Top > Sport > 2005 > December > 2005-12-26

Orlando Looking for Some Christmas Magic

What is wrong with the Orlando Magic? Where do I begin? The fact that they couldn?t get their lottery pick to come and lay this year was a devastating blow for the franchise. Add that to the fact that they couldn?t get anyone in the free agent market and having to suffer through yet another one of Grant Hill?s injury and you get a 9-15 team. At least Magic fans can take comfort in the fact that Tracy?s team isn?t doing that much better.

There is no question that Dwight Howard will be a special player one day (emphasis on the ?will be?). He only just turned 20 at the beginning of this month and needs time to mature. When he realizes his potential, the rest of the team will get better as a result. Until then, there?s going to be a lot of losing. Francis, the other cornerstone, is not an all-star. He?s a very good player who, in the right system, could contribute to a team with an established superstar or two. In Orlando, he?s our best option and that?s not a good option for the fans.

Hill used to be an all-star - now he is just over the hill. The surgeries and age have caught up with him and he can no longer take over a game like he could in Detroit. Still, he?d be a fine role player in this system if Orlando had more star power. Stevenson has shown a lot more than he has had, but he?s still ? at best ? a 15-20 minute a night player coming off the bench.