One of my favorite thing about religiously following any team in sports is the fact that I live their events just as they do through the span of each year. Their successes become my own, and their failures mine too.
When things are good, you're on the top of the world with them. When things are worse, you're legitimately disappointed in them like you would be with a pet or child who just let you down. Regardless, you're always there for them.
As a fan of the Orlando Magic, last season was one of the best ones in recent memory. Having been discounted by the NBA world as a team with a good record that wouldn't make it past Cleveland or Boston, many felt that the Magic simply couldn't compete at the level of these teams.
Most basketball analysts expected the Celtics to beat the Magic in their second round series; even with the absence of Kevin Garnett. They also saw an easy road to the finals for the Cavaliers once the Magic had beaten the Celtics in seven games. The Magic once again quieted the doubters by amazingly beating Cleveland too. While the Magic played a respectable series against the Lakers, they were once again written off by the medial but things look better than they ever have in Orlando going into next season.
Orlando has seen some great additions to the roster, most notably the acquisition of All-Star Vince Carter. In addition to Carter, the team has built up its arsenal of role players, with the addition of valuable contributors like Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, and Ryan Anderson. Rashard Lewis, one of the team's key players, will miss the first ten games of the season due to a failed drug test, but the team is still in a better position than ever before.
Many might see this as a major problem, but all is calm in Orlando. The team will be just fine without him.
The Magic will use Lewis's absence to experiment with its roster, seeing who fits where. With many potential pieces to the puzzle, players like Barnes, Pietrus, Anderson, Bass, Redick, and Gortat all have opportunities to establish their roles and familiarize themselves with the new Magic team. Ten games won't make or break a season, so the Magic will make the most of their time without Lewis.
Now how many other contending NBA teams can genuinely say that if they lost one of their starting All-Stars for 10 games, there team would not be heading for disaster? None.
When things are good, you're on the top of the world with them. When things are worse, you're legitimately disappointed in them like you would be with a pet or child who just let you down. Regardless, you're always there for them.
As a fan of the Orlando Magic, last season was one of the best ones in recent memory. Having been discounted by the NBA world as a team with a good record that wouldn't make it past Cleveland or Boston, many felt that the Magic simply couldn't compete at the level of these teams.
Most basketball analysts expected the Celtics to beat the Magic in their second round series; even with the absence of Kevin Garnett. They also saw an easy road to the finals for the Cavaliers once the Magic had beaten the Celtics in seven games. The Magic once again quieted the doubters by amazingly beating Cleveland too. While the Magic played a respectable series against the Lakers, they were once again written off by the medial but things look better than they ever have in Orlando going into next season.
Orlando has seen some great additions to the roster, most notably the acquisition of All-Star Vince Carter. In addition to Carter, the team has built up its arsenal of role players, with the addition of valuable contributors like Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, and Ryan Anderson. Rashard Lewis, one of the team's key players, will miss the first ten games of the season due to a failed drug test, but the team is still in a better position than ever before.
Many might see this as a major problem, but all is calm in Orlando. The team will be just fine without him.
The Magic will use Lewis's absence to experiment with its roster, seeing who fits where. With many potential pieces to the puzzle, players like Barnes, Pietrus, Anderson, Bass, Redick, and Gortat all have opportunities to establish their roles and familiarize themselves with the new Magic team. Ten games won't make or break a season, so the Magic will make the most of their time without Lewis.
Now how many other contending NBA teams can genuinely say that if they lost one of their starting All-Stars for 10 games, there team would not be heading for disaster? None.
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