The Orlando Magic are a young team with a history that already has left fans wondering what could have been. The team emerged from the dregs of the first years of an expansion team with two key players. Shaquille O’Neal was drafted in 1992 and Penny Hardaway was drafted in 1993. The two first round draft picks were the stars Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, and Horace Grant were brought in to support. O’Neal was a monster of a low post player, even in his first few years in the league. Rarely had a player with such size, skill, and athleticism been seen. Penny was the tall point guard that could run a team and look over the tops of whatever point guard was defending him. With those two on the roster Magic playoff tickets were not far behind.
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Orlando made the playoffs in their first season together. The series was a quick exit in the first round at the hands of the Pacers, but the next two seasons the Magic made a jump that made them an elite team in the Eastern Conference. Orlando went 57-25 the next season and avenged the loss to the Pacers with a victorious series in the conference finals. In just their sixth season Magic playoffs tickets were going to the NBA Finals. The Rockets swept the club, but the quick rise was noted by everyone in the NBA. The next season the Magic met Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman in the conference finals. The Magic went 60-22, but the Bulls went 72-10 and proved the better with a sweep.
The 2008-09 Magic are hoping that Dwight Howard will be the next talented center to take Orlando to the finals. Last season fans at Amway Arena saw the development of the latest monster. He averaged over 20 pints, over 10 boards, and over 2 blocks. Each game on the schedule gave fans a chance to see the rare mix of size, strength, and athleticism. This season he needs to make the next jump and become unstoppable at the basket. He will have help avoiding the double team thanks to Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. The forwards can shoot the three and are decent on the board. The trio in the front court guarantees playoff tickets for Magic fans.
How long those tickets will last is up to the backcourt. The weakness last season was the guards. Jameer Nelson is a point guard in the making. This is probably his last season to come through before Orlando goes shopping for a replacement. He has a shooting trigger set to go off whenever he brings the ball down the court. That is not a good thing when he is not a very good shot and the front court need somebody to get them the ball and not somebody to create offensive rebound opportunities. Michael Pietrus will help with defense but will not be any help on offense. Turkoglu spent much of last season as the initiator of the offense, but a guard will need to step up to do that job if this team is to make Magic playoff tickets worth anything more than two rounds.