MAGIC: Ask J.D. Mailbag: November 6

November 6, 2009

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

Hey, everybody. Welcome to the "Ask JD" mailbag where I will hopefully answer some of your questions about the Orlando Magic and bring you a little bit closer to the players.

A good number of questions this week, but I know you guys can do better. Especially all of you guys on the message boards who always seem to have lots to say (and are quite knowledgeable about the team, I might add).

First, let me say that I know a lot of you are still looking for someone to blame for that bizarre loss in suburban Detroit on Tuesday, costing the Magic a shot at a 90-0 season. Yes, I was there for my first road game of the season and I’d like to think it was just a mere coincidence that the Magic laid an egg that same night. Not sound like a homer, but I’d put the blame on a certain referee in the building that night with slicked-back hair.

Well, let’s dig down deep into the mailbag and see what sort of questions Magic fans have this week:

QUESTION: Hey JD! I think it’s great that the best Magic beat writer is now working for the organization. Congratulations! Back on topic, I think Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson are going to be huge long term for this team. Do you see Stan playing Bass at the 4 while playing Anderson at the 3 in some situations? – Dustin Bowlin

J.D.: Hey Dustin, flattery will get you everywhere here at ``Ask J.D.’’ Actually being considered the best Magic beat writer is sort of like being the tallest midget, isn’t it? No, seriously, thanks so much for your kind words.

I agree that the Magic are really loaded at power forward with Rashard Lewis (remember him!), Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass. Having three quality players there allows Stan Van Gundy to change styles there from game-to-game or even in the middle of games.

Against bigger teams such as the Lakers and Celtics, the Magic can use Lewis and Bass more at power forward to muscle Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett. Against smaller teams and ones with slower power forwards, Anderson and Lewis can burn them with their outside shooting.

Undoubtedly, Lewis is going to play some small forward when he gets back. Privately, the Magic are wondering if they can get away with using Anderson at small forward some in short spurts because of the added shooting and rebounding he would give them. That would free up more minutes at power forward for Bass and maybe even Marcin Gortat.

QUESTION: I see J.J. Redick as a regular player in the near future. What’s your opinion? – Angelica Aponte

J.D.: Wow, what a shock – a question from a female about J.J. (Just kidding).

Redick has carved himself a nice niche in the Magic’s rotation because he defends well, he’s a smart, heady passer and he’s getting back to making shots again like he did at Duke. His performance at Toronto last Sunday bailed out a Magic team that was without several weapons and it further entrenched him in the rotation.

Maybe the biggest reason J.J. is going to stay in the rotation is because head coach Stan Van Gundy trusts him to make the right play, be in the right spot and play the right way. Van Gundy said the other night that he has tremendous trust in Redick because he makes so few mistakes.

And Van Gundy likes how Redick has learned the league, learned the opponents he’s facing on a nightly basis and he’s using that knowledge now to make up for whatever other shortcomings he might have.

Rest assured, Redick is in the rotation as long as he keeps defending and making open shots.

QUESTION: Hey John, in which game will Rashard Lewis make his return to the Magic rotation? Whose minutes will this affect the most? Great to see the Magic finally have a mailbag that I can waste, err, spend my time on. Thanks! – Joel Hales, Atlanta

J.D.: Glad I can help you waste your time. My wife has been telling me the same thing for years.

The whole ``circle that date on your calendar’’ thing has become an overused cliché, but believe me when I tell you that Rashard Lewis literally has Nov. 16 circled on his calendar. I’d make the argument that no player on the Magic’s roster is more about team than Lewis, and it is killing him inside not to be out on the floor helping the Magic. He did say earlier today when I talked to him that the success that the team is having is making his 10-game suspension somewhat easier to digest.

Lewis has been with the team during practices, shootarounds and on the road, but he just hasn’t been there for games. But he has stayed in shape by doing hours of shooting drills and cardio work on the court and on the treadmill. He should blend right in when he comes back and predicts that his shot will be more accurate than ever considering all of the jumpers that he’s hoisted of late. Stan Van Gundy will start him right away on Nov. 16 against the Charlotte Bobcats – not a moment too soon.

