Ask Otis: September 14, 2010
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By Otis Smith
September 14, 2010
Question: How do you expect to see the 4 spot used next season? Should we expect to see more Brandon Bass (or Ryan Anderson) at the four and Rashard Lewis at the 3 more often? – Jef Wilder
Otis: I think it will be a combination of both. I don’t think we will stop playing Rashard Lewis at the four. But you’ll see him play some spot minutes at the three. What happens at the four behind Rashard will be determined by Brandon and Ryan. It would be premature for us to say what’s going to happen at this point. Preseason will determine who we play, how often they play and the minutes they are given there. Guys have to find a way for a coach not to play you. And that adjusts your lineups. You want your best players on the floor all the time.
First year guys historically with Stan Van Gundy always have an adjustment period. Our whole team went through an adjustment when he came. Rashard went through an adjustment, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, they all go through an adjustment with Stan’s system. So I expect Brandon to be a little bit better and Ryan to be a little bit better than they were a year ago, just because they’ve picked up on terminology and what it takes to play.
Question: Could you envision having Mickael Pietrus in the starting lineup next season? – Juan Delgado
Otis: That’s really not up to me. That’s up to Mickael Pietrus. I’ve envisioned him in the starting lineup since he got here. But he doesn’t envision himself there. He would prefer to be a backup for whatever reason. So I am hoping he starts to envision himself as a starter. That’s who it’s up to. It’s not really up to anyone else. I think he has the skills that it would take to start on this team at the small forward position, which is someone who can defend, hit open threes and make shots. We went out and got Quentin Richardson for similar reasons.
Question: I’m excited to see what Vince Carter brings this year. What do you expect him to bring? – Johnny B.
Otis: I expect him to be Vince Carter. I thought Vince was caught in a vortex of trying to fit in, which happens with our team. Our best player is such a dominant personality in regards to when he wants the ball, where he wants the ball and most of the time we get it to him. But there comes a time in the postseason where other guys have to step up. Wing players have to step up. I expect him to be Vince Carter. But remember, Vince Carter didn’t lose the Boston series, so let’s get that straight. The Orlando Magic lost the Boston series and we lost the Boston series, because quite frankly none of us played well.
Question: I'm a big Jason Williams fan from the Philippines. I would just like to know, what do you think J-Will's role will be this coming year as a member of the Orlando Magic? What are you looking for him to accomplish for your team's title run in 2011? Thank you for your time and honesty. Good luck to you and the Team! Go Magic! – Albert T.
Otis: That’s up to J-Will. If I had to slot it right now he would come in as the third point guard. Historically that third point guard has been valuable to us, because Jameer Nelson normally misses 15-20 games a season. So we have to have someone to back up our second guy, so he can become our first guy. So he’s important. The fact that J-Will has won a title and been instrumental in winning a title helps us in that regard. I think he has a very good mind and could become a good coach one day. But guys have to realize that on their own. Regardless of what we see, he has to also see that. So we have to see what kind of personality he has on the bench and that’s going to be the telltale sign of how long he continues to play in this league as well.
Question: I have a question about Stanley "Sticks" Robinson? What are his chances of making the roster this year and maybe playing some minutes? – Jasper Levio
Otis: Well, that’s up to Stanley. I think he has done everything he supposed to do as far as the summer goes. He came in and worked his tail off. He’s gotten better. He’s in better shape. But when we start training camp here at the end of the month we’ll see what kind of energy he brings to the floor every day. And that’s what he has to realize that he has to bring. He has to bring a certain level of energy every day, regardless of him scoring a bucket or not. He has to be able to defend, rebound the basketball, run the floor and bring that kind of energy every day. There’s a chance if he comes in and does those things that it will make us make some decisions.
Question: What's Daniel Orton doing to get into NBA shape and prepare for his upcoming rookie year? What did you like about him that made you feel comfortable making him the 29th pick of the NBA Draft? – David O.
Otis: He has good hands, good feet, can pass the ball and can actually shoot the ball pretty well. But what he’s doing now is primarily strengthening up his knee. His knee was not ready to play NBA basketball, so he’s done little on the court and more in the weight room training to get his knee up to strength so he can play an NBA basketball game. His knee was about 70 percent of where it should be to play basketball, so that’s the primary goal. And drafting with the 29th overall pick, for us, you look for a guy that we don’t necessarily need. We drafted a center, but I have two centers in front of him. So it’s not about the need. He has the potential to grow and be a pretty good player if he puts in the work, which up to this point he has done.
Question: Do you think this Magic roster has what it takes to get past the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and win a championship? – Gina G.
