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Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani once said he could walk out into the middle of Times Square and start handing out $100 bills. A third of the people would say he was not handing out enough money. Another third would say he was handing out too much money. Another third would say they didn’t like the way he was handing out the money. Welcome to a new feature on orlandomagic.com – GLASS HALF-FULL. A local sports writer once told me that his job was to watch the battle from the mountain top, ride down, and bayonet the wounded. We live in a world of cynics. But not here, at GLASS HALF-FULL. I will do my best to answer your questions going forward.

What can you expect? Rainbows and gum drops. No scraped knees and rubbing alcohol, here. I will give you the flip side. I will give you Cotton Candy, not the dentist’s office. It’s not Fast Food. It’s Good Food Fast. Being negative takes up a lot of energy. Being nice is easy. Will there be some spin? Sure, but I prefer the word “Influence”. By nature, I am an optimist. Sure, former draft pick Jerryl Sasser couldn’t shoot, but you should have seen him defend in practice. And, he had a never-wavering confidence about him. You say, “What’s the deal with Fran Vazquez staying in Spain to play? I say, he’s still an asset to the Magic and that’s part of the process of drafting international players. Hopefully, that gives you a look into the Magic-blue colored world I can tend to drift into. My takes will be credible though, just the other side of the coin. Archived Columns

Do you have questions? Get your answers by emailing glasshalffull@orlandomagic.com.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, February 9, 2010, 11:05 AM

Carter Added to Extraordinary List

Vince Carter's 48 points Monday night vs. the New Orleans Hornets was a "I was there" moment. Here are the other top scoring games in Orlando Magic history.

Most Points in a Game, Orlando Magic

PLAYER
POINTS
DATE
Tracy McGrady 62 3/10/04 vs. WAS
Shaquille O'Neal 53 4/20/94 vs. MIN
Tracy McGrady 52 2/3/01 vs. CHI
Tracy McGrady 51 11/14/03 at DEN
Tracy McGrady 50 3/8/02 vs. WAS
Nick Anderson 50 4/23/93 at NJN
Shaquille O'Neal 49 12/9/93 at IND
Terry Catledge 49 1/13/90 at GSW
Tracy McGrady 49 4/23/01 at WAS
Shaquille O'Neal 49 3/22/96 at WAS
Tracy McGrady 48 3/19/02 vs. MIL
Vince Carter 48 2/8/10 vs. NOH
Tracy McGrady 48 3/5/03 vs. MIL




Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, February 5, 2010, 10:15 AM

Three-Point Play

1) The Magic have held their opponents under 100 points in each of the last nine games.

Longest Active Streak Holding Opponent Under 100 Points

TEAM
STREAK
Orlando Magic 9
Cleveland Cavaliers 8
Detroit Pistons 5
L.A. Lakers 5
Milwaukee Bucks 4


2) When winning the rebound battle, the Magic have been tough to beat..

Best Record When More Rebounds Than Opponent, 2009-10

TEAM
RECORD
Orlando Magic 28-3 (.903)
Atlanta Hawks 23-3 (.885)
Dallas Mavericks 18-3 (.857)
L.A. Lakers 22-4 (.846)
Denver Nuggets 18-4 (.818)
Phoenix Suns 18-4 (.818)


3) Dwight Howard has 17 games with 20 or more rebounds over the last two seasons.

Most Games with 20+ Rebounds, Since 2008-09

PLAYER
#
Dwight Howard 17
Marcus Camby 10
Joakim Noah 4
Samuel Dalembert 4
David Lee 3




Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 11:45 AM

Three-Point Play

1) Dwight Howard could become the first player to lead the NBA in rebounding and blocks per game more than once (blocks were first recorded officially in the 1973-74 season).

Players Leading NBA in Both RPG and BPG, Since 1973-74

PLAYER
TEAM
RPG
BPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 75-76 L.A. Lakers 16.9 4.12
Bill Walton, 76-77 Portland Trail Blazers 14.4 3.25
Hakeem Olajuwon, 89-90 Houston Rockets 14.0 4.59
Ben Wallace, 01-02 Detroit Pistons 13.0 3.48
Dwight Howard, 08-09 Orlando Magic 13.8 2.92
Dwight Howard, 09-10 Orlando Magic 13.4 2.69


2) Orlando has a long list of shooters who can light it up from three-point range.

Most Players w/30+ 3-Pointers Made, NBA 2009-10

TEAM
#
Orlando Magic 8
Indiana Pacers 6
Los Angeles Lakers 6
Phoenix Suns 6
San Antonio Spurs 6
Charlotte Bobcats 6


3) Orlando and Milwaukee, the Magic's opponent tonight, rank 1-2 in the league in allowing the fewest second-chance points per game.

