Do You Believe In Magic?

          Some might, I don't, it's all about your perspective on certain things. Recently, I started leaning towards the possibility that the Orlando Magic might actually be legit magicians from the way they make their fans' hopes of success disappear into thin air whenever we start to believe in our team. And at the same time allowing our biggest superstars to vanish as well. Maybe that's their main goal... I'm pretty sick of it if you ask me, and technically Dwight Howard is still under contract for the next year. Will the trend continue?
          
Shaq got away... Ok... Then T-Mac bounced... Hmm... 


     Now I'm hearing inside sources spreading rumors about how Dwight Howard STILL wants out after we just made our most successful coach ever Stan Van Gundy disappear!... Otis Smith is finally gone at least, but I pretty much wished that happened a few years ago. I've been saying for years that the Magic NEED to bring in at least 1 more star to pair with D-12 (preferably a guard that can attack) and after all these years us fans are stuck looking at one of the worst supporting casts we've had since the McGrady era. Even T-Mac admitted to slacking off because the organization failed to bring him any decent help. It's a horrible on going theme with this franchise and it sucks having to go through this for so many years. I am absolutely disgusted and actually contemplating believing in magic and disappearing acts thanks to the many failures of this front office.
     Before I heard these rumors that Dwight still wants out, I was all for the new direction of the team. I'm still hoping those are just RUMORS and that we still have a shot to land a nice playmaker to keep Dwight and the fans happy. But until then I believe we are going to have to hold our breath like Houdini. Will anything change? Or will we be another rebuilding team in the near future that shits the bed then brings in a superstar just to come up short like we always have? Somebody needs to work some MAGIC if we want to be a contender. Just please don't let Dwight disappear!

Trade Wade?

    I have always been a supporter of Dwyane Wade and always will be. He is absolutely one of the best players in the world. There's only one thing that has been questioned about him. That is his ability to play up to his full potential and win a title along side the best player in the world, LeBron James.

     It sounds crazy but this was always part of the concern when the Big 3 first came together down in South Beach and after last night's game 3 performance against the Pacers where he only had 5 points along with 5 turnovers, the media world has been excercising the thought of whether or not he will be in a Heat uniform next year. Personally, I just can't picture breaking those two apart after the relationship they've built and the amount of greatness they provide us NBA fans to witness. I thoroughly enjoy the show these two put on during games. They might actually be the most talented duo we have ever seen in NBA history. But we all know that above all, the NBA is a business first. That part makes me nervous.

     To me, just thinking about it seems completely insane. He still plays at a very high level and is definitely a major contributor night in and night out when healthy. On occasion he may even play better then LeBron. Some nights though he's just not up to par with him. Although not too many players can match LBJ's level, if any at all. Wade's getting up there in age at 30 and has been battling through leg and knee injuries all year. Both players play very similar styles of basketball. They are an absolute force on defense as well. The only concern is that both players need the ball in their hands in order to reach their highest level of play and the only problem with that is obviously there's only one ball to go around.

     Listening to Mike and Mike in the morning made me think, if they could get a legit center to defend the paint, and/or a great shooter to have along side LeBron, then maybe it wouldn't seem so crazy to shop around. LBJ and Bosh gel just fine in my opinion and LeBron needs to touch the ball every single possession in order for his team to have as much success as possible. Plain and simple. The offense they have with him and Wade just doesn't look like it can work up to it's full potential against well rounded basketball teams because they're both mainly isolation players with LeBron being the MUCH better facilitator. I just think it makes it slightly diffcult for that offense to have any type of rhythm when you have to share the rock between two number one options. This was the main concern when they first joined and although it works for a while, it just isn't the recipe for team success. Now we are here two years later witnessing perhaps the realization that individual talent does not mean anything in terms of team success. Or maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation if Bosh never got hurt and the Heat walked to the finals and won. But right now it seems like they're headed to the boats and if you had to make a change for a better future, trading Wade and/or getting rid of Spoelstra might not be as farfetched as you think.

     I would love more than anything as a Wade/LBJ supporter to see them work it out and get enough surrounding help to win atleast on title. But for whatever reasons that might not be possible. Hopefully I'm wrong. I'm not saying they should definitely trade Dwyane. But if the right package came back to team up with James and Bosh, if i'm Pat Riley, I strongly consider pulling the trigger.

#ThingsBlamedOnLeBron

     It blows my mind how literally EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is LeBron's fault. No matter what happens, there is always SOMETHING that people focus on to try and discredit what the best basketball player in the WORLD has done. EVERYBODY else gets a free pass when they come up short though. But when LeBron does it once in a while it's like the end of the world. He's in a lose lose situation regardless of what happens. I've never seen a more criticized athlete or celebrity in my life.

He takes a charge: 'He's a flopper!'

He disagrees with a ref: 'He crys too much!'

He passes the ball to an open teammate: 'He should have shot it!'

He misses a couple free throws: 'No clutch gene!'

He wins MVP: 'He doesn't have a ring!'

He carrys the worst team in the league by far to the finals by himself and loses: 'He's a choker!'

