WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING... WELL FOR PRE-SEASON ANYWAY!
by Andy Charles - October 8, 2009
It's two for two so far in preseason for the Magic, and the signs remain positive that there will not be too much of a downgrade on last season's results even though it's tough to base that on supposed meaningless games.
The hustle shown for much of those two games has been excellent, even if the shooting sucked against Miami, but at least it was one of those cases of winning even when you haven't played well... the Heat really were lousy all over the court.
Better perhaps to look at the opening game against Dallas for a closer call on how the Magic will look this season once everyone is available – don't forget Rashard Lewis misses the first 10 games of the season with his rather ridiculous suspension.
Four of the likely starting five were excellent, if a little rusty shooting, with Vince Carter, Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard all posting double figures in points and Dwight not taking long to rack up his first double-double.
Good news too on the bench where two of the players expected to come into games first, and perhaps press for starting berths, performed well. Brandon Bass played superbly down the stretch for 13 points (seven in the winning final period run) and Matt Barnes scored 16.
Bass could well force himself into the lineup for the first 10 games after impressing in spells with Dallas last season, but his role in Orlando should be bigger, covering both of the forward berths and maybe pressing Mickael Pietrus who struggled against Dallas but played much better off the bench against the Heat.
The Miami match also gave people a proper chance to see the skills Ryan Anderson will bring to the team this season, one of those rare big men to shoot threes consistently well, giving the Magic at least eight players who could be counted on to start if the need arises.
The more I think about it, the more I think making another run to at least the Eastern semi-finals has to be on the cards. Basketball betting certainly suggests it could be. There is better depth this season, and the players the Magic brought in would seem to mesh together better than those who have left.
