George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel think the Magic-Heat feud is a good thing.
"We’re basically got three protagonists antagonists (your call) in this story line, all poking each other each with shots, and getting people like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and even Rashard Lewis caught in the crossfire.Orlando GM Otis Smith, coach Stan Van Gundy and Heat President Pat Riley obviously don’t care for each other much, and have now gone on the record with those feelings.I think it’s great for business."
You can read that story here.
David Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel looks at it in a different way.
"This started in July when Stan said he wasn’t surprised by Chris Bosh signing with the Heat, because he’d been following Dwyane Wade “around for two weeks like his lap dog.”Good line. Poor form. Coaches don’t attack another team’s player unless they’re Rex Ryan. And, come to think of it, Stan and Rex have things in common: Good thoughts, fun personas and, uh, no rings to give their words weight.Throw in Orlando General Manager Otis Smith’s jealous trantrum about James moving to the Heat — “I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor,” Smith said — and you knew Riley would return serve. He had to.Riley at least kept it a professional catfight. He didn’t go after players. He called Smith’s comment “absoutely stupid.” He said of Van Gundy, “I don’t know what happened to some of those guys along the way.”"
You can read the full story here.
Dwight Howard hasn’t lost any confidence.
"Kevin Burke: As you’re well aware, the Miami Heat did a lot this summer and many people – not all – but many are already crowning them champs of the East. Do you guys feel disrespected because you guys have been one the best teams in the East for years?Dwight Howard: I think every team is disrespected to a degree. You still have to go out and play, that’s the beauty about all of this. Are they going to be tough to beat? Yes, and they’re probably better than 85% of the teams in the league, but every team is fighting for the same goal and we all have to lace them up to find out who is the best."
Kevin Burke of The Hoop Doctors has that full Q&A here.
Ben Q.Rock of Orlando Pinstriped Post wonders if Mickael Pietrus or Quentin Richardson should start.
"Indeed, in addition to playing the same position, Pietrus and Richardson are roughly the same age and size. Additionally, they’re both similarly inclined on offense, tending to launch three-pointers off the catch, and connecting at an above-average rate.But there are subtle differences: Pietrus prefers the corner three-pointer, while Richardson tends to shoot from the wings. And thought Pietrus is more likely to drive, he’s also more likely to settle for a bad shot attempt as a result. Another factor worth considering is Richardson’s potential explosiveness: in 148 games over the last two years, he’s made at least four three-pointers in 23 of them. Pietrus, in the same span? 129 games, but just 13 with four-plus treys."
You can read that story here.
Fans were able to ask Magic General Manager Otis Smith questions. You can read that here.
There is a Magic fan get-together this weekend.
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, a contributor on the Fansided Front Page, and co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here).