His teammate "chokes" in the SAME GAME: 'He's rubbing off on him and dragging him down!'

He AND his teammate/s were awful in final 2:30: 'He didn't deserve his 3rd MVP!'

LMAO keep blaming LeBron, It's his fault Wade had 5points! >

He is by far the most dominant player in the game. Period. But yet every possible thing he does is put under a microscope. Why that is beats me... Maybe he's just that damn good and people don't like to see him succeed for whatever reason. Maybe he's just the most talented player we've seen since MJ and people REFUSE to give him any credit because his teams have yet to win a title (or 6). The bottom line is you can't deny that he goes out and works his ass off to put his team in the best position to win.

     Game 2 against the Pacers was the first full playoff game without Chris Bosh and the Heat lost a hardfought battle. What does that mean? Well to all the LeBron haters out there it clearly means LeBron is never clutch and he always misses late game free throws right? He's clearly a choker right? Hmm, ask the 76ers what happened about a week or two before the playoffs started. There's no way that can be the same player right? You're right, let's just focus on nitpicking the little things.

If Vince Young has a couple great moments, does that make him a great QB?

If Tom Brady has a couple bad moments, does that make him a bad QB?

I would hope you know the answer to those...

So if a basketball player has a couple bad MOMENTS does that make him a choker?

    Unfortunately, since LeBron came in the league the majority vote would say yes. SMH... I guess y'all just dying for another MJ to come around huh? I'm sure he NEVER lost a game before. Nope. Completely undefeated right?

Back to the Pacers/Heat...

If team A has 7 players that score 6+ points, and team B only has 2 players that score 6+ points.. Who would you expect to win that game?

If one of those two players on team B led the team in POINTS.. REBOUNDS.. ASSISTS.. AND STEALS...

HOW IN GOD'S NAME COULD YOU POSSIBLY FEEL CONTENT WITH  PUTTING THE BLAME ON THAT PLAYER FOR LOSING THE GAME???!!!

Oh right you're a hater.

LBJ/Wade: 18/44 52pts

Other 8 Players: 9/34 23pts

     It's not about Bosh being out either like Wade said. But let me know when a team gets a playoff win when the third leading scorer scores 5 points. I'll Wait... Until then try not to get caught up in the MOMENT, unless of course LeBron made you.

Hatred of LeBron Makes Him This Generation's Wilt

Miami Heat MORE Dangerous Without Bosh?

     What are you nuts?! Let me be clear by saying that I do realize that 1) Bosh is an all-star caliber player and 2) The Heat were 4-5 without him this season (although not everyone realizes that the MVP was also out for 3 of those 5 losses). 

     The most effective part of Bosh's game is his ability to knock down outside jump shots and although he hits a few of those every game; I truly believe the defense of the Heat, along with the physical play of Turiaf, and the 2 or 3 jumpers Haslem hits could be just enough to get them back to the NBA finals and maybe then some as long as the rest of the bench knocks down their open looks as well. 

     Bosh has a shooter's touch similar to a small forward and that allows him to create space for LBJ and Wade to get to the rim because his defender can't afford to leave him open from 15 feet. There's no question his offense will be missed. But he was never the biggest rebounder nor did he have that much of a defensive presence. I'm not saying he is soft, but I have definitely heard people mention that word in the same sentence, often. 

     Points are very tough to find in the playoffs and every little bit helps. But the fact of the matter is that defensive intensity is notched up a level and becomes the more important factor in these post season series. I think the perfect recipe for a team with LeBron and Wade running the offense is to throw in a big man or two that can be the physical presence they're looking for. Miami's main identity is that they play swarming defense and create problems for opposing teams best players while causing turnovers which turn into transition points.

     Bosh getting hurt didn't change the fact that LeBron and Wade could create open looks for the rest of the guys, it's just that those guys don't shoot the ball as well, and need to be a bit more efficient. I think the physical defense that Turiaf plays could make up for the few jumpers that Bosh usually hits throughout the course of a game. It's just going to be very tough beating Boston, OKC, or SA because they are such deep and well rounded teams that they can find the mismatch and take advantage of it often. Also I don't expect the Heat to win the rebounding battle against anyone they play, when they do it's usually because of the MVP playing like a C. The part that scares me going forward is how weak the Heat's bench is compared to Boston, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio and the fact that those teams play great team defense and might be just enough to contain Batman and Robin. If the Heat can't consistently contain these teams on the defensive end then they are sure to be sent fishing.
     Part of me wants to say that they have no shot to win a ring, and the other part of me wants to think of it as a blessing in disguise for LBJ's and Wade's Legacy. Regardless of what the outcome is these guys have to attack the rim like never before for to have a shot and I believe they knew that before Bosh went down. The only thing is that it's going to be 10 times harder to get to the hoop without Bosh on the floor due to the space he opens up from being able to knock down open jumpers. 
     To say they are more dangerous would probably be a little unrealistic, but one way to look at it is that it possibly upgrades the defensive side of things and maybe that could offset the missed offense... Maybe.