The final numbers are in, and if there's one thing we all know by now it's the fact that numbers don't lie! The Orlando Magic finished the exhibition season with a 4-3 record. Last year they finished 1-7 and we all know how that turned out. It was important for this team to win games, and that's what Johnny Davis' crew did. The first three games were based solely on a script where management was looking at player combinations by pre-determining minutes and not veering from that script no matter what the scoreboard read. We know the result of this philosophy as the Magic lost all three games, including one to Atlanta, giving the Hawks their only win in the entire preseason. Then it was time to throw the script out the window and focus on winning, which they did, each of the last four games (Dallas, New Orleans, Houston and Miami-WITH Shaq).

A giant question for this team was who would score? Well, when it was all said and done Orlando averaged 97.4 points per game, second best in the Eastern Conference behind Philadelphia (who averaged 98, no, I don't know how either). Defensively they gave up 92.7 points a game, which put them somewhere in the middle of the Eastern Conference. Now, I know it's the preseason and these stats don't matter one iota, but we could get a good look at who played well, and who needs to step it up. I would break it down into a grade for each position, but none of us are in third grade, so saying I give the guards an "A+" or "B-" means nothing, plus I'm deathly afraid of report cards, always have been.

OVERLY IMPRESSIVE

STEVE FRANCIS - He is playing under a third system in three years and he's picked it right up. Francis led the Magic in scoring with 18 points per game (fifth in the preseason) and he led the entire NBA with 6.3 assists. Sure, I want to throw all those stats right out the window when I see that Brevin Knight averaged 5.5 assists for the Bobcats, but I can't. Francis is the real deal, he can score, pass, shoot and oh yeah, rebound. He was third on the team with 5 boards a game. Steve's only problem in the past has been turnovers and Coach Davis will continue to work closely with him in that department, and WE'LL be watching "The Franchise" start at point in the All-Star game.

DWIGHT HOWARD - PLEASE no one tell this kid that he is in the NBA. He doesn't know that he's supposed to be afraid of these guys, not dunk on their heads. Not for one second of one game has Dwight Howard been intimidated by anyone he's faced to this point. I'm sure it was overwhelming seeing Shaquille O'Neal out there but you wouldn't know it by his 14-point, 13-rebound performance against Miami. Howard finished the preseason averaging 8.9 boards an outing, tops among rookies (doubling Okafor's 4.4 boards per game). That's impressive in itself but he also scored 13 points a game, (3rd among rookies) without having any plays run for him. He simply has a nose for the basketball and when the shot goes up, he goes and gets it. Dwight will have to improve his free throw shooting (59%), defend better as he's fouled out of two games, and run right through that rookie wall, but all-in-all, you are looking at the Rookie of the Year.

GRANT HILL - Sure, he hasn't put up Grant Hill numbers, but HE'S HEALTHY. That has been the single greatest surprise in all of preseason. In six games Grant has averaged 10 points, four boards and three assists, in 25 minutes of action. You know what? That's it, I'm not saying any more about this. Let's just be happy and as Coach Davis' says, remain "cautiously optimistic". I don't care about the rust, he'll work through that, and if he is still lacing up those shoes come April, then you are looking at the Comeback Player of the Year.

CUTTINO MOBLEY - So apparently the guy can shoot. Mobley's final numbers looked like this: 15 points per game, 49% from the floor and 40% beyond the arc. In addition to what he provides statwise, he is a pure leader. When this season is all said and done, it will be Cuttino Mobley that kept this team together. He's vocal, he's not afraid to speak his mind and he backs up his talk on the court.

JAMEER NELSON - In only 17 minutes per game, he averaged 7 points, 3 assists and a steal. He is lightning quick pushing the ball up the court, he's out to prove the entire world wrong for passing on him in the draft, and like Dwight Howard, he's not afraid of anything. The biggest stipulation on Jameer was that he couldn't shoot, which is crazy he averaged 45% from the floor at St. Joe's, but he has struggled a little with his shot in the preseason. Jameer is undoubtedly the steal of this draft and I look forward to watching him in the Got Milk! Rookie Game.

