The Magic showed no heart tonight against the rival Miami Heat. The Magic only shot 30.4% from the floor and they were outrebounded 51-40 and those were the big reasons for the beat down in Miami. Dwight Howard led the way for the Magic tonight with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot in only 29 minutes. Ryan Anderson was solid off the bench for the Magic in this game as he finished up with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 1 blocked shot in only 14 minutes off the bench. Jameer Nelson only shot 3 of 11 from the floor as he finished up with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist tonight. The Magic are now 1-1 on the year.

The Magic got this game over with quickly last night so they could rest their starters for tonight’s game against the Heat. The Magic outrebounded the Wizards 53-25 and they held them to 37.2% shooting from the floor. The Magic also shot 55.8% from the floor themselves which just added to the domination last night. Dwight Howard led the way for the Magic last night with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots in 30 minutes on the floor. Vince Carter was very solid in only 25 minutes on the floor as he still finished up with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Jameer Nelson did a good job of running the offense as he finished up with 16 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes. Rashard Lewis pitched in with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist in 24 minutes. The Magic are 1-0 on the year heading into a gigantic matchup with the Heat in Miami tonight.

The Magic were 59-23 last season and they have most of the team back in 2010-11. The Magic have brought in Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon to help out this year. I see the Magic possibly being even better than they were last season so I would take the over for wins this year. The Magic are also 13-1 to win the NBA Championship and I would definitely consider throwing some cash down on that.

51-year old head coach Stan Van Gundy keeps getting his team close but he hasn’t gotten a cigar yet. The Magic were 59-23 (72%) during the regular season last year and they were 10-4 (71.4%) during the post season. Van Gundy now has a 170-76 (69.1%) record during the regular season in his three years in Orlando and he is 28-20 (58.3%) in the post season. The Magic have been the best team in Florida since the day Van Gundy took the job. But his old team (the Miami Heat) and the guy who replaced him in Miami (Pat Riley) are a threat to that crown. I still think the Magic are a better team than the Heat because the Heat has no answer for Dwight Howard. Stan Van Gundy now has a career record of 282-149 (65.4%) and he is 45-31 in the post season (59.2%). I look for Van Gundy’s team to make a deep run in the playoffs and be a serious threat to win it all.

25-year old center Dwight Howard is the best the NBA has to offer as his position. He plays with power and speed as he is a elite defensive player and rebounder. Howard played in 82 games (all starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 18.3 points, 13.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.8 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 489 games (488 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 35.7 minutes, 17.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. The only weakness in Howard’s game is his free throw shooting as he has only made 59.9% of them in his NBA career so far.

26-year old Marcin Gortat is one of the best back up centers in the NBA. Gortat played in 81 games (0 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 13.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 150 games (3 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 12.8 minutes, 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Gortat is a great defensive player and rebounder who would be starting for a lot of teams in the NBA.

20-year old Daniel Orton was the Magic’s first round pick in the NBA Draft. He is a project as he is nowhere near ready to play in the NBA right now. Orton played in 38 games in his only year at Kentucky and he averaged 13.2 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MAGICS CENTERS IN 2010-2011: A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

31-year old Rashard Lewis has a small forward’s game but the Magic keep playing him at power forward. Lewis played in 72 games (all starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 32.9 minutes, 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 849 games (760 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 34.4 minutes, 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Lewis has hit 39.2% from three point range in his career as he is by far the best shooting power forward in the NBA. Still, 4.4 rebounds per game from a starting power forward in the NBA is pretty darn pathetic.

25-year old Brandon Bass wants a bigger role with the Magic and he might just get it this year. Bass played in 50 games (3 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 13.0 minutes, 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He has now played in 260 games (8 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 16.2 minutes, 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Look for the Magic to use Rashard Lewis at small forward a little bit this year in an effort to get Bass more P.T. this year.

22-year old Ryan Anderson played in 63 games (6 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 14.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 129 games (36 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.2 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Anderson, like Bass, probably could use some more P.T. this year.

32-year old Malik Allen is also on hand for the Magic this year. Allen played in 51 games (3 starts) for the Nuggets last season and he averaged 8.9 minutes, 2.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Allen has now played in 460 games (125 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.4 minutes, 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He will likely be sitting at the end of the bench for the Magic this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MAGICS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B-

Matt Barnes is gone (he signed with the Lakers) but the Magic have replaced him with Quentin Richardson. This move will likely upgrade the offense a tad for the Magic this year. Richardson played in 76 games (75 starts) for the Heat last season and he averaged 27.4 minutes, 8.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Adding Q-Rich gives the Magic another solid perimeter player as he hit 39.7% of his shots from three point range last season. Richardson has now played in 677 games (465 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 28.0 minutes, 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Richardson will likely play slighty over half the game for the Magic this year.

28-year old Mickael Pietrus is back to share time with Q-Rich. Pietrus played in 75 games (24 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 22.5 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 439 games (136 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. This pairing of Q-Rich & Pietrus could be very productive for the Magic in 2010-11.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MAGICS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: C

33-year old Vince Carter is back to start at shooting guard for the Magic in 2010+2011. Carter played in 75 games (74 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 30.8 minutes, 16.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He has now played in 852 games (844 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 37.1 minutes, 22.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Carter’s game is starting to slip quite a bit but he still will likely help the Magic for at least one more year.

26-year old J.J. Redick got a huge offer in free agency from the Chicago Bulls but the Magic matched it. Redick played in 82 games (9 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 22.0 minutes, 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has now played in 222 games (14 starts) in his time with the Magic and he has averaged 17.2 minutes, 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Redick has hit 39.2% of his shots from 3-point range in his NBA career and that’s what makes him so valuable on the Magic.