Pre-Draft Summit

[APerna]

Hey posters,

First of all, I'm sorry that your team wasn't able to make it to the ECF. I definitely identify with you, since my Pacers weren't even able to make it that far. I am looking to put together NBA Summits for each team as the Draft draws closer.

I put together a ton of these on the NFL forums heading into the draft and they were wildly successful. I hope for the same here, and I know the population of these boards will lend itself to many responses.

Editor Chris Reina and I have put together these seven questions for you all to answer, with the best answers making it into posted pieces on our main page. The only thing that I ask is that you please limit your responses to two sentences per question. Please try your best to heed that request, it makes the Summits easier to read and quicker to put together.

Thanks gang, and best of luck in the Draft.

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
2. Where were the team

[MagicFan149]

1. Ft's and to's. Improving on those two areas in the Detriot series could have impacted the games considerably, from there who knows what happens.

2. The teams biggest stength is definately when the ball is moving. Easy shots come from ball movement and when that happens the magic are sucessful.

3.This easily goes to Hedo, without him the season would of been different for sure. He had career highs in almost every catogory, enough said.

4. Ineffective?? Thats hard for me everyone that played had at times a positive impact on the team. Someone that I thought would contribute more that didnt would have to be Carlos Arroyo.

5.I would have to say pretty confident the draft is pretty deep and we have the mle to offer in free agency so it should be pretty succesful. I dont see the team changing much this offseason but the moves we make should be positive.

6.Two guard with some range on his shot and has the ability to defend and rebound. A backup big that accels in deffense and rebounding, 15 foot jumper would be ideal but not a must have.

7.CDR/RUSH for the two guard would be a success but if I had to choose it would be CDR. Possibly picking up Joey Dorsey in the 2nd round would be the best draft the magic have had in sometime.

[UCFJayBird]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

A: Played their game. The Magic were too quick too submit to playing the type of basketball their opponents wanted to play.

2. Where were the team

[AdamTheGreek]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
Our guys panicked and try to force themselves back into games leading to extra turnovers and worsening the scenario. Free throws played a massive role in the overall outcome of our losses.

2. Where were the team

[eyriq]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs? In the end it came down to turnovers, so playing more controlled would have gone a long way.

2. Where were the team

[tlloyd34]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

Turnovers and free-throws! I don't get upset when the Magic create turnovers when they take chances, but there were too many times that the Magic turned the ball over on simple plays and passes. The free-throws speak for themselves, especially down the stretch.

2. Where were the team

[CPBalla2003 n da 863]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

Something that kill them in the past, control the turnovers and grab defensive rebounds, the pistons had far better margin in both areas, and i believe those two things kill us.

2. Where were the team

[magicfanejc42]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

Not play against Detroit.(j/k) Playing better defense and crashing the boards against the Pistons. capitalizing at the FT line and keeping the TOs' down to a mininum.

2. Where were the team

[magicfanejc42]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
The Magic just needed to play more maturely...They played scared and due to that TO's and FT's ruined us.Not to mention if a call didn't come our way it seemed the team lost a bit of confidence
every call...
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Of course our biggest strength was the fact we had mismatches throughout our front court which led to the abundance of three point shots.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Easily Hedo had the most surprising year, I mean last year, with the "turk-o-flu" he was almost useless, with a summer of rest and some conditioning the man came with a vengence like never seen from him. He took over this team in the fourth quarters like a superstar.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
We always have a good amount of ineffective players on our roster it seems, but the one that should and can produce is JJ Redick, once again he is beaten out by two players that would be 3rd string on most teams, and as an 11th pick and one of the all time best college shooters you would expect more out of him.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
I seem to have more confidence than ever before, Otis got his extension and seems confident in himself that he will get the job done. Plus to owner really loves this team and wants the best for it, and will allow otis to do exactly what it takes to win.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
With Battie coming back there is no doubt in my mind that our biggest need is a big, defensive 2. a back up big would be nice as well.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
With the Magic having the 22nd pick, you really can't have one guy who you know will be there..But with people in that range this is my order. Donte Green/Brandon Rush/Maresse Speights/Kosta Koufos/Chris Douglas-Roberts/Jason Thompson. If we can slip in for a late first (20-30) and or an early second (Maybe trade for the sonics 24 and early second) we could leave the draft with Speights/CDR/Mario Chalmers

[MitchellUK]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

General execution on both ends, with FT and TOs a major issue on offense, and protecting the lane a problem on D. Hedo in particular disappointed me in the playoffs after having such a good regular season, he was sloppy and generally sub-par against Detroit.


2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Over the course of the entire year, general offensive play was excellent. The team rarely struggled to score. As an individual, Dwight was undoubtedly our strongest player, manning the post almost single handedly and generally being a beast in the paint.


3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

For the whole season, definitely Hedo. To step up and have a borderline All-Star season, be named MIP and play the way he did after years of being an average, complimentary guy, was great. Also, post All-Star, Jameer Nelson made great strides. Following an indifferent 2006-7, and an average start to 07-8, the way he improved on both ends of the floor from Feb onwards into the playoffs, particularly his distribution, shooting, and cutting down on turnovers, was a pleasant surprise.


4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Didn't want to sing the same tune as everyone else, here, but JJ Redick. For all the hype after his college career, and considering his main opponents for minutes in the backcourt are Dooling, Bogans and Evans, I really expected his to at least find 12mpg and contribute something this season. I don't want to give up on him yet, and would like nothing more than for him to succeed with Orlando, but I am starting to lose hope that he is ever going to do anything in a Magic uni.


5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

I can't really qualify it. The rumors and mock drafts coming out have me quietly confident that we are going to pick a player next week or could make a positive difference. There are players to be had in free agency that could help this team move forward, and with the current core, attracting said free agents should be doable. However, I like many others know this team's history of poor personnel decisions.


6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Since Foyle has opted out and we have now idea how healthy Tony Battie is going to be, a big body to man the paint with Dwight. Closely followed by a shooting guard with size, defensive capability and genuine shooting range.


7. Who would you like your team to select?

Knowing that NBA franchises have a habit of passing on talented undersized power forwards (pretty much anyone under 6'9" seems to be deemed undersized, regardless of athletic prowess), I'd like to see Orlando buy an early second rounder and go after Hickson, Dorsey, White or Hendrix. That would leave #22 to fill the SG role, which I would like to see the Magic use on Rush, Douglas-Roberts or Lee. If all three of those happen to be gone by 22 (unlikely), then pick the best big available, and use the second rounder on someone like Bill Walker or Kyle Weaver, who are greater risk wing players, but could payoff long term.

[drsd]

Our guys panicked and try to force themselves back into games leading to extra turnovers and worsening the scenario. Free throws played a massive role in the overall outcome of our losses.

BINGO!

These two points are why the 2007/2008 Magic were i) not 60 game winners and ii) Eastern Championship participants.

We can hammer away at the Magic's need to upgrade at the #2 and add depth to the #4/#5, but THE most pressing issue is for the Magic to become mid-pack in FT and TO stats. Even in the 10 game improvement from 2 years ago to last year, TOs and FT% did not really improve. At some point, this is not an "age per se" issue.

Improve on FT% and decrease TOs, to say 76% and 13 TOs per game (neither of these are so spectacular and both are quite reasonable goals), and the Magic are a major force. Add to that a new starting SG with the MLE and PF/C depth, and the Magic could dominate the East next year

[Devin 1L]

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