Update: Tania Ganguli is reporting that Rashard Lewis will not start any more games.
"Forward Rashard Lewis won’t start any more exhibition games, Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. The Magic will get used to not having him in their starting lineup, which they won’t for 10 games as he serves a suspension stemming from a positive drug test.The one lineup option Van Gundy has yet to try this preseason that he said he still needs to get to is playing Matt Barnes at power forward. He also said he might try Marcin Gortat there.“You know, just a lot of the stuff that Rashard can do,” Barnes said, when asked what he could bring to the position. “He’s such a great shooter. Any time you lose an all-star it’s going to take a group effort to try to replace him. So just being able to guard athletic 4s, maybe trap some point guards a little better. Stretch the floor. I don’t know, we’ll see.”"
This comes as no surprise to anyone as Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy already hinted at it several times. Van Gundy used Lewis the right way. He let him get himself ready and now will let the team get used to playing without him. This should ensure that Lewis is back in a basketball state-of-mind but will also prepare the other players for Orlando’s first 10 games.
See Ganguli’s full practice report here.
Brian Schmitz has learned five things about the Orlando Magic in the preseason thus far.
"The Orlando Magic can boast about having the best preseason record (5-0) in the NBA. That, and $4, can get you a hoity-toity coffee at Starbucks, as they say.Yeah, we know: They’re practice games.Except … there has to be some good things going on here. You can’t totally discount it. Why, you ask? Well, look at the flip side. Can you imagine the growing fan and media unrest if the Magic were 0-5?Columnists, bloggers and Twitterers would scream, “What’s wrong with the Magic? Do they have Finals’ hangover? Did Smith make too many changes? Should Dwight Howard give up his acting career?”"
Read the full story here.
Tania Ganguli discusses the promise that the Magic have shown during the preseason here.
Dwight Howard’s father caught a very special souvenir in the stands on Tuesday night.
"C Dwight Howard took off his basketball shoes and tossed them into the stands after the Magic’s preseason win against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night in Wichita, Kan.Guess who caught one of the souvenirs?Dwight Howard’s father, that’s who.“I sold it,” laughed Dwight Howard Sr. “Nah, I gave it to somebody in the stands.”"
Click here to see the rest of the story.
Memphis Coach Lionel Hollins was fined $25,000 for criticiszing the officiating in Monday night’s game.
Ganguli has the scoop on Hollins and much more in her mid-morning buzz.
Click here to find out why Orlando WILL win the NBA Championship this season.
NBA.com has a video preview of the Orlando Magic featuring Eric Snow and former Magic Forward Dennis
Don’t forget to tune in to Sun Sports on Tuesday night for a special Magic preview.
MAGIC PRESEASON SPECIAL Presented By Southern Ford Dealers
Original Show Looks Ahead To The 2009-10 NBA Season
Premieres on Sun Sports Tuesday, October 20, at 8 p.m.
For all you Orlando residents, your Florida Tuskers are now 2-0.
And don’t forget to check out my weekly college football blog.
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)