QUESTION 1: Hey John, it has become blatantly obvious that D12 is not getting the respect he deserves from the refs. He is repeatedly hit without calls. When, if at all, does he finally get superstar treatment? I seem to remember a certain member of the Cleveland Cavs, getting breathed on in the postseason last year, and getting every call possible. After this Pistons’ game on Tuesday, it doesn’t seem like the refs are giving Superman a chance. What gives? – David Ramserran

QUESTION 2: I have been a basketball fan for about 45 years and played college basketball in the mid 60s. I cannot understand why Dwight Howard gets so many fouls called on him and so few called when he gets fouled. If a defensive player gets close to Lebron or Kobe the whistle blows and they’re on the line shooting free throws. Game after game, Dwight Howard gets physically abused and very few whistles are in his favor. I don’t condone the technicals he picks up because they only hurt the team, but I can sympathize with him. Even though he is young, you can only take this for so long before the body breaks down and a fine career ends prematurely. -- Wayne Powless

J.D.: Dwight is very frustrated with what’s going on and he’s made his voice heard through his arguments with referees, his postgame rant sessions with the media and his blog on his personal website. He admitted recently that he’s very close to losing his cool because of the hard hits he’s taken from opposing players. He was so mad in Toronto that he was about ready to go toe-to-toe with Chris Bosh, one of his closest friends.

The Magic have had numerous talks with the league about the matter, but little has been done. I agree with what Stan Van Gundy says when he points out that wing players and big men are treated dramatically different in the NBA. Wing players driving to the hoop aren’t allowed to be impeded, but big men like Howard routinely get bumped, banged and hacked. Clearly, it’s a double standard, but the league isn’t about to stop protecting stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade from attacking the basket.

Dwight is one of the game’s brightest stars and you’d think he’d earn the respect of a superstar player. But he does have to limit the chirping with officials. That would be a positive step toward getting more benefit-of-the-doubt calls from refs.

QUESTION: John, I love the Magic and I do think we have not only the best team in Magic’s history, but possibly the best team in the league right now. That’s why I am concerned when I see our team go through a disaster like in Detroit. A team with so much power and talent simply cannot have such nights. It’s a matter of responding to different styles of other teams with an equally determined and disruptive style of play. Do you think the Detroit fiasco was just a rare slip or should the Magic work harder on responding to other teams’ game plans? -- Alexander Boguslawski, Maitland

J.D.: I do think the Detroit slip-up was just one of those rare nights when seemingly everything goes wrong. But it’s not like it’s the first time that sort of thing has happened in Detroit. It just seems like regardless of who the Pistons have out injured, they still find a way to win against Orlando in Detroit.

But as frustrating as that night was for the Magic and Magic fans, think about this: Late in the game, the Magic didn’t have Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus or Marcin Gortat available to play. That’s four starters and the top reserve not on the floor. There’s not a team in the league that wouldn’t struggle without five of their best players available.

So it was a one-night flop. Van Gundy said he thought it might have been the worst performance by the Magic in his two-plus years in Orlando. What was more important was how the ``embarrassed’’ Magic responded a night later in their 122-100 romp against Phoenix.

QUESTION: Hey JD! Do the players use any type of acupuncture or alternative medicine between games to keep them healthy and well? -- Megan, Orlando.

J.D.: I know as soon as practice is over many of the Magic players make a bee line for the cold plunge to help cure some of the pain and swelling in their knees, ankles and feet. Players such as Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson rave about how the cold plunge helps their legs bounce back from two-plus hours of running and keeps the swelling down.

Not sure if the cold plunge qualifies as alternative medicine, but it is certainly a favorite among Magic players after particularly long practices.

Well, I’m off to the Magic’s rematch tonight against the Detroit Pistons. I’m predicting a lot of pain is ahead for the Pistons. Thanks everybody for the questions and please send in more for next Friday’s ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag.

John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.