Post by Funky George! on Apr 8, 2008 17:20:20 GMT -5
Aaron Haberman's tenure as the General Manager of the Orlando Magic has been a bumpy ride, to say the least, but the team is, for the first time in his nearly 20 years in Orlando, reaching its peak.
Peaking, now? In the regular season? For the first time? It's tough to accept that statement, given Orlando's history in BBS. Wouldn't they have peaked when they won the BBS champinship before the restart?
"It's different, now. I would never say what we had back then was flukey, even if others would. But right now, this unit, and I don't want to put down those guys and what they did, because it was an amazing run, but these guys are clearly the best unit Orlando has ever seen."
Flukey, indeed, is what some were calling it. Just two seasons after the franchise's postseason run to glory, they fell to a new, winning only the lottery and 13 games--and someone else had their pick. Whatever success they had was easily forgotten.
And the failure carried over in the new league. Though Orlando made the playoffs twice in the league's first four seasons, he seemed headed for the contract year with just one 40 win season. Now, though, he says the franchise is the best its ever been, and the numbers don't lie.
Numbers like .889--the team's winning percentage, best in the league. Numbers like 110.3--the team's scoring average, also best in the league. Throw in a league best fifty-five rebounds a night, a league best 7.9 blocks a night, and it's easy to see why the team's 91.3 points allowed per game is second in the league.
The Magic also currently among the league's best in fewest turnovers per game, most turnovers forced per game, steals per game, assists per game, and they top the league in field-goal percentage, shooting almost 50% as a unit.
But how did it happen so fast? How could a pathetic roster led by unproven rookie Jose Calderon, a 28 win team that fell to the fifth pick in the lottery, turn into a star-studded unit that has was 16 straight since losing its first two games of the season?
"One part luck, one part luck, and one part luck," Haberman said, referring to his acquisitions of Chauncey Billups, Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal.
"I can't say it wasn't planned, but it was faint, it was vague--who knew we'd get the guys we got?"
Yes, the team had known it would acquire Shaq midway through last season, and Haberman's efforts to put together the right package were well-documented. But nothing else was even remotely documented before it happened.
So how did it happen? "Well, it started with Tracy. I was a big fan of Jose and Al, but I put up a block trying to bait a GM with a superstar to take two great rebuilding pieces, and it worked. I want to win as much as any fan, so I realize when you have to make that kind of move. You don't acquire Shaq and hope your youth develops. You acquire Shaq and surround him with the best talent you can."
That move left Haberman without a point guard. So onto free agency he went. "The plan was to get a top talent in the market all along, so T-Mac was an added bonus, albeit a massive bonus. We still had money to spend, so we threw it at the guards. We saw some good things in Chauncey but didnt know if it was worth it to lock him up long term. We tried to lure him in by offering him big money upfront and a chance to prove himself."
And prove himself he has. Despite an awful start for Chauncey's percentages, he's been a rock at point guard for Orlando. His 2.1 turnovers per game are among the fewest for a starting point guard in BBS, and he's fifth in assists. His shooting percentages are climbing, too.
"Chauncey just needed the guys to pass to so he could prove he was a true playmaker."
After the three were brought in, Haberman heard word that division rival New York was looking to move Jamal Mashburn out of fear that he would decline and become an overpaid veteran.
"We took a chance with Jamal, and yeah, he's gonna make a lot of money, but if we win, we feel it's worth it."
And right now, the Magic appear to be among the favorites. Just four of their sixteen wins have been at home, and they are winning by an average of 20 points per game. Haberman was quick to downplay any talk of championships though."
"We're good, yeah, but we're not as good as you think. We have no depth. We lost to New York, and we've yet to play New Jersey, Miami, Detroit, Seattle. People are going to realize that we definitely have weaknesses. The questions will be, can we bring it every night? Is our defense that good, or will the better teams score on us? Will our reserve unit get beaten up? We're too thin to have a major injury, too. A lot can go wrong. It won't be all wins from here on out, and I hope people realize that. We've been lucky so far, but it gets tough from here on out. If we can win those games, then we'll definitely have peaked as a team and I think it will mean playoff success. We certainly do have the stars to win any game."
