TrueMagicFan07

The reason I put Drew next to Toby is due to the fact that he is holding a blue ball. I wanted the two end balls to be the same color :)

Preview: Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma Thunder **Visit: www.magicbasketball.net (Eddie Rivera) for an update** Essentials Teams: Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma Thunder Date: March 15, 2013 Time: 8:00 p.m. Television: Fox Sports Florida Arena: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK Records Magic: 18-47 Thunder: 48-17 Probable starters Magic: Tobias Harris Aaron Afflalo Maurice Harkless Jameer Nelson Nikola Vucevic Oklahoma: Serge Ibaka Kevin Durant Kendrick Perkins Russell Westbrook Thabo Sefolosha Injuries Magic: Hedo Turkoglu Glen Davis PF - Feb 1: Out Oklahoma: *No significant injuries LINK: http://www.magicbasketball.net/

MAGIC-THUNDER PREVIEW Replicating the OKC model by Noam Schiller at 12:02 pm Tonight’s game between the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder is very likely to end a certain way. The Thunder are one of the league’s best teams, perhaps the only reasonable candidate, aside from the San Antonio Spurs, to topple the Heat from their throne. The Magic are starting rookies and sophomores while working under the 20-win threshold. There’s room for variance in sports, but we’re unlikely to find it here. However, as the Magic take the court in Oklahoma City, they will be facing off against more than just an overwhelming opponent. For the Magic, the Thunder are the goal line, the final realization of a plan that will hopefully lead the franchise back to better days. When Rob Hennigan was hired as the Magic’s general manager this summer, it was a fairly clear declaration of intent. Hennigan had grown under Sam Presti’s supervision in the OKC greenhouse, where the optimal model for rebuilding an NBA franchise from the ground was re-established: hoard draft picks and young prospects who will hopefully pan out, keep maximum financial flexibility, avoid the questionable temptation of signing average veterans to long-term deals, and put your resources into player development. Oh, yeah, and luck into a superstar or two (or three, and trade the third away). It’s that last part that is the most crucial piece of the puzzle. Fittingly, it’s also the hardest to emulate. It is perhaps somewhat unfair that Hennigan’s execution will ultimately be judged on his ability to stand idly by while ping pong balls are sorted out in the correct way in the correct year, but such is the nature of the business. LINK: http://www.magicbasketball.net/

Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. EST - Orlando, FL Amway Center TV: Fox Sports Florida ________________^^^Link: (Wallpaper_1200 x 900) http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/784/magicandlakersstartersro.png ________________^^^Link: (Wallpaper_1200 x 900) http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7393/magicandlakersstartersr.png

LAKERS-MAGIC PREVIEW By Evan Dunlap on Mar 10 2013, 10:15p SB Nation Jameer Nelson played eight seasons alongside Dwight Howard with the Orlando Magic and shared team captaincy duties with him for some of those years. Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Orlando on Tuesday, playing at Amway Center for the first time since the Magic traded Howard to L.A. on August 10th. Speaking with Magic broadcaster Paul Kennedy after Sunday's 99-91 win against the Philadelphia 76ers, Nelson downplayed the importance of the game. "It can't be just another game for Jameer Nelson and the Magic," Kennedy remarked. "It is just another game," Nelson said matter-of-factly, going on to emphasize the importance of playing cohesively as a team in Tuesday's showdown. On Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel asked Nelson for comment in response to remarks that Howard made about his former teammates. Nelson replied strongly, but with a degree of civility. "I would be less of a man to comment on certain things that people comment on about me and my teammates," Nelson said. Nelson posted 19 points and 13 assists against the Lakers in December, his first-ever head-to-head matchup against Howard. Orlando scored 40 points in the fourth quarter to win that game, 113-103. Link: http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/dwight-howard-la-lakers-orlando-magic-2013/2013/3/10/4087872/dwight-howard-orlando-magic-return-2013-jameer-nelson-la-lakers?ref=yahoo

