Orlando got the best of the trade

Magic moment
A revamped Magic team opens the season with a thrilling home victory over visiting Milwaukee.


By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 4, 2004


The ending was fitting for a franchise that is trying to erase all the losing of last season: The Orlando Magic got to celebrate their first victory twice.

They had already beaten the buzzer and the Milwaukee Bucks 93-92 Wednesday night on Steve Francis' driving lay-up and had merrily sprinted to the locker room to celebrate.
But it was determined that Francis had been fouled with .02 seconds left. With the mournful Bucks still on the court, the Magic returned to cheers after several minutes. Coach Johnny Davis came back without his suit coat.

Francis hit the rim on purpose with his free-throw attempt to eat up the remaining time, and the Magic once again celebrated in front of 15,138 at TD Waterhouse Centre.

You couldn't blame them for not wanting to come back out to finish the game properly after what the franchise went through last season.

They didn't want to take a chance that this marvelous opening night might somehow be snatched away.

"That's why I told the guys, 'We'll celebrate in here, not out there again,'ƒ|" center Kelvin Cato said. "But, heck, what a great way to get Game 1."

Francis debuted with a game-high 26 points and one-upped Michael Redd's 19-foot bank-ď shot with 3.5 seconds left that gave the Bucks a 92-91 lead.

Aside from some frequent defensive lapses, it couldn't have started much better for the Magic, whomever they are. Few folks really know them after General Manager John Weisbrod imploded a 21-61 eyesore and brought aboard 11 new players.

Fans hadn't seen this Grant Hill in a while. Playing in his first regular-season game in 21 months, he scored 20 points on 10-of-21 shooting. Hill nearly became the storybook hero, hitting a go-ahead jumper with 19.3 seconds left.

Hill was feeling so good on his rebuilt left ankle that he tried a shake-and-bake, no-look pass. "I tried not to get too excited all day because when I get overly excited, I don't play well," said Hill, who has played just 47 games since signing in the summer of 2000. "But that was fun. I really felt good."

Rookie Dwight Howard, 18, resembled the NBA's No. 1 draft pick after shaking butterflies. He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Francis, Cato and Cuttino Mobley were playing their first game since arriving from Houston in the blockbuster trade for Tracy McGrady.

Cato had six points and three blocks and Mobley struggled with his shot but scored 12 points.

Francis took a mild swipe at T-Mac, whose Rockets are 0-2, saying, "I think both teams got what they wanted. If [the Rockets] want guys to walk up the court and shoot fade-away jump shots, they got what they want. If the Magic want a team of players who get up and down the court, then they got what they wanted."

For a dwindling fan base deprived of much hope, patrons saw the Magic crawl back after blowing a 15-point third-quarter lead, showing character traits missing in 2003-04.

The Magic ran, as promised, outscoring the Bucks in fast-break points 34-22. The Bucks rekindled ghastly memories of last season's porous defense, waltzing to the basket for 15 layups and five dunks.

But Orlando buckled down in the third quarter, forcing six turnovers for 10 points. They finished with 10 blocked shots, but allowed the Bucks to creep back, thanks to former Magic center Zaza Pachulia.

Pachulia, exposed in the expansion draft by Orlando last season, scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.

After making the game-winning layup, Francis paraded around the court, pulling at his jersey to show everybody the team's name. It was to let everyone know that we're back," Francis said.

Said Davis, "Last year is gone."

Francis > Parker

:)

I have not found it yet...But I have been looking for the emoticon of a guy holding a giant spoon stirring a big pot of soup....I know I could use it.... :lol

The only question remains...how'd Hedo do?

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Originally Posted by Johnny_Blaze_47

The only question remains...how'd Hedo do?

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See for yourself:

ORLANDO MAGIC
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Grant Hill, F 33 10-21 0-1 0-0 0 4 2 1 1 4 0 20
Dwight Howard, F 38 6-11 0-0 0-6 3 10 2 3 4 1 3 12
Kelvin Cato, C 26 3-6 0-0 0-0 2 7 2 0 3 0 4 6
Cuttino Mobley, G 33 4-12 1-6 3-3 0 1 2 1 0 2 2 12
Steve Francis, G 40 11-23 0-2 4-5 1 9 7 1 0 2 4 26
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Tony Battie, C 21 2-3 0-0 2-4 0 5 0 0 2 1 3 6
Jameer Nelson, G 8 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Hidayet Turkoglu, G 19 2-7 0-1 0-0 1 3 4 1 0 1 2 4
Pat Garrity, F 11 3-6 1-3 0-0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 7
Stacey Augmon, F 11 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 0 0 1 2 0
DeShawn Stevenson, G DNP COACH'S DECISION
Michael Bradley, F DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
41-92 2-13 9-18 8 44 20 7 10 13 22 93
44.6% 15.4% 50.0% Team TO (pts off): 13 (14)



Flagrant Fouls: None
Technicals: 1 ORLANDO ( S Francis 1 )
Officials: James Capers , Mike Callahan , Phil Robinson
Attendance: 15,138
Time: 02:22

dude give houston time to gel
and if houston could trade for like speedy they would be set

holy christ, hes not gonna bring up the Francis > Parker BS again.....

