By John Schuhmann, NBA.com
Posted Nov 27 2008 12:52PM
The Detroit Pistons have always been thought of as the third contender in the East, but they're struggling to find an identity under a new coach and with a new star in their backcourt. There's a team ready to take their place though.
After a pair of disappointing losses to start their season, the Orlando Magic have won 11 of their last 13 games and are off to another strong start. And they've done that even with Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis shooting just .389 from the field, numbers way down from last season.
 Dwight Howard is leading the league in blocks with per game. Larry W. Smith/NBAE/Getty Images |
"We're winning games defensively and on the boards right now," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says.
The Magic are one of the most improved defensive teams through the first four weeks of the season. But the improvement started before they came to camp in October.
"I thought by the end of last year, we were a good defensive team," Van Gundy says. "We're just further along earlier in the year, which should be expected, because we've got a year under our belt in the same defensive system."
There is one significant difference this season, though, and that's Dwight Howard. Howard averaged 2.15 blocks last season and has averaged 1.78 through the first four seasons of his career. Back in October, he blogged that he wanted to lead the league in blocks, an ambitious goal for someone who finished a block and a half behind league leader Marcus Camby last season. But Howard is doing just that, tallying 3.93 per contest.
"He's really focused on the defensive end," Van Gundy says, "blocking shots and really controlling the paint.
"Obviously, that has a big impact inside."
Howard credits his elders with giving him the mentality to be more active.
"I've had some good talks with guys like Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem Olajuwon," he says. "The main thing they always say is 'While you're young, you've got the ability to do a lot of different things. So, take advantage of them and don't let time catch up with you.'
"So, while I can do a lot of good things on the floor, go ahead and do them. Block shots, rebound, run the floor, things that come natural for me. Do them now while I'm young, take advantage of it, and leave my mark on the game."
He was also influenced by his coaches and teammates with USA Basketball this summer. Before the classic gold medal game against Spain, the Americans cruised through the Olympics thanks to a suffocating defense, anchored by Howard down low.
"[It helped me know] that I can be a big presence on the defensive end, blocking shots, altering shots, getting defensive rebounds, forcing teams to shoot jump shots instead of coming in the lane," Howard says. "Guys like Coach K did a good job this summer of putting that defensive mentality in my head and it just carried over into the season."
"He had to play that role, because he never really got the ball much offensively," Van Gundy adds. "His role over there was basically to defend. So, it probably got him in that mindset a little bit more."
Turkoglu says that he and the other Magic defenders can feel Howard's presence down low, but can't use him as a crutch.
"We can't just rely on Dwight, because sometimes we get him in foul trouble thinking that he's going to block every shot. We just have to play as best as we can, and he's going to cover our mistakes."
Howard isn't the only defensive presence on the floor for the Magic. They're tough on the perimeter as well, ranking second in the league by allowing just 4.7 made three-pointers per game. The improved defense takes some of the pressure off when they're not making shots on their own end.
"We know we can win with defense," Turkoglu says. "As long as we do our job on defense, our offense will come."
When it does, the Magic will be a very scary team.
 Delonte West has started all 15 games for the Cavs this season. Jim McIsaac/NBAE/Getty Images |
• The improvement in the Cavs' offense is about more than just Mo Williams. Delonte West is having a career year so far this season, thanks in part to a change of roles. Last season, West played the point, but with Williams on board, he's playing off the ball more this season. Still, Cavs coach Mike Brown may have to find a way to put West back at the point at times.
"He's doing things in every game and every practice that make me say, 'Hmmmm... I better call more plays for him to initiate the offense instead of getting it on the tail end,'" Brown said Tuesday. "