Magic Off to Hot Start
By Noah Sharfman
October 16, 2009
Orlando – If the preseason is any indication of how the Magic will fair during the 2009-10 campaign, then the team is headed in the right direction. The Magic have dominated their opponents en route to a 5-0 preseason record through the first week and a half of action.
When looking at the Magic’s preseason start, the numbers don’t lie. Record is only one indication of how the team is playing – and yes, the Magic have a perfect record, but there is much more behind the team’s undefeated start.
Balance has been the strength of the team thus far. With an offensive attack that lacks a single focal point, four players have led the team in scoring. Ryan Anderson has led the way twice against both New Orleans and Miami, while Mickael Pietrus (Memphis), Rashard Lewis (Houston) and Vince Cater (in his Magic debut against Dallas) were the others to lead the team in scoring.
A staple of the Magic offense has been the 3-pointer, and as a team, the Magic have shot the ball well from beyond the arc.
“We’ve been shooting the ball extremely well,” Dwight Howard said. “I’m happy with the way we’re playing right now, but it’s preseason so we got to understand it’s going to be at a different level once the real thing starts.”
Led by the outside presence of shooters such as J.J. Redick and Anderson, who have helped to stretch the defense, the Magic’s 3-point shooting percentage has been above 30 percent in all but one game during the preseason. Against New Orleans, the Magic shot a preseason-best 63.3 percent from long distance.
Although Howard or Jameer Nelson have yet to carry the scoring load thus far, the statistics point to a diverse and balanced offense carrying the team as a whole. In each of the team’s first five games, at least five players have scored in double figures. A preseason-high seven players scored in double figures against Houston, a game in which Howard did not play. Last season, the Magic went 35-7 in games where five plus players scored in double figures.
Overcoming adverse game situations, like a low free throw percentage, during the preseason is an important step as the team prepares for the regular season. Although the Magic recorded blowout victories over the Hornets (121-86), and the Grizzlies (102-83), late surges during the fourth quarter helped the Magic close out narrow victories over Dallas, Miami and Houston, during which they outscored their opponents 83-72 in the final stanza.
While the team’s perfect record is only one indication of team success, Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy recognizes the importance of the preseason.
“These are preseason games where we are trying to accomplish certain things and get better, especially this year more than any other year,” Van Gundy said. “We go into the games with certain objectives, certain lineups we want to see and things we want to improve and that’s the most important thing.”
Noah Sharfman is an intern in the Magic’s communications department.
By Noah SharfmanOctober 16, 2009
Orlando – If the preseason is any indication of how the Magic will fair during the 2009-10 campaign, then the team is headed in the right direction. The Magic have dominated their opponents en route to a 5-0 preseason record through the first week and a half of action.
When looking at the Magic’s preseason start, the numbers don’t lie. Record is only one indication of how the team is playing – and yes, the Magic have a perfect record, but there is much more behind the team’s undefeated start.
Balance has been the strength of the team thus far. With an offensive attack that lacks a single focal point, four players have led the team in scoring. Ryan Anderson has led the way twice against both New Orleans and Miami, while Mickael Pietrus (Memphis), Rashard Lewis (Houston) and Vince Cater (in his Magic debut against Dallas) were the others to lead the team in scoring.
A staple of the Magic offense has been the 3-pointer, and as a team, the Magic have shot the ball well from beyond the arc.
“We’ve been shooting the ball extremely well,” Dwight Howard said. “I’m happy with the way we’re playing right now, but it’s preseason so we got to understand it’s going to be at a different level once the real thing starts.”
Led by the outside presence of shooters such as J.J. Redick and Anderson, who have helped to stretch the defense, the Magic’s 3-point shooting percentage has been above 30 percent in all but one game during the preseason. Against New Orleans, the Magic shot a preseason-best 63.3 percent from long distance.
Although Howard or Jameer Nelson have yet to carry the scoring load thus far, the statistics point to a diverse and balanced offense carrying the team as a whole. In each of the team’s first five games, at least five players have scored in double figures. A preseason-high seven players scored in double figures against Houston, a game in which Howard did not play. Last season, the Magic went 35-7 in games where five plus players scored in double figures.
Overcoming adverse game situations, like a low free throw percentage, during the preseason is an important step as the team prepares for the regular season. Although the Magic recorded blowout victories over the Hornets (121-86), and the Grizzlies (102-83), late surges during the fourth quarter helped the Magic close out narrow victories over Dallas, Miami and Houston, during which they outscored their opponents 83-72 in the final stanza.
While the team’s perfect record is only one indication of team success, Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy recognizes the importance of the preseason.
“These are preseason games where we are trying to accomplish certain things and get better, especially this year more than any other year,” Van Gundy said. “We go into the games with certain objectives, certain lineups we want to see and things we want to improve and that’s the most important thing.”
Noah Sharfman is an intern in the Magic’s communications department.