Fewest Second-Chance Points Allowed per Game, NBA 2009-10

TEAM
AVERAGE
Milwaukee Bucks 10.8 (495/46)
Orlando Magic 11.6 (555/48)
Detroit Pistons 12.0
Charlotte Bobcats 12.0
Utah Jazz 12.1




Posted by Glass Half Full, Monday, January 25, 2010, 10:45 AM

Going to the Mailbag

Remember if you have a question, simply e-mail glasshalffull@orlandomagic.com and then check back periodically for Glass Half Full-Esque answers.

Tom (Orlando)
Hey Glass Half Full, when will the All-Star coaches be decided?

GHF: The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs will be determined by the best record in each conference through games played Jan. 31. Last year’s East and West coaches – Cleveland's Mike Brown and the L.A. Lakers’ Phil Jackson -- are not eligible to coach this year’s All-Star Game. Beginning play this week: Boston (Doc Rivers) is 28-13, Atlanta (Mike Woodson) is 28-14, and Orlando (Stan Van Gundy) is 29-15. The interesting part is Orlando hosts Boston Thursday and Atlanta Saturday.

Jeanne (Charlotte)
J.J. Redick seems to have found his way in the NBA and with the Magic. Why do you think that is?

GHF: J.J. brings a lot to the table. He has an incredible basketball IQ, has worked tremendously hard in terms of getting stronger and being in top physical condition, has become a solid defender, and has continued to work tirelessly on his bread-and-butter, his shooting. Mix it all together and you have success. People have to realize it can take time in the league to become successful, but J.J. certainly has it going on.

Pat (Oviedo)
If they had to do it over again today, would the Magic sign Vince Carter?

GHF: Yes. Nothing has really changed in the thinking. VC is ultra talented and will get you a big bucket when you need it. Remember, one Magic question mark during last year’s playoffs was who would get the key basket in the key moment. The first half of the season has been a transition period for your Magic, and Vince. He’s really a very unselfish player who started out by just trying to fit in. Then came a bite, or two, by the injury bug. There have been numerous conversations with the same theme: Don’t fit it, be Vince Carter. That’s why you are here. I think Dwight Howard’s quote said it best following Orlando’s win Saturday night in Charlotte, “I told him that we saw 'Vinsanity' tonight. He wasn't dunking, but he was finishing, which we need him to do that…When he's aggressive like that, it just opens things up for us."

Again, send in your questions to glasshalffull@orlandomagic.com.


Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, January 22, 2010, 8:15 AM

GHF Mailbag

Glass Half Full will now take your questions.

Yes, the once incredibly popular, highly interactive "GHF Mailbag" is back!

Said GHF in the making the announcement in Jordan-esque fashion, "I'm back."

Down for a while due to technical difficulties, we are up and running.

So, if you have a question, simply e-mail glasshalffull@orlandomagic.com and then check back periodically for Glass Half Full-Esque answers.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 5:15 PM

Positive Outlook

There seems to be a lot of water cooler talk about what’s wrong with the Magic.

And that’s a glass half full positive.

Simply the fact that arm chair point guards far and wide have a theory -- Finals hangover, chemistry, not playing consistent enough for long enough periods of time, this player/that player, nice SVG/not nice SVG -- is positive. Not many years back , there honestly was a lingering apathy.

While the bar is set rightfully high, the fact of the matter is Orlando is just 4.5 games out of having the best record in the East through 41 games. Not an overwhelming deficit. It’s still January. Orlando did start the season 17-4.

As they begin their march to the top, it is vital for the Magic to play, what General Manager Otis Smith calls, "healthy basketball." Thus, what does “healthy basketball” look like? For starters, it's Jameer Nelson on the attack, playing inside-out off of Dwight Howard, tenacious defense, the core four working together, continued steady play from the deep bench, playing without the weight of the world on its collective shoulders and regaining a swagger.

In wins to date, Orlando averages 106 points per game, while allowing just 93 against opponents. Orlando shoots 48 percent from the field overall and limits the opposition to 43 percent. It hits 39 percent of its 3-pointers, compared to 32 percent in losses and it averages four more assists in wins, less than 14 turnovers, more than six blocked shots and nearly seven steals.

Over the last couple of years, the key words for the Magic has been resiliency and resolve. Think Game 6 in Philly last year without Dwight Howard, Game 7 in Boston, bouncing back after LeBron’s dagger in Game 2 of the last year’s East Finals. While last year is over, as head coach Stan Van Gundy says, this is a “great test.”

``I thought our guys did a good job of fighting back and staying in the game,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said last night in L.A. ``That’s the most resolve that we have shown in a long time.’’

