Orlando Magic

[Phriggin' Ogre]

Pretty disappointed by the Magic.... I was expecting at least one of those 30+ point games from Howard. Orlando is going to miss their only consistent player in the Finals in Turkoglu.

[aaabbbccc]

ok it is my computer it changed the page for some reason
but any way great season orlando magic too bad about last night

[jzquince69]

Magic...

You know, losing in Game 4 the way they did, by blowing the lead and collapsing in merely 2 simple plays, it turned a 2-2 series tie to a 3-1 series disadvantage. That was too much to overcome. I hoped that wouldn't happen.

The funny thing is, that the Magic should have been the ones who were up 3-1 going into last night's game. Game 2 and 4 were theirs, but they blew it. That's why LA are the champs... again.

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

It kinda sucks that the Magic had the golden opportunity in a couple of the games to at least been up 3-1 in the series. Imo, the Magic needs an effective team leader and dominant scorer like Kobe, Lebron, or Wade. Going into the 4th qtr, I didn't see any one of the players getting the crowd hyped up or even trying to motivate the rest of the team to attempt a last effort comeback. I still think they can beat L.A., but they are going to have to develop that killer instinct within, in order to become dominant in the NBA. Anyhow, it still was a great season and I am certainly looking forward to the next season already.

[soup or man]

Originally Posted by F-L-A

So predictable.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtop...fdf2c0686617d4

Us Angeleos don't condone that at all. LA doesn't deserve a parade at all.

[alex7677]

what is wrong with the lakers fans???
how many championships has los angeles won again?? 15... exactly...
and they still destroy half the city. I can't even imagine what the parade will be like.

[aaabbbccc]

LA sucks and LA is great at the same time
hard to describe in words
I have been there it is both a horrible and a wonderful city at the same time

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

From the Associated Press: Updated: June 16, 2009, 4:24 PM EDT


ORLANDO, Florida (AP) - Hedo Turkoglu emptied his locker, shook hands with teammates and walked out of the Orlando Magic's practice facility on Tuesday. The Magic are optimistic it wasn't the last time.

Chief operating officer Alex Martins said the team was prepared to go over the luxury tax for the first time in its history, perhaps giving the Magic the space they need to re-sign the soon-to-be free agent Turkoglu and remain a contender to return to the NBA finals.

"The luxury tax won't be a hindrance," Martins said.

Turkoglu, Orlando's starting forward and a key component to its Eastern Conference title, reiterated Tuesday that he's planning to opt out of the last year of his contract to become a free agent on July 1. The Turk would make about $7.3 million next season in the final year of a $36 million, six-year deal.

"Opting out doesn't mean I'm going to leave," he said. "I'm looking for the best opportunity for myself and my family. I hope everything will work out for both sides and I stay here because I became Turkoglu here. It's a good time for me to make a decision, and hopefully everything will work out and I'll be in a Magic jersey."

Backup Polish center Marcin Gortat will be looking for a pay raise. He will be a restricted free agent and likely get a contract worth well more than the $770,00 he made this season, making it difficult for Orlando to retain him and Turkoglu.

Magic general manager Otis Smith said he's prepared to let Turkoglu and Gortat explore the free-agent market before making an offer.


"I hope everything will work out for both sides and I stay here because I became Turkoglu here."
— Hedo Turkoglu
"You're not going to buy a house without appraising it first," Smith said. "Appraise it."

The Magic have made no secret that re-signing Turkoglu is their biggest goal this offseason.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey provides all kinds of matchup problems for opponents. His rare combination of size and ballhandling skills have made him the player the Magic run their offense through when it counts the most.

But it will be difficult to re-sign him because Orlando is hampered with big contracts to its All-Star core of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis, who will be entering the third year of his $118 million, six-year deal.

But Martins said the team's recent success has given the franchise some wiggle room.

He said the Magic have sold about 4,000 extra season-ticket plans during the playoffs for next year, putting them at about 11,000. Their new arena, the Orlando Events Center, is scheduled to open for the start of the 2010 season and increase revenue — which is the primary reason they can go into the luxury tax if necessary.

Turkoglu couldn't say for sure whether he'll stay.

The 30-year-old forward averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season. Those were slightly down from a year ago, when he was voted the NBA's most improved player.

Turkoglu has spent the last five seasons in Orlando after four with the Sacramento Kings. He said he would consider taking less money to stay with the team he loves.

"Depends on how much less it is," he said. "Look, I have good stuff going on here. I'm not stupid."

