TrueMagicFan07 Posted December 24, 2011 Report Posted December 24, 2011 VS. Sunday, December 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST - Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena TV: National - ESPN Local - Sun Sports Starting Line Ups - (Subject To Change) ************************************************************************************************ MAGIC TEAM REPORT Yahoo! Sports - Dec 23, 3:14 am EST Analyzing Starters: G Jameer Nelson is back for his seventh season, still full of confidence but he must be wondering how much longer he will be here if Dwight Howard has his way. He is Howard's good friend, but he also has heard Howard talk about the need for a better point guard like Deron Williams or Chris Paul. G Jason Richardson was re-signed as a free agent, getting a four-year contract worth $25 million. Richardson never looked real comfortable after coming early last season, but he should be better now and knowing his role if Howard remains. If Howard leaves, he likely will be a bigger scorer than he has been in Orlando. F Hedo Turkoglu has seen better days. He has a big contract, but no longer the fire to play good defense or take the extra step. He can still shoot, but he can't guard the top small forwards in the league. He will remain the starter because the Magic have nobody to replace him. He may get defensive help from Earl Clark in late-game situations. F Glen Davis might start, or he might come off the bench like he did in Boston. He is an unselfish player who will have to learn how to fit around Howard in the middle. The Magic also expect to use him as a second center if young Daniel Orton isn't ready to fill that role. C Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA and a three-time defending Defensive Player of the Year. He is big enough and athletic enough to dominate anyone around the basket. If his free-throw shooting improves, like he expects this season, he will be even tougher to handle. The question will be his mental state with all the turmoil surrounding him. Analyzing Key Reserves: F Ryan Anderson could be a starter or he will be a backup to both Davis and Howard in a three-man rotation around the basket. G Chris Duhon is a veteran who knows how to play, but he is nothing more than an adequate backup at point guard behind Nelson. F Earl Clark will be their defensive specialist, expected to slow down the small and power forwards, and even some big guards who are too fast for Jason Richardson to handle. G-F Quentin Richardson can hit the 3-pointer, which remains a key skill with all the attention that Howard garners in the middle. 2 Quote
TrueMagicFan07 Posted December 25, 2011 Author Report Posted December 25, 2011 Orlando Magic News: Larry Hughes, DeAndre Liggins Make Team, According to Report The Orlando Magic have elected to keep combo guards Larry Hughes and DeAndre Liggins on their opening-night roster, coach Stan Van Gundy said Thursday, meaning the two training-camp invitees have made the team, at least for now. Hughes could challenge Chris Duhon for Orlando's backup point guard job. Liggins, meanwhile, figures to see spot minutes as a situational defender. It's also possible the Magic will send him to the NBA D-League for seasoning. LINK Quote
You're Fat, Pat! Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 I will be impressed if the Magic are able to keep this close. We just don't have our legs under us, we're starting on the road, and their team is just blatantly better than us. It's not impossible, but highly unlikely. Final: OKC: 103 ORL: 88 Quote
Verathia Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 Let's see if Dwight will try as hard as he did last year. Quote
Shock Phantom Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 We usually play OKC well, I think it will be closer than most people are thinking. With that said, we lose. Quote
VCplusD12 Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 We lose. Looking forward to see us play, though. I missed this feeling Quote
Avante Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 Magic in a blowout. Durant shoots terribly Quote
Beast From The East Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re_84t3wCr0 My Orlando Magic Mix Magic Is going to win by 6 1 Quote
Capo d'Orlando Posted December 25, 2011 Report Posted December 25, 2011 We're basically fielding the same team as last year that only lost by 1 in OKC and blew them out in Orlando. Dwight's situation is obviously a distraction and we've looked sketchy in preseason, but I'll be disappointed if we don't win. Until I see that Dwight's mind/heart are elsewhere while he plays, I'm going to expect us to beat everyone, including the Thunder. Quote
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