Denton: Magic-Celtics Notes
By John Denton
February 7, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
BOSTON – Stan Van Gundy is one of the NBA’s ultimate competitors, seemingly living and dying a little with each victory or loss. So it would be understandable if the Orlando Magic coach wasn’t exactly fired up about coaching in the NBA All-Star Game because it’s basically a meaningless exhibition.
But as he does with most games, Van Gundy is taking his role as coach very seriously.
Van Gundy sent word over to Boston coach Doc Rivers while in town on Sunday to see if there are minutes restrictions on playing superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in the Feb. 14 All-Star Game. Both players have been battling injuries this season and Van Gundy doesn’t want to extend their minutes if their wish is for rest.
Van Gundy said he’ll try to get the pulse of all the players there to determine their wish for minutes. Van Gundy said all players will play at least 12 minutes.
``(The Celtics) have a better chance of me resting their guys because we don’t play them again. If we played them the week after the all-star game, they’d all go about 42 minutes,’’ Van Gundy joked.
``What I plan to do again is when we first get together is get all 12 guys’ feel for what they want. If they all want 36 minutes, that’s not going to happen. But there are always one or two who don’t want a lot of minutes.
``Particularly with the Celtics, I know Kevin and Paul have had injury concerns. I’ve told (a Celtics athletic trainer) if Doc has concerns to let me know because I’m not looking to hurt anybody,’’ he continued. ``Kevin was voted in by the fans and Paul has been a perennial all-star and fans are going to want to see those guys. I can’t play them five or six minutes, so we’ll see where Doc is on that.’’
Rivers had a classic retort when told of Van Gundy’s questions about playing time for his star players: ``I think the fans want to see Kevin about 30 seconds and they want to see Dwight Howard for at least 42 minutes. And (Cleveland’s) LeBron James should play the whole game and (Atlanta’s) Joe Johnson should, too.’’
MAGIC TRICKS: Forward Mickael Pietrus entertained his teammates and ABC’s cameras in the locker room before the game with a magic trick. Pietrus tucked a $20 bill in his fingers and then made the money seem to disappear while pulling it across his other hand. Pietrus admitted later that he learned the trick from watching Youtube.com.
Another Magic trick that Pietrus pulled off was returning from a severe right ankle sprain in just five days. Pietrus enjoyed his finest games in weeks last Sunday in Detroit by scoring 14 points. But when he made a tie-breaking 3-pointer late in fourth quarter, he landed on Richard Hamilton’s foot and rolled his ankle over.
Pietrus couldn’t play in Tuesday’s defeat of Milwaukee, but he was back on the floor Friday night against Washington. Pietrus said there’s still pain in his ankle, but his desire to get back on the court is stronger.
``It was bad, but I just want to play more games this season,’’ said Pietrus, who missed time last season with wrist, thumb and ankle problems. ``Hey, I’m still young and I guess that I still heal pretty quickly.’’
ETC: Magic general manger Otis Smith said he will be in Dallas next weekend, but he will be there to attend the NBA’s Competition Committee meetings rather than to hold trade talks. ``Trade talk is every day; you don’t need to be there for that,’’ Smith said. ``But I don’t have anybody on my roster that I want to trade.’’ … Howard revealed recently that he will be traveling to South Africa this summer as part of a promotional tour with Adidas during the World Cup. Howard will technically be there as a member of the media as Adidas is using superstar athletes to ``interview’’ athletes from other sports. Howard was in South Africa last summer as part of the NBA Cares ``Basketball Without Borders’’ program. Said Howard: ``I don’t know anything about soccer so I have to do my research. It will be a great opportunity for me to be a part of something else besides basketball and the World Cup will be awesome.’’ … Rivers plans on being in Orlando during the all-star break to spend time with his family, and naturally take in more basketball game. He said his two sons, Austin and Spencer, play four games in three days during the break. … Austin, a senior guard at Winter Park High School, is one of the nation’s most sought-after recruits. He backed out of his verbal commitment and is being recruited heavily by Duke University. Grant Hill, who played for Rivers in Orlando and is one of Duke’s most famous former players, has been in contact with Austin about potentially playing at Duke. … Howard wore a new color scheme on his Adidas shoes on Sunday, opting for a red, yellow and black model with the Superman logo. Said Howard: ``They asked me to wear them and I do what I’m asked to do.’’ … The Magic are back at home tonight to host the Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets at 7 p.m. Paul is out four to six weeks after having knee surgery earlier this week.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonFebruary 7, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
BOSTON – Stan Van Gundy is one of the NBA’s ultimate competitors, seemingly living and dying a little with each victory or loss. So it would be understandable if the Orlando Magic coach wasn’t exactly fired up about coaching in the NBA All-Star Game because it’s basically a meaningless exhibition.
