Denton: Magic-Bucks Notes
By John Denton
February 2, 2010
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.
ORLANDO – J.J. Redick has yet to be contacted by the league about his willingness to participate in the NBA’s 3-point Shootout at the All-Star Game, but the Orlando Magic guard likes his chances if he were to compete in the event.
``I’ve never lost in a 3-point contest, but I’m a terrible H-O-R-S-E player,’’ said Redick, who has already made plans to go back home to Virginia and attend a Duke-Maryland game during the four-day All-Star break. ``I’m either 3-0 or 4-0 in them. We did them a lot at the AAU camps and I won the McDonald’s All-American contest. I didn’t do the college one, but I’ve been in some other ones.’’
Redick entered Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks ranked 17th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (40.7 percent), 25th in 3-pointers made (72) and 40th in 3-pointers attempted (177). Redick made what he considers one of the biggest 3-pointers of his basketball life last week against the Boston Celtics. With the Magic trailing 94-91, Redick buried a 28-foot 3-pointer that tied the game – one the Magic ultimately won 96-94 when Rashard Lewis hit a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining.
Redick drilled a last-second 3-pointer last season against Charlotte that forced overtime in another game that the Magic went on to win. But in Redick’s eyes, this shot was much more significant. ``That one’s definitely up there for me in terms of NBA shots,’’ Redick said. ``It was probably the biggest shot I’ve hit because it was a national (television) game, it was Boston, it was at home and we needed that win. That shot gave us a chance to win it at the end, and it was cool when we did (win).’’
If Redick were to get into the NBA 3-point Shootout, he should clean up with the corner shots. According to NBA statistics, Redick has made 10 of his 13 3-point tries this season from the right corner.
IN-VINCE-ABLE: No one was happier to see January turn to February earlier this week than the struggling Vince Carter. Even though Carter’s birthday falls in January, the month was a forgettable for the Orlando Magic’s star shooting guard.
In 14 games in January, Carter averaged just 8.7 points while shooting 28.4 percent from the floor and 22 percent from the 3-point stripe. Carter averaged 20.6 points in November and 18.4 points in December before taking the plunge in January.
``It was a brutal, brutal month,’’ Carter said. ``I usually consider January an easy month because of my birthday, but this one was tough.
Carter was hesitant to talk about his own personal struggles, instead focusing on the fact that the Magic closed January by winning six of their last seven games. Carter said the only solution was to shoot his way through the slump and not lose his confidence.
``I don’t really get into that,’’ Carter said of his own slump. ``As a team, we’re playing well. I’ll be fine. Everything is the same and it’s just an unfortunate time right now. Just shoot through it and keep playing. What I’ve learned over 11 years, when you are in a slump just keep playing. The days will get better.’’
Carter’s coach the past five years, Lawrence Frank, was in Orlando Tuesday as a guest of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. Frank was fired in November when the Nets got off to an 0-16 start. Van Gundy invited him to visit months ago and said Frank’s time here had nothing to do with Carter’s struggles.
ETC: Magic point guard Jameer Nelson small forward Mickael Pietrus were both out Tuesday night after suffering injuries Sunday night against Detroit. Nelson hyper-extended his surgically repaired left knee and said he felt ``a different pain than before.’’ Nelson said he went through the morning practice, but he was withheld with the Magic off the next two days before hosting Washington on Friday. Pietrus sprained his ankle in Sunday’s fourth quarter when he landed on Richard Hamilton’s foot while hitting a clutch 3-pointer. Pietrus said he would return ``sometime this week.’’ … Carter admitted that his left shoulder, which was separated three weeks ago, is still somewhat of a problem. He wears a pad on the shoulder under a T-shirt. Said Carter: ``It’s up and down, but sometimes when I get a nice shot, it knocks you back down. But I’ll never use it as an excuse. If I’m out there, I’m there to play, but there are some painful times sometimes.’’ … Van Gundy said while he would prefer to use the break for the All-Star Game to spend time with his family, he will treat the chance to coach the East All-Stars as an honor – even if he feels a bit out of place. ``When I was there in 2005, I remember walking out to practice and wondering what the heck I was doing out there,’’ Van Gundy joked. ``I saw Oscar Robertson and some of the great players from the past and I said to my wife that it was like one of those kid’s books: `Which one of these people don’t belong?’ It’s the best 24 players in the game and then you are thrust into it in a very minor role.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonFebruary 2, 2010
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.