[Westsidelife]

What the hell is up with this "should have been up 3-1" nonsense? It's called being clutch and the Magic weren't clutch enough. That's how the game works.

[alex7677]

does anyone know who exactly might get traded out?

[soup or man]

Originally Posted by alex7677

what is wrong with the lakers fans???
how many championships has los angeles won again?? 15... exactly...
and they still destroy half the city. I can't even imagine what the parade will be like.

The parade was fine thank you very much.

[jzquince69]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

What the hell is up with this "should have been up 3-1" nonsense? It's called being clutch and the Magic weren't clutch enough. That's how the game works.

its called post-game commentary...

its not nonsense... the magic were in a position to win games 2 and 4 and they blew it; they didn't have a real closer that would do what he was supposed to do, which was to a) make that easy layup in game 2, and b), make 1 of 2 free throws in game 4.

it wasn't b/c of any laker defense that made them miss those shots. it's b/c they weren't clutch. that's why they should've been up 3-1.

not to mention all the non-clutch free throws they missed.

so take a chill pill, b/c its time for college football.

[Phriggin' Ogre]

So when Fisher, Bryant, Odom, Gasol, and Ariza made those clutch shots it was Orlando that blew it? Hedo was making a lot of cluth shots but not enough. Orlando lost becuase they were beaten by the better team. Keep your head up high, though. Im sure that they'll return to the playoffs even without Turkoglu.

[jzquince69]

I don't know what it is with everyone whose got their panties in a bunch when someone analyzes the freakin series. If LA was the better team, it was only b/c Lee and Hedo choked on those two plays I mentioned above. Period. I'm not even an NBA fan; that's as objective an observation as possible.

LA is a great team. Orlando was dogged the whose playoffs by the media b/c they wanted Lebron vs Kobe. Orlando is way better than people give them credit for.

Like I said, a win is a win, and a loss is a loss. But when you look at how the Magic blew this series, it could've gone the other way. Even my LA pals acknowledge this; they're the ones who first told me they felt like LA got away with one in Game 2.

Personally I could care less. Someone always gets offended when a win is reported as the loser having blown it or vice versa.

BTW, Orlando blowing Game 2 and 4 has nothing to do with those players above making clutch shots at the end b/c it was Orlando which had a chance to seal the deal and they didn't, which alowed those players to step up and make a play, which they did. If Orlando made the shots they had to make, those players' clutch shooting afterwards would've been moot.

Kudos to the Lakers. They made the clutch shots and won the games they should've won, which means they played better than the Magic did.

[Westsidelife]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

If LA was the better team, it was only b/c Lee and Hedo choked on those two plays I mentioned above. Period.

So, LA being the better team was purely by default? Yeah, sure.

LA is a great team. Orlando was dogged the whose playoffs by the media b/c they wanted Lebron vs Kobe. Orlando is way better than people give them credit for.

That I will agree to.

But when you look at how the Magic blew this series, it could've gone the other way. Even my LA pals acknowledge this; they're the ones who first told me they felt like LA got away with one in Game 2.

You really think the Lakers still would've lost Game 3 had they not won Game 2?

Someone always gets offended when a win is reported as the loser having blown it or vice versa.

It's not hard to understand why. You're basically saying that the other team was given the win and that they didn't truly earn it.

Kudos to the Lakers. They made the clutch shots and won the games they should've won, which means they played better than the Magic did.

Don't you mean the games Orlando should've won?

And that's the reason why the Lakers won the championship. It was because they played better, not because the Magic choked.

[jzquince69]

I think the point you're missing or refuse to acknowledge is that Hedo is better than a 50% free throw shooter, yet he missed 2 free throws in a row at the end of regulation which means he choked. The clock doesn't run during free throws so there is no "we played better" factor on that play. If he makes 1 of 2, it's a 2-2 series. He didn't; FIsher made the 3 and tied the game.

Lee was a rookie and went up for a layup and missed it hard in Game 2. He didn't have the touch b/c he was probably surprised he got that open in the lane. He choked b/c of inexperience on that play. LA actually played bad defense on that play, but got away with it b/c he missed the layup, which was mostly uncontested. Orlando outplayed LA on that play but choked by missing the shot. The series would have been 1-1, instead of 2-0 Lakers.

LA got lucky b/c 1) Ming went down, which changed the complexion of the Western Conference playoffs, and 2) the team that spanked LA last year, Boston, was without it's big man, KG, which allowed the Magic to beat them in seven games.