But as he does with most games, Van Gundy is taking his role as coach very seriously.
Van Gundy sent word over to Boston coach Doc Rivers while in town on Sunday to see if there are minutes restrictions on playing superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in the Feb. 14 All-Star Game. Both players have been battling injuries this season and Van Gundy doesn’t want to extend their minutes if their wish is for rest.
Van Gundy said he’ll try to get the pulse of all the players there to determine their wish for minutes. Van Gundy said all players will play at least 12 minutes.
``(The Celtics) have a better chance of me resting their guys because we don’t play them again. If we played them the week after the all-star game, they’d all go about 42 minutes,’’ Van Gundy joked.
``What I plan to do again is when we first get together is get all 12 guys’ feel for what they want. If they all want 36 minutes, that’s not going to happen. But there are always one or two who don’t want a lot of minutes.
``Particularly with the Celtics, I know Kevin and Paul have had injury concerns. I’ve told (a Celtics athletic trainer) if Doc has concerns to let me know because I’m not looking to hurt anybody,’’ he continued. ``Kevin was voted in by the fans and Paul has been a perennial all-star and fans are going to want to see those guys. I can’t play them five or six minutes, so we’ll see where Doc is on that.’’
Rivers had a classic retort when told of Van Gundy’s questions about playing time for his star players: ``I think the fans want to see Kevin about 30 seconds and they want to see Dwight Howard for at least 42 minutes. And (Cleveland’s) LeBron James should play the whole game and (Atlanta’s) Joe Johnson should, too.’’
MAGIC TRICKS: Forward Mickael Pietrus entertained his teammates and ABC’s cameras in the locker room before the game with a magic trick. Pietrus tucked a $20 bill in his fingers and then made the money seem to disappear while pulling it across his other hand. Pietrus admitted later that he learned the trick from watching Youtube.com.
Another Magic trick that Pietrus pulled off was returning from a severe right ankle sprain in just five days. Pietrus enjoyed his finest games in weeks last Sunday in Detroit by scoring 14 points. But when he made a tie-breaking 3-pointer late in fourth quarter, he landed on Richard Hamilton’s foot and rolled his ankle over.
Pietrus couldn’t play in Tuesday’s defeat of Milwaukee, but he was back on the floor Friday night against Washington. Pietrus said there’s still pain in his ankle, but his desire to get back on the court is stronger.
``It was bad, but I just want to play more games this season,’’ said Pietrus, who missed time last season with wrist, thumb and ankle problems. ``Hey, I’m still young and I guess that I still heal pretty quickly.’’
ETC: Magic general manger Otis Smith said he will be in Dallas next weekend, but he will be there to attend the NBA’s Competition Committee meetings rather than to hold trade talks. ``Trade talk is every day; you don’t need to be there for that,’’ Smith said. ``But I don’t have anybody on my roster that I want to trade.’’ … Howard revealed recently that he will be traveling to South Africa this summer as part of a promotional tour with Adidas during the World Cup. Howard will technically be there as a member of the media as Adidas is using superstar athletes to ``interview’’ athletes from other sports. Howard was in South Africa last summer as part of the NBA Cares ``Basketball Without Borders’’ program. Said Howard: ``I don’t know anything about soccer so I have to do my research. It will be a great opportunity for me to be a part of something else besides basketball and the World Cup will be awesome.’’ … Rivers plans on being in Orlando during the all-star break to spend time with his family, and naturally take in more basketball game. He said his two sons, Austin and Spencer, play four games in three days during the break. … Austin, a senior guard at Winter Park High School, is one of the nation’s most sought-after recruits. He backed out of his verbal commitment and is being recruited heavily by Duke University. Grant Hill, who played for Rivers in Orlando and is one of Duke’s most famous former players, has been in contact with Austin about potentially playing at Duke. … Howard wore a new color scheme on his Adidas shoes on Sunday, opting for a red, yellow and black model with the Superman logo. Said Howard: ``They asked me to wear them and I do what I’m asked to do.’’ … The Magic are back at home tonight to host the Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets at 7 p.m. Paul is out four to six weeks after having knee surgery earlier this week.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