Preview: Orlando Magic Vs. Philadelphia 76ers **Visit: www.magicbasketball.net (Eddie Rivera) for an update** Essentials Teams: Orlando Magic vs Philadelphia 76ers Date: March 10, 2013 Time: 6:00 p.m. Television: Fox Sports Florida Arena: Amway Center Records Magic: 17-46 Sixers: 23-38 Probable starters Magic: Tobias Harris Aaron Afflalo Maurice Harkless Jameer Nelson Nikola Vucevic Philadelphia: Thaddeus Young Evan Turner Spencer Hawes Jrue Holiday Charles Jenkins Injuries Magic: Hedo Turkoglu Glen Davis PF - Feb 1: Out Philadelphia: Nick Young - March 7: Day-To-Day Andrew Bynum - March 5: Out LINK: http://www.magicbasketball.net/

Preview: Orlando Magic Vs. Indiana Pacers **Visit: www.magicbasketball.net (Eddie Rivera) for an update** Essentials Teams: Orlando Magic vs Indiana Date: March 8, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. Television: Fox Sports Florida Arena: Amway Center Records Magic: 17-45 Indiana: 38-23 Probable starters Magic: Andrew Nicholson Aaron Afflalo Maurice Harkless Jameer Nelson Nikola Vucevic Indiana: David West Paul George Roy Hibbert George Hill Lance Stephenson Injuries Magic: Hedo Turkoglu Glen Davis PF - Feb 1: Out Indiana: Danny Granger - March 6: Out LINK: http://www.magicbasketball.net/

Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. EST - Miami, FL American Airlines Arena TV: Fox Sports Florida

I have already prepared the game thread for next Tuesday night's matchup, March 12, between the Magic and the Lakers. Note: If anyone else wants to do it, please pm me. Thanks, TMF

You might be right on this, barnettej. Read the following quote from ESPN.Com Monday, March 4. I didn't include it in my opening post/game thread starter because I wasn't sure where Miami was going with this. . .LeBron's so-called injury.

Monday, March 4 at 8:00 p.m. EST - New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena TV: Fox Sports Florida Vs. MAGIC STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Afflalo - PF Nicholson - PG Moore - SF Harkless - C Vucevic MAGIC BENCH______________________INJURIES Kyle O'Quinn____________________________Glen Davis DeQuan Jones_______________________Jameer Nelson Al Harrington_________________________Hedo Turkoglu Doron Lamb______________________________________. Tobias Harris______________________________________ Beno Udrih_______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________**Jameer Nelson is a game-time decision. . .according to Yahoo! Sports**

HEAT-MAGIC PREVIEW By ESPN.Com March 5, 2013 The Heat can extend their run to 16 games with a 12th consecutive home victory Wednesday night against the lowly Orlando Magic. "Hopefully we can continue to win," said Wade, who has averaged 28.3 points on 61.8 percent shooting and 6.8 assists in the last six games. "If we don't, hopefully we can get right back on it. That's what we've done all year. We're in a groove. We're playing well and finding ways to win." "Any time you get an opportunity to set a record, it's great for the organization and the guys involved," James said. "But we want to keep going. We want to keep winning each game by itself. We don't talk about the streak. We just go to the next game and play it out. We look forward to the next one." That collective focus has Miami playing like a team poised to successfully defend its NBA title. But the Heat are also still looking to get better, especially after committing a season-high 24 turnovers and going 5 of 21 from 3-point range Monday. Miami wasn't at its best in its first meeting with Orlando (17-44), getting outrebounded 50-33 and needing overtime to win 112-110 on the road Dec. 31. James had 36 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, but Magic center Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and an NBA season-high 29 boards while Arron Afflalo added 28 points. Afflalo scored five of his 26 in the final 38 seconds Monday to help Orlando snap a three-game slide with a 105-102 win at New Orleans. Returning from a six-game absence due to a knee injury, Jameer Nelson had 15 points and seven assists as the Magic shot 49.4 percent and rallied from 17 down to win for just the fifth time in 36 games. "This means a lot, being down by as many points as we were and going on to win," Nelson said. Link: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400278623

I agree with you OldKenimport. I have been saying this like for the past 2 or 3 years. I even sided with Balljunkie on this topic when he was posting here, and some posters here jumped all over me for agreeing with Junkie. As I said before, Jameer is a serviceable point guard but he should not be the starting point guard. The Magic has no other choice to use him right now because of all the rookies, and when Jameer is "on" he helps keep us in the game. But as OldKenimport mentioned, Jameer does not make good decisions, he is not a good passer, and he turns the ball over a lot. I have observed these behaviors often when Jameer was on the court. And I have wondered if anyone else noticed it too. Sure, when Jameer is on, he looks world class. But Jameer is Way_Y_Y_Y to inconsistent By the way, Jameer is a shooting guard, not a point guard.

