NBA

James on his return to postseason: ‘This is the toughest’

Published

6 years ago

August 18, 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — LeBron James never took it for granted, no matter how routine it became.

He never counted on playing even one playoff game in a season, even long after it became viewed as a failure if he didn’t play for a title. The NBA is hard. He only made it look easy.

And he said this postseason, his first in two years and the most unusual in league history, will be his most challenging yet.

“This is the toughest championship run for me personally, for the circumstances of just being in here,” he said after he finished practice Monday in a Disney World convention center ballroom.

His Los Angeles Lakers cruised to the best record in the Western Conference, but there are no luxuries usually afforded the No. 1 seed. There’s no celebrities sitting courtside at Staples Center to boost them. There’s an opponent, the Portland Trail Blazers, who took advantage of a four-month break caused by the coronavirus pandemic to get healthy and arrive with a loaded roster that’s far more talented than the average No. 8 seed.

The only sure thing this time around might be James’ mind.

“As far as me locking in on an opponent and individuals, that hasn’t changed,” James said. “What’s different is this environment. I’m not home with my family. Not in my own bed. I’m not in our practice facility. I’m not preparing to be at Staples tomorrow with our fans. I’m not with a lot of things that’s essential to my everyday regimen. So that’s what’s different. But as far as mentally, that’s always going to be sharp.”

So are his skills, of course. He averaged 25.3 points and led the NBA with 10.2 assists per game, but the Lakers needed much more than that.

They needed someone to help steer them through tragedy after Kobe Bryant, one of the franchise’s icons, was killed in a helicopter crash in January. And they continue to count on his experience as they deal with the obstacles of what’s potentially a three-month road trip.

“He’s the best leader I’ve ever been around and just represents all the right things,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Oozes class and we’re just lucky to have him on our squad and leading our team.”

James was in the postseason every year from 2006-18 and they weren’t just cameos. He never lost in the first round and didn’t lose at all until the NBA Finals in the last eight years of that stretch, the first four in Miami and the last four in Cleveland.

But the first serious injury of his career, a groin injury sustained on Christmas 2018 in his first season in Los Angeles, doomed the Lakers. Their playoff hopes were long since gone when he shut it down for good at the end of March.

His return to the playoffs took longer than expected because of the season’s suspension, with the usual mid-April start this time coming in mid-August. That makes it 26 months since James’ last postseason game, back on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, when the Warriors completed a sweep.

By then there was a sense that James, who would become a free agent that summer, might choose to leave the Cavaliers again.

There was no such thought it would be so long until his next postseason game.

still, his mind is on more than basketball.

He was one of the signers Monday of an open letter written by More Than A Vote, a coalition of Black athletes and artists whose mission is to “educate, energize and protect Black voters.” The coalition partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers to use Dodger Stadium as a vote center for the presidential election in November and is aiming get more arenas and sports facilities in use.

“We want change. We’ve asked for change in our communities and we want people in our communities to know if we want change we have to make it ourselves,” James said, wearing a hat reading “I am more than an athlete.”

“Just trying to give all the resources that we can because we know how important November is, but more importantly even past November because it doesn’t stop and we don’t want it to stop.”

James won’t be playing NBA basketball in November and nobody knows for sure when he will again once this season is over. He will turn 36 in December, the earliest the 2020-21 season would begin, and the Western Conference is only going to get tougher.

Whatever happens, James will be ready.

“So I don’t take anything for granted, especially being in the NBA. This is my 17th season. I don’t go into any season saying, ‘OK, playoffs, playoffs, championship, championship, championship.’ I’m all about the process and whatever is at the end of that process, then I’m grateful for.”

NBA

Orlando Magic Rally Late to Beat Washington Wizards 122-112

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2023

Mellissa Thomas

Moritz Wagner dunks the ball in the second quarter for the Orlando Magic during their match against the Washington Wizards at Amway Center Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Photo: Harry Castiblanco/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Magic had a lot of ground to make up for at home after their long road run, and the Washington Wizards didn’t make it easy on them–their defense greatly frustrated the Magic.

First Half

The Wizards led most of the first quarter, especially since the Magic made none of their three-pointers…until Moritz Wagner came in off the bench with just over two minutes left in the first. With a couple of shots, he switched the lead to Orlando by a single point at the end of the first quarter, 26-25.

Cole Anthony got a nice and-1 after his rebound from a failed Wizard free throw. Bradley Beal fouled him as he ran into the paint, but Anthony’s fadeaway shot was successful as he fell to the floor.

In the second quarter the Wizards regained the lead, but like in the first quarter, the Magic rallied near the end of the quarter. When Gary Harris, Markelle Fultz and the other Wagner, Franz, got back on the court, the Magic began sinking more shots.

Mo Wagner contributed 11 points in the first two quarters, while Franz, Harris and Anthony each followed with 10 points. The Magic also made up for their three-pointer deficit in second quarter. They were seven of 17 (41.2 percent) on threes in the first half compared to the Wizards’ five of 15 (33.3 percent) and were 23 of 43 on field goals (53.5 percent) compared to the Wizards’ 21 of 40 (52.5 percent).