Added J.J. Redick to Orlandomagic.com’s John Denton: ``We know that we have enough talent in this room and a good enough coaching staff to turn this thing around and get ourselves back right again. We are a good basketball team with good players and we’re not going to let one bad stretch deter us from believing that.’’

And Rashard Lewis: “I’m confident that we still have a championship-contending team. We’ve just got to keep working on building our chemistry and playing better together.’’



Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 12:15 PM

Three-Point Play

1) Last night, Dwight Howard had an incredible offensive and defensive performance against the Kings - the kind of game rarely seen over the last two decades.

Most Games with 30+ Pts, 15+ Rebs, 3+ Blks & 3+ Stls, Since 1991-92

David Robinson: 7
Hakeem Olajuwon: 5
Shaquille O'Neal: 4
Dwight Howard: 2
Patrick Ewing: 2
Karl Malone: 2


2) The Magic are currently on pace to attempt 2,321 three-pointers this season, which would set a new NBA record.

Most 3-Point FGA Per Game in Season, All-time

2009-10 Orlando Magic: 28.3 (1076/38)
2008-09 New York Knicks: 27.9
2009-10 New York Knicks: 27.0
2007-08 Golden State Warriors: 26.6


3) Neither team will panic if they trail entering the second quarter tonight.

Best Record When Trailing After 1st Quarter, 2009-10

Denver Nuggets: 11-6 (.647)
Boston Celtics: 9-5 (.643)
Cleveland Cavaliers: 7-4 (.636)
Dallas Mavericks: 10-7 (.588)
Orlando Magic: 8-6 (.571)




Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 1:31 PM

Three-Point Play

1) The Magic have won three in a row against Sacramento and will be facing each other for the first time this season. These clubs will meet again on January 22 in Orlando.

2) Dwight Howard is averaging an NBA-leading 13.1 rebounds per game on the road this season and has grabbed at least 10 boards in eight consecutive road games.

3) Over the last five games J.J. Redick is averaging 15.4 points and shooting 43.4 percent from the field, after averaging 4.5 points on 19.0 percent shooting in his previous four contests.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 4:11 PM

PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS!

With the NFL Playoffs about to get underway and a lot of chatter about teams shutting it down to prevent injuries with playoff positioning secure late in the season, it got Glass Half Full to thinking about an idea floated in this space a couple of years ago.

Once again, I present my GHF idea to change the NBA playoffs. I say numbers 1-7 make the playoffs in each conference and the eighth spot in both the East and West is decided by a one-loss-and-your-out elimination tournament.

So, here’s how it works. If the NBA playoffs started today, Orlando, Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, and Charlotte would be in from the East, while the Lakers, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio, Portland, and Houston would make it from the West.

With the remaining 16 teams you have a NCAA-style tournament to decide the final two playoff teams. The teams could be seeded by record and it takes three wins. I say end the regular season a few days early and play the play-in tournament. Maybe for a little added spice, the two teams remaining get the first and second picks in the draft.

The tourney would be great, while the fans in the bottom feeder cities would have some hope come April. It doesn’t diminish the regular season because who wants to play three more games to get in the playoffs, and this could possibly reward the last two teams to make it regardless of what conference. Of the final two, you give the team with the best record its choice to join the East or West playoffs.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 12:10 PM

Three-Point Play

1) This season, the Magic have been just about unbeatable when they have out-shot their opponent.

Best Record When Higher FG% Than Opponent - 2009-10

Lakers 19-0 1.000
Magic 18-1 .947
Cavaliers 24-2 .923
Mavericks 17-2 .895
Nuggets 17-2 .895

2) Fewest Opponent Points in the Paint Per Game - 2009-10

Cavaliers 34.5
Magic 35.9 (1184/33)
Pistons 36.3
Heat 36.9
Celtics 37.9

3) Ball movement is key for the Orlando Magic. When the Magic have more (or the same) amount of assists than their opponent in games this season they are 17-2.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Monday, January 4, 2010, 1:28 PM

Monday Practice Report

The NBA season is an absolute marathon.

Thirty-three games in the enthusiasm for the start of the season is over. The post All-Star break run to the playoffs is yet to come.

"It's (raising the energy level, intensity) on all of us, coaches and players," said Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy Monday following a spirited two-plus hour practice in frigid Indiana.

"You can never stop and relax," he added about facing an always tough Pacer squad Tuesday night.

While he was specifically talking about facing Indiana, he could have been talking about any of the Magic's upcoming opponents, as Orlando enters another four-game/five-night stretch.

