rising above

Guys, I have loved the Magic since back in the day, but you all joking yourselves if you think that we are championship material. Look at the last few championship winning teams, what did they consist of? An MVP of the championship series pg (Billups & Parker), a superior post player (Duncan, Wallace & Wallace), support in the post (McDyess, Eldon, Oberto), Defensive wing players that can score/spot up shoot (Bowen, Prince), star level scoring/slashing wings (Ginobili, Hamilton). The Spurs also had good backup PGs (Vaughn, Udrih). The teams both had great team D and could score quite well (if you look at Hollinger's stats, the Pistons were low scorers b/c of their pace, not b/c of their lack of offense). What are we missing here? We have an unproven commodity at PG in both Carlos and Jameer, a un unproven shooter at SG in JJ, a defensive slashing wing in Ariza, a bad defensive star in Rashard, but the man can shoot the lights out, a huge question mark at the four, a stud/all star in Howard at the 5 and some backup for him, but his backups (Gortat, Battie, maybe Augie are not starters). I honestly think we should trade to get a talented young backup like Udrih, Jarret Jack/Sergio Rodriguez (depending on who Portland would give up), Earl Watson, Jose Calderon (as Toronto seems committed to TJ), etc. Also, we need to get an active, experienced post player and a slashing/scoring wing. It would be great if we could get Maggette (maybe w/ a draft pick, they might go into rebuilding mode since Brand, Livingston and Cassel are out, and they just drafter Thornton), Ricky Davis (TWolves are for sure rebuilding and they don't want him eating up the youngins' playing time and moving them up in the draft), etc. I want to know why we didn't go after MoPete, and I wouldn't get 100 miles near Artest, not worth it. You have to consider the team's chemistry, that factors into W's and its not worth it for Ron Ron. In the post we should really try and get Fran over or sign PJ, as they would both compliment DHoward well. I know this is a lot to mention and most likely not going to happen, but you are either moving forward or by not moving you are going backwards, and by losing Darko and Hill and gaining Rashard, we've not gained any ground. We need to keep making moves if we want to be championship caliber, otherwise it's just gonna be the 'next year' battle cry again.

This is all speculation, but JVG came in and completely changed the offense on Francis who assumed he was an untouchable star and JVG doesn't exactly have a good track record on player relationships. For example, last year he pissed of Vassilis Spanoulis so bad that the guy after riding the pine one year in the USA never wants to play in the NBA again. (Now, I'm pretty sure that San Antonio will lure him in w/ the talk of Championships and playing time, but that's neither here nor there) Regardless, Francis felt betrayed b/c he loved Houston, still has a home there and never wanted to leave. This is also speculation, but when he got to the NY Knicks, he realized it was an absolute abomination of a team and pretty much gave up (everyone else did there, its infectious). Honestly, I expect Francis in specific and the Rockets in general to have a pretty great year... and I also don't expect Alston to get a lot of playing time and he may get traded. W/ Francis/James/Brooks, TMac/Wells, Battier/Novak, Scola/Chuck Hayes and Yao/Mutumbo, they have a pretty deep and deadly lineup. You guys keep saying that Adelman will have a tough time handling these guys, but you forget he had Doug Christie, Brad Miller, Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Peja and he recently coached Artest (although he had a harder time w/ him)... I think he'll be fine. Beyond Franchise, nobody is a serious headcase.

I'm not surprised he said this at all. Everyone expected him to be surly b/c he was pissed off at Brian Hill and Otis Smith for spurning him on the signing, however, the Magic treated him pretty well overall. Also, due to his crappy treatment at the Pistons, people expected him to typically be a snarly guy, but I think we are going to see a totally different player this year and good for him. Now, let's go Magic, this is a big year!!!

I love how all of the sudden we go from Otis being a retard for not signing Darko to Darko being a money grubbing loser ***** that can't play to save his life. Some of you guys act like 5 year olds.

quote: Originally posted by morlegend:wow..the sooner you leave the better. i really don't get the people that are fans of a player. You could argue the same for someone who roots for a team. A team is just a brand, both the player and the team are out for money, what's the difference?

I hate to say this, but when was it decided that Orlando is a surefire championship contender? We have question marks at the 1, 2 and 4 and depth issues. Can Nelson take that step up, is JJ good enough defensively to take over at the 2 and can Gortat and Augie take over for Darko? It looks like Memphis w/ Conley/Lowry, Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Pau Gasol/Hakim Warrick and Darko/Swift have as good of a shot as any. Don't be such homers, jeeeeeeeeez.

quote: Originally posted by magicdepth:LOL Really wants him thats why they made Varajao an offer first and when that fell through they went to Darko...Give me a break...Darko still needs to fire that looser! This guy is making millions to play professional basketball and you are calling him a loser b/c he is no longer on our team, I guess I don't really need to point out the irony.

I just checked on ESPN, Darko has agreed in principal to a 3 year contract well over the MLE w/ Memphis. Good luck to you sir and we hope to see you in the playoffs.

I just checked on ESPN, Darko has agreed in principal to a 3 year contract well over the MLE w/ Memphis. Good luck to you sir and we hope to see you in the playoffs.

Plus Billups is in his 30s and wants a fat contract, and if he gets one from the Magic, Wallace would have wanted one as well. Agree w/ you Robo, Hill was gone. This scenario is a little too fictional for me.

I hope to god you are right, but it looks more and more like that isn't going to happen. I love Darko and wish he would have stayed, as he and Dwight could have owned the Leastern Conference in the lanes for years. Alas, I'll root for him where ever he goes. As for us, JJ, Augustine and Gortat are looking mighty fine in the Summer League... but it is still the Summer League. Here's for hoping.

quote: Originally posted by athena:link? Exactly!!! I don't see this story anywhere on the web.

So, I hate to be a doubter, but where is the link to this article, since I don't see this on google news, florida today or anywhere else? Dude, don't make stuff up on this board, its not funny, especially this news.

The whole doom and gloom scenario is easy to take, partially b/c that is what keeps people interested, but I don't see all that happening. So far Darko's agent has spoken w/ Memphis and Philly. The 76ers are over the cap and the Grizzlies are pursuing Anderson Verawhatever first. Also, there haven't been reports of many teams talking to Cornstein, in fact, after his media outburst he's been pretty quiet. Looking at the two other teams, it looks like Cornstein is testing the market for Darko's worth. Going off the silence and the amount of trade talks going on between the Sonics and Orlando, it sounds like Orlando is going to unload some expiring contracts and/or draft picks, trade for Lewis and retain Darko's unrestricted FA status and Bird Right's so they can go over the cap to sign him (or go right up to it). You guys are going a little overboard w/ the doom and gloom, and I may end up being wrong, but this is the summer, its contract season... its basically an overly elaborate poker game. All the parts involved don't want to say too much, b/c then you may have some uninvited guests crashing the party.

I don't understand why everyone was so down on JJ to begin with. The man was the high scorer for Duke and quite obviously the guy that every coach they were playing against was creating defensive schemes for... and he couldn't create for himself??? Now he is on a team where he doesn't have to be the first option, he is not going to be schemed against and he won't be drawing the team's best wing defender every night. Tell me that with Darko, Dwight and Rashard the man isn't going to get 'some open looks.' I guarantee JJ will light it up this year, enough said.