Hi guys, I'm looking for a bit of advice from the kind folks of the OPP community. I'm going to be holidaying in the grand ole U.S. Of A in march/April 2011 and will (hopefully) get to take in my first live Magic game. What I'm asking, is of the games listed below, what game you would go to if you were in my shoes? (not that I really care, as long as I see a game!). Let me know your reasons, be it stadium atmosphere, opponent quality, or what have you. Let me hear you people! Wed 23 @ New York Fri 25 vs New Jersey Mon 28 @ New York Wed 30 @ Atlanta Fri 01 vs Charlotte

Well the off season seems as good a time as any to ask the 3QC community 2 questions i have pondered for sometime.....

 

1. Does anyone know where Steve Francis is these days? I know there isn't a great deal of love out there for the franchise, but i was a big fan of his and was pleased we got the last few good games outta him before he fell off the face of the planet.

But since Memphis let him go (wow, imagine him and Iverson in the same locker!) little has been said, reported or thought of a guy who at one point, was one of the flashiest guards in the league. Any idea where he is? is he playing? is an NBA comeback out of his reach? (Poll down the bottom).

 

2. From a much disliked Magic guard to a much loved one- Jameer...nice and simple....i wanna know if the little general can dunk? anyone ever seen it? got footage? read about it?

If Meer can throw down, i'd love to see it!

 

And now, over to my 3QC brothers.... let me hear you!

Poll

Can Steve Francis return productively to the NBA?

18%

Yes, as a mentor/role player to a young team.

13 votes

30%

No way, he's a burn out! good riddance!

22 votes

50%

Don't really care... why would you even ask about him?

36 votes

71 votes | Poll has closed

Here is the new showcased fanpost. Breaking away from the Boston Celtics/Orlando Magic talk, 3QC member FLYNN47 reflects on the changing of the guard in the NBA. Question for the community, how does everyone feel about the new flood of stars slowly taking the game over from the "old heads"? - ER

Taking a brief break from the Magic's playoff campaign, I thought it time to put pen to paper so to speak, on how the NBA and its stars have changed.

When i was first old enough to take in the game and appreciate it as an adult, there were marquee players who graced the posters in my room, the commercials for Nike and Adidas, the All-star games and the playoffs.

I'm talking about the NBA circa 2003-04: T-Mac was lighting up the scoring (though, not much else) in his final season with the Magic, A.I. was unstoppable in Philly, the Shaq and Kobe show was still alive in L.A. and KG was still carrying the load in Minny and the world was being introduced to rookies LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Melo on a truly national stage.

But how things have changed. The torch has this year more than ever, been passed to the new heirs to the throne, and this years playoffs show that more than ever.

The 2004 western heavyweight T'Wolves are back in the basement, with Sacramento and Memphis. The up and coming Suns have had their moment in the spotlight and are on the outside looking in on this years playoffs. The Lakers and Dallas are still in there, but the only real piece from either team from 04 to today is Kobe and Dirk respectivly.

The East is just as different. Indiana is a mess, Milwaukee, NJ and NY are on the rebuild, all minus their 04 centrepiece, and Detroit- old age, as expected, has finally caught up with the boys from motor city.

2004 marquee players such as Steve Nash, T-Mac, Shaq, Tim Duncan, Iverson, and Vinsanity are all home this April watching ESPN.

The Baby-faces of 2004, 05 and 06 have the NBA in the palm of their hands. Dwight Howard is now the loveable big man, Lebron is the face of the NBA marketing world, Chris Paul and Brandon Roy have supplanted Nash and Kidd as the premier floor generals. Instead of VC making us gasp with highlight dunks, it is Dwayne 'Flash' Wade soaring high in April.

Mind you, there are some 'old-heads' who have stood the time test. KG, Kobe, Paul Pierce, continue to hold their own in a game played by those who idolized them, but you have to wonder about the 04 All-star's who have not.

It can't sit well with McGrady, with A.I., with Carter that their best days are truly behind them. This game has truly changed. The 'me first' attitude seems to be dying with this new crop of players, and the league is better for it. 

As with any sport, players age, retire and new ones replace them but this trend seems more evident in the NBA today than i personally have ever seen, and as exciting as the past has been, the future may be just that little bit brighter.

Here is this week's showcased fanpost. FLYNN47 poses a series of questions to the 3QC community concerning jersey retirements. Which Magic player deserves to be immortalized in the rafters? Let the debate begin. - ER

I have seen many blogs, polls and articles over the past few years about the Orlando Magic and their reluctance to retire jerseys.

We do have one, #6 which was retired in honor of 'The Fans' (although it was un-retired for Patrick Ewing in 2001-02), but why the reluctance to honor others who contributed and built the franchise?

Who deserves it? Who doesn't?

Our first face of the franchise, Nick Anderson?

in a few years, will Shaq, The man who carried the magic to the national spotlight have earnt a spot?

Some would even say Darrell Armstrong, the Heart of the heart and hussle era.

The list could get longer too.... Penny, Dennis Scott, Horace Grant, T-Mac?

Lets find out from the most loyal Blue Bloods, who do you think merits having their jersey hanging from the new Orlando Arena?

Remember, there are no wrong answers (Just silly ones. Ask the Heat, who have Michael Jordan and Dan Marino hanging from the ceiling!)

ESPN is reporting that the Suns are looking to hit the 'Rebuild Button', and sitting atop the list of clearance items, is Amar'e Stoudemire and Shaq.

At the following link (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=amaredealscenario-090207) you can see some scenarios that Chad Ford believes could have some chance of prying 'Black Jesus' from the Suns. One in particular that made me think was:

Jeff Green, Joe Smith and Desmond Mason from the Thunder in a 3 for 1 deal for STAT...

It got me thinking 'surely the Magic could put together a more 'attractive' deal for the Suns than that?

Such as....Hedo, Cook, Redick for Amare. the salaries match (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=1727~1998~3024~862&teams=19~21~21~21&te=&cash=)

Thoughts?

 

 

I'm looking for any photos (if they exist) of our guys in their All Star Uni's.

I've had no issue finding pics of Dwight proudly posing in his 09 All Star Uniform, and am aware the NBA usually has the players from East and West pose in media photos.

OrlandoMagicShop.com has a few banner pics of all three boys in their Uni's, so i'm guessing some have been taken. I especially wanna find some of Jameer and Rashard, but have been unlucky thus far.

Does anyone know where i might find pics of the teams (again, if in fact they have been taken) in their A.S. unis?

Would be greatly appreciated!

Fourth returns for the 2009 All-star game were released today, with some results being very much expected (Lebron beginning to close on D12, Bosh & Pierce being very high in East forwards) but there was plenty that made me ask...

WTF?

for instance, West guards- Brandon Roy, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash recieving so little votes? Especially Roy, who has been playing some outstanding ball this year. I hope he makes the team along with CP3 as a reserve, but why isn't he getting the credit he deserves from the fans?

Ron Artest being voted so high? Not a bad thing i guess, he seems to have ironed-out the massive crinkles in his brain matter this season, and i'd even say has been more valuable to Houston than T-Mac....but i didn't expect to see him ahead of Dirk and Pau...weird.

Gilbert Arenas with 403,577 votes ahead of Jose 'Stat Fav' Calderon (274,509 votes) and our own Jameer Nelson (227,226) dispite playing (agent) zero minutes? Tell me this guy is getting his votes on his name value?

Yi Jianlian- I don't think i need to say how upset this makes me.....

and finally, Rashard Lewis not even cracking the top 11 in East Forwards! His play has been outstanding, much more so than Shawn Marion's (who punches in at 7th) and is highly spoken of as a good chance for a reserve spot. I guess i just feel its more disrespect to the 'small market, non contending' Magic side that ESPN presents to the reat of the sporting world. Kudos to Turk though- good play getting rewarded with 366,174 votes, good enough for 6th place (fifth if you don't count Yi Jianlian).

and here is a big question to finish with: Do you think the Magic currently have 4 All-Star caliber players (not, do you think 4 will make the team) but could Dwight (we know he can) Hedo, Shard and Jameer be considered 'All-Star caliber'?

Sound off your thoughts, who you would like picked, who you wouldn't etc, etc.

Was i the only one who felt the Magic were stiffed at last years All Star weekend, as the number one 3 point shooting team in the league featured ZERO participants in the competittion?

I for one, would love to see one of our long-range bombers showing their skills in Phoenix.

If the NBA took its top 8 shooters (Qualified shooters as of 29/12/08) the comp would be as follows:

1) Jason Richardson - GSW

2) Roger Mason - SAS

3) Matt Bonner - SAS

4) Vladimir Radmonivic - LAL

5) Raja Bell - CHA

6) Jameer Nelson - ORL

7) Jason Kapono - TOR

8) James Posey - NOH

I think either Jameer, Turk or Shard could hold their own in the comp, but am unsure on how the NBA selects their invitees? Anyone know how this process is done or have any other stars they'd like to see light it up?

Hey guys, How good was the win lastnight?

Was reading the Orlando Sentinel's recap of the Blazers game and a lot of readers were begining talk of weather to trade Turk or not.

From what i believe, he has option to look at free agency at years end and without significant trades, the Magic simply don't have the ca$h to re-sign him to what he'll be worth. This is regarded as his last chance to sign a 'Big money contract', and loyalty only goes so far- Unfortunatley, i see him signing elsewhere....

Turk is also 'older' by NBA standards, and could possibly start to decline within the next 2 years. Not good if we did resign him to a 4yr contract.

My sole piont- should the Magic trade Turk while his value is sky-high, rather than let him walk for nothing?

Also, who would be a good swap? Carlos Boozer is apparently unhappy in Utah?

Very damnning read here on JJ Redick and his cries for more playing time.

http://rumorsandrants.com/2008/11/awww-poor-jj.html

I hate to say it, but i kinda agree...

JJ is upset with the Magic over playing time, but how must they feel about getting so little from a 11th draft pick? Have to say I agree with the article,  and have always said that JJ needs to prove himself in practice sessions, and can't expect a starting spot on a silver platter based on his Duke credentials.

Not sure if this is any news to anyone, but i stumbled upon The Spread.com which lists its odds for Orlando winning the NBA Championship at 30-1 and for winning the East at 12-1.

Not horrible odds i think.

The link can be found here:

http://www.thespread.com/sports-betting-top-stories-900/orlando-magic-odds-to-win-2009-nba-finals-eastern-confe.html

Hopefully those odds shorten as the season progresses!

Wanna hear your confessions!

Anyone have a player(s) who is 'that guy' on a team...The press calls them a Cancer...they hurt the team...everyone sighs relief when the are traded and screams WTF when they are traded to your team. I'm talking about the Stephon Marbury's, the Steve Francis', the Ron Artest's....but....for some reason you really like them?

Might be their talent when their head is together, the swagger they carry themselves with or maybe just cos they are so insane they are entertaining?

I for one am a big Stevie Franchise fan. Loved his 1st run with the Rockets, Loved him at the Magic and even rooted for him in NY.

So come on, anyone else out there really like a player they know they shouldn't?