Dwight Howard: To stay in Orlando...or not

Dwight Howard

((ht: clickorlando.com/orlandosentinel.com))

Well, it depends a little bit on who you believe. Orlando Magic franchise/center Dwight Howard is an upcoming free agent (in next 2 years) and has recently expressed some frustration with the Magic's inability to get beyond the 1st or 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs.

He's vented, more than once about this, including the inane statement at one point that "The Orlando Media want me gone". They don't. Whether you realize it or not Dwight, you are all they've got.

With that in mind, a pissing match...or debate of sorts is developing in the land of the Mouse.

According to a broadcast report on the local CBS affiliate in Orlando and their Sports Director Dave Pingalore, Howard is about to sign a 2-year extension with the Magic. He was "Mulling" it over the Labor Day weekend. It was "All but signed."

The story from ClickOrlando.com RIGHT HERE

However, it hasn't happened just yet.

In fact, according to the local newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel and columnist Mike Bianchi, it may never have "Been" happening.

In a column in today's paper, Bianchi questions Pingalore's accuracy on this and other stories and says according to one of the Sentinel's sports reporters, who spoke to Howard over the weekend, the contract wasn't mentioned.

Read Bianchi's story RIGHT HERE

Interesting.

Having worked for many years in a TV Sports department, this isn't the 1st time a "Newspaper" has questioned a TV guys credibility. We believe that Pingalore was told by someone that Howard was going to sign a deal. We just wonder if that person really knew what they were talking about.

We think Howard will eventually re-sign with the Magic because it is in both parties best interest.

We also know that Bianchi likes to spout off at times. But he's not wrong here for raising the question. It's a legitimate one. He is right that some TV guys will throw stuff out there more to boost themselves or their image rather than tell a good story. We know the Orlando media is "All Over" this story and each wants to be the one to break it wide open.

Be patient reporter types. It will come. You will eventually get the correct information from someone. And yes, while you might get credit for being the 1st to report it, you will all get the same information and video and soundbites when it happens. As for being the "1st to report it", it means more to you than it does you readers/viewers.

NBATV gives us Howard's 10-best plays this year:

Hawks don't believe in Magic: NBA Playoffs

A brief recap of the 3-month long NBA Playoff season is in order here:

To the apparent surprise of more people than it should, the Atlanta Hawks last night again took advantage of the Orlando Magic and now lead their best of 7 series, 3-1.

The Hawks, possibly the most schizophrenic team in the history of the NBA, matchup incredibly well with the 4th seeded Magic and if its possible, they've managed to out think Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.

Michael Cunningham of the AJC.com gives you the Atlanta re-cap RIGHT HERE

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel with the Orlando version RIGHT HERE

The 5th seeded Hawks, despite losing their last 6 games leading into the playoffs, look the better prepared of the two teams.

The strategy has been simple. Leave Dwight Howard alone, if he scores 40 points so be it. The Hawks have managed to play the other 4 guys Orlando puts on the floor very well. Orlando's other 4 guys can only shoot what my former High School coach called "Dollar Bill" jump shots (meaning they can't jump over a $1 bill). And they aren't making them. At all. The Magic haven't adjusted to this and thusly will lose this series if not Tuesday, then by the end of the week.

Your highlights from SI.com/Turner Sports:

Two Magic Suspensions For Three Games

((HT: NBA/youtube))

Just in time to rest for the playoffs...

Dwight Howard picked up his 18th technical of the year and he's suspended for the Chicago Bulls game on Sunday...

Quentin Richardson gets two games for pushing Gerald Henderson in the face in the same game against Charlotte...

Here's the highlights, lowlights, and aftereffects...
((HT: NBA/nba.com/youtube))

This Is What It's Like To Blow A 24-Point Lead

((HT: NBA.com/youtube))

All the HQ can do is laugh at this one...
Orlando comes from behind to beat the Three Kings...
Enjoy...

Orlando Magic wave wand and a new roster appears....

Gilbert Arenas/Courtesy: freakygossip.com

Talk about remaking yourself on the fly. In two fairly significant moves, the Orlando Magic have changed four names on their roster. Heck, a couple of them are pretty significant.

The first move, a six-player deal with the Phoenix Suns. In that deal, the Magic sent Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus along with a 1st round pick to Phoenix. In return, the Magic got the return of Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark.

The other deal....a bigger one. Rashard Lewis goes to Washington. In return, the Magic get Agent Zero himself, Gilbert Arenas.

More from the Orlando Sentinel RIGHT HERE

An interesting day for the struggling Magic. They address some weaknesses and pick up a huge question mark in Mr. Arenas. It doesn't cost them any extra in salary though, it does cost a 1st round pick.

We like the moves and think it makes them a deeper, more physical team...although Gortat will be missed in that department. We'll see if it's enough to get them past the Celtics and ESPN's favorite team, the Miami Heat.

J.J. Redick, The NBA's Best White Dunker?

During his days at Duke J.J. Redick could fill the nets from outside and I saw him throwdown a few dunks in practice, never in a game.

Now Redick's Orlando Magic teammate Dwight Howard wonders how Redick would do in an All-White dunk contest.

Let's hear from the man himself. (Thanks Orlandosentiel.com)



It's better to have short arms than little hands. (Thanks Youtube.com)

Losing Does Not Suit Jason Williams Well

((HT: Brooks))

No, not that Jason Williams... the one in Orlando whose season is over...

This is what happens when players with touchiness levels left on "stun" lose in the playoffs rather quickly...

He has a mighty fine locker, too...