HORNETS STARTERS .... SG Gordon - PF Anderson - PG Vasquez - SF Aminu - C Lopez HORNETS BENCH__________________INJURIES Roger Mason__________________Anthony Davis Lance Thomas___________________Jason Smith Austin Rivers______________________________ Xavier Henry______________________________ Hornets-Magic Preview By TAYLOR BECHTOLD (STATS Writer) | The Associated Press – 16 hours ago YAHOO! Sports New Orleans will try to keep pushing forward without rookie Anthony Davis on Monday night when they seek their sixth straight win over the plummeting Magic. While the Hornets (21-39) won for only the second time in seven games overall with a 100-95 win over Detroit on Friday, they've been playing much tougher in New Orleans recently. They're 8-5 at home since Jan. 7, and three of those losses have been by only four points. Arron Afflalo and E'Twaun Moore each had 12 points in a 108-82 loss to Memphis on Sunday, while trade-deadline acquisition Tobias Harris finished with just six on 3-of-14 shooting. Harris had averaged 20.0 points on 69.6 percent shooting in his first four games with Orlando. "I thought they might have been keying in a little bit,'' he said. "But as a player that when you have to adapt to what the other team is doing.'' Jameer Nelson, meanwhile, is a game-time decision after missing his sixth straight on Sunday with a bruised knee. Nelson had 28 points and 10 assists in the first meeting with the Hornets, but has totaled four points on 2-of-13 shooting in his last two in New Orleans. The Magic seek their second straight road win after dropping 14 of their previous 15 by an average of 11.2 points. They've lost four straight in New Orleans since a 95-88 victory on Nov. 19, 2007. Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/magic-hornets-preview-035316994--nba.html

Sunday, March 3 at 6:00 p.m. EST - Orlando, FL Amway Center TV: Fox Sports Florida @ _ MAGIC STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Afflalo - PF Nicholson - PG Moore - SF Harkless - C Vucevic MAGIC BENCH______________________INJURIES Kyle O'Quinn____________________________Glen Davis DeQuan Jones_______________________Jameer Nelson Al Harrington_________________________Hedo Turkoglu Doron Lamb______________________________________. Tobias Harris______________________________________ Beno Udrih_______________________________________ _______________________________________

GRIZZLIES STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Allen - C Gasol - PG Conley - SF Prince - PF Randolph GRIZZLIES BENCH__________________INJURIES _________________________Ed Davis_____________________*No Injuries To Report* _________________________Darrell Arthur _________________________Quincy Pondexter _________________________Austin Daye _________________________Jerryd Bayless GRIZZLIES-MAGIC PREVIEW By ESPN.Com March 3, 2013 After falling short of surpassing the longest win streak in franchise history, the Memphis Grizzlies would appear to have a good chance to start another run. The Grizzlies begin a string of five games against sub-.500 opponents as they visit the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Memphis had won eight in a row, matching the club record, before Friday's 98-91 road loss to a Miami team which leads the Eastern Conference and is riding a 13-game win streak. The Grizzlies trailed by only one point with less than 30 seconds left. Their win streak was built mainly by taking care of lackluster opponents, with six of the eight wins coming against teams with losing records. That includes an 88-82 home victory Feb. 22 over Orlando, which had seven players available because of injuries and a six-player trade with Milwaukee the previous day. One of the players acquired in that deal which sent J.J. Redick to the Bucks is Tobias Harris, who has averaged 20.0 points in four games off the bench in a Magic uniform. He had a career-high 27 in a 118-110 home loss to Houston on Friday, when Orlando was outscored 20-10 in the final five minutes. "We went out there tonight and played a heck of a game, brought a lot of energy, and battled to the end of the game," Harris said. "It just shows that as a team we're making steps. ... If we can just keep building on this, I think that would be good for us." Link:___http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?id=400278603

