Looking Forward (Part 2 of 3)
Part 1: Changing of the Guard
While the Orlando Magic’s guards may have been a work in progress throughout much of the early portion of the season, the squad’s forwards have anchored the team through the first 41 games on the schedule. However, that’s not to say that the skill of the players hasn’t been combined with a touch of luck. Over the summer, the Magic drew the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft for the third time in franchise history, while one of their four-year team veterans who had only played in 47 games since the year 2000 came back to solidify his place on the team.
One cannot mention the Magic this season without talking about the NBA’s feel-good story of the year: Grant Hill. After what seemed like countless surgeries and setbacks, Hill is back contributing night after night, averaging 18.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.6 apg while only missing two games all season due to injury [none related to his ankle, by the way]. Hill may figure to be the most susceptible player on the Magic’s roster to injury, but the Eastern Conference All-Star starting forward never backs down when attacking the basket and is probably on the floor after loose balls more than anyone on the team. Furthermore, his demeanor on and off the court has brought an extra dimension to the squad that head coach Johnny Davis feels has been missing.
“Grant Hill is like a coach on the floor for you,” Davis said. “He keeps everyone sane and always makes the right plays. He is another guy who competes to a high level every night and to have him back on the floor and in the locker room - that value has just been tremendous.”
Hill, for one, isn’t taking any of that value for granted. In fact, the idea that he has come back and made such a dramatic impact is one that even makes him shake his head in wonder.
“It makes you feel good that you put in all those hours,” Hill said. “I struggled in the first four, five, or six games, but then it kind of all came together and shocked me. The plan was originally to use this year to prepare for next year. Playing in December and January was a bit of an adjustment, because I hadn’t been through that in a long time, but I feel like I adapted there and I have improved in the last couple weeks. I’m still not satisfied – I feel like my post game could be a lot better. I feel like I settle too much for the jump shot and (need to) drive a little bit more. I just have to continue to push myself to get better and better.”
Pushing and working hard is a concept that Hill may be familiar with, but his new rookie cohort Dwight Howard is also becoming an expert on the subject. After blowing the Magic away in the summer with his individual workouts and maturity, Orlando’s management decided to go with the high school phenom with the top pick instead of four-year college veteran Emeka Okafor. The decision was one that shocked the nation, but Davis and General Manager John Weisbrod never backed down from their stance on Howard’s potential in the league.
“(Howard) has done a great job for us,” Davis said. “He rebounds the ball, blocks shots, and he plays one-on-one defense, so you don’t have to double his man much. He is a great team guy, and I think he has the potential to be an all-star player in this league.”
The young 19-year old may not be quite ready to join the main stage with Hill this year, but he did get selected to the got milk? Rookie Challenge, something Davis calls ‘an honor’ for Howard. The selection shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, however, as Howard has made his presence known on the defensive end of the court and on the glass. As of February 4, he ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in 10 statistical categories, including rankings of No. 5 in the league in offensive rebounds per game (3.5) and No. 9 in total rebounds (437). Despite those numbers, however, Davis still hopes to see more of that production come on the offensive end of the court.
“I would like to see some growth from Dwight in (his offensive game), and that is the area I think he can show the most growth in to provide us some low-post scoring,” Davis said. “I think if he does that he takes the next step as a player, but it is an ingoing process and right now his offense is a little bit behind his defense – but he is making up ground quickly.”
Another player who is making up ground is Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic’s multi-versatile sixth man. Turkoglu has the ability to change the complexion of any game upon his insertion, as he showed against the Washington Wizards last week at home. Turkoglu came in twice when the game was tied, scoring 10 consecutive points in the second period and seven in the fourth, the last of which gave the Magic an 85-78 lead with 8:17 left in the game. The native of Turkey finished the game with a career high-tying 31 points, outscoring the entire Wizards bench by eight.
“Hedo is an offensive spark, no matter if you put him in the starting lineup or off the bench,” teammate Pat Garrity said. “He is scoring threat, and he can put a bunch of points up on the board in a hurry.”
Garrity is another sharpshooter the Magic have coming off the bench for them this season. The Notre Dame alum missed all but two games of last season with a right knee injury, and he has spent the majority of this year getting into the flow of an all-new team and his role on the squad now that he is healthy.
“Pat Garrity is a very good shooter, and it is just a matter of time before he catches his rhythm,” Davis said. “He hasn’t been quite as consistent this year, but we know he is very capable of helping us, particularly with shooting the ball on the outside.”
Like Garrity, the Magic also have Stacey Augmon and Brandon Hunter, two guys that Davis is very high on but given the amount of players in their position, don’t get as much of an opportunity on the court to show it. Augmon and Hunter may be totally different in terms of league experience (Augmon has been in the NBA 14 years, while this is Hunter’s second season), but they are called upon to do similar things out on the court.
“Stacey Augmon is a guy that I think has the potential to be a coach in this league whenever he decides to hang it up - hopefully not any time soon,” Davis said. “He is a tremendous defender, a great team guy, rebounds the ball well, runs the floor, and is a consummate team player.
Davis also feels as if Hunter’s defensive presence and skills on the board make him a great addition to the Magic.
“Brandon has an incredible work ethic,” Davis said. “I really like him a lot – he really hasn’t had the opportunity to play for us this year other than his one stint, but he is an outstanding rebounder and plays a very physical game. It’s just that right now, the numbers don’t work in terms of the fact that we can only play 12 and he is on the outside of that 12. But we like him a lot and he works hard every day.”
