Defense is the epitome of a successful team. Without it, a team does not win, simply put. Usually there is an anchor on any great defensive team, and usually it is a big man. The Magic have the ball devouring Dwight Howard. The Spurs have the lane-clogging, shot-altering Tim Duncan.

However, there has been a new trend of shifty little men disrupting passing lanes and playing great defense using their lateral quickness. Players that have shaped the mold for their teams include Chris Paul of the Hornets and Rajon Rondo of the Celtics. These guys disrupt an offense to the point of the play bankruptcy.

Dwight Howard has won the defensive player of the year award in back-to-back seasons. He is the first player in league history to lead the league in rebounds and blocked shots in the same season twice. Better yet, he has done it in back-to-back seasons. The question is, can he do it again? There is no slowing down for this guy. I think he will win it again this year unless Andrew Bogut of the Bucks can duplicate what Howard has done. He had a solid year last year until his horrific elbow injury sidelined him for the season. Josh Smith will always be a contender to win the award, but until proven otherwise, this is Howard’s to lose right now. He is a defensive juggernaut.

Up next is my pick for the most improved player. Stay tuned.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The Vince Carter-Dwight Howard duo again wasn’t so dynamic — just good enough to win.

For now, that’s all the Orlando Magic need.

Carter finished with 19 points, Howard scored 15 and the Magic took a 2-0 series lead with a 92-77 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.
“Fortunate thing for us,” Carter said, “is we have a lot of weapons.”
The Magic’s star combo was less than stellar, but took over when it counted most. They combined for 21 second-half points to help Orlando build a 20-point lead and hold on late.
Still, they know they’ll have to be better to compete for a title.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Dwight Howard won his second straight NBA defensive player of the year award Tuesday after becoming the only player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice — let alone in consecutive years.

The Orlando Magic’s All-Star center received 576 total points, including 110 first-place votes from a panel of 122 writers and broadcasters. Atlanta’s Josh Smith was second with 136 points, and Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace finished third with 113 points.

Already the youngest player ever with two NBA defensive player of the year awards, just how many could he eventually win?

During a news conference to announce the honor, Magic general manager Otis Smith raised his hands, all 10 fingers dangling. Howard laughed, smiled and nodded his head.

Click here to read the full article – By ESPN.com news services of ESPN.com

Dwight Howard was slapped, scraped, pushed and punished. His frustration built, simmering so much that he was sidelined in foul trouble.

Superman was grounded.
Luckily for the Orlando Magic, they had Mighty Mouse back.
Jameer Nelson scored 24 of his 32 points in the first half, and the Magic nearly blew a 22-point lead with Howard out before beating the Charlotte Bobcats 98-89 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.

After missing the first three rounds of the playoffs last year recovering from right shoulder surgery, Nelson is healthy again and ready to redeem his NBA finals flop.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

The Magic reached the NBA Finals last year. The Bobcats are in the playoffs for the first time. What’s not to like for the Magic? How can this series not go their way?

Unless the new owner of the Bobs decides to suit up, there shouldn’t be much in terms of suspense here.
The last time Charlotte felt the tingle of a playoff berth was 2002, when the Hornets were still in town and the Hive was alive. Much has changed since, of course. New franchise, new building, new owner. It all adds up to a fresh new beginning for the Bobs, heretofore known as the Jordans.

Click here to read the full article – By Shaun Powell of NBA.com

The four All-Stars on the Magic’s starting lineup get a lot of attention, but the one guy that doesn’t is a huge piece of whether or not the Magic succeed.

Mickael Pietrus provides… something.


“I still think his size and athleticism gives him the best chance to go out against the best players in this league and make it hard for them defensively,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Plus he can really shoot the ball. I think he’s a huge key for us. His energy is up and down as a result he’s up and down. When he’s playing well I think he makes us significantly better.”

That inconsistency is one thing Van Gundy would like to see change. He’d rather have Pietrus base his energy on his defense rather than on how consistently his shots fall.

Pietrus said he can help the team either way. But he does have one specific goal.


Click here to read the full article – By tania ganguli of Orlando Sentinel

Already with the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic might be getting even better.


Rashard Lewis seems to have found his form after a season-opening suspension.

Lewis scored 13 of his season-high 26 points in the third quarter, and the Magic beat the New York Knicks 114-102 on Sunday night for their sixth straight road victory.

“He got it going in the second half. That was nice,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. “It was the first time this year that he’s really gotten it rolling and that’s a good feeling.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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