On a positive note, Vince Carter returned to practice Monday after suffering a sprained left ankle against Chicago. He was full-go throughout the workout, or as he said after, "I felt like a human pinball, being bounced around out there today."

Added Carter, "We got after it today and it felt great to be out there. Other teams are trying to make their mark on us, so we have to have the right mentality every night."

Quick hitters: The All-Star Game coaches from the East and West will be determined by record as of games played on Jan. 31. Mike Brown of Cleveland is ineligible because he coached last year's Eastern Conference squad...Said Dwight Howard after practice Monday, "You can't underestimate Indiana. They play extremely hard all the time."



Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 10:15 AM

Three-Point Play

1) The Magic, coming off their Christmas Day loss to the Celtics, have bounced back extremely well following a defeat, losing back-to-back games just once this season.

Best Record in Games Following a Loss – 2009-10

Houston Rockets 12-1 .923

Dallas Mavericks 8-1 .889

Atlanta Hawks 7-1 .875

Orlando Magic 6-1 .857

Utah Jazz 11-2 .846

2) Both teams have two of the league’s top second-round picks on their rosters in Michael Redd and Rashard Lewis.

Highest Career Scoring Avg by 2nd Round Draft Picks
(active players only)
Gilbert Arenas 22.7
Michael Redd 20.3
Monta Ellis 17.1
Carlos Boozer 17.0
Rashard Lewis 16.9

3) Here’s a look at centers Howard and Bogut, both who were No. 1 picks in their respective drafts.

Andrew Bogut vs. Dwight Howard – Career Head-to-Head

Stats Wins Points/Gm Rebounds/Gm Blocks/Gm FG Pct.
Bogut 4 6.9 (69/10) 6.0 (60/10) 0.4 (4/10) .437 (31/71)
Howard 6 16.0 (160/10) 12.7 (127/10) 2.1 (21/10) .561 (55/98)




Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 7:52 AM

Sixth Man of the Year?

As J.J. Redick was leaving the Magic locker room last night Dwight Howard shouted out with his patented smile plastered across his face, "See you later MVP."

Responded Redick, who scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to key Orlando's 104-99 victory over Utah, "See you later Sixth Man of the Year."

And there you have it. On an unseasonably cool night in Orlando, Redick was hot, while unofficially announcing his candidacy for Sixth Man of the Year.

No one has worked harder on his game, both mentally and physically, than Redick.

Said Stan Van Gundy after the contest, "He's playing with great confidence, and for a good reason. Success breeds confidence, and he's playing very, very well. On top of the confidence, the guy is just so focused and tough. He's on top of everything."

Redick told Orlandomagic.com's John Denton that he had a recent talk with his college mentor, Mike Krzyzewski. ``The thing that we talked about is that it’s a continual process with your career. Not that I’m comparing myself to him by any means, but Kobe Bryant is constantly working to master his craft. What I’ve come to understand is that you have to work all the time. It’s a continual process and there’s a lot of things I have to do better.’’

He's definitely getting better, playing a key role for the 21-7 Magic, and although early, now in line for postseason accolades.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 2:55 PM

Three-Point Play

1) The Orlando Magic have won nearly 70 percent of their games through the middle of December of the past four seasons.

Best Combined Record Thru December 15 – 2006-07 -> 2009-10

Boston Celtics 71-21 .772
Los Angeles Lakers 68-23 .747
Orlando Magic 69-30 .697
San Antonio Spurs 63-29 .685
Phoenix Suns 65-31 .677

2) The Magic have already made 253 three-pointers and can set the record for the most threes made by any team through the first 25 games of a season with 15 treys tonight against Toronto.

Most 3-Point FG Made thru 25 Games – All-time

2008-09 New York Knicks 267
2009-10 Orlando Magic 253 (thru 24 games)
2009-10 Phoenix Suns 240
2006-07 Phoenix Suns 238
2007-08 Golden State Warriors 237
2002-03 Boston Celtics 233
2007-08 Orlando Magic 233

The 2008-09 Knicks connected on 254 three-pointers through the first 24 games of that season (most all-time).

3) Orlando is 17-6 after 23 games. Orlando’s record after 24 games last year…18-6.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, December 9, 2009, 7:17 PM

Ten Points

Here are some Glass Half Full digits to chew on.

1. At 17-4, Orlando has equalled its best start in franchise history (1994-95, 1995-96). The Magic have never been 18-4.

2. Orlando has won eight straight on the road, the longest road winning streak for a single season. Overall, the record is nine (last two in April '07 and first sevent in November '07). Under Stan Van Gundy (two-plus years), the Magic are 64-30 on the road. At 10-2 on the road this year, the Magic will look to eclipse its seasonal franchise record for road wins (27 each of the last two years).

