quick Recap: Trailing by two after the third quarter, the  Pacers used a 36-16 fourth quarter to pull away from the Magic and take the first round series. Danny Granger led the way for Indiana with 25 points, but Darren Collison was the difference, netting 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field. With the win, the Pacers advance to the second round where they will face either the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks.

Keys for Indiana in the second round

Early leads: In almost every game of the series against the Magic, the Pacers jumped off to a double-digit first quarter lead. That can make a big difference, especially for a team that is more than likely going to be the underdog in the second round. If Indiana continues to jump out to early leads, it will put pressure on their opponents.

Danny Granger: In three out of the five games of this series, Granger shot 40% or worse from the field, and attempted 20 shots or more in all but one game. The Pacers will need  better shooting performances from Granger if they have a chance of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

Assists: More than likely, the Pacers will see the Heat in round two. Indiana ranked second to last in assists per game this past season, and going up against great perimeter defenders in Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Shane Battier will make it difficult for the one-on-one (Paul George, Granger) players to score. That means Indiana will need to get more drive and kicks from Collison and George Hill.

Controlling the fast break: Indiana did a great job of this against Orlando, holding the Magic to just 13 fast break points the entire series (of course, some of that is due to Orlando’s inability to get into the open court). Whether it’s the Heat or the Knicks in the second round, the Pacers will want keep the pace slow and their opponent out of the open court.

David West: West’s production improved drastically in the postseason and was one of the main reasons that Indiana was able to dispose of the Magic so easily. West averaged 12 points and seven rebounds per game in the regular season, but improved to 16 and 10 in this series. If West’s solid production holds up, the Pacers can be very good.

Bench play: The Pacers have a superior bench to both the Heat and the Knicks, so no matter the second round matchup, the Pacers should have that advantage. Unfortunately, the bench didn’t look great in the Orlando series, but it did play much better in Games 4 and 5. The performance of the bench could make or break Indiana’s season.

Apr 15, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (21) defends Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Miami won 93-85. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: With Iman Shumpert on the floor this season, Dwyane Wade averaged 10.1 more points and shot 7.5 more free throw attempts per 36 minutes than he did when Shumpert was on the bench.
• Take: Shumpert’s season-ending ACL tear in Miami’s win on Saturday was an obviously devastating loss for the Knicks, but not for the reason most think.  The story goes that without Shumpert – a rare defensive plus on the perimeter as a rookie – Wade will be free to exploit Landry Fields, JR Smith, and anyone else New York sends his way.  But the statistics tell a different story; Wade was much more productive and efficient offensively when matched up against the aggressive rookie.  The sample size here is admittedly small, but the idea remains that the Knicks might be just as adversely affected on offense as they are on the other end without Shumpert.  Though hardly a marksman from long-range, he fared much better than Fields in that regard this season, and his absence means the already limited floor-spacing for New York will be even more scarce.

Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers (7:30EST on NBATV): Magic lead series 1-0

Apr 28, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers power forward David West (21) shoots the ball against Orlando Magic power forward Glen Davis (11) and Orlando Magic power forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the first half of game one in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: In Saturday’s 81-77 home loss, the Pacers made just 11 of their 28 attempts at the rim for a mark of 39.8%.
• Take: Dwight Howard sure did a great job protecting the rim and affecting shots in his team’s win on Saturday.  Wait… That Dwight-less Orlando was able to so effectively bother Indy’s shots in the paint is a great indicator of future success in this series.  The Magic blocked eight shots on Saturday – almost double their 28th ranked season-average of 4.2 – with Earl Clark swatting four and the vertically challenged Glen Davis getting three of his own.  The Pacers shot just 58% at the rim this season (good for 29th in the league), so their struggles here are hardly new.  But their inaccuracy in-close was as bad as it gets in game 1, and credit goes not only to Clark and Davis but also Orlando’s general aggressive and scrappy defensive disposition when Indy got the ball in the paint.  If the Magic can continue to wreak collective havoc when the much longer Pacers are at the rim, they’ll have a distinct advantage most everyone thought would be the opposite when this series began.

Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30EST on TNT): Thunder lead series 1-0

Apr 26, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry (31) looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: With Jason Terry on the bench, the Thunder have a defensive rating of 90.0 against Dallas this season.  When Terry is on the floor, that number jumps all the way to 103.2.
• Take: That stark contrast in OKC’s defensive efficiency is hardly surprising – a nuanced veteran with the shot-making skills of Terry will always give the occasionally undisciplined Thunder fits.  Terry had 20 points on 8-10 shooting Saturday in addition to five assists, posting the Mavericks’ best plus/minus number (+8) along the way.  He hurt Oklahoma City most in primary and secondary transition situations where the Thunder routinely struggle to get back on defense and locate the opposition’s biggest threat.  Terry has one of the quickest releases in the game, and OKC’s preoccupation with Dirk Nowitzki and the unparalleled distribution skills of Jason Kidd make help make him a very tough cover for the Thunder.  He was held in check down the stretch on Saturday, though, as Russell Westbrook devoted full attention to not allow Terry space and used his superior size and strength to push Terry from his most comfortable spots on the floor.  Nowitzki, obviously, is what makes the Mavericks go, but the play of Terry will mean just as much in deciding the ultimate outcome of this series.

Thursday morning’s press conference had Stan Van Gundy (left) and Dwight Howard (right) in a bizzare and awkward situation

Before offering my opinion on Howard, I will say this:  ESPN’s David Thorpe offered some very perceptive words about Dwight Howard on Thursday, saying that Howard “is really just like so many young stars in all careers — Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Young men with enormous talent and a promising future, forced to grow up faster than they are prepared to do. Mistakes in judgment are made, and sometimes emotions ugly things up for a while. But I am sure that over time things will get better for him as he matures.”

While it’s so easy for all of us outsiders to criticize Dwight, we do tend to overlook what Thorpe pointed out:  he’s still a young 26-year old kid.  We just tend to ignore that because, like many lines of work, the NBA is another place that forces you to mature faster than you can.  That’s why Howard has been handling all of this so poorly – even though we have high expectations, maturity wise, for a team’s franchise player, being in a position to flex power and leverage can have dire consequences for an immature person.  So, while I am just as guilty as anyone of no longer giving Howard any benefit of the doubt, we do have to give him a chance to grow up after this experience.

Okay, enough of playing devil’s advocate.  That being said…

Howard simply cannot be trusted.  He has a disturbing tendency to throw everyone else around him – players, coaches, GMs, what have you – under the bus.  And as we found out before the trade deadline, he is extraordinarily flaky.  After Thursday night’s blowout loss to the Knicks (at HOME, no less), where Howard had a poor game (8 points, 8 rebounds, and was scoreless at the half), he claimed he was trying to get back in a rhythm after returning from injury – but still putting in max effort for his team.  Who’s BSing now?  If I’m a GM, I’d be weary of a guy who has a history of calling out his teammates for not being good enough and his coach for being too negative.  There are extenuating circumstances when a player has a right to complain to upper management about their coaching situation (e.g. Magic Johnson with Paul Westhead), but this is certainly not one of them.

After Dwight’s series of bad decision making, does LeBron James’ “Decision” look that bad anymore?  I don’t think it does.  Unlike LeBron, Howard has caused several uproars and imploded the team before even becoming a free agent.  Yes, I think Howard has made people hate LeBron a little less – and that in itself is no small feat.

Much of the hatred toward LeBron for his “Decision” has been shifting towards Dwight Howard

Van Gundy has taken a lot of criticism as well – especially for revealing a supposedly private conversation with management to the media.  But if you were Van Gundy, would you WANT to keep quiet and continue to be a scapegoat in defense of a guy who’s trying to get you fired?  He has kept pretty quiet in the midst of all the turmoil for this long.  After Howard continued his subversive antics, you can’t blame SVG for saying what he said.  Let’s not side with the guy who – let’s not forget – is still handcuffing the organization by refusing to commit to them long term.  Why would GM Otis Smith take his advice on personnel decisions?

So what’s next for Van Gundy, Howard, and Orlando?

I think Stan is going to resign.  Whether he’s lost the entire team is up for debate, as we’re not entirely sure if the rest of the team has any qualms with Van Gundy the same way Dwight evidently has.  If Stan has lost the team, then so has Howard; he has isolated himself by his flakiness and the constant criticism of everyone else around him.  The fact that they’ve had the 3^rd-best record in the East for most of the season is a miracle – and a testament to Van Gundy, not Howard.  But either way, there’s no way Van Gundy can keep this up for much longer.  If they think they can suck it up the rest of the season, they’re kidding themselves.

LOSERS:

 Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard’s Public Image

Mar 14, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) shoots a free throw during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT

Where do we even begin?  After requesting a trade in the off-season, and a series of eyebrow-raising comments and little girly-like, flaky behavior, most expected Dwight to be traded today.  But after changing his mind seemingly every 15 minutes, he ultimately decided to waive his ETO to become a free agent this summer and extend this back-and-forth debacle for another year.  Sure, it’s a temporary relief for Orlando to keep him and have more time to decide what to do with him.  But the stigma of Howard wanting to leave has not changed and will continue to linger with the team.  Here is a notional transcript of how I think conversations between him and those giving him advice (whether it’s his friends, Nets personnel, or anyone not qualified to help him make a decision) went:

• [Dwight]:  Man, I don’t know what to do.  I want to go to Brooklyn and play with my boy D-Will, but I don’t want them to clean out their roster in order to get me.
• [Bad Advisor]:   Why don’t you just sign with them as a free agent for less money?  That way, they’ll keep Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, and draft picks they would have had to give up if they traded for you.
• [Dwight]:  Hmm, maybe I could tell them to “roll the dice” [which he stupidly did, by the way] and make them keep me until the off-season, and then maybe I could audition for free agency by carrying my mediocre Magic team to the second roundof the playoffs and beyond!
• [Bad Advisor]:  Oh yeah!  Maybe tell them that you won’t opt out of your contract this year.  That way, you can leave for nothing!

A few hours later, after the Magic told Dwight to sign a waiver to commit to the 2012-13 season:

• [Dwight]:  ****, they’re making me sign a waiver because of what I said!  I was hoping they would just take my word for it!  I don’t know if I want to wait to leave for a whole ‘nother year!  They’re totally on to me..
• [Bad Advisor]:  Sounds like you’re between a rock and a hard place on this one.  They don’t trust you – you have to earn their trust back; maybe after a year, they will think you’re loyal again.
• [Dwight]:  Okay, how about this – I’ll just sign the waiver and try to be super loyal from now until next summer so that they can let me go for free!  And then, the Nets won’t have to blow up their roster before I get there!  And if D-Will leaves by then, I’ll at least have my choice of where I can go when I become a free agent!
• [Bad Advisor]:  Great idea!  Now just let the Magic and their fans know how sorry you are and that you’re in it for the long run – and by that I mean, you’re in it for another year.

Of course, this is all my personal speculation.  But I don’t see anyone else making plausible sense of Dwight’s last 24-48 hours.

Also, if I’m other NBA teams, I don’t even want to touch this guy unless he signs with me long-term.  His logic for what he wants in a team has been shaky at best.  Even though he claims he wants to pair up with a superstar, he doesn’t want to go to Chicago because it’s too cold.  He also wants to be the #1 guy.  He wants to play with his friends.  He wants to have input on personnel decisions.  I mean, seriously, what the heck does he want?  Nobody knows, and that’s why nobody pulled the trigger on a trade.  That’s what he gets for being flaky.

If you’re a Magic fan, you have to loathe this guy right now.  And don’t be fooled for a second – he wants to go elsewhere – just not to a bad and depleted team.  In the super awkward and embarrassing press conference after his decision was announced, Dwight pretended that his decision was a result of his “loyalty” to the team.  Please!  If he were really loyal, he would have signed a long-term extension.  Instead, he’s opting to drag this circus on for another year.  I can’t wait!