Otis: I think our team is better overall. I don’t think it was a matter of dismantling our roster and then putting it back together. I think it was a matter of keeping our team together, keeping some continuity and making some tweaks and adjustments, which we did by bringing in Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson. We brought them in so we would be able to do some things better than we did before. Now with all that said, we’re going to have to be a mentally tougher team than we have been the last two years. It has nothing to do with our Xs and Os or a jump shot made, free throws or rebounds. We just have to be a mentally tougher basketball team. Can we compete with those teams at that level? Sure we can. You don’t win 59 games back-to-back years and go to the Eastern Conference Finals back-to-back years and go to The Finals one of those years without being able to compete at that level. We just have to do the 1/8 of an inch, the amount that it takes you to go from good to great. We may go through some rough points in the season that we grow out of through the course of the postseason. That’s kind of why you go through an 82 game season. You’re not going to go through an 82 game season and win 69 games and just run through the playoffs that way. It doesn’t work that way. You’re going to have to experience some ups and downs, get some bumps and bruises and mend so that you can make a playoff run.
Question: I am a big fan of the Magic’s 4-out-1-in offense. Obviously, Dwight Howard makes this work, but whose idea was it, yours, Stan's or someone else's? – Larry S.
Otis: That’s Stan’s style. He’s the coach of the basketball team, not me. I know I have a dominant center and with a dominant center, he needs spacing. Being able to shoot the basketball is a premium on our team. This year probably everyone on our team can shoot the ball from long range, which helps create more space for Dwight. It’s just a matter of providing your best player with room in the post to work and making teams pay for double teaming your best player. So are you willing to trade a two for a three? So we look at the averages that way. But it’s Stan’s style of play. He’s the basketball coach. My job is to create a talent pool that allows him to play the way he wants to play. I can’t create a talent pool that prevents him from playing the way he wants to play. Then who loses? Everyone does. I’m not naive in that way. So you have to adjust some things to what you have in a coach. I actually like the way we play basketball. And I probably like the way we defend better than the way we play offense, because that’s what wins basketball games.
Question: Hi Mr. Smith. I am very interested in becoming a GM, especially in the NBA. I would just like your advice on what I should do – the schooling or anything I would need – and how you became a GM. Thank you. – Reece W.
Otis: Go to school and read as much as you can about anything and everything. It doesn’t necessarily have to be about sports and basketball; it can be about anything and everything. Just expand your horizons. I don’t know if I set out to become General Manager of a basketball team. I think I probably said it out loud for the first time 13 years ago. It wasn’t like “ok, I want to become General Manger of a basketball team.” In actuality, I wanted to be a firefighter. But being a firefighter and being a General Manger is basically the same thing. You’re constantly putting out fires and moving on to the next one.
September 14, 2010
Question: How do you expect to see the 4 spot used next season? Should we expect to see more Brandon Bass (or Ryan Anderson) at the four and Rashard Lewis at the 3 more often? – Jef Wilder
Otis: I think it will be a combination of both. I don’t think we will stop playing Rashard Lewis at the four. But you’ll see him play some spot minutes at the three. What happens at the four behind Rashard will be determined by Brandon and Ryan. It would be premature for us to say what’s going to happen at this point. Preseason will determine who we play, how often they play and the minutes they are given there. Guys have to find a way for a coach not to play you. And that adjusts your lineups. You want your best players on the floor all the time.
First year guys historically with Stan Van Gundy always have an adjustment period. Our whole team went through an adjustment when he came. Rashard went through an adjustment, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, they all go through an adjustment with Stan’s system. So I expect Brandon to be a little bit better and Ryan to be a little bit better than they were a year ago, just because they’ve picked up on terminology and what it takes to play.
Question: Could you envision having Mickael Pietrus in the starting lineup next season? – Juan Delgado
Otis: That’s really not up to me. That’s up to Mickael Pietrus. I’ve envisioned him in the starting lineup since he got here. But he doesn’t envision himself there. He would prefer to be a backup for whatever reason. So I am hoping he starts to envision himself as a starter. That’s who it’s up to. It’s not really up to anyone else. I think he has the skills that it would take to start on this team at the small forward position, which is someone who can defend, hit open threes and make shots. We went out and got Quentin Richardson for similar reasons.
Question: I’m excited to see what Vince Carter brings this year. What do you expect him to bring? – Johnny B.
Otis: I expect him to be Vince Carter. I thought Vince was caught in a vortex of trying to fit in, which happens with our team. Our best player is such a dominant personality in regards to when he wants the ball, where he wants the ball and most of the time we get it to him. But there comes a time in the postseason where other guys have to step up. Wing players have to step up. I expect him to be Vince Carter. But remember, Vince Carter didn’t lose the Boston series, so let’s get that straight. The Orlando Magic lost the Boston series and we lost the Boston series, because quite frankly none of us played well.
Question: I'm a big Jason Williams fan from the Philippines. I would just like to know, what do you think J-Will's role will be this coming year as a member of the Orlando Magic? What are you looking for him to accomplish for your team's title run in 2011? Thank you for your time and honesty. Good luck to you and the Team! Go Magic! – Albert T.
