The Pacers pounded the Magic 97-74 last night in what I would like to think of as a statement game. Not only did the Pacers show that they are clearly the better team, but they also showed that they are a great team, period. It may seem weird to say because the Pacers are sort of a rag-tag bunch of talent that is assembled around Danny Granger, but it’s true. The Pacers are a great team.
Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic may be in the middle of their opening-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers, but that won’t prevent general manager Otis Smith from dealing with far more pressing matters—like flying to Los Angeles to check in on Dwight Howard while he recovers from back surgery.
That’s right, following the Magic‘s 93-78 loss in Game 2, Smith is making the cross-country flight to be with one of his “kids,” who recently had a herniated disk in his back repaired.
The first week of the hectic 2012 NBA Playoffs are in the books and already there are plenty of story lines and drama that will likely ensure to become a very entertaining 40 nights to decide a champion. From the match ups to the injuries and records being broken, every game this weekend had worth watching and plenty of things to discuss: The Magic and Clippers are up 1-0, Derrick Rose is out and the Spurs and Heat look like the best teams in the postseason. Highlights from Weekend 1 include:
Orlando won game one of its playoff series with the Pacers–surprisingly–and I have to say it. It feels like a tease. Dwight Howard is out, but, somehow, the Magic prevailed, so, of course, they would get better with him, right?
Well, I guess, but, if this kind of tease is the thing that convinces the Magic that they need to keep him, I would be pretty concerned if I were a Magic fan. Basically, he’s been dragging this out for years with the Magic without once giving them any semblance of hope, and, I must say, him agreeing to stay another year is not hopeful.
After months and months of drama, we all have Dwight Howard’s back to thank for bringing an end to it.
It was recently announced that the All-Star center will have season-ending back surgery Friday which will keep him out of the playoffs and prevent him from playing with the U.S. national team at the London Olympics. The operation will repair the herniated disk that has sidelined Howard for the last two weeks.
So now what?
It’s official. Dwight Howard is having back surgery and he is done for the year. He’ll miss the rest of this season AND the Olympics. However, he also told the Magic he wouldn’t play for Stan Van Gundy. So, he gets that wish, but, what does this do to Howard as a free agent or just as a player for the Magic?
Well, back problems are bad. Back problems are bad enough that you can have the surgery and still never be the same. It’s that bad. So, they could be getting back damaged goods that they cannot trade. I mean, if you’re the Lakers, would you go straight up for Andrew Bynum? Uh, hell no!
Apparently, Dwight Howard called ownership to let them know that, even though he’ll probably miss the rest of the season and the playoffs, he isn’t going to play for Stan Van Gundy. I know, I know, you can say that I’m piling on on Dwight, but, he brought this stuff on himself. The way he strung Orlando along and said he would stay another year, thus prolonging this thing even more. That’s just not the way a superstar should act. But, he’s doing just that. I mean, I don’t know what else to say about this guy. Well, I think we might want to advise him to get rid of his publicist. Because, that would make a huge difference. These stories not getting to the media would be good for him.
Remember when Stan Van Gundy couldn’t take it anymore and told reporters that it had been confirmed to him that Dwight Howard had asked for him to be fired? Yeah, and then the reporters went over to Howard to get the scoop and he had no real good answers? Well, it gets better. This is GM Otis Smith on the matter:
“He never asked me; I didn’t have that knowledge.”
“If he did ask he’s wrong, and for Stan to address it in public, that is wrong.”
If last night’s 96-80 thumping at the hands of the New York Knicks was any indication at all, the drama that has surrounded the Orlando Magic all season long is beginning to take its toll.
That drama reached its climax prior to Thursday night’s game when head coach Stan Van Gundy said he had been told by high-ranking team officials that star center Dwight Howard had previously asked to have him fired.
“I know he has,” Van Gundy told reporters after the team’s morning shootaround. “That’s just the way it is. Again, I’ve been dealing with that all year. It’s not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job.”
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy have problems. Eh, wait a minute. Dwight Howard has problems with Stan Van Gundy. Stan is just fine. He’s a great coach, and he’s done everything he can to help the Magic and Howard succeed. I mean, what else do we want from him? I don’t think he can work much harder at this. Honestly.