If those two things didn't happen, we wouldn't be sitting here today talking about this. So, LA doesn't deserve any pats on the back except for the fact that they stepped up and did what they had to do to win- yes, they earned the trophy; noone ever said they didn't. Orlando had the talent to win the Finals, and they could have had they not choked at those two pivotal times.

You imply that if Orlando won Game 2, then LA would've played harder to win Game 3. Well, I say, that if Orlando broke LA's home court in Game 2, they would've swept them in Orlando and won 4-1, which was my original prediction. But, NBA playoff games carry a lot of momentum with them- win or lose, so it's hard to tell how a team will ultimately react: play harder, get complacent, or just feel outmanned and ultimately collapse.

Like I said, it's preseason college football right now and I could care less, b/c my Gators will be preseason #1 and may run the table. If they do, I'm sure there will be people out there saying "oh, the better team didn't win today" or "they got lucky in that one game" or whatever.

It's sports.

[FloridaFuture]

Magic in trade talks with Nets for All-Star Carter

Following in the footsteps of Cleveland's deal for Shaquille O'Neal, the Orlando Magic are close to completing a trade with the New Jersey Nets for guard Vince Carter, a source with knowledge of the talks told SI.com.

Terms of the deal being discussed would see the Magic sending point guard Rafer Alston, off-guard Courtney Lee and forward Tony Battie to the Nets in exchange for Carter, a seven-time All-Star who averaged 20.8 points per game last season for a New Jersey team undergoing the first stages of rebuilding. The Nets would also include forward Ryan in the deal.

While the deal would help expand the firepower for the reigning Eastern Conference champions, it would also save the Nets $40 million in salary commitments

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

[FloridaFuture]

Carter is 32, but he had a very good season last year.

I'm also not sure about trading Lee. The Magic have no draft picks and Lee had a solid season as a rookie. He's a good role player and will probably only get better.

That said a starting lineup of Howard, Lewis, ???, Nelson and Carter is solid as hell.

The ??? means if getting Carter means getting back Turkoglu would be out of the question. If the Magic get Carter AND Turkouglu, then oh my...

Or maybe either Carter or Pietrus could play foward...

[FloridaFuture]

It's now official. Magic and Nets deal is done:

Magic get:
Vince Carter
Ryan Anderson

Nets Get:
Rafer Alston
Courtney Lee
Tony Battie

I gotta admit, the loss of Lee kinda hurts.

[Westsidelife]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

I think the point you're missing or refuse to acknowledge is that Hedo is better than a 50% free throw shooter, yet he missed 2 free throws in a row at the end of regulation which means he choked. The clock doesn't run during free throws so there is no "we played better" factor on that play. If he makes 1 of 2, it's a 2-2 series. He didn't; FIsher made the 3 and tied the game.

So? That doesn't necessarily mean he was entitled to at least one of the free throws. Stats don't always have to match performance. Just look at Howard.

Lee was a rookie and went up for a layup and missed it hard in Game 2. He didn't have the touch b/c he was probably surprised he got that open in the lane. He choked b/c of inexperience on that play. LA actually played bad defense on that play, but got away with it b/c he missed the layup, which was mostly uncontested. Orlando outplayed LA on that play but choked by missing the shot. The series would have been 1-1, instead of 2-0 Lakers.

Yeah, the series would have been tied 1-1. The problem is, it wasn't. There is no "woulda, coulda, shoulda" in sports. Sports are all about playing in the heat of the moment. That's what makes them so exciting to watch. It's the clutch players that make all the difference.

LA got lucky b/c 1) Ming went down, which changed the complexion of the Western Conference playoffs, and 2) the team that spanked LA last year, Boston, was without it's big man, KG, which allowed the Magic to beat them in seven games.

Pure speculation.

Like I said, it's preseason college football right now and I could care less, b/c my Gators will be preseason #1 and may run the table. If they do, I'm sure there will be people out there saying "oh, the better team didn't win today" or "they got lucky in that one game" or whatever.

I'm just saying that even had Orlando not joked on the two plays as mentioned before, it still might not have been enough to swing the series in the other direction as you implied it would have.

It's annoying enough having your team accused of not being championship-worthy when they've proven themselves throughout the regular season by sweeping both the Cavs and the Celts. It's equally annoying to hear that they were handed a win/got lucky. But it's customary to hate on the Lakers, so I guess that's expected. That's what makes winning all that much sweeter.

I don't watch college football, or any football. I continue to relish this Laker victory that I've been waiting for all this time. And I continue to root on my Dodgers, who are just kicking butt right now.