With all apologies to Roger Miller, the Magic have become the Kings of the Road during the first fourth of the 2007-2008 NBA season. Thirteen of their first twenty games of the season have been away from the friendly confines of the Amway Arena, yet the Magic are making themselves at home from Seattle to New York City.
The Magic sport an 11-2 road record. To put this in perspective, last year, the Magic notched their 11th road victory in their 27th game away from Orlando. What is even more impressive about their road record is that it includes an impressive 6-2 mark against Western Conference teams. While victories against Seattle and Minnesota could be laughed off by some, you certainly can’t discount quality wins against the Lakers, the Warriors, and the Hornets. The two road losses to Western Conference teams were against the Suns and the Spurs, the teams with the two best records in the West. The game against the Suns came down to the very end, and frankly, a bad call was the difference. The Spurs game was tight going into the fourth and then the Spurs pulled away.
Since the national perception is that there are more quality teams out West, one way an Eastern Conference team can measure itself is by looking at it’s record against Western conference teams. Specifically, I will look at the fifteen road games against the West. We have played eight so far and have gone 6-2. The seven games remaining are against the following teams, in no particular order: Utah, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, LA Clippers, and Sacramento. I say that we win the games against the last three mentioned. I think we can split the games against the first four, with our best chances coming against Denver and Houston. So, if we win five of our remaining road games against the West, we will finish with an 11-4 road record against the supposed “better” conference. Viewing this record as a microcosm of the season, I think it bodes well for where we will stand come mid-April.
Upon Further Review
I finally have had the chance to watch the two new acquisitions we received from the LA Lakers in the Trevor Ariza trade. Although I still miss Ariza, I must say that I am pleased with the early returns from Maurice Evans and Brian Cook.
I remember when we traded Mike Miller and Ryan Humphrey to the Memphis Grizzlies for Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek. Shortly after the trade, Giricek had a huge game against the Dallas Mavericks and Mavs coach Don Nelson said that he would have traded Miller straight up for Giricek. Granted, three years later no one would say that Giricek is a better player than Miller, but watching Maurice Evans play made me think that getting him by himself for Ariza might have been good enough.
I say this because, so far at least, Evans is giving us the same defensive “hustle” intensity that Ariza was known for while also providing an offensive spark that Ariza was still trying to develop. Most importantly, Evans is already averaging twice as many minutes than Ariza did; a clear sign that SVG has more confidence in him. His shooting percentage needs to improve, but I think it will as he gets more time in the system and becomes more comfortable.
Brian Cook has yet to play more than 9 minutes or score more than 5 points so far in his six games with the team. But just the threat of having a big man out at the 3-point line will pay dividends at some point this season.
At the Buzzer
Congratulations to Dwight Howard for winning November’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month award. Averaging 24.3 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, while shooting 62% is as dominating a stat line as we have seen around here in a long time. But the best part is the 14-4 record that resulted from his performance.
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Another great post by LOD, another huge night from Dwight, YAWWWWNNNNN.
Jeez, do something new.
"You are not that funny. You are disgusting. .... hedo. i dont care about him or any other player. you have a problem. get a life. see a pyscic. and please dont bother anwsering me. because, you know what, i dont ::censored:: care about you and thethings you have said. just stop. stop man. i ::censored:: hate you speaking too much" -quarantin, 11/11/08
It's funny that you don't say anything about the team who has beaten the Magic 9 straight times. That's fine though, they like to play under the radar. As good as the MAgic are, it's funny that they can't win against the BIG BOYS, the great teams out there. THe Lakers are not that good and face that. The Magic road games have been really easy...you haven't played the hard teams and when you do, you lose. It's funny that the Pistons are sitting at 11-5 only played 16 games and the Magic are 16-4. Pistons have had injuries with Billups out for 2 or 3 games out west and Rip missed the first two games and even Rodney Stuckey has been out for the whole season and that is huge. Somehow the Pistons have 5 losses. Take out Howard for 3 games and then take out Lewis for 2 games when HOward comes back and see what the Magic can do while playing the better teams. Also, see what the MAgic can do when playing on a 5 game west coast trip while having the flu and win all 5 of them including a blow out against the SUNS. That was last season by the way. I'm just pointing out facts. The Magic have improved since last year but it's still not enough to beat the big teams. While all he attention is on the Celtics and the MAgic, the Pistons will be under the radar, well media wise, and look out. Detroit plays better that way. I hope it turns out being DEtroit and Boston in the 20008 ECF.