Unless Bissinger was in the building, the HQ still has no idea who "Buzz" was...

Joe Johnson Slams Atlanta Fans

((HT: nobiasnobullsports))

For the Atlanta Hawks to do a playoff fade is no surprise...
For the Atlanta Hawks to be outclassed and destroyed has become amusing in their second-round Eastern Conference series against Orlando.

FOSG Nubyias Wilborn got to shove a microphone in Joe Johnson's face after the 30-point loss in Game 3. The fun part of this is at, about, the 2:00 mark when Johnson was asked by Nuby about the booing ((and if the team heard it))...

The maturity level of Johnson is amazing here...


This series has been the prime example as to why the Hawks may always be a good team if operated properly, but not a great team...

Great catch, Nuby...
Keep it up...

The Real reason Orlando slaughtered Atlanta

((ht: Orlando Sentinel//Magic Basketblog))

The explanation is now clear. We never suspected, but boy it would sure give an explanation as to how the Orlando Magic dominated and the Atlanta Hawks forgot that they were playing in the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-finals. For those who missed it, Orlando won...by 43.

This video comes Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel's Magic Basketblog and You Tube. This is something that the folks in Atlanta would never have thought of. (Sorry guys)

Vinsanity Rules..

Before anyone says anything, we know this happened and was posted on several sites yesterday, but it is still too cool to leave alone.

Orlando Magic Guard Vince Carter, seated, throws the basketball towards the hoop...some 86 feet away...the ball arc's and then...nothin' but net. Ironically, just a few days previous, Carter's teammate Dwight Howard had been certified by Guiness (no, not the beer) for hitting a 52 foot shot while seated, calling it a World Record.

My how quickly things change.

Video Courtesy: NBA.comn/Magic

Lewis Will Sit for 10

Well, lookie here. It appears that Major League Baseball isn't the only sport with some potential performance enhancing drug issues. The NBA today announced that Orlando Magic Forward Rashard Lewis is being suspended for 10 games for "having an elevated testosterone level". We aren't exactly sure how clear that is, but it is interesting never the less.

The story from Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel here .

((Rashard Lewis Photo//Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel))

Lewis, who is coming off a very successful run with the Magic in the NBA Playoffs isn't known for being a "Rule Bender" with some folks saying it was an "Innocent Mistake". Lewis should consider himself lucky now that he isn't a baseball player where such offenses now carry much longer sentences (I can't believe I just said that). We aren't really sure that we believe that considering most athletes are lectured incessantly about the danger of putting something that they don't know in there systems.

Here is Mr. Lewis discussing 3-point shooting: Courtesy of You Tube and Orlandomagic.com:

You Can't 'T' Superman!

Apparently the NBA has had 2nd thoughts about Dwight Howard's Technical Foul in last night's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Championships. Howard who was...well...happy about the ball going in after he shot it and was fouled really hard by Cleveland's Anderson Varejao. Howard proceeded to what he called "Celebrate" was issued a Technical for Taunting. The reason it was a "Big" issue, that would raise Howard's total to 6 Technical's in the playoffs, one more and he would be suspended for a game. Not good for a team going after a title.

Check out the story on Dwighthoward.com. ((scroll on down towards the bottom, there wasn't a specific link for the story itself))

It's interesting that we found this story here before it was released to the masses...but that is a story for another day.

((Video Courtesy: You Tube/TNT Sports))

Moe Williams Needs Only 70 Feet

((HT: TNT/NBA))

The Bron and his teammates take time after practice to try these- just in case.
Well, Game 1 was one of those "in case" moments for Moe Williams.
No backboard at all, and how does The Bron celebrate...?
By putting Williams in a sleeper hold...
The Magic did that to the Cavs in the second half on the whole...
Should never give them any ideas, dude...

Dwight Howard Does Not Like Your Shot Clock

((HT: NBA/TNT))

He likes nothing of your Ohio ways, sir...
Especially, your electronics...

The New Superman Suspended

***BREAKING NEWS*** (Because when News Breaks, we fix it)

Orlando Magic Center/Strong guy Dwight Howard has been suspended for Game 6 of the Magic/Philadelphia 76ers series for throwing elbows. Ok, so he did physically throw his elbow joint, though he did wildly swing his elbows at the 76ers Samuel Dalembert while fighting for a rebound in Tuesday nights game. The Magic by the way won that game 91-78.

The Orlando Sentinel reports here

Check out video of the incident from NBA.com and the You Tube



Part of the reason Howard has no arguement with this, the league has the right to suspend Howard, who recieved his 2nd technical of the playoffs and his 14th of the season.

The 76ers, for there part are protesting/complaining rather loudly about Howard's physicality. Needless to say, Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy is none to pleased about the complaints and complains about the complaints.

((more thanks Orlando Sentinel for the video))




So now, Game 6 is in Philly and Orlando no longer has the services of its best player. How do you think that's going to work out? Well, there is always game 7

Running Out Of Magic In O-Town

Before the NBA Playoffs began the Orlando Magic really liked the chances to win the NBA championship this season. The team even went so far to talk about it boldly.

Everything looked great for Orlando up by 18 points on the Philadelphia 76ers after 3 quarters but then.... you know what happened.

I doubt the Sixers thought they had the Magic where they wanted heading into the 4th quarter but Philly filled the nets and stole game one of that NBA Playoff series 100-98.

Here's the final few seconds of the game. Thanks NBA/TNT/Youtube.com



Now some post game comments from Dwight Howard. Thanks Orlando Sentinel



And here's a not so happy Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. Thanks Orlando Sentinel.