Otis: That’s up to J-Will. If I had to slot it right now he would come in as the third point guard. Historically that third point guard has been valuable to us, because Jameer Nelson normally misses 15-20 games a season. So we have to have someone to back up our second guy, so he can become our first guy. So he’s important. The fact that J-Will has won a title and been instrumental in winning a title helps us in that regard. I think he has a very good mind and could become a good coach one day. But guys have to realize that on their own. Regardless of what we see, he has to also see that. So we have to see what kind of personality he has on the bench and that’s going to be the telltale sign of how long he continues to play in this league as well.
Question: I have a question about Stanley "Sticks" Robinson? What are his chances of making the roster this year and maybe playing some minutes? – Jasper Levio
Otis: Well, that’s up to Stanley. I think he has done everything he supposed to do as far as the summer goes. He came in and worked his tail off. He’s gotten better. He’s in better shape. But when we start training camp here at the end of the month we’ll see what kind of energy he brings to the floor every day. And that’s what he has to realize that he has to bring. He has to bring a certain level of energy every day, regardless of him scoring a bucket or not. He has to be able to defend, rebound the basketball, run the floor and bring that kind of energy every day. There’s a chance if he comes in and does those things that it will make us make some decisions.
Question: What's Daniel Orton doing to get into NBA shape and prepare for his upcoming rookie year? What did you like about him that made you feel comfortable making him the 29th pick of the NBA Draft? – David O.
Otis: He has good hands, good feet, can pass the ball and can actually shoot the ball pretty well. But what he’s doing now is primarily strengthening up his knee. His knee was not ready to play NBA basketball, so he’s done little on the court and more in the weight room training to get his knee up to strength so he can play an NBA basketball game. His knee was about 70 percent of where it should be to play basketball, so that’s the primary goal. And drafting with the 29th overall pick, for us, you look for a guy that we don’t necessarily need. We drafted a center, but I have two centers in front of him. So it’s not about the need. He has the potential to grow and be a pretty good player if he puts in the work, which up to this point he has done.
Question: Do you think this Magic roster has what it takes to get past the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and win a championship? – Gina G.
Otis: I think our team is better overall. I don’t think it was a matter of dismantling our roster and then putting it back together. I think it was a matter of keeping our team together, keeping some continuity and making some tweaks and adjustments, which we did by bringing in Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson. We brought them in so we would be able to do some things better than we did before. Now with all that said, we’re going to have to be a mentally tougher team than we have been the last two years. It has nothing to do with our Xs and Os or a jump shot made, free throws or rebounds. We just have to be a mentally tougher basketball team. Can we compete with those teams at that level? Sure we can. You don’t win 59 games back-to-back years and go to the Eastern Conference Finals back-to-back years and go to The Finals one of those years without being able to compete at that level. We just have to do the 1/8 of an inch, the amount that it takes you to go from good to great. We may go through some rough points in the season that we grow out of through the course of the postseason. That’s kind of why you go through an 82 game season. You’re not going to go through an 82 game season and win 69 games and just run through the playoffs that way. It doesn’t work that way. You’re going to have to experience some ups and downs, get some bumps and bruises and mend so that you can make a playoff run.
Question: I am a big fan of the Magic’s 4-out-1-in offense. Obviously, Dwight Howard makes this work, but whose idea was it, yours, Stan's or someone else's? – Larry S.
Otis: That’s Stan’s style. He’s the coach of the basketball team, not me. I know I have a dominant center and with a dominant center, he needs spacing. Being able to shoot the basketball is a premium on our team. This year probably everyone on our team can shoot the ball from long range, which helps create more space for Dwight. It’s just a matter of providing your best player with room in the post to work and making teams pay for double teaming your best player. So are you willing to trade a two for a three? So we look at the averages that way. But it’s Stan’s style of play. He’s the basketball coach. My job is to create a talent pool that allows him to play the way he wants to play. I can’t create a talent pool that prevents him from playing the way he wants to play. Then who loses? Everyone does. I’m not naive in that way. So you have to adjust some things to what you have in a coach. I actually like the way we play basketball. And I probably like the way we defend better than the way we play offense, because that’s what wins basketball games.
Question: Hi Mr. Smith. I am very interested in becoming a GM, especially in the NBA. I would just like your advice on what I should do – the schooling or anything I would need – and how you became a GM. Thank you. – Reece W.
Otis: Go to school and read as much as you can about anything and everything. It doesn’t necessarily have to be about sports and basketball; it can be about anything and everything. Just expand your horizons. I don’t know if I set out to become General Manager of a basketball team. I think I probably said it out loud for the first time 13 years ago. It wasn’t like “ok, I want to become General Manger of a basketball team.” In actuality, I wanted to be a firefighter. But being a firefighter and being a General Manger is basically the same thing. You’re constantly putting out fires and moving on to the next one.
