Are you impressed with the Orlando Magic's off-season?

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 22, 2009 1:52 AM PDT

I just read the most recent addition to last season's NBA finals contender Orlando Magic is GF Matt Barnes as a free agent acquisition.

Orlando kicked off the off-season by trading PG Rafer Alston while his value is high, along with SG Courtney Lee and FC Tony Battie... bringing back SG Vince Carter and promising PF Ryan Anderson from the Nets.

Orlando let Hedo Turkoglu leave in free agency, but matched and retained 7'0" C Marcin Gortat's services who was wanted by Dallas... Then the Magic signed studly PF Brandon Bass away from the Mavs!

So now, the Eastern Conference Champs are looking like this....

PG: Jameer Nelson/ Anthony Johnson

SG: Vince Carter/ Mikael Pietrus/ JJ Redick

SF: Rashard Lewis/ Matt Barnes

PF: Brandon Bass/Ryan Anderson

FC: Dwight Howard/ Marcin Gortat

That is a pretty formidable line-up. Personally, with the players the Magic have brought in I think they are looking like the scariest team in the association now. What do you think about what the Magic have done?

What other NBA teams have done enough to impress you on their improvement and help their chances of getting into next seasons finals? How do you think our Portland TrailBlazers match up against arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference?

POLL: How would you grade Orlando's offseason?

Poll

With Orlando's off-season bringing in Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, and Ryan Anderson, retaining Marcin Gortat and losing Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Tony Battie.... how would you grade the the Magic's team versus last season

A. Magic are leading the East and back in finals for a second year in a row

46 votes

B. Orlando did a good job of adding enough talent to off-set the talent lost. Could get back in finals.

96 votes

C. Orlando didn't do enough to match other Eastern teams, won't make finals.

13 votes

155 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm not going to predict a finals appearance at this point

but they are looking mighty strong.

I might try a slightly different lineup

Nelson/Johnson
Pietrus/(Carter)/JJ
Carter/(Lewis)/Barnes
Lewis/Bass/Anderson
Howard/Gortat

I like putting Lewis at the 4 to spread the defense a bit more around Howard. Lewis presents a greater match up problem for PFs than he does against SFs due to the nature of his game. Of course, you can tailor lineups to the opponent.

On the topic of the East in general, I think Boston will end up on the short end of the stick again. I see their age being a problem again and they didn’t get as much help this off season. A Cavs-Magic rematch in the East finals seems very likely at this point.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Jul 22, 2009 2:27 AM PDT reply actions

Scary lineup

This starting unit would chew up and spit out the Eastern Conference. Barnes & Anderson at 3rd string also shows off how unbelievably stacked they are. Both would get solid minutes on any other title contender.

by LMA on Jul 22, 2009 2:46 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Lewis is a bad choice at PF.

Lewis is a great SF because he shoots well for the position and is an above average rebounder. When you move him to PF, his rebounding is below average and his shooting percentages become below average too. Whatever gain you get by having a PF who can stretch the court with his shooting is lost by having a PF who is below the average numbers at his position. They’d be much better off playing Anderson and Bass at most of the minutes at the 4.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.—Dune

by Muad'Dib on Jul 22, 2009 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions

I have to respectfully disagree...

I think that is what made the offense so dynamic. Having a 3 point shooter at every spot besides the center. You can say Lewis doesn’t rebound well at that position but no one is going to be grabbing too many boards when Howard is snagging them all.

by Escrote on Jul 22, 2009 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Having a three point shooter at every position is great.

If they don’t suck at the other jobs of the position. Lewis shot a 44% on twos. That’s awful for a PF. And Lewis’s rebounding numbers don’t seem to have changed too drastically from his days in Seattle when he wasn’t playing beside Dwight Howard. Just because you have one guy that rebounds doesn’t mean the other four players can take the rest of the game off. Nobody would say that because Brandon Roy scores so much, that it’s not important for other players to score. Same with rebounds; just because you have Dwight Howard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still rebound.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.—Dune

by Muad'Dib on Jul 22, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you watch this team last year?

They won using 4 shooters and Dwight.

Pietrus should start at the 3 and Lewis should start at the 4. When you have Dwight down low it’s okay to be a bit undersized.

The Princess of Blazersedge

by Zaig on Jul 22, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Last time I checked, Lewis was just one shooter out of the four.

I don’t think that having a team winning a lot is evidence that a player is doing well. By that argument, you could say Adam Morrison is a great player. How do you know Lewis wasn’t just benefitting from his teammates, not the other way around?

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.—Dune

by Muad'Dib on Jul 22, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

no he is a great mismatch at the 4, look at what he did to the Cavs

by rip_city_swagger on Jul 22, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Look at what the Cavs did to themselves.

Last time I checked, Rashard Lewis doesn’t have magical powers that kept Mo Williams and Delonte West from making wide open shots that they were hitting in the regular season. If he’s such a great mismatch, then why did he shoot a horrible 44% on twos?

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.—Dune

by Muad'Dib on Jul 22, 2009 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow

I heard Barnes signed somewhere earlier, but didn’t catch where. Great offseason for them for sure. I liked them before, and I like them even more now (Turkeyglue broke my heart with that bankshot three pointer, WHO DOES THAT!?).

by LameR on Jul 22, 2009 3:07 AM PDT reply actions

Action Does Not Always Equal Success

A lot of people on this board equate action to a successful off season. Sure, Orlando added a lot of pieces but will they be better than last year?

Not necessary. They still lost one playmaker in Hedo Turkoglu. We do not know how Vince Carter will affect this time. The chemistry might not be as good.

by Balian on Jul 22, 2009 6:43 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with you.

I think at best their window is one year. Vince is old. Courtney Lee’s was the same age and put up very similar numbers to Rudy. They’re nuts.

by wepto on Jul 22, 2009 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

They had to match the production of Turkoglu somehow

since they knew he was leaving. Desperation does a wierd thing to people.

My avatar is 3 years into the future for sure...

by Taskmaster on Jul 22, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I like it, Hedo was overrated

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 22, 2009 6:44 AM PDT reply actions

I've been agreeing with you too much this week, it scares me.

Orlando gave themselves an actual bench, that was their only weakness last year. Odom would come in for Lakers and… Gortat would come in for the Magic rawr!

The Princess of Blazersedge

by Zaig on Jul 22, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Orlando played their cards well

I was particularly impressed by giving signals they may let Gortat go and picking up Bass in the meantime. Then resigning Gortat. Smart.

Otherwise, I am not sure that this team is better so much as just different. I think you need to see Jameer Nelson return to All-Star form to really threaten the Cavs and Celtics.

They certainly have a very solid team. But my money would be on the Cavs next year.

by oregontrail on Jul 22, 2009 8:15 AM PDT reply actions

I am picking Boston from the East... for their final hurrah.

I think Orlando is solid though. But I loved how Turk, Lewis, and Howard played off each other. I am not sure if there is room for Bass’ role next to Howard. I think people are undervaluing what Turk did also. He really did have great court vision. We shall see though. It wouldn’t be the first time I have been wrong.

by Escrote on Jul 22, 2009 8:20 AM PDT reply actions

I do like what the Magic did this offseason.

Not sure it will get them an NBA championship though.

by GTsmookie on Jul 22, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions

Will Bass deliver?

Good offseason.

Rashard plays better at SF than PF. The Magic had two tall SFs last year. In general, they made up for the lack of a true PF with their front-court length. However, the Lakers were just as long with Odom on the floor, and their lack of a true PF showed up.

Hedo for Vince by itself is probably wait-and-see. Both of them can be brilliant at times , and awful at times. Vince will not need to carry this team, but will he be a defensive liability at the SG spot? But Vince for Hedo does fix the double coverage at the starting SF spot. Now the Magic can bring in a real PF. Can Bass step up to role of starting PF? Can he take on the likes of Pau Gasol?

And they can still play 3-ball when they need to, with Barnes and Pietrus “waiting in the wings”…

by FromAfar on Jul 22, 2009 9:26 AM PDT reply actions

i think they have made some solid moves

at least they are doing SOMETHING

The Princess of Blazersedge

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 22, 2009 9:47 AM PDT reply actions

"doing something" isn't always a good move

by vullkem116 on Jul 22, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

The Blazers were doing something

when they brought in Dale Davis and Shawn Kemp way back when., while shipping out Jermaine O’Neal. Clearly, an example of when doing something isn’t always good.

by NWfan on Jul 22, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Orlando had an AMAZING offseason

You have to consider 2 things

1) The Orlando front office realized that they’re window to win is NOW and they made moves to help that happen. Too many teams sit on their a$$ and don’t make moves for financial, risk, or long-term concerns. The Magic said screw it and brought in players that can help Dwight Howard win now. Gotta respect and admire that

2) They replaced Hedo Turkoglu (who they’d have to overpay anyway) for a much better player in Vince Carter. Rafer Alston was a temporary solution while Nelson was out anyway, so losing him (and Battie) was no big deal. Courtney Lee was their only real “loss” of the offseason, but Pietrus showed in the playoffs hes just as effective. Matching Dallas’ offer to Gortat and signing Bass away from Dallas gave them depth and toughness on their frontline behind Howard, and Bass is a significant upgrade over Battie. They might have sacrificed a small bit of future success by giving up Lee, but they have set themsevles up to be a legit title contender in the East for the next few years

by rip_city_swagger on Jul 22, 2009 10:12 AM PDT reply actions

I don't like their offseason at all really

Bass, Howard, Gortat, Anderson, and Lewis. Too many players too little time, someone will be barking before long.

Howard will play 33+
Bass should play at least 25+
Gortat has to play 20+ to justify his deal
Lewis needs 30+ and most of that came at the PF spot last year
Anderson looks to be the loser in the minutes crunch.

One of the main reasons Orlando was so successful in the playoffs was Lewis’s ability to guard PF’s, while they were not able to guard him out at the 3 point line. If they move him to the 3, where they must if they are going to get enough playing time for Gortat and Bass, they will not be as good. And Carter is a 3, not a 2, he stuggled to guard 3’s last year, guarding 2’s will be an adventure for sure.

Hedo was a perfect fit in Orlando’s system, they will be worse without him.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 22, 2009 11:37 AM PDT reply actions

They will use Lewis some at the 3

We all know that him playing at the 4 had some pretty awesome results last year, but SVG is also smart enough to mix it up. I still see Gortat not getting enough minutes for his deal, but here goes

Center
Howard 34mpg- He will have plenty higher, but plenty lower due to fouls/blowouts.
Gorat 14mpg- Howard backup

PF
Lewis- 18mpg
Bass- 20mpg
Gortat- 8mpg

SF
Lewis- 16mpg
Carter- 32mpg

Gortat playing 22 minutes and Bass playing 20 minutes is probably a bit low for what they could be doing, but oh well.

Los Angeles Lakers 2009-2010 Western Conference Chumps

by Zaig on Jul 22, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions