Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Suppose it had been the Magic that had won their last eight games instead of the Heat. Suppose Orlando was still sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference, the darling underdogs of the 2004-2005 season. Would Alonzo Mourning have at least considered them in the same breath as the Miami Heat? And if so, would that make the Magic contenders for the throne?
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelproposed Orlando as a good fit for the center (see Newslines below), who is about to finish a buy-out with the Toronto Raptors. His best reason is poetry: as he puts it, that would give the Magic "`Zo, Cato, Hedo, Cuttino and Steve-o." Oh, oh, oh.
Is it all that farfetched? Well, yes, probably. Mourning wants to do a Karl Malone-like tour of duty to get himself a ring. He wants to contribute to a team on the cusp of winning a championship, but he doesn't want to be a starter and play 48 minutes a night for a team that but for him doesn't stand a chance of winning it all.
So could the Magic win it all this year without Zo? They do have a lot of firepower. They have two legitimate All-Stars in Steve Francis and Grant Hill. They have a terrific young power forward who is at least the second best rookie in the league. They have a solid backup point guard in Jameer Nelson. They have a near-All-Star in Cuttino Mobley. They have beef up front in Tony Battie. And they have the talented Turk Hedo Turkoglu.
In terms of depth, they rival any team in the league. It is still hard to see them going all the way but certainly stranger things have happened.
Would Zo push them over the edge? Or would the new rules instituted by GM John Weisbrod push Zo over the edge?
NEXT GAME
Revenge, Part Deux: The Magic (14-10, third in the Southeast) has already paid back the Denver Nuggets. Next up is the San Antonio Spurs (20-5, first in the Southwest) tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22nd. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m. Central time. The game will be broadcast on the Sunshine Network, KRRT in the San Antonio area and NBA League Pass. Tickets are still available for this game at the TD Waterhouse Centre.
TEAM NOTES
It's time to catch a very special experience that you can ONLY have with your hometown Orlando Magic. This is the ultimate fan experience for your child. Get up close and personal with NBA players as your child "works" for the team for one incredible night. (BALLKID AGES 7-14 ONLY).
Want the perfect gift for the Magic fanatic in your life? Want to shop easy and hassle free? Shop by phone, online or at TD Waterhouse this season and choose a Magic gift on your Magic fanatic’s wish list.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinel notes: Francis will hold his "Holiday Extravaganza" today for 75 children from the Central Florida Boys and Girls Club. Francis will distribute toys and books. . . . Francis leads the club in scoring at 21.5 points. His career-best for a season is 21.6, accomplished in the 2001-02 season. He averaged just 16.6 point last season with the Houston Rockets. . . . The Magic play their next three games at home, facing the Spurs, the New York Knicks (next Monday) and the Milwaukee Bucks (next Wednesday).
INJURY UPDATE
Kelvin Cato(subluxated shoulder),Brandon Hunter(elbow) and Andrew DeClercq(knee) are on the Magic's injured list.
Grahame L. Jones of theLA Timeswrites: Before the Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic, 117-107, Sunday night, Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald sat down with Grant Hill, Orlando's five-time NBA All-Star.Not surprisingly, the talk turned to Shaquille O'Neal and, in particular, to Shaq's house. "Well, it's big," Hill said. "You better carve out a couple of hours. It's probably the biggest house in central Florida. And he's added something on to it this summer. Very long house. A wall of fame with just about every Hall of Fame football, basketball jersey. He has everybody — Walter Payton, Joe Montana. Top of the top. I could go on for days." The most impressive aspect, other than the fact that access to Shaq's office can be gained only by using Shaq's fingerprint? "His garage," Hill said. "He has two. But I'd go through one to get to the basketball gym at his house, and the garage is as big as my house. Seven or eight cars. Motorcycles. Every imaginable toy."
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: If the Magic need more low-post scoring -- which will come in handy at playoff time -- why not take a flier on Alonzo Mourning?Mourning was traded to Toronto but is not expected to play for the Raptors, who reportedly are offering `Zo a buy-out. If Mourning becomes a cheap free agent -- and he's healthy -- he could help Orlando at center and power forward. Besides, that would give them `Zo, Cato, Hedo, Cuttino and Steve-o.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: Steve Francis plays Santa Claus for charity today.But first he will practice with the Orlando Magic, who have been giving away fourth-quarter gifts this season.