3. Orlando has won 23 straight games in which it has scored 100 points. The streak dates back to Feb. 24, 2009.

4. Orlando has had five or more players score in double-figures in 12 games this year (11-1 record when it happens).

5. Orlando has made 10 or more three-pointers 13 times this year and is 11-2 when it does so.

6. Orlando has had 20-plus assists nine times this year and is 9-0 when it does so.

7. When Orlando outrebounds its opponent the Magic are 13-0.

8. Over Stan Van Gundy's two-plus seasons Orlando is 91-20 (10-2 this year) when holding opponents under 100 points.

9. Over Stan Van Gundy's two-plus seasons Orlando is 114-34 (12-3 this year) when holding opponents to less than 50 percent shooting.

10. Dwight Howard now has 25 career 20+ point/20+ rebound games (two already this year). The Magic are 6-2 when Vince Carter scored 20-plus points this year. Rashard Lewis is averaging 18.3 ppg. over the last six games, while shooting over 50 percent from the field overall and three-point range, compared to 12.6 ppg. and a 33 percent field goal mark the first five games he played this season.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Saturday, December 5, 2009, 12:09 PM

Three-Point Play

Here we go, the start of another West Coaster. To get you started, a GHF Three-Point Play

1) Orlando has won nine of its last 10 games behind strong defensive play.

Magic Since November 13 - w/NBA Ranks

W-L 9-1 1st (.900)
Points/Gm 100.3 17th (1003/10)
Opp Points/Gm 91.0 2nd (910/10)
FG Pct .460 15th (359/780)
Opp FG Pct .417 1st (346/830)
Avg Rebound Diff +4.8 4th (46.2 - 41.4)

2) The Magic are 5-0 on the road over that span, and have won six straight road games overall.

Magic - Longest Road Winning Streaks, All-time

APR-14-2007 - NOV-19-2007 9 (2 in ’06-07, 7 in ’07-08)
MAR-15-1996 - APR-03-1996 6
NOV-12-2008 - NOV-27-2008 6
NOV-10-2009 - NOV-29-2009 6 (active)
JAN-07-2009 - JAN-17-2009 5

3) Rashard and Dwight

Rashard Lewis has found his shooting touch:

Lewis - First 5 Games vs. Last 4

First 5 Last 4

Points/Gm 12.6 18.5 (74/4)
FG Pct .333 .542 (26/48)
3-Pt FG Pct .172 .583 (14/24)
3-Pt FGM/Gm 1.0 3.5 (14/4)
Rebounds/Gm 6.2 8.3 (33/4)

Dwight Howard has made at least 75 percent of his shots in a game 52 times in his career (min. 5 FGA in game). No player has more such games going back to 2004-05.

Most Games Shooting 75%+ From Field, NBA Since 2004-05 (min. 5 FGA)

Dwight Howard 52
Tyson Chandler 52
Shaquille O'Neal 48
Andris Biedrins 45
Erick Dampier 41



Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, November 27, 2009, 11:23 AM

AJ Makes Like Ponce de Leon

Towards the end of the Orlando Magic's first team meeting of the year just prior to the start of training camp Rashard Lewis spoke up.

Lewis' message to the team was that there was a tremendous amount of talent in the room and at times egos would have to be checked at the door. There was not time to gripe about roles, number of shots, or playing time.

Thirty-five-year-old Anthony Johnson, who has been tagged with the nickname "Dad" by 23-year-old Dwight Howard, personified Lewis' speech Thanksgving night in Atlanta.

With Jameer Nelson still sidelined due to arthroscopic knee surgery, and Jason Williams having played 78 of a possible 96 minutes each of the last two games, Johnson simply was ready when his number was called.

And the reason AJ was ready, despite playing just 17 minutes over the previous two games while JWill was making like Ponce De Leon and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy was riding Williams' wave of great play?

Because, he's a pro.

His job, even when not playing, is to stay ready.

So, instead of complaining about PT, he went about his daily routine. A routine which includes shooting extra after game-day morning shoot-arounds. A routine which includes a little extra running to stay in shape. A routine which does not include making a spectacle of the situation.

So, with All-Star Jameer Nelson still recovering from his arthroscopic surgery, and Williams needing some more fountain water in his tank, Johnson lit Hotlanta on fire. The final tally: 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting including three 3-pointers, three assists, two rebounds, no turnovers in 21 critical minutes. He deftly directed the the Magic offense from his point-guard position, erasing a 51-39 halftime deficit while delivering the Hawks their first home loss of the season, 93-76.

Johnson's play, and attitude throughout, certainly inspired his team.

