Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Magic are playing their last game before the All-Star break tonight as they host the LA Clippers. They will enter the long weekend either with a 28-24 record or a 27-25 record, either way, with a winning season so far, yet a flurry of inexplicable disappointment. But what's the problem? Do they they think they are supposed to be 39-14 like the Heat? Or 30-21 like the Wizards? It takes time to build a champion.
The Magic roster was shaken up almost to the last player, and it's hard to call Grant Hill a returning player, since this is the first season he is healthy, and the first one he is an All-Star again. The Heat have Shaq. The Wizards spent all of last season getting their feet under them and learning Eddie Jordan's up-tempo system and their major acquisition this offseason was a former teammate of two of the primary Wizards.
Meanwhile, the Magic brought a group over from Houston, dismantled it's tightest pair, added a veteran from Cleveland, a couple rookies, and a Turk. These guys are just supposed to start winning non-stop?
It takes time to create chemistry. They had early success that was probably unwarranted by their chemistry to date and now they are falling back to earth. They are still a playoff team and should be pleased with a playoff berth.
The important thing is to build for next year. They are not quite contenders today but they should be looking to make some noise in the playoffs.
NEXT GAME
The Magic (27-24, third in the Southeast) host the LA Clippers (23-28, fourth in the Pacific) TONIGHT. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports and NBA League Pass. It is Orlando's last game before the All-Star break.
TEAM NOTES
HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF THE MAGIC PLAYERS? Submit it!Q: Steve, how much do you bench press? A: "210 lbs." Archive
INJURY UPDATE
Mario Kasun(knee) andAndrew DeClercq(knee) are on the injured list.Brandon Hunter(elbow) is questionable for tonight.
Dick Scanlon ofThe Florida Ledgerwrites: The NBA schedule is riding to the rescue of the Orlando Magic, who are going through a malaise that has painted a surprisingly good season with a dull shade of blah.With only tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers remaining before a long All-Star break, the Magic are 27-24. Nobody expects them to make it to the NBA Finals, and in fact there is no spot reserved for them in the playoffs. But let's do the perspective thing -- going into the All-Star break a year ago, they were 13-41.
Dave Del Grande ofInside Bay Areawrites: In a move that's basketball's equivalent of acquiring a "player to be named later," the Warriors dealt dependable veteran Clifford Robinson and his expiring contract to the New Jersey Nets for second-round picks in 2005 and'07 and a $5.29million trade exception...The second-round picks acquired will come from either the Los Angeles Clippers or Orlando Magic (whichever finishes with the better record) this summer and from the Nets in '07.
John Fay ofThe Cincinnati Enquirerwrites: Each time Ken Griffey Jr. heard another item of Reds news this offseason, his reaction was the same. Near shock. "It was: 'We got who? We got what? He was available?' " Griffey said... The rehab continued with a strengthening and stretching program at the Orlando Magic's facility in Orlando.A big day for Griffey came in December when he was cleared to play golf. "That was the happiest day of my offseason," he said.