Peaking, now? In the regular season? For the first time? It's tough to accept that statement, given Orlando's history in BBS. Wouldn't they have peaked when they won the BBS champinship before the restart?
"It's different, now. I would never say what we had back then was flukey, even if others would. But right now, this unit, and I don't want to put down those guys and what they did, because it was an amazing run, but these guys are clearly the best unit Orlando has ever seen."
Flukey, indeed, is what some were calling it. Just two seasons after the franchise's postseason run to glory, they fell to a new, winning only the lottery and 13 games--and someone else had their pick. Whatever success they had was easily forgotten.
And the failure carried over in the new league. Though Orlando made the playoffs twice in the league's first four seasons, he seemed headed for the contract year with just one 40 win season. Now, though, he says the franchise is the best its ever been, and the numbers don't lie.
Numbers like .889--the team's winning percentage, best in the league. Numbers like 110.3--the team's scoring average, also best in the league. Throw in a league best fifty-five rebounds a night, a league best 7.9 blocks a night, and it's easy to see why the team's 91.3 points allowed per game is second in the league.
The Magic also currently among the league's best in fewest turnovers per game, most turnovers forced per game, steals per game, assists per game, and they top the league in field-goal percentage, shooting almost 50% as a unit.
But how did it happen so fast? How could a pathetic roster led by unproven rookie Jose Calderon, a 28 win team that fell to the fifth pick in the lottery, turn into a star-studded unit that has was 16 straight since losing its first two games of the season?
"One part luck, one part luck, and one part luck," Haberman said, referring to his acquisitions of Chauncey Billups, Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal.
"I can't say it wasn't planned, but it was faint, it was vague--who knew we'd get the guys we got?"
Yes, the team had known it would acquire Shaq midway through last season, and Haberman's efforts to put together the right package were well-documented. But nothing else was even remotely documented before it happened.
So how did it happen? "Well, it started with Tracy. I was a big fan of Jose and Al, but I put up a block trying to bait a GM with a superstar to take two great rebuilding pieces, and it worked. I want to win as much as any fan, so I realize when you have to make that kind of move. You don't acquire Shaq and hope your youth develops. You acquire Shaq and surround him with the best talent you can."
That move left Haberman without a point guard. So onto free agency he went. "The plan was to get a top talent in the market all along, so T-Mac was an added bonus, albeit a massive bonus. We still had money to spend, so we threw it at the guards. We saw some good things in Chauncey but didnt know if it was worth it to lock him up long term. We tried to lure him in by offering him big money upfront and a chance to prove himself."
And prove himself he has. Despite an awful start for Chauncey's percentages, he's been a rock at point guard for Orlando. His 2.1 turnovers per game are among the fewest for a starting point guard in BBS, and he's fifth in assists. His shooting percentages are climbing, too.
"Chauncey just needed the guys to pass to so he could prove he was a true playmaker."
After the three were brought in, Haberman heard word that division rival New York was looking to move Jamal Mashburn out of fear that he would decline and become an overpaid veteran.
"We took a chance with Jamal, and yeah, he's gonna make a lot of money, but if we win, we feel it's worth it."
And right now, the Magic appear to be among the favorites. Just four of their sixteen wins have been at home, and they are winning by an average of 20 points per game. Haberman was quick to downplay any talk of championships though."
"We're good, yeah, but we're not as good as you think. We have no depth. We lost to New York, and we've yet to play New Jersey, Miami, Detroit, Seattle. People are going to realize that we definitely have weaknesses. The questions will be, can we bring it every night? Is our defense that good, or will the better teams score on us? Will our reserve unit get beaten up? We're too thin to have a major injury, too. A lot can go wrong. It won't be all wins from here on out, and I hope people realize that. We've been lucky so far, but it gets tough from here on out. If we can win those games, then we'll definitely have peaked as a team and I think it will mean playoff success. We certainly do have the stars to win any game."
Nothing personal though 