The numbers game may make Davis’ job this season as head coach a little more difficult with a plethora of players available for limited spots on the court, but given Orlando’s situation last year, it is one Davis surely welcomes with open arms.
Melanie Curtsinger is an intern in the Magic's communications department.
While the Orlando Magic’s guards may have been a work in progress throughout much of the early portion of the season, the squad’s forwards have anchored the team through the first 41 games on the schedule. However, that’s not to say that the skill of the players hasn’t been combined with a touch of luck. Over the summer, the Magic drew the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft for the third time in franchise history, while one of their four-year team veterans who had only played in 47 games since the year 2000 came back to solidify his place on the team.
|
“Grant Hill is like a coach on the floor for you,” Davis said. “He keeps everyone sane and always makes the right plays. He is another guy who competes to a high level every night and to have him back on the floor and in the locker room - that value has just been tremendous.”
Hill, for one, isn’t taking any of that value for granted. In fact, the idea that he has come back and made such a dramatic impact is one that even makes him shake his head in wonder.
“It makes you feel good that you put in all those hours,” Hill said. “I struggled in the first four, five, or six games, but then it kind of all came together and shocked me. The plan was originally to use this year to prepare for next year. Playing in December and January was a bit of an adjustment, because I hadn’t been through that in a long time, but I feel like I adapted there and I have improved in the last couple weeks. I’m still not satisfied – I feel like my post game could be a lot better. I feel like I settle too much for the jump shot and (need to) drive a little bit more. I just have to continue to push myself to get better and better.”
Pushing and working hard is a concept that Hill may be familiar with, but his new rookie cohort Dwight Howard is also becoming an expert on the subject. After blowing the Magic away in the summer with his individual workouts and maturity, Orlando’s management decided to go with the high school phenom with the top pick instead of four-year college veteran Emeka Okafor. The decision was one that shocked the nation, but Davis and General Manager John Weisbrod never backed down from their stance on Howard’s potential in the league.
“(Howard) has done a great job for us,” Davis said. “He rebounds the ball, blocks shots, and he plays one-on-one defense, so you don’t have to double his man much. He is a great team guy, and I think he has the potential to be an all-star player in this league.”
The young 19-year old may not be quite ready to join the main stage with Hill this year, but he did get selected to the got milk? Rookie Challenge, something Davis calls ‘an honor’ for Howard. The selection shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, however, as Howard has made his presence known on the defensive end of the court and on the glass. As of February 4, he ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in 10 statistical categories, including rankings of No. 5 in the league in offensive rebounds per game (3.5) and No. 9 in total rebounds (437). Despite those numbers, however, Davis still hopes to see more of that production come on the offensive end of the court.
“I would like to see some growth from Dwight in (his offensive game), and that is the area I think he can show the most growth in to provide us some low-post scoring,” Davis said. “I think if he does that he takes the next step as a player, but it is an ingoing process and right now his offense is a little bit behind his defense – but he is making up ground quickly.”
Another player who is making up ground is Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic’s multi-versatile sixth man. Turkoglu has the ability to change the complexion of any game upon his insertion, as he showed against the Washington Wizards last week at home. Turkoglu came in twice when the game was tied, scoring 10 consecutive points in the second period and seven in the fourth, the last of which gave the Magic an 85-78 lead with 8:17 left in the game. The native of Turkey finished the game with a career high-tying 31 points, outscoring the entire Wizards bench by eight.
“Hedo is an offensive spark, no matter if you put him in the starting lineup or off the bench,” teammate Pat Garrity said. “He is scoring threat, and he can put a bunch of points up on the board in a hurry.”
Garrity is another sharpshooter the Magic have coming off the bench for them this season. The Notre Dame alum missed all but two games of last season with a right knee injury, and he has spent the majority of this year getting into the flow of an all-new team and his role on the squad now that he is healthy.
“Pat Garrity is a very good shooter, and it is just a matter of time before he catches his rhythm,” Davis said. “He hasn’t been quite as consistent this year, but we know he is very capable of helping us, particularly with shooting the ball on the outside.”
Like Garrity, the Magic also have Stacey Augmon and Brandon Hunter, two guys that Davis is very high on but given the amount of players in their position, don’t get as much of an opportunity on the court to show it. Augmon and Hunter may be totally different in terms of league experience (Augmon has been in the NBA 14 years, while this is Hunter’s second season), but they are called upon to do similar things out on the court.
“Stacey Augmon is a guy that I think has the potential to be a coach in this league whenever he decides to hang it up - hopefully not any time soon,” Davis said. “He is a tremendous defender, a great team guy, rebounds the ball well, runs the floor, and is a consummate team player.
Davis also feels as if Hunter’s defensive presence and skills on the board make him a great addition to the Magic.
“Brandon has an incredible work ethic,” Davis said. “I really like him a lot – he really hasn’t had the opportunity to play for us this year other than his one stint, but he is an outstanding rebounder and plays a very physical game. It’s just that right now, the numbers don’t work in terms of the fact that we can only play 12 and he is on the outside of that 12. But we like him a lot and he works hard every day.”
The numbers game may make Davis’ job this season as head coach a little more difficult with a plethora of players available for limited spots on the court, but given Orlando’s situation last year, it is one Davis surely welcomes with open arms.
Melanie Curtsinger is an intern in the Magic's communications department.