Of all the parties listed below, several were directly affected by the Dwight Howard saga.

New Jersey Nets

The obvious loser, at least for the short term, may have to wait until next summer to reap the benefits of Dwight’s exit strategy.   This is a huge blow to their chances of keeping Deron Williams as well, as he may not want to wait an entire year on a bad team before Dwight gets to town.  Their inability to land Dwight led them to make a panic trade for Gerald Wallace from Portland.

New York Knicks

Mar. 14, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson and small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) on the sidelines during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 121-79. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Much of the turmoil and destruction of Linsanity has been attributed to Carmelo Anthony and Coach Mike D’Antoni.  In a league that seemingly values “star” players more than coaches, D’Antoni became the scapegoat.  When D’Antoni resigned, it was a statement by the Knicks that they are behind Carmelo, even though he is the obvious culprit to the Knicks’ struggles.  Back when I was gloating about Linsanity, I warned everyone with a disclaimer that Melo may put an abrupt end to the Linsanity.  Sadly, my fear of Carmelo’s return was fully realized (read the full article here).  Ultimately, Melo refused to adapt to D’Antoni’s offense, and completely destroyed what made Jeremy Lin flourish.   In other words, expect Knicks fans and Melo haters to keep up the “Carmelo Anthony Sucks” forums.  I don’t blame them.  Firing D’Antoni, after he gave the abysmal franchise 10 days of hope without his two “superstars”, and keeping Melo through the trade deadline makes them perhaps the biggest losers of the trade deadline.

Also, blowing out Portland hours after D’Antoni’s firing means nothing.  All that meant is that it was a classic “Which Team is Less Dysfunctional” game.

Los Angeles Lakers

With Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum now fully vested in the team, the Lakers can make some noise in the Western Conference.  But I really have to question their moves today.  After acquiring Ramon Sessions and getting rid of Derek Fisher – who was one of the true staples of the franchise – I’m not so sure if they’re much better.  Sessions is a talented scorer and finisher, but not a true point guard.  How is that going to mesh with their Big 3?  And by getting rid of Fisher, they are going to be relying much more heavily on Kobe Bryant in crunch-time situations.   Given their narrow margins of victory over the last several games, I think this may come back to haunt them – especially in the playoffs.

WINNERS:

Milwaukee Bucks

Acquiring Monta Ellis for the oft-injured Andrew Bogut, their now-former franchise player, makes them a virtual lock to acquire the 8^th seed in the playoffs.  Ekpe Udoh gives them much-needed front court depth, as well.

Dallas Mavericks

I know they stood pat today, but their chances of replacing aging point guard Jason Kidd with superstar Deron Williams has increased exponentially.  After Dwight Howard’s catastrophic PR actions led him to stay in Orlando for another year, he threw a curveball in D-Will’s plans this offseason.  Now, Williams will have to make up his mind as a free agent this summer whether he thinks pairing up with Dwight will be an option or not.

March 09, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd (2) controls the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

San Antonio Spurs

Once again, never underestimate the Spurs.  After a few disappointing seasons by Richard Jefferson, they were finally able to dump him and Stephen Jackson in return.  If you recall, Jackson was once a Spur, and was instrumental in their 2003 championship run.  As a seasoned veteran this time around, he should fit seamlessly in Popovich’s system.  Once again, their savvy roster moves continue to amaze, and  I officially consider them to be a legitimate championship contender this spring.

And with the first round about ready to get underway, we’ve gathered our STS staff together for some predictions.

Anyone think one of the top teams are in trouble? Well let’s find out:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Bulls vs. #8 Pacers (more…)

Here’s a look at the first round dates and game times:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Chicago vs. #8 Indiana

Game 1 (CHI) – April 16, 1 PM ET, ESPN
Game 2 (CHI) – April 18, 9:30 PM ET, TNT
Game 3 (IND) – April 21, 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 4 (IND) – April 23, 2:30 PM ET, TNT
Game 5 (CHI) – April 26, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 (IND) – April 28, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 (CHI) – April 30, TBD (if necessary) (more…)