So much so that when it came time to select the player of the game to do the traditional celebratory post-game interview, it was the entire Magic bench - led by Jason Williams by the way - clamoring for AJ to get his due.

So, there stood Dwight Howard, and his monster numbers (22 points, 17 rebounds, four blocked shots) courtside with TNT's Craig Sager.

And right beside him, being served his much deserved national accolades on this Thanksgiving Night, was the man they call "Dad."



Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 3:30 PM

Three-Point Play

1) If you didn’t notice, with five straight victories your Orlando Magic enter the Thanksgiving holiday with the longest active winning streak in the NBA. The Lakers are second with four straight wins. Orlando, Atlanta, the Lakers and Phoenix lead the league with 11 wins against just three defeats.

2) While Dwight Howard’s numbers are a little down from last year, he has still posted five 20/10 games so far. Since his second season, nobody has accumulated more.

Most Games with 20+ Points & 10+ Rebounds, NBA Since 2005-06:

Dwight Howard 127
Dirk Nowitzki 121
Tim Duncan 114
Chris Bosh 109
Kevin Garnett 107

3) Vince Carter heads up a group of newcomers in Orlando that have made an impact.

Highest Pct of Points from New Players, NBA 2009-10 (Not Including Rookies):

Detroit Pistons 44.2 (572/1295)
Orlando Magic 43.7 (608/1392)
Toronto Raptors 40.8 (658/1611)
Minnesota Timberwolves 38.8 (482/1241)
Milwaukee Bucks 32.1 (384/1197)



Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, November 20, 2009, 9:26 AM

E & E

Energy and enthusiasm continue to be key buzz words for the Orlando Magic as they embark on stretch of the schedule that features nine of the next 11 games on the road beginning with a trip to Boston.

So, what do we know 12 games in?

First, even though the Magic are 9-3, everyone in the locker room to a man would admit the team hasn't played as well as it can. There have been some flashes of greatness, most notably in wins over Phoenix and Oklahoma City where ball movement, the inside-outside attack, and a determined defensive mind set were in high definition.

Second, the Magic have clearly gone from being the hunter to the hunted. They will get every opponent's best game. While intangible, playing with higher expectations and a collective target on its back is different than being able to play with a nothing-to-lose, underdog mind set.

Third, since breaking training camp, because of injury and illness, the Magic have had little consistency to players available. Orlando has used eight different starting line-ups in the first 12 games. It's not an excuse, just a fact, and something that has perhaps led to some uneven play.

The key and focus over the upcoming stretch of games will be what has been Head Coach Stan Van Gundy's daily play hard message - Energy & Enthusiasm.

While demanding and intense, it is also important to note that SVG has a solid handle and understanding on curbing any unnecessary negativity surrounding the squad. He and captain Dwight Howard have had conversations of late on just that topic.

Despite some of the ups and downs to the early part of season, playing at the current .750 winning percentage would extrapolate to a 60-plus win regular season.

Energy and enthusiasm, coupled with the standard Stan Van Gundy game-by-game preparation, will certainly push that total further.

The glass is half full.



Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, November 13, 2009, 1:22 PM

Three-Point Play

Despite a somewhat rough start -- remember at Glass Half Full adversity is a positive as it builds character and toughness - the Magic still can post a .700 win percentage with a victory tonight against the New Jersey Nets. To lead this "three-point play" edition off, a look at team starts since 2006-07:

1) The Magic are looking for their seventh win in 10 games this season, continuing their string of strong starts that dates back to 2006-07.

Best Record in October/November - since 2006-07:

Orlando Magic 45-15 .750
Boston Celtics 42-14 .750
Los Angeles Lakers 40-14 .741
San Antonio Spurs 38-18 .679
Phoenix Suns 39-19 .672

2) Both the Magic and Nets have been hampered by injuries early on and have been forced to juggle their lineups on almost a nightly basis.

Most Different Starting Lineups - 2009-10:

New Jersey Nets 6
Orlando Magic 5
Golden State Warriors 5
Washington Wizards 5
Minnesota Timberwolves 4
New York Knicks 4
San Antonio Spurs 4

3) Orlando hasn’t lost a game in which it has scored 100 or more points since February of last season.

Most Consecutive Wins in Games Scoring 100+ Points (active streaks):

Los Angeles Lakers 18 Last Loss: 03/01/2009
Orlando Magic 17 Last Loss: 02/24/2009
San Antonio Spurs 13 Last Loss: 03/04/2009
Cleveland Cavaliers 5 Last Loss: 04/15/2009
Chicago Bulls 4 Last Loss: 03/31/2009

And a bonus note, since its a lucky day (Friday the 13th) in the eyes of Glass Half Full:

Orlando is a perfect 10-0 when Jameer Nelson has handed out at least eight assists in a game since the beginning of last season.

Best Team Record When Player Has 8+ Assists - since 2008-09 (minimum 10 games):

Jameer Nelson, Orl 10-0 1.000
 Steve Blake, Por 9-1 .900
Mike Bibby, Atl 11-2 .846
Rajon Rondo, Bos 39-8 .830
LeBron James, Cle 34-7 .829



Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:55 PM

Future Power Rankings

Every once in a while, someone just shows how the glass is half full better than Glass Half Full. Having said that, here is ESPN’s paragraph on the Orlando Magic in its “Future Power Rankings” currently featured on ESPN.com:

“The Magic look like one of the league's teams to beat in 2009-10, and we're guessing that will continue to be the case for the following three years as well. Orlando is blessed with a young superstar big man in Dwight Howard, and most of the veteran cast around him -- Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus and Vince Carter, for example -- should remain spry enough to contribute strongly to the cause for a few more seasons. There is young talent, too, in Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, J.J. Redick and Marcin Gortat. But it appears we can stop mentioning that they own the rights to Fran Vazquez. In the front office, the Magic have several strengths -- one of the league's premier coaches in Stan Van Gundy, the committed ownership of the DeVos family and an underrated general manager in Otis Smith. That pushed Orlando to a fourth-best finish in this category. When it comes to money, Orlando has no cap space for the foreseeable future. The Magic are willing to pay the tax, however, despite their small market, and the new arena that comes online next year should help considerably on the money front. They also benefit from one of the league's most desirable markets. Orlando's balmy weather, the Magic's winning ways and the lack of state taxes in Florida combine to put them near the top of the list for any prospective free agent. The one area in which the Magic can't expect much further help is the draft -- it appears they'll be picking somewhere between 27th and 30th for the next few years.”



Posted by Glass Half Full, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 10:33 AM

The Little Engine That Could

Jameer Nelson is the little engine that could.

While Dwight Howard rightfully commands the attention, a look at his point guard's numbers show just how valuable he is.

In wins last year and in the early going this season Nelson is averaging 17.7 ppg, while shooting 53 percent from the field overall and 53 percent from three-point range. He has 202 assists against just 67 turnovers and averages 1.4 steals per game.

Not so glass half full, in losses over the last season-plus Nelson averages 12.9 ppg., shoots 37 percent overall and 23 percent from three-point land. He has 40 assists and 22 turnovers and averages 0.7 steals per game.

Jameer makes the Magic go.









Posted by Glass Half Full, Saturday, October 31, 2009, 1:09 AM

First Quarter Magic

You ever hear someone say that the only thing that matters in the NBA is the last two minutes of the game?

Not so.

Take your Magic for instance.

Last season the Magic were all but unbeatable when leading after the first quarter. The Magic have led after the first quarter in each of its first two games this year - both wins.

Here's a look back at the best records when leading after the first quarter last year:

Orlando Magic 47-4 .922
Los Angeles Lakers 41-5 .891
Cleveland Cavaliers 46-7 .868
Portland Trail Blazers 33-6 .846
Phoenix Suns 33-7 .825





Posted by Glass Half Full, Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 11:56 PM

Three-Point Play

1) Dwight Howard has grabbed 2,254 rebounds the last two seasons. That is the highest back-to-back total since Dennis Rodman in 1992-93 – 1993-94 seasons.

Most Rebounds in Back-to-Back Seasons - Since 1992-93

Dennis Rodman: 1992-93 - 1993-94 2499 (1132 + 1367)

Dwight Howard: 2007-08 - 2008-09 2254 (1161 + 1093)

Kevin Garnett: 2003-04 - 2004-05 2247 (1139 + 1108)

Kevin Garnett: 2002-03 - 2003-04 2241 (1102 + 1139)

Shaquille O'Neal: 1992-93 - 1993-94 2194 (1122 + 1072)

2) After missing the second half of last season, Jameer Nelson is back and healthy. When Nelson went down, he was putting up the best numbers of his career.

Jameer Nelson, 2008-09 Stats (w/Single-Season Career Ranks)

Minutes/Gm: 31.2 (Most)

Points/Gm: 16.7 (702/42) (Most)

3PM/Gm: 1.95 (82/42) (Most)

3P Pct.: .453 (82/181) (Best)

FG Pct.: .503 (267/531) (Best)

3) Here’s a look at the NBA blocked shot leaders since 2004-05:

Dwight Howard - 814

Samuel Dalembert - 778

Emeka Okafor - 621

Jermaine O’Neal - 610

Yao Ming - 609

Special thanks to Stats LLC for being a service provider for Orlando Magic broadcast partner Sun Sports/FSN, as well as GHF.





Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, October 23, 2009, 4:06 PM

Encore, Encore

So, what does Superman do for an encore?

After being named First Team All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year, and garnering an NBA-record 3.1 million All-Star votes, Dwight Howard and his super friends are looking to take the next step.

Personally for Howard -- who remained on the bench to watch the L.A. Lakers celebrate the title on the Amway Arena floor - his stated goal is simple this season, win the championship.

To that end, Howard will personally focus on three areas as the Magic Kingdom jumps on his broad shoulders.

First, he will again look to dominate defensively. This 23-year-old is a very unique player in the fact that he can absolutely dominate a game without scoring. Remember, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounding and blocked shots in the same season, joining the likes of Addul-Jabbar, Walton, Olajuwon and Ben Wallace.

Second, he will look to stay poised and patient in the post offensively. Hack-A-Howard and the double- and triple-teams will be coming full force and Dwight will look to make the opposition pay by slowing down a little and effectively passing out of the paint to what he calls his “snipers”, a.k.a. the Magic’s three-point shooters that go by the names of Lewis, Carter, Nelson, et al. If the opposition looks to pay more attention to the perimeter, look for Howard to score big in the paint and with an ever-expanding offensive repertoire.

Third, he will continue to work on his free throws. He has worked extremely hard and will continue to do so. GHF predicts a career-best percentage from the line.

Dominate defensively, poised and patient offensively, and a few free throws are the secrets to Howard, and Magic, success.





Posted by Glass Half Full, Thursday, October 1, 2009, 3:05 PM

Magical Swiss Army Knife

As training camp practice hit its third straight day of double sessions, one thing is Glass Half Full crystal clear: the Magic resemble a Rubik's Cube.

Multiple players can play multiple positions which in turn will create match-up nightmares for the foes, while also allowing the Magic to defend in a multitude of ways depending on the situation.

Can you say Swiss Army Knife.

Take newcomer Matt Barnes for example. The six-foot-seven incher can play shooting guard, small forward or even power forward. "Half Man, Half Amazing" Vince Carter plays, two, three and can handle up top as a point forward. Mickael Pietrus can slide from the two to the three and Brandon Bass can play the four and five, as can the Polish Hammer Marcin Gortat.

Rashard Lewis who has been a match-up problem as a power forward can slide between the four and small-forward, six-foot-ten Ryan Anderson shoots it like a two, and Jameer Nelson is a scoring point guard.

Glass Half Full even saw Dwight Howard drain a three-pointer after practice Wednesday night.





Posted by Glass Half Full, Friday, September 25, 2009, 11:37 AM

Glass Half Full is Back

Here’s to short summers.

Shorts summers – it was just 107 days since last season ended to the start of training camp - translates into your Magic playing into June and for the NBA Championship. With that in mind, here are the Glass Half Full keys, in three-point play fashion, for the season, and for another short summer.

1) Stay Hungry … In the words of owner Rich DeVos, the Magic are “happy, but not satisfied.” And that is key numero uno – stay hungry. The Magic can not be satisfied with last year’s Eastern Conference Championship season which boasted 59 wins (including 27 road wins), a second straight Southeast Divisional title and a 6-3 regular season mark vs. the other big three (Cleveland, Boston and the Lakers). The team will look to come to the gym each night with that hungry like a bear mentality, playing each possession like it is their collective last. There can be no “flipping the switch” mentality and the team while having it’s eye on the grand prize, will have to work each day, practice, game and possession to get back the opportunity it had last June. All that, knowing they have a bigger bull's-eye on their back. There will be no sneaking up on people and a ton of attention to deal with (24 national television appearances), all things which come with success.

2) Play Together … One of the keys of last year’s group was that they always played together. Everyone knew their role, everyone bought into the concept of the sum is bigger than the parts. The Magic kept their core together, Superman and his super friends, and added five new faces in Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass and Jason Williams. How they gel will go a long way in getting to the finish line.

3) Defense … While most focused on the Magic’s three-point shooting and inside-outside, spread-them-out, pick-your-poison offensive attack last year, it was actually the defensive mentality which was the key to success. Head Coach Stan Van Gundy will look for that same effort, an effort which saw the team ranked in the Top 10 of seven different defensive categories. Orlando allowed 94.4 ppg., while holding opponents to a 43.3 shooting percentage. Whether holding opponents down in the shooting percentage, limiting transition and points in the paint opportunities or playing hard without fouling, Orlando must bring its defensive mentality. Over the last two years the Magic are 81-18 during the regular season when holding foes under 100 points.

Joel Glass is the Vice President of Communications for the Orlando Magic.