What's great about being a fan of any sports team is basically sharing the experiences that the entire organization goes through season by season. Obviously you do not talk to the GM's, owners, or players on a regular basis or even discuss your opinions and thoughts with them at all. But throughout the entire season and playoffs (if your team is fortunate enough to make it there) you get a feeling of attachment as if you were just another player on the roster, conversing your ideas with the team.
When things are good, you're on the top of the world with them. When things are worse, you're legitimately disappointed in them like you would be with a pet or child who just let you down. Regardless, you're always there for them.
Being a fan of each team is unique on its own, and any fan of the Magic last year had an experience that is rare and cherished in the sports world. Defying the odds as an underdog is one of the most gratifying experiences any fan can live through, and the Magic did just this in 2009.
Once they miraculously succeeded past the Celtics in seven games, they were once again the underdogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers who not only had the full support from their fans (since they owned the best NBA season record) but literally each and every NBA analyst on ESPN. (Click here and go to the middle right if you do not believe me, 10 experts chose Cleveland to win). Defying all odds, Orlando headed to the NBA Finals for the second time in their 20 years existence. They obviously had the patronage of their fans behind them, but once again, absolutely no love from the media. After losing in five games, the Magic went into the off-season with their heads up and their confidence at an all time high.
Aside from the momentum that any NBA finals run brings, Orlando has bolstered its roster tremendously during the off-season. Vince Carter is one of the top players in the league, and the threesome of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the NBA. Building around them, the team has made some nice moves, with the addition of Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass, all of whom are capable of building around these All-Stars and strengthening the team all around. Rashard Lewis will sit out the first three weeks of the season due to a substance abuse violation, but the team remains strong as ever nonetheless.
It will undoubtedly be predicted that without Lewis, Orlando is the third wheel in regards to the Big Three of the East. But for a Magic fan, there is no problem with other NBA fans and analysts predicting that. This is just another step in the road and from an Orlando perspective, a rather positive one.
With Lewis sidelined for almost an eighth of the season, the Magic seize a perfect opportunity to mess around with their roster and see who fits in well and where. It gives players like Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, and Marcin Gortat an outstanding chance to step up their game and not only help themselves in the long run, but the entire Magic team as well. Taking the Lewis situation as if it were an injury and the Magic can already honestly say that they have enough productive role players on their bench to fill the shoes of their starting All-Star without running into much of a problem whatsoever.
The fact that the loss of the team's second most valuable player (and an All-Star) won't have much of a perceived impact on the team's performance says it all about the state of Orlando basketball. This should be another one of those up years for the team's fans.
When things are good, you're on the top of the world with them. When things are worse, you're legitimately disappointed in them like you would be with a pet or child who just let you down. Regardless, you're always there for them.
Being a fan of each team is unique on its own, and any fan of the Magic last year had an experience that is rare and cherished in the sports world. Defying the odds as an underdog is one of the most gratifying experiences any fan can live through, and the Magic did just this in 2009.
Once they miraculously succeeded past the Celtics in seven games, they were once again the underdogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers who not only had the full support from their fans (since they owned the best NBA season record) but literally each and every NBA analyst on ESPN. (Click here and go to the middle right if you do not believe me, 10 experts chose Cleveland to win). Defying all odds, Orlando headed to the NBA Finals for the second time in their 20 years existence. They obviously had the patronage of their fans behind them, but once again, absolutely no love from the media. After losing in five games, the Magic went into the off-season with their heads up and their confidence at an all time high.
Aside from the momentum that any NBA finals run brings, Orlando has bolstered its roster tremendously during the off-season. Vince Carter is one of the top players in the league, and the threesome of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the NBA. Building around them, the team has made some nice moves, with the addition of Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass, all of whom are capable of building around these All-Stars and strengthening the team all around. Rashard Lewis will sit out the first three weeks of the season due to a substance abuse violation, but the team remains strong as ever nonetheless.
It will undoubtedly be predicted that without Lewis, Orlando is the third wheel in regards to the Big Three of the East. But for a Magic fan, there is no problem with other NBA fans and analysts predicting that. This is just another step in the road and from an Orlando perspective, a rather positive one.
With Lewis sidelined for almost an eighth of the season, the Magic seize a perfect opportunity to mess around with their roster and see who fits in well and where. It gives players like Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, and Marcin Gortat an outstanding chance to step up their game and not only help themselves in the long run, but the entire Magic team as well. Taking the Lewis situation as if it were an injury and the Magic can already honestly say that they have enough productive role players on their bench to fill the shoes of their starting All-Star without running into much of a problem whatsoever.
The fact that the loss of the team's second most valuable player (and an All-Star) won't have much of a perceived impact on the team's performance says it all about the state of Orlando basketball. This should be another one of those up years for the team's fans.
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