Friday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. EST - Orlando, FL Amway Center TV: Fox Sports Florida Vs. MAGIC STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Afflalo - PF Nicholson - PG Moore - SF Harkless - C Vucevic MAGIC BENCH______________________INJURIES Kyle O'Quinn____________________________Glen Davis DeQuan Jones_______________________Jameer Nelson Al Harrington_________________________Hedo Turkoglu Doron Lamb_______________________________________ Tobias Harris______________________________________ Beno Udrih_______________________________________ _______________________________________

ROCKETS STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... PG Lin - PF Motiejunas - SG Harden - SF Parsons - C Asik ROCKETS BENCH___________________INJURIES ______________________Greg Smith__________________Jeremy Lin: (March 1 Day-To-Day) ________________Carlos Delfino________________James Harden: (March 1 Day-To-Day) ________________Patrick Beverley ________________Thomas Robinson ROCKETS-MAGIC PREVIEW By YAHOO! SPORTS March 1, 2013 While Houston has been outscored by an average of 14.2 points during a five-game skid versus Orlando (16-42), these teams haven't met since Dec. 26, 2011. The Magic, who've gone an NBA-worst 4-29 since Dec. 21, followed Tuesday's 98-84 win at Philadelphia with a 125-101 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. The Kings shot 54.8 percent and outscored Orlando 56-44 in the paint and 25-8 in transition. Tobias Harris had a career-high 23 points off the bench while fellow newcomer Beno Udrih posted 14 and eight assists. Both players were acquired from Milwaukee in the J.J. Redick trade. "Maybe we played hard, but they played harder," Udrih told the team's official website. "We have a lot of talent and potential but we have to bring it every night. "I put all of my stats on the side when the team losses. I'd rather have zero, zero and zero and the team wins. So hopefully the next game we can be aggressive, play harder on defense and the offense will come." Harris, averaging 5.4 points over 73 career games, has scored 17.7 on 67.7 percent shooting in three contests with Orlando while wearing No. 12. "I know that was Dwight Howard's old number, but that's the number that I chose," Harris said. "I know there are a lot of expectations with that number and I'm happy to take on those expectations." Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rockets-magic-preview-233008850--nba.html

Preview: Orlando Magic At Philadelphia 76ers By Eddy Rivera • 5:30 pm • February 26, 2013 Essentials Teams: Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers Date: February 26, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. Television: Fox Sports Florida Arena: Wells Fargo Center Records Magic: 15-41 Sixers: 22-32 Probable starters Magic: E’Twaun Moore Arron Afflalo Maurice Harkless Andrew Nicholson Nikola Vucevic Sixers: Jrue Holiday Evan Turner Nick Young Thaddeus Young Spencer Hawes Injuries Magic: Hedo Turkoglu Glen Davis PF - Feb 1: Out Jameer Nelson PG - Feb 22: Day-To-Day Sixers: Andrew Bynum C - Feb 23: Out LINK: http://www.magicbasketball.net/ **EDIT: AL HARRINGTON WILL PLAY TONIGHT**

MAGIC-SIXERS PREVIEW By ESPN.Com February 23, 2013 A season that began with so much promise for the Philadelphia 76ers has fallen to its lowest point during their latest losing streak. While Andrew Bynum doesn't appear ready to provide a lift anytime soon, a home date against the free-falling Orlando Magic may help the 76ers get back into the win column. At 10-6 heading into December and hopeful that Bynum would return soon, the 76ers were feeling optimistic. Bynum, however, has yet to play for Philadelphia because of discomfort in both knees, and while he's practiced with the team recently, the 7-footer is still without a timetable for his return. In the meantime, the 76ers (22-32) fell to a season-worst 10-games under .500 with a 99-93 loss at New York on Sunday. Philadelphia also dropped four games behind Milwaukee for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Magic will try to snap a 10-game road losing streak -- their longest such skid in seven years -- on Tuesday night when they visit Philadelphia in a meeting between teams with five-game losing streaks. The Magic (15-41) have lost 28 of their last 31 following a 118-94 defeat to Cleveland on Saturday. They're mired in their longest road slide since dropping a franchise-worst 16 in a row in Jan. 27-March 21, 2006. "We're trying to play the best that we can and that's what you want to do," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "Each time you step on the floor you do your job." Link: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400278563