For Washington, Deni Avdija and Monte Morris led the scoring with 12 points each; Kristaps Porzingis followed with 11 points.

The Magic secured a four-point lead heading into halftime, 60-56.

Second Half

The Magic ended third quarter one point behind, 88-87.

The Magic brought the fire in the fourth quarter, getting on a run between Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr. and Paolo Banchero, who went to the free throw line three times late in the fourth and nailed every free throw. The highlight play of the second half happened within the final minute of the game: Banchero had pressure on him and made an ugly fadeaway baseline three-pointer…and sank it in.

The most critical hit of all was Bradley Beal fouling out of the game, which dealt a huge blow to the Wizards’ offense in the final stretch. Porzingis tried to pick up the slack, but the Magic saw the blood in the water and piled on the pressure, closing out the game with a 10-point win, 122-112.

For the night, Gary Harris led in scoring for the Magic with 22 points, going six for nine on three pointers and seven for 10 on field goals. Franz Wagner followed with 20 points with four rebounds and six assists. Banchero contributed 18 points and was six of six on free throws. Fultz contributed 17 points with five rebounds and five assists.

For the Wizards, Porzingis led the scoring by far, with 30 total points, six rebounds and three assists. Beal followed with 16 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

__________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com

NBA

Orlando Magic to induct Dennis Scott into their Hall of Fame March 23

Published

3 years ago

March 7, 2023

FNN SPORTS

Orlando, FL – The Orlando Magic will induct Dennis Scott into their Hall of Fame on Thursday, March 23 at 3:45 p.m. in Amway Center, near the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience.** Scott will become the 12^th member of the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

In addition to the induction ceremony, Scott will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. New York. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX.

“Dennis (Scott) still remains one of the elite, long-range shooters in both Orlando Magic and NBA history,” said Martins. “His ability to shoot from beyond the three-point arc was a major key to our success during his time in Orlando and his records stand to this day. We are proud to make Dennis the next inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”

Originally selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft by Orlando, Scott played seven seasons with the Magic from 1990-97. He played in 446 regular season games (322 starts) with Orlando, averaging 14.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 30.7 minpg., while shooting .403 (981-2,432) from three-point range.

During the 1995-96 campaign, Scott set a then-NBA single season-record with 267 three-pointers made, a standard that lasted for ten years. The 267 three-pointers made remains the franchise record for most made in a season. On April 18, 1996 vs. Atlanta, Scott connected on 11 three-pointers, breaking the then-NBA single game-record, a mark that lasted for almost seven seasons. The 11 three-pointers made also remains the franchise record for most made in a game.

Scott also appeared in 41 playoff games (31 starts) with Orlando, averaging 12.2 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 33.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (92-253) from three-point range. On May 25, 1995 vs. Indiana, he made seven three-pointers during Game #2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, setting a franchise playoff-record that still stands today. Scott helped the Magic reach the 1995 NBA Finals.

Scott remains the Orlando Magic all-time leader in three-pointers made with 981. Entering this season, he also ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals attempted (second, 2,432), field goals attempted (seventh, 5,737), games played (eighth, 446), steals (eighth, 429), points scored (tenth, 6,603), field goals made (tenth, 2,421) and minutes played (tenth, 13,692).

The Orlando Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014 with the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. Scott also joins Shaquille O’Neal (2015), the late Rich DeVos (2016), Anfernee Hardaway (2017), Jimmy Hewitt (2017), Tracy McGrady (2018), David Steele (2019), Darrell Armstrong (2020), John Gabriel (2022) and Brian Hill (2022) in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 34-year history. It bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.

NBA

Jonathan Isaac to Miss Remainder of 2022-23 Regular Season Due to Another Injury

Published

3 years ago

March 3, 2023

FNN SPORTS

FILE - Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac plays during the Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks match at Amway Center Tuesday, February 7, 2023. (Shreyank Tripathi/Florida National News file photo)

FILE - Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac plays during the Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks match at Amway Center Tuesday, February 7, 2023. (Harry Castiblanco/Florida National News file photo)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac underwent surgery on Friday morning to repair a torn left adductor muscle and will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season. An MRI conducted Wednesday revealed the injury, after he felt discomfort following Tuesday’s practice in Milwaukee.

“Our thoughts are with Jonathan, whose fortitude in dealing with adversity is unique,” said Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “Jonathan has worked extremely hard to return to the court this season and has demonstrated his impact on our team. We will be by his side as he focuses on the work ahead.”

Isaac (6’10”, 230, 10/3/97) played in 11 games this season, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 11.3 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Orlando, Isaac has appeared in 147 career NBA regular season games (106 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 9.0 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.0 apg., 1.43 blkpg. and 1.08 stlpg. in 24.7 minpg. He has also played and started in five career playoff outings, averaging 6.6 ppg., 6.2 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 27.3 minpg.