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Originally Posted by T Park

holy christ, hes not gonna bring up the Francis > Parker BS again.....

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Check out their box scores, TPark. Stevie:9 rebs, 7 assists and 26 pts....that is strong, strong indeed.

Steve's always had great statlines. Leading his team to victory, or even contributing to playoff runs in anyway, is where the difference lies.

AHF, yeah TP was awesome in the playoffs. I forgot.

:)

BTW, look for Orlando to go from one of the worst records in NBA last year to 4 seed this year...

Mobley and Francis will make the difference there, as well as having a healthy Hill.

Grant Hill is the key. If he can stay healthy, and have a solid season, I can see the Magic making the playoffs. (although lack of size inside will definitely hurt them)

Cato might give them enough size and strength in the defensive post to make a pretty good run out East. Not a top 4 seed, but perhaps a 6-8. I think the fans in O-town would be pretty pleased with that.

Quote:

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yeah TP was awesome in the playoffs

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hmmm 6 good playoff games compared to Francis's 2?

Yeahhhh Id say Parker had the better playoffs.

Keep trying to suck up to that selfish shit head.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T Park

hmmm 6 good playoff games compared to Francis's 2?

Yeahhhh Id say Parker had the better playoffs.

Keep trying to suck up to that selfish shit head.

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Selfish??? Check out his career assists to shot ratio, compare it to Tony's and get back to me. :rolleyes

steve is going to be fine for little bit it was opening night
they start lossing things can get ugly

hey Jimcs50 why dont you tell us what they're pass to shoot ratios are since its your position, prove it.

I agree though, i also think that right now, Francis is th better passer and scorer and def rebounder

I didn't even notice that Hedo wasn't starting...:lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sportcamper

I have not found it yet...But I have been looking for the emoticon of a guy holding a giant spoon stirring a big pot of soup....I know I could use it.... :lol

---

Here's one. ;)

http://members.aol.com/hayhurst1/images/cowboy-brew.jpg

I'm not a huge Francis fan but I think this team is so much better off with the current group than they were with T-Mac.

Crazy prediction (made before the season, not after this game): Orlando will be the foruth seed in the East.

You can feel free to quote this and throw it back in my face when it doesn't happen. ;)

While I think that Orlando needed to make that trade, it really comes down to this:

- A Francis-led team will never win a championship. That is, Francis will never win a title on a team when he is the franchise player.

- A McGrady-led team could possibly win a championship if everything fell into place.

McGrady is a solid franchise player. Francis is one of the worst franchise players in the league.

Because there are so many other factors at stake, it isn't appropriate to judge Francis' performace this season solely on his team's record. The same goes with McGrady. It was a good trade for both teams, but McGrady is clearly the better player.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dcole50

I'm not a huge Francis fan but I think this team is so much better off with the current group than they were with T-Mac.

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Well, yes when you consider:

Last year's Magic...TMac, Juwan, Gooden, and crap

vs.

This year's Magic...Francis, GRANT HILL, HOWARD(#1 pick), Mobley, Cato, Hedo, Battie, Jameer, etc

This team IS much better than last year's. Funny how TMac had been asking for better support around him and didn't get it. Now when they trade him, they bring in others besides the Rocket trio and Weisbrod and some in the media make it sound like this team is much better because TMac is gone, as though he ever had a support group in Orlando like the one Francis has now. :rolleyes

Think TMac would've appreciated having that kind of support when he was there? Instead he's criticized for finally snapping from frustration after four years of waiting for some decent help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totalspurshomer

Well, yes when you consider:

Last year's Magic...TMac, Juwan, Gooden, and crap

vs.

This year's Magic...Francis, GRANT HILL, HOWARD(#1 pick), Mobley, Cato, Hedo, Battie, Jameer, etc

This team IS much better than last year's. Funny how TMac had been asking for better support around him and didn't get it. Now when they trade him, they bring in others besides the Rocket trio and Weisbrod and some in the media make it sound like this team is much better because TMac is gone, as though he ever had a support group in Orlando like the one Francis has now. :rolleyes

Think TMac would've appreciated having that kind of support when he was there? Instead he's criticized for finally snapping from frustration after four years of waiting for some decent help.

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In all fairness to the Orlando leadership, it was very difficult for them to get McGrady help. Tracy and Grant are both max players. Grant Hill was a max player contributing exactly nothing. It's hard to put a talented team out on the floor when that happens.

McGrady was disgruntled and he let it show in his performance. He's a better player than Francis, but the trade was a good one for Orlando. It was time for a change and everyone will benefit from the trade.

actually a health grant hill is better than francis, but francis is more valuble, he can pass and shoot and he fills a tougher position, then this team is loaded. Honestly Grant Hill in his prime (mr. triple double) was better than Tracy McGrady will ever be

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AHF, yeah TP was awesome in the playoffs. I forgot.

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Compared to Francis, he was.

The sad thing (for him) is that Stevie never will win a ring or even make the NBA Finals, even being in the weak ass east now.

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Selfish??? Check out his career assists to shot ratio, compare it to Tony's and get back to me.