ORLANDO – J.J. Redick has yet to be contacted by the league about his willingness to participate in the NBA’s 3-point Shootout at the All-Star Game, but the Orlando Magic guard likes his chances if he were to compete in the event.
``I’ve never lost in a 3-point contest, but I’m a terrible H-O-R-S-E player,’’ said Redick, who has already made plans to go back home to Virginia and attend a Duke-Maryland game during the four-day All-Star break. ``I’m either 3-0 or 4-0 in them. We did them a lot at the AAU camps and I won the McDonald’s All-American contest. I didn’t do the college one, but I’ve been in some other ones.’’
Redick entered Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks ranked 17th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (40.7 percent), 25th in 3-pointers made (72) and 40th in 3-pointers attempted (177). Redick made what he considers one of the biggest 3-pointers of his basketball life last week against the Boston Celtics. With the Magic trailing 94-91, Redick buried a 28-foot 3-pointer that tied the game – one the Magic ultimately won 96-94 when Rashard Lewis hit a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining.
Redick drilled a last-second 3-pointer last season against Charlotte that forced overtime in another game that the Magic went on to win. But in Redick’s eyes, this shot was much more significant. ``That one’s definitely up there for me in terms of NBA shots,’’ Redick said. ``It was probably the biggest shot I’ve hit because it was a national (television) game, it was Boston, it was at home and we needed that win. That shot gave us a chance to win it at the end, and it was cool when we did (win).’’
If Redick were to get into the NBA 3-point Shootout, he should clean up with the corner shots. According to NBA statistics, Redick has made 10 of his 13 3-point tries this season from the right corner.
IN-VINCE-ABLE: No one was happier to see January turn to February earlier this week than the struggling Vince Carter. Even though Carter’s birthday falls in January, the month was a forgettable for the Orlando Magic’s star shooting guard.
In 14 games in January, Carter averaged just 8.7 points while shooting 28.4 percent from the floor and 22 percent from the 3-point stripe. Carter averaged 20.6 points in November and 18.4 points in December before taking the plunge in January.
``It was a brutal, brutal month,’’ Carter said. ``I usually consider January an easy month because of my birthday, but this one was tough.
Carter was hesitant to talk about his own personal struggles, instead focusing on the fact that the Magic closed January by winning six of their last seven games. Carter said the only solution was to shoot his way through the slump and not lose his confidence.
``I don’t really get into that,’’ Carter said of his own slump. ``As a team, we’re playing well. I’ll be fine. Everything is the same and it’s just an unfortunate time right now. Just shoot through it and keep playing. What I’ve learned over 11 years, when you are in a slump just keep playing. The days will get better.’’
Carter’s coach the past five years, Lawrence Frank, was in Orlando Tuesday as a guest of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. Frank was fired in November when the Nets got off to an 0-16 start. Van Gundy invited him to visit months ago and said Frank’s time here had nothing to do with Carter’s struggles.
ETC: Magic point guard Jameer Nelson small forward Mickael Pietrus were both out Tuesday night after suffering injuries Sunday night against Detroit. Nelson hyper-extended his surgically repaired left knee and said he felt ``a different pain than before.’’ Nelson said he went through the morning practice, but he was withheld with the Magic off the next two days before hosting Washington on Friday. Pietrus sprained his ankle in Sunday’s fourth quarter when he landed on Richard Hamilton’s foot while hitting a clutch 3-pointer. Pietrus said he would return ``sometime this week.’’ … Carter admitted that his left shoulder, which was separated three weeks ago, is still somewhat of a problem. He wears a pad on the shoulder under a T-shirt. Said Carter: ``It’s up and down, but sometimes when I get a nice shot, it knocks you back down. But I’ll never use it as an excuse. If I’m out there, I’m there to play, but there are some painful times sometimes.’’ … Van Gundy said while he would prefer to use the break for the All-Star Game to spend time with his family, he will treat the chance to coach the East All-Stars as an honor – even if he feels a bit out of place. ``When I was there in 2005, I remember walking out to practice and wondering what the heck I was doing out there,’’ Van Gundy joked. ``I saw Oscar Robertson and some of the great players from the past and I said to my wife that it was like one of those kid’s books: `Which one of these people don’t belong?’ It’s the best 24 players in the game and then you are thrust into it in a very minor role.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
