A backcourt of Francis and Mobley, coupled with a front-court of oft-injured has-beens, does not a good team make. Even if Howard makes the same leap that Stoudemire did, Orlando could still be fighting for a playoff spot. And with only two young, improving players and Hill's horrid contract, there isn't any room to grow. Francis, for all of his athleticism, never learned how to run a half-court offense, and going on 28 isn't going to get better. Mobley would be an ideal third-guard, but he is the second-best player on the whole Magic roster. No thanks. The package for McGrady sucked. The Magic are likely going to suck almost as much as they did last year.
Everyone forgets about him because all he can do is jump through the roof. He has no offense at all. I always felt Amare was VERY high on himself but this is ridiculous. It is only a matter of time before he is out of the game because he couldn't learn anything more than to jump or he hurts a leg and can't play his game anymore. If I'm not mistaken, Garnett did win MVP and was first team defense right? Again, a young kid who is WAY too high on himself and just plain stupid.
The media has shown so far that they'll heap praise on any improvement by Orlando, while the Rockets are expected to win.
Why didn't everyone ever forget him in rookie season? As punk as he is, isn't that more ridiculous that he won the ROY by a fluke?? marked. Is it a curse, mogrod? Never thought it came out of your post
Pat Riley says, "I think the surprise is going to be Orlando." Maybe Amare does know something? http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2864494
I don't see how Orlando could suprise anyone. We gave them a 42-45 win team, which fortunately in the East is very near the upper-middle of the pack. They, Orlando, are gonna get that, and it should be no suprise. Perhaps it will appease the fans because they just had a 21-61 season, and 20 more wins +playoffs and possibly home court advantage first round is a great thing for them. Howeva.... The Rockets want a championship, that's why they made the move. The possibilities are what the Rockets traded for. It was either get 45-49 wins every season and get ousted in the first round every season, or try to put together a team that will make serious runs at championships for a long time. I look at it lke this......Orlando, let's step up from the cellar and get better, mediocracy is tolerable at this time. The Rockets want to move up from mediocracy to contention, that's why this move was good for both teams. More later....
http://www.nba.com/preview2004/gmsurvey_moves.html From NBA.com. This is what the general managers had to say. NBA.com posed these questions and more to the league's general managers, and a high majority of the GM's responded to our survey.* Here's what the guys who call the shots think about the new season. Which team made the best offseason moves overall? Miami Heat 38.1% Utah Jazz 33.3% Orlando Magic 14.3% Others receiving votes: Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs So obviously Amare is not the only stupid one.
Does anyon else think that Miami destroyed their future just to get a couple of years of a Shaq that has been on a downward slide? Lamar Odom and Caron Butler are pretty good young players. This reminds me of the Barkley deal (which I thought was great for the Rockets) except that instead of aging stars like Dream and Drexler, the Heat have Wade. Unless they win a title in the next couple of years (Kobe and Shaq couldn't get it done last year, so I don't see how this Miami team is better than last year's Lakers) this will turn out to be a big mistake.
I agree with StupidMoniker. And the stupid parts in Amare's comments are not those about Orlando, but those about himself.
I don't think it was a mistake since they weren't going to win a championship with Odom and Butler. If you have a chance to win a championship, you take it and worry about the consequences later unless it means mortgaging your future like the nets did with Kidd and the kings did with Bibby by giving them max contracts.
Miami will have only destoryed their future if they give into Shaq's ridiculous demands of the max $30+ mill a year extension. They weren't going to the Finals with Odom and Butler. At least, now they have a chance at a Title. If I'm Miami, I would let Shaq's contract run out the next two years, and then see where things stand. If he can still perform at a high level, then maybe they pull a Jordan and continue on with 1 year max deals. Otherwise, just let Shaq go, and start over. They aquired Butler by starting over, and lured Odom there with their cap space. They can do it again in a few years.
Since we are talking about Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, here is what Pat Riley said about the magic, looks like he thinks Orlando is going to be a darkhorse this season... "You can't make us the favorite," Riley said. "Detroit is the world champion. Indiana has been there. I think the surprise is going to be Orlando. I just have a feeling that team has a lot. They got size, they got quickness, they got offense, they are hungry now." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...25oct25,0,5960667.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat
If Orlando ends up with a better record than Houston by the end of the season, I'll be pissed. Shaq or no Shaq I don't give a crap.
