http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...p14,1,7502326.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines Magic special The Orlando Magic have produced a behind-the-scenes television special that the hard-core fans should like. Entitled Under the Lights: Magic Makeover, it's a 60-minute documentary-style video that will delve into the rebuilding of the roster after last season's debacle. Among the topics are the internal discussions held before Tracy McGrady was traded and before prep star Dwight Howard was drafted with the No. 1 pick. It takes a closer look at how new General Manager John Weisbrod quickly put his stamp on the franchise. Sunshine Network will air it several times, including a premiere at 6 p.m. Saturday night. It would be interesting to watch the spin according to hockey guy. I hope it airs here sometime.
that's a bad franchise.... and their GM is an idiot Cat will probably leave next season and I hope they trade Steve so he can play for a better organization too Cato... well, I am still not over him showing up 30 lbs overweight after the Rox gave him that big contract
They are actually doing a documentary on the fact that they were so crappy, they had to trade away their franchise superstar and they actually want fans to watch? Yikes.
You ever see those NFL films yearbooks for 3-13 teams. They pump up victories over fellow loser teams like it was Guadalcanal.
I actually don't think they made that bad of a decision. McGrady wanted to leave. The organization signed Juwan Howard and got inside help with Drew Gooden for Mike Miller. The Grant Hill contract was also a disaster for them. They were so weak in so many areas and now look at the team: Steve Francis Cuttino Mobley Pat Garrity Drew Gooden Kelvin Cato Dwight Howard (HS Rookie) Grant Hill (Injured??) Howard's got some potential to be a great player and they have a pretty strong nucleus of players. I personally think they will be pretty strong in the east. I don't think they're championship cotenders but I could see them getting the 4-6 playoff spot and maybe getting out of the first round which is what McGrady was unable to do. Lets not forget McGrady didn't want to be there and quit on the team. If he would've walked away for nothing, the Magic fans would be livid and much worse off.
They don't have Drew Gooden anymore, traded him for Tony Battie, still that's a decent team and in the East the playoffs and success in the playoffs are always possibilities.
In the East this may be not be bad, though they don't have Gooden, they have Howard. It should be an improvement from them over the prior year just because of how bad they were last year. On the other hand, compare that lineup to the Rockets lineup last year. Francis/Mobley are the same - you can easily argue that JJ is better than Garrity, Cato is better than a rookie (though only slightly) and Yao is better than Cato. And the Rockets struggled to make the 7th seed in the playoffs. The argument should be could Weisbrod have gotten more for TMac, Howard, Lue? In all honesty, probably not that much. I'm sure Dallas would have jumped at the chance and given them a Nash (resigned, assuming he accepts), Finley, Jamison, Walker but is that a better package? Though, clearly he was being a tool in the way he handled negotiations with Houston.
On paper they are a respectable team. Their coach is weaker than their bench. This show, however, has 'rubberneck' written all over it, as per Jeff, but since 'the spin is the thing' it would be interesting to watch.
For those with the Direct TV Fox Sports package, the Sunshine network is carried. I don't think it'll be blacked out. I've only seen blackouts when there is an actual game being played
Grant Hill is saying he's going to be back. If he is, then they've got a great team. They traded off all their power forwards, so I think that Howard will start, and they'll have considerable depth. WiseA** might be a jerk, but they have a much better team that'll be exciting to watch. Francis/Nelson Mobely/Stevenson/Augmon Hill/Turkoglu/Kasun Howard/Garrity/Bradley Cato/Battie/Bogans/DeClerq <b> . . . but nowhere as good as the new Rockets!</b> (dang, CD, if you'd only been able to pick up Chandler/Duhon ... but, I guess we'll just have to see how JVG make all these role players work out.)
In other news, Lakers are next on making a documentary on their edumacated decisions on trading shaq, and putting their money on the guy, who at the time, was about to be tried for rape. Michael Jackson will also be making a documentary on how his child molestation charges were a good thing for his public image.
Even with a HEALTHY GH this is not a great team. Competitive maybe, but definitely not great. Hedo was their big FA acquisition and he plays what and where if GH is back? Battie should beat out KC. (Bogans at the 5???)
I also believe the Magic are going to be a strong team in the East. I see Francis as being as determined as he's ever been to show that Orlando got the better end of the trade, I think Dwight Howard may be decent since he won't have (much) center duties, and if Grant Hill is there (I see him coming off the bench, not starting), this team is as balanced as any in the East. I'm also expecting to see Nelson/Francis on the court together when Cat sits. 5th Seed in the East, 45 wins. Evan
A recalcitrant star , no matter how good his skills are, is a killer for a basketball team. He sours the team , he sours the fans and pressures the management into making questionable moves. Yes, Weaselbrain looked like an azwipe to us but his job was to get the best deal for Orlando . If Josh Howard turns into the next LeBron or T-Mac, and he looked that good against high school competition, Orlando could go deep in the East and their management could be heros.
