Orlando Magic versus Miami Heat Game: As a Fan
By: Dan Barto, Director of Player Development PTC and The Basketball Academy
Last night Coach Vince Walden, Coach Nate Vander Sluis (and better half Miss Lacey), and I took in the Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat pre-season game. After arguing with the Dollar Rent-a Car staff for one half hour we got on the rode and arrived about 5 minutes into the second quarter. After the terrifying ride from the hippy chick/Tour de France hopeful who rides the bike with the seats on the back we arrived. We found our seats at the top of the lower level fish bowl. We found ourselves next to Red Sox fans, a group that was "Entourage" gone bad, and the will baker's dozen that will terrify arenas around the country waiting for "Solider boy" to play.
After watching JJ Reddick rattle off a couple threes, I was able to digest my Chicken Caesar wrap as well as a Diet Pepsi (no cap which is annoying but safe). Carlos Arroyo came in and threw the ball away a couple times and Miami's roster dreamers took turns driving recklessly baseline. (Memo to all rookie and free agents playing Orlando Dwight Howard will always be there, shoot the pull up or pitch it to the opposite corner). Jameer Nelson made a great play to end the first half changing speeds getting to the rim and flipping the ball up with just enough time that Keith Bogans (I think) was able to tip the shot in at the buzzer.(Plays like that I love from point guards)
Half time was the highlight of the night. The 5 on 5 game between two what I believe would be 10 and under teams. With 10 seconds left in the scrimmage and a 0-0 tie, the kid you knew could play a little, drove hard left and took the contact. A hard spin off to the right and he directly, off of one leg went into a sweeping hook shot. Peaking at about 14 feet the shot hit nothing but the bottom of the next sending the crowd into a tizzy. After his post-game speech of standing there scared to death the crowd of 12,000 plus screamed out "Isaiah", a moment that kid will never forget.
As a die hard basketball junkie, I knew the story lines were deeper. Van Gundy versus Riley-What does Shaq think of Dr. Buss and Kobe-Is Rashard Lewis worth the money-Will Dwight Howard Break the all time shot block record-Who is going to be the back up point for Miami since Smush is looking more like Mush-Did Alonzo Mourning ever kill anybody while fighting for post position-How healthy is Dwade. Tonight I was a fan first.
The second half was more fun because Coach Mike brought up the half time stats and the Miami prospectus so I could analyze the numbers and histories of the 7 guys Miami partially guarentee contracts to who would be feeding Antoine Walker and Dorrell Wright for shots. JJ Redick showed Orlando Fans why they used the lottery pick losing every defender on the court and hitting no rim once his feet were set. At one time Orlando had 4 white guys and Arroyo on the floor which was crazy.
The lead stretched into the 20's when "Solider Boy" finally hit the sound system. (Memo II: When this song comes on grab your children first and secure your beer/drink). Camera men across the country will have field day on the jumbotron with the middle aged white Anglo Saxon attempts to stay on rhythm.
Arroyo continued to dominate the ball and would sporadically get the backup front liners some easy baskets. Miami’s players began using hand signals to determine where they would be having bottle service upon arriving back in South Beach. I partook in Hagen Daas Cookies-n-Cream and watched the shirt shooting patrol do their version of Jay and Silent Bob/Cirque de Soli/Thriller dances.
The game ended and the same bike lady ran two red lights and cut off a ford F-350 to get us back to the parking lot. We hit I-4 and arrived in Bradenton around 2300 hours.
On a basketball analyst side of things I have a couple ideas for the Magic as the look to get deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs:
-Find and enforcer. Danny Fortson and Chris Andersen will be available mid season. Foyle, Augustine, and Gorat are serviceable but are too similar. Need an intimidator.
-Enlist the services of a veteran point with playoff experience no matter how old.
-Get the Triangle going. I love Ariza and Lewis as Jordan and Pippen. Dwight is a huge upgrade from center by committee of the 90’s. JJ, Garrity, Turkalugo will light it up. Nelson and Arroyo will have specific reads to follow and should limit turnovers.