Posts: 16 | Location: I don't know | Registered: December 03, 2007
Originally posted by Red's #1 fan: I hope it turns out being DEtroit and Boston in the 20008 ECF.
In the year 20008, Dwight has evolved beyond your primitive everything!
"You are not that funny. You are disgusting. .... hedo. i dont care about him or any other player. you have a problem. get a life. see a pyscic. and please dont bother anwsering me. because, you know what, i dont ::censored:: care about you and thethings you have said. just stop. stop man. i ::censored:: hate you speaking too much" -quarantin, 11/11/08
Originally posted by Red's #1 fan: It's funny that you don't say anything about the team who has beaten the Magic 9 straight times. That's fine though, they like to play under the radar. As good as the MAgic are, it's funny that they can't win against the BIG BOYS, the great teams out there. THe Lakers are not that good and face that. The Magic road games have been really easy...you haven't played the hard teams and when you do, you lose. It's funny that the Pistons are sitting at 11-5 only played 16 games and the Magic are 16-4. Pistons have had injuries with Billups out for 2 or 3 games out west and Rip missed the first two games and even Rodney Stuckey has been out for the whole season and that is huge. Somehow the Pistons have 5 losses. Take out Howard for 3 games and then take out Lewis for 2 games when HOward comes back and see what the Magic can do while playing the better teams. Also, see what the MAgic can do when playing on a 5 game west coast trip while having the flu and win all 5 of them including a blow out against the SUNS. That was last season by the way. I'm just pointing out facts. The Magic have improved since last year but it's still not enough to beat the big teams. While all he attention is on the Celtics and the MAgic, the Pistons will be under the radar, well media wise, and look out. Detroit plays better that way. I hope it turns out being DEtroit and Boston in the 20008 ECF.
You are displaying an unhealthy level of self-entitlement if you think a blogger on another team's website owes your team respect in the form of specific mention just because you won a game against us.
Go read the Detroit newspapers if you want to read praise about the Pistons. This is the Orlando Magic website.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
I try to like the Pistons. I like the way they play team basketball with hustle and good decisions. Yet, their fans make me want to put my tongue in a blender. I just can't wait for us to play them in the playoffs this year and have all those trolls come over here and announce their supremacy.
Posts: 5001 | Location: The Magic Castle | Registered: November 16, 2006
Originally posted by Red's #1 fan: It's funny that you don't say anything about the team who has beaten the Magic 9 straight times. That's fine though, they like to play under the radar. As good as the MAgic are, it's funny that they can't win against the BIG BOYS, the great teams out there. THe Lakers are not that good and face that. The Magic road games have been really easy...you haven't played the hard teams and when you do, you lose. It's funny that the Pistons are sitting at 11-5 only played 16 games and the Magic are 16-4. Pistons have had injuries with Billups out for 2 or 3 games out west and Rip missed the first two games and even Rodney Stuckey has been out for the whole season and that is huge. Somehow the Pistons have 5 losses. Take out Howard for 3 games and then take out Lewis for 2 games when HOward comes back and see what the Magic can do while playing the better teams. Also, see what the MAgic can do when playing on a 5 game west coast trip while having the flu and win all 5 of them including a blow out against the SUNS. That was last season by the way. I'm just pointing out facts. The Magic have improved since last year but it's still not enough to beat the big teams. While all he attention is on the Celtics and the MAgic, the Pistons will be under the radar, well media wise, and look out. Detroit plays better that way. I hope it turns out being DEtroit and Boston in the 20008 ECF.
You are displaying an unhealthy level of self-entitlement if you think a blogger on another team's website owes your team respect in the form of specific mention just because you won a game against us.
Go read the Detroit newspapers if you want to read praise about the Pistons. This is the Orlando Magic website.
Wait a second. I didn't say anything about the Magic fans giving the Piston fans respect. I was just pointing out facts. You guys have been bragging about your team of late for being on fire playing mediocre teams for the most part.
Posts: 16 | Location: I don't know | Registered: December 03, 2007
Originally posted by WPMagic: I try to like the Pistons. I like the way they play team basketball with hustle and good decisions. Yet, their fans make me want to put my tongue in a blender. I just can't wait for us to play them in the playoffs this year and have all those trolls come over here and announce their supremacy.
That is an "IF" if the Pistons and Magic meet up. If you guys really think you guys have a chance of beating us, guess again. 9 straight wins. Just to let you all know something, the Pistons aren't as good right now as they will be later on because of Stuckey. When he gets back and going, the bench will be that much better and the Pistons will be playing much better.
Posts: 16 | Location: I don't know | Registered: December 03, 2007
orlandomagiczone.com 