Friday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m. EST - Memphis, TN FedExForum TV: Fox Sports Florida Vs. MAGIC STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Afflalo - PF Nicholson - PG Moore - SF Harkless - C Vucevic MAGIC BENCH______________________INJURIES Kyle O'Quinn____________________________Glen Davis DeQuan Jones_______________________Jameer Nelson Al Harrington________________________Hedo Turkoglu *Edited* (Bench Players)

GRIZZLIES STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Allen - C Gasol - PG Conley - SF Prince - PF Randolph GRIZZLIES BENCH__________________INJURIES _________________________Ed Davis_____________________*No Injuries To Report* _________________________Darrell Arthur _________________________Quincy Pondexter _________________________Austin Daye _________________________Jerryd Bayless GRIZZLIES-MAGIC PREVIEW By ESPN.Com February 22, 2013 While their next game likely won't prove as intense as their last one, the Memphis Grizzlies aren't taking the opponent lightly, even if it is one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. Memphis (35-18) has thrived while facing mostly sub-.500 opponents lately but had to hold off surging Toronto and former leading scorer Rudy Gay for an 88-82 win Wednesday. In its next game, Memphis will face an Orlando team that's 3-26 in its last 29 and 1-15 since Jan. 18. The Magic (15-39) have also dropped nine straight on the road for their longest such skid since losing a franchise-worst 16 in a row in Jan. 27-March 21, 2006. Orlando, 2-9 all-time in Memphis and losers in four straight visits, likely won't have Jameer Nelson available to help end that drought. The point guard was diagnosed with a strained tendon in his left knee Thursday and is expected to be re-evaluated when Orlando returns from its two-game trip Saturday. The Magic will also be without J.J. Redick, who was among four players the team dealt away before Thursday's trade deadline. The shooting guard, who is averaging career highs in points (15.1) and field goal percentage (45.0), was sent to Milwaukee along with Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith for Doron Lamb, Tobias Harris and Beno Udrih. With a fuller roster, Orlando was having trouble slowing down opponents, giving up at least 104 points in each of its last five games. Link: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400278537

Wednesday, February 20 at 8:30 p.m. EST - Dallas, TX American Airlines Center TV: Fox Sports Florida Vs. MAGIC STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... SG Afflalo - PF Nicholson - PG Nelson - SF Harkless - C Vucevic MAGIC BENCH______________________INJURIES JJ Redick___________________________Glen Davis Gustavo Ayon______________________Al Harrington E'Twuan Moore___________________Hedo Turkoglu Josh McRoberts _______________________________ Kyle O'Quinn__________________________________ DeQuan Jones_________________________________

MAVERICKS STARTERS (Subject To Change) .... PG Collison - PF Nowitzki - SG Mayo - SF Marion - C James MAVERICKS BENCH___________________INJURIES __________________________Elton Brand _______________*No Injuries Reported* _______________________Jae Crowder _______________________Dahntay Jones _______________________Brandan Wright _______________________Rodrigue Beaubois _______________________Mike James _______________________Vince Carter MAVERICKS-MAGIC PREVIEW ESPN.Go.Com - February 20, 2013 The Mavericks played their first 29 games without Dirk Nowitzki and limped to a 23-29 record prior to All-Star weekend, leaving them in 11th place in the West -- 4 1/2 games behind Houston for the conference's final postseason spot. "It's not the second half, it's the last 30 games," Carlisle told the team's official website. "We're down to the last little more than a third of the season, and we're just going to have to go whistle to whistle." The Mavericks headed into the break winning three of four after a 123-100 rout of Sacramento last Wednesday, getting a game-high 26 points from Vince Carter off the bench. Extending that run might be quite difficult for a Magic team that has dropped 25 of its last 28 after falling 105-92 to Charlotte on Tuesday in a matchup of the NBA's worst teams. Orlando (15-38) is giving up 104.1 points per game during that stretch after allowing an average of 92.8 in its first 25 games. "Bad basketball. Bad defense. Just bad," guard J.J. Redick said. "Everybody was out there making mistakes. The NBA is about team defense. For the last 28 games we've been pretty awful on the defensive side of the ball." Orlando now will turn its attention to ending an eight-game road losing streak that is its longest since dropping 16 straight from Jan. 27-March 31, 2006. It has lost by an average of 16.2 points during its current road skid. Link: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400278526