From Blando to Grando Orlando & Congrats to Saints

                The Orlando Magic have just made the basketball world CoNfUsEd after having a terrible 39-17 3^rd quarter against Washington (which I painfully witnessed live), Orlando goes into Boston’s ruthless home court and puts on a 36-11 3^rd quarter beating and displays what Grumpy Stan the Man Van Gundy says was the Magic’s best quarter in his three years of coaching Orlando. This is funny because less than 48 hours earlier Grumpy Stan the Man Van Gundy says that Orlando put on the worst quarter, in three years of coaching Orlando, against the Wizards. To put this into picture, only one thing can do it, and it is …. the return of Positive, Negative, and Thoughts!    

                The POSITIVE:

1.       The first one is obvious because these 12 minutes changed the game in Orlando’s favor, and it was the phenomenal 36-11 3^rd quarter.

2.       BEWARE OF HOWARD! He only played 7 minutes in the first half, and a total 32 minutes, and still pulled down 13 rebounds, and posted 16 points, and then added 2 blocks. Oh yeah and he played in foul trouble.

3.       Vince Carter for some reason can’t play bad against one of the top defensive teams (Boston) because he had 20 points, and is averaging 19.8 points against the Celtics (good to see).

4.       Matt Barnes and Jameer Nelson played great in the 1^st quarter, which kept us in the game because Dwight only played about 6 minutes in that quarter. Good to see that.

5.       How about those 4 back to back 3 point possessions in the third quarter. That’s Orlando’s game, which should be feared.

6.       Give credit to the 2010 Eastern All-Star Coach, Grumpy Stan the Man Van Gundy, for his coaching when he decided to keep Dwight Howard in the game after picking up his fourth. His reason was because he believes that if Dwight plays less than 20 minutes, then Orlando gets in trouble.

7.       Kudos to Vince Carter for telling Dwight after the 1^st half to “take over and dominate by any means necessary!” It looked like it worked.

             The NEGATIVE:

1.       Yeah great game ,but Orlando still needs to work on things like Dwight Howard needs to try and stop picking up some silly fouls (yeah refs), but Howard needs to stop extending his arms out, he needs to just extend arms up.

2.       The foul trouble for DH12 only got him 7 minutes of game play in the 1^st half.

3.       Both Magic point guards need to step up in defensive intensity because Rajon Rondo had his way with the Magic. He posted a near triple double with 17 points, 9 assist, 8 rebounds, and to add on 3 steals.

4.       Orlando needs to stop turning the ball over because the 1^st quarter separated Boston and Orlando by one point (24-23), but Boston took a 11 point lead at the half due to the turnovers in the 2^nd quarter.

THOUGHTS:

1.       My favorite quarter being a basketball fan was the 1^st quarter because Boston’s inside game showed that it worked, but then Orlando’s opposite philosophy of the outside game worked as well. It was two different styles that both proved productive. BEAUTIFUL BASKETBALL.

2.       The first quarter was my favorite from a basketball fan perspective, but as a Magic fan perspective, the 3^rd quarter was my favorite. Had to clear that up.

3.       Orlando had the tie breaker with Atlanta if they have the same record at the end of the season, and now they also have the tie breaker with Boston. Now let’s do it to Cleveland.

4.       Doc Rivers (former coach of the year with Orlando) heard a Boston player say that Boston is better than Orlando, and Doc responded by saying that it was a bunch of crap, because Orlando knocked Boston out of the 2009 Playoffs, and now won the season series at 3-1. I am glad to see Doc give Orlando credit because not many do.

This game was amazing, and it was different for me because I needed to listen to the whole game on the radio, which I enjoyed because it allowed me to envision what was on going in the game. My imagination made the shots look better, but the real thing looked pretty good too.

By the way, Lebron James, WOW, WOW, WOW. James had 24 straight points and 35 at the half against the Knicks, and many points came from jump shots, which really shows his development, and speaks volume for his talent, but not his prideful personality.

Oh yeah I forgot, congrats to the Saints.

Here It Is & Remember my Superbowl ran from 2:30pm till 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

Magic Peaking? & Grumpy Stan the Man an All-Star?

            The Orlando Magic are a resilient team, and they’ve shown it via the current three game win streak and the 2008-2009 playoffs. It is great that the Magic are currently rising, but let us step back and contemplate a question being asked about Orlando. Are the Orlando Magic peaking?

            I am going to attempt and not become frustrated and stressed over such a ridiculous question. I will present both sides of the question with my best efforts of being unbiased.

            Many are saying that the Magic are peaking due to their lack of energy that allows opposing mediocre below mediocre teams to get the best of the Magic. The Magic do not start games energetic, they turn the ball over tremendously, and they don’t give off the impression of an elite team in the NBA. They are receiving slimming victories and cannot seem to put teams away. The 2009 NBA Finals was the peaking point for Orlando and now many don’t see the Magic returning to the NBA Finals. Their attitude has turned from a salivating, determined, hungry young team, to a team that seems to go through the motion and expect to turn the ON switch when the 2010 Playoffs arrive. The Orlando Magic are just a slightly above mediocre team that are going through the motions.

            These are all true arguments, and many would refute those accusations with supersaturated excuses such as there are five new teammates, or the starting five has only played together for less than 20 games, or injuries are plaguing the Magic’s chemistry. Those excuses are not allowed any longer. There are no excuses, instead the Magic are their own worst enemy due to their complacency. Orlando did have a rough patch, but so did Boston, so did Cleveland, so did Los Angeles, so did Atlanta, so did Denver. I don’t see anything saying that those teams are “PEAKING!” Orlando won 32 games last season before heading to the 2009 All-Star break, and Orlando now has racked up 32 victories two weeks before the 2010 All-Star break. Last season it was Orlando’s Star Dwight Howard was not “serious” enough for the Finals. Do the last few games that DH12 has participated in NOT show he is serious about reaching the Finals? Orlando is not peaking, but rather have improved their team overall, and they are getting back on track. People need to calm down on stating things that cannot be shown as true.

            If anyone wants to say that San Antonio has currently peaked then I really can’t refute that. San Antonio, come on get on track sometime this season.

            Looking at the trade rumors about the Magic, I really see only on reasonable move that would improve our team and really cause for the Magic to be taken off the list of “PEAKING” teams. I would absolutely love to see Vince Carter traded for (drum roll please………………..) one of the most underrated and overlooked superstars for the past few years, the Detroit Pistons starting small forward TAYYYYSHAAAUUUNNNN PRINCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (if you couldn’t read the above, it was Tayshaun Prince). Prince brings stifling perimeter defense, blocking ability that came from behind (before Lebron), length on the three spot, and he does all the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He was a big part in the Detroit Pistons winning the 2003 NBA Championships. If you think I am wrong about this guy, then go ask why the USA Olympic team chose him over so many other players that have better stats then him. Plus Detroit is trying to rebuild, so the maybe more open to trading for him. (I am open to all criticism).

            Congratulations to Grumpy Stan the Man on being named the Eastern Conference Coach for the 2010 NBA All-Star game. I would rather see him get some sleep over this break, but this is a great honor for a coach, and I am proud to say that the Orlando Magic have the best modern day thinking coach in the NBA. Nasty things are being said like Van Gundy is going to purposely play Pierce and Garnett of the Boston Celtics for a lengthy period of time to cause a little bit extra wear and tear on the Boston stars. Stan won’t and would not do something like that. He may be grumpy, angry, loud, harsh, blunt, straight forward, and cutthroat, but he is truthful and not a jerk. This video is really funny, we want Stan the Grumpy Man back!!!!

            Here It Is & Remember having 4 college test in one day really SUCKS!!!