HELD THEIR OWN

HEDO TURKOGLU - No one on this team has turned things around more than Hedo Turkoglu. He struggled mightily for most of the preseason going a combined 3-26 in games 2, 3, 4, and 5. However, the last two games Hedo went 13-17, and finished the preseason 46% from the three point line. Let's be honest, Turkoglu wasn't picked up for his in-your-face style of defense, so when the shot wasn't falling, it's hard to keep him on the floor, but he's hopefully turned it around and will provide a big spark off the bench. Wow, is it nice for Johnny Davis to have options.

PAT GARRITY - Let's cut the guy some slack, he hasn't played basketball in a year, and it was pretty evident in his first game back against the Miami Heat. But since then, he's been coming along nicely. Just having Pat on the floor has opened up so many things in the post, he'll be a 3 point threat till he's 80 years old. His lateral movement is improving, and he's getting that rhythm back in his shot. Hopefully now with the team's size in the post, PG won't be asked to guard centers anymore. Let him spot up all day and drain 3's, which is why Pat will be this year's 3-Point Champion.

TONY BATTIE - What a great spark he's been for Coach Davis off the bench. Tony Battie is the perfect backup center in this league. He is an energy player, he blocks shots, he rebounds, and he can score occassionally. Battie has a nice jumper, which he used to beat New Orleans earlier in the year, and he has experience. He's been in big playoff battles and he knows what it takes to win. Battie will most likely battle Kelvin Cato all season long for that starting Center spot. The big knock on Tony has been his health, as he's had some knee trouble, but if he's healthy he'll be quite an addition to this club.

STACEY AUGMON - It's hard to say with this one as he's only averaged 8 minutes per game in the preseason, but you know what you're gonna get with Augmon and that's defense. The Magic now have a guy that can defend those long scorers in this league like T-Mac and Kobe. Also, talk about leadership, here's a guy with 13 years of experience chirping in the ears of Hedo Turkoglu and DeShawn Stevenson. He hasn't played much to this point, but you better believe at the end of the game when it's time to defend a big shot, Stacey Augmon will be on the floor.

NEED TO SHOW MORE

KELVIN CATO - He's actually been outplayed in the preseason by Tony Battie, but I would guess he'll start games because of his chemistry with Francis and Mobley. Cato doesn't need to score he just needs to be a big presence in the middle to gobble up rebounds and block shots. Anything offensively for Cato is a bonus. He only averaged 4.4 boards a game and 5 points so those numbers will have to improve, but believe me, if he doesn't give the effort he should out there, he'll hear about it from Cuttino and Francis. That's a tight group and it will only benefit playing with those two.

DESHAWN STEVENSON - Struggled the entire preseason and it would be hard to blame him. DeShawn shot 24% from the floor (only 5-21) but there were three games he didn't even play. Stevenson was locked in a battle with Keith Bogans for that last active roster spot and had the pressure of having to out-perform Keith every time he took the floor. Now that Bogans has been sent to Charlotte, the job is his and he'll have to prove his worth.

MICHAEL BRADLEY - Coach Davis is hoping Bradley can be that other energy guy off the bench for his club, someone to come in the game and give that spark with a big rebound, or block. Bradley runs the floor well, AND he had the most memorable play of the preseason dunking right on top of Shawn Bradley, so the guy can play, it's just a question of consistency and staying healthy, which is something that has plagued Bradley's career.

ANDREW DECLERCQ -The only reason I put Andrew down here is because he's hurt. It's always tough coming back from an injury, especially when you miss the entire training camp. Drew is an energy player, a guy that has continuously led the Magic in "things that don't show up in the box score". It will take some time for him to get his conditioning back but no one works harder out there than Andrew.

MARIO KASUN - We don't know anything about Mario and he hasn't really shown us a whole lot in the preseason. The NBA game seems a little fast for him right now, but he's young and he's enormous. If he can get to a point where he's comfortable out there and can be a presence in the middle, he'll be a valuable addition, just right now he's a little overwhelmed.

I truly think the Magic will challenge the Miami Heat for first in the Division and the Magic will WIN the Division if Shaq misses 15-20 games this year for health reasons. More than ever in my seven seasons, this seems like a "team", and I look forward to watching it unfold this year. Last season, I certainly was not so optimistic.

Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.

Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons.