kerem

I'm not all that familiar with hoopsworld.com, so I don't know how much readers should be taking this at face value. If it's true (and I'm inclined to buy parts of it, because they make sense), it offers a lot of insight into the real story behind the SVG-Dwight rift. Here's an excerpt: To say the Magic groveled is an understatement. They begged. They pleaded and they promised. When asked directly about what needed to change, coaching, namely the manner in which the team was coached, was openly discussed. The idea of replacing Stan Van Gundy was broached before training camp. The Magic made it clear that changing coaches just days before camp wasn’t reasonable and that maybe talking things out with Stan might lead to a better situation. There was an hour-long meeting in which Stan was asked to be more flexible. He was asked to allow the leaders of the team in Howard and Jameer Nelson to police the team on the floor and for Stan to lighten up. And for the most part Stan Van Gundy tried, but at the end of the day, you are who you are.

"Orlando's the most attractive place for me right now," Howard answered, a smile on his face. "They have a sexy new arena, a beautiful franchise, nice banners around here and been in the top four in the Eastern Conference for the past four years. Yes, Orlando's the most attractive place right now." [...] "I don't want to say you have to team up with another great all-star in this league to win a championship. I think it takes a team to win. If you get hot at the right time, it doesn't matter if you've got three all-stars or four. You can still get beat." Josh Robbins reporting for the Orlando Sentinel

One of the only insightful articles the national media have written on the Magic trades. "[...] the big question for the Magic: is it really possible to add Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and most amazingly, Gilbert Arenas -- three mushy defenders, for sure -- to any team and remain good at defense?" "The Magic made it to the Finals a couple of years ago with reputed poor defenders Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis (and a rookie, Courtney Lee) all starting. Statistics suggested Ray Allen was a horrible defender before he arrived in Boston and was an integral part of the most memorable NBA defense of the last decade. But coaches like Doc Rivers, Tom Thibodeau and Van Gundy have been able to make good defenses that include bad defenders."