WDBO Sports Director Scott Anez has seen, or listened to, every Orlando Magic game ever played! A local boy who graduated from Lake Brantley High School and UCF, Scott began his career by covering the Magic's inaugural season in 1989 and he is known as the Voice of the Magic Fan in Orlando. This is Scott's 18th season hosting AM 580 WDBO's Inside Magic, the highest rated sports talk show in Orlando. He also serves as Broadcast Host for the Orlando Magic Radio Network. Scott shares his unique take on what's happening at Two Magic Place and beyond with ANEZ SEZ. Read more of Scott's previous blogs at the Anez Sez archive or at http://580wdbo.com.
Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, June 16, 2011, 9:05 AM
Postseason Chat With Ryan Anderson
Scott...I am still trying to figure out what the heck happened in that first round series vs. Atlanta. Help me out here...
Ryan...The Hawks made every shot. They played great. They really surprised us in their attack and their strategy. They did a great job in taking away our shooters. I think that was a key thing for them--just eliminating our outside threat. We just didn't shoot the ball well. We had guys taking tougher shots than they did all season. It was so hard watching the NBA Playoffs because you wish you were there. You know, I am a guy who, when I watch sports, I need to get out on the court and play. All I can say is that, next year, we'll have a more finely tuned team. Guys are gonna come back and have more experience with the system, with the coach--and I think that's gonna be key. That was a tough series--really tough.
Scott...Looking back at the season that was, it was kinda disjointed. We had the two mega-trades back in December. You had the 9 game win streak right after the deals...but do you agree that your Magic just weren't able to take a firm grasp of momentum for the rest of the season?
Ryan...Yeah, you're right. It was a season with alotta ups and downs. We went through, pretty much, everything a team could possibly go through last year. People forget about that. Up until the end of the year, we wondered who were we gonna have on a night-to-night basis. One night we had seven guys who could play. It was a tough year from that aspect. Obviously, you can't build momentum when you don't have everyone healthy. You look at JJ (Redick), at the end of the year, he was in alotta pain. Guys were just really forcing it through the end of the year and the end of the playoffs. We just want to get back and be healthy again and build this thing a little more.
Scott..."Your teammate, Dwight Howard, made some headlines recently when he said that he would indeed become a free agent next summer. Do you have any reaction to that bit of news, Ryan?"
Ryan...Well, obviously that's big news for everybody here because everyone wants him around. We want Dwight to be back. But, at the same time, there's really nothing I can say to him--you know, I don't really want to prod him with it because I know everyone's asking him about it. It's his decision. I do think that it's a smart business decision for him because if he's looking to make more money, it only makes sense to wait another year because other teams can make offers for him.
I think he's doing what any natural guy in his position would do. I do know that he loves it here. He loves the fans. He loves his teammates. I just think that it's his decision and at the end of the day, I hope he's around.
Scott...It was reported that he's also told ownership that the Magic roster needs to be upgraded. Being one of his teammates, I wonder how that makes you feel?
Ryan...By him saying that, I think that is him showing that he really wants to win. Obviously, Dwight is a guy who everyone is gonna listen to. I think that, honestly, as his teammate, I don't look at that comment as if he's questioning anything about me. Ya know, but I just think that he's trying to win. He's trying to win. I want to win. I want the team to bring in the best players. That's what any player would want. I do think that we have an amazing cast of guys. We have a great unit--but it's understandable that he said that. I don't blame him and say, wow, this isn't being a good teammate. I think he just wants to win and he has alotta control over what goes on.
Scott...Let me ask you this...This team, in effect, after the December trades, was together for about four months. Is that long enough to make an assessment as to whether this team can do something special in the future?
Ryan...I don't think so. I think it takes teams years--look at Dallas and they've had that core group of guys for a long time. We basically started brand new after the trades happened. We had only a few guys left that had been around a few years after the trades. I think it takes a few years to get a system right--to get your team gelled together to kinda learn what each player is gonna do and their tendencies. At the same time, we expected a lot from this team because we brought together great, talented guys. Although it was just four months, we really felt like this was a team that could make a huge run and it ended up disappointed. Is four months enough, to me? Personally, I don't think so. People can look at it differently...But, I think we have a great team and more than enough talent to win.
Scott...What's Ryan Anderson been doing this summer--and what are the plans for the future summer months?
Ryan...I got a chance to go home to California earlier this summer. I hadn't been back in a while. My sister graduated from college (Sacramento State). But I can't take too much time off. I wanted to get right back in the gym. I came back to Orlando last week and I am doing a lot of basketball training and mostly focusing on getting my strength up by doing some boxing--which, by the way, is an amazing workout. It's fun because it's cardio--but it's more than just getting out on a track and running. I've been going alotta that just in stay in shape. For me, it's really my body that I need to focus on. Obviously, I'll work on my game, but I am gonna focus on building my body this summer.
Scott...So, we've got the Orlando Magic Ryan Anderson Basketball Camp coming up next week at the Orlando Sports Center. Tell us about it.
Ryan...I am really looking forward to it. It's my first camp I've ever done. I was thinking about having a camp out in Sacramento, my hometown, but I thought it was important to do it here in Orlando--to interact with the kids and the community and for them to see who I am off the court. We're gonna have a blast. We'll give them the best instruction we possibly can. And if there's a basketball camp and I am involved, there's gonna be alotta fun involved. I love kids so I think that's gonna be a really fun, interactive week.
Scott...Some guys have camps in their name--then don't show up until the last day. You gonna be there everyday?
Ryan...Yes! Definitely. I couldn't do a camp and not show up. I will be there. I will be there every single day.
Ryan Anderson will host the first Orlando Magic Ryan Anderson Basketball Camp next week, June 20-24, at the Orlando Sports Center. To sign up, visit OrlandoMagicCamps.com or call (216) 378-0932.
Anez Sez is solely the opinion of Scott Anez and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA.
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