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There he goes again, using the same tired defense of his beloved Terp. You'll notice Franny never gets any of those assists in the last few minutes of the game, instead preferring to dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, and the jack up some bullshit with one second left on the clock.

I'm no Francis fan but I'm willing to bet a team with Francis on it will never lose 19 in a row. That achievement is all TMac's and TMac's alone. TMac is no leader.

Over
Rated

Francis & Mobley > TMac

TMac is just as much of a ball hog as Francis...actually I think he's worse.

Either way they are both boneheads, both over rated when looking at things in terms of W-L, and I'll stick with the young Frenchman, he's not asked to be the franchise player for this team and he does what's asked of him quite well. Tony Parker's basketball IQ > TMac, Francis or Mobley.

And Parker may not put up the statlines Francis does on a nightly basis...But Francis is Parker's total bitch in their head to head matchups.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark in Austin

There he goes again, using the same tired defense of his beloved Terp. You'll notice Franny never gets any of those assists in the last few minutes of the game, instead preferring to dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, and the jack up some bullshit with one second left on the clock.

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Hellooooo????


He won this game with less than a sec left on a drive to the hoop where he also got fouled, he is a finisher he can win games for you. Just watch him play this year when he does not have that Van Gundy hanging on his shorts with his slow walk up offense all year. Steve is one of the most creative players in the history of the league, as he can do so much to help his team win. He will also get in the trees and grab rebounds as well, even though he is 8-10 inches shorter than them. Look at his career reb stats, they are better than any Spur SF in the last 20 yrs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimcs50

Hellooooo????


He won this game with less than a sec left on a drive to the hoop where he also got fouled, he is a finisher he can win games for you. Just watch him play this year when he does not have that Van Gundy hanging on his shorts with his slow walk up offense all year. Steve is one of the most creative players in the history of the league, as he can do so much to help his team win. He will also get in the trees and grab rebounds as well, even though he is 8-10 inches shorter than them. Look at his career reb stats, they are better than any Spur SF in the last 20 yrs.

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The thing with Francis is that he's too selfish to thrive as a support player. If he wanted to, he could be the league's ultimate support player and he'd win all kinds of titles if he hooked up with a superstar. He's got the talent to do that. He just won't change his mindset.

He's certainly a franchise player, it's just that he's one of the crappiest franchise players in the league. He always puts up good statistics, but his teams never win. He just doesn't have the basketball smarts to lead a team deep into the playoffs.

It's no coincidence that a team anchored by Steve Francis has never made the playoffs.

For every game winner he's made, Francis has dribbled out the clock 10 times. Great talent, lacks judgment.

He was in playoffs last year and almost beat the Lakers.....please check your facts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

For every game winner he's made, Francis has dribbled out the clock 10 times. Great talent, lacks judgment.

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I will bet you 1000 dollars that you are full of shit with this statement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimcs50

He was in playoffs last year and almost beat the Lakers.....please check your facts.

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I did. And I discovered that last year's playoff team was anchored by Yao Ming. The Rockets couldn't make the playoffs until Ming became the franchise.

That's a fact.

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I will bet you 1000 dollars that you are full of shit with this statement.

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Of course I exaggerate, but if you are saying he never dribbled out the clock for a loss....

I love when I throw this out to you guys.:)

You guys are soooo predictable.

Tony Parker is the best PG ever...much better than anyone else.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimcs50

You guys are soooo predictable.

Tony Parker is the best PG ever...much better than anyone else.

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Not a single person in this thread has claimed that Parker is the best point guard ever.

Many in this thread, me included, feel that Parker isn't even a top-five point guard.

But that doesn't change the fact that Francis is one of the poorest franchise players in the league. And it doesn't change the fact that he's too stupid to actually use his extensive talent to do something productive on the basketball court.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

For every game winner he's made, Francis has dribbled out the clock 10 times. Great talent, lacks judgment.

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Talk about foot in mouth.

Tonight in his 2nd game, Magic is down 1, Francis drives to FT line, hits Garrity in the corner with a perfect pass, Garrity misses the 3 pointer, but Francis does not give up, he goes to boards, puts the rebound in for the 2nd game winner of the season.

This is 2 games played, and 2 last second winners.

Orlando is 2-0 :smokin

I'll bet you $1000 he has dribbled out the game clock.

Great job by him, BTW. Good things happen when he shares the ball at the end. Maybe he's learning.

I do agree with the original premise that Orlando got the better end of that deal. Along with the Howard pick, they now have a complete and very versatile team. Yao still needs a point guard and bodyguard PF.

Chump, I have watched both of Orlando's games and I am impressed with their play. Hill even plays the PG sometimes and is looking pretty good, and that is amazing given his being out of the game for 3 yrs. Cato, Mobley and Francis have been together for a long time and they look sharp playing together. I really think VG stiffled Francis, and that was the reason why Steve struggled sometimes playing under his tenure there with him at the helm. You should have watched Francis under Gary Williams at Maryland, he was awesome. Even when Francis has struggled, he still has always played great D and rebounded better than any guard in the league. Orlando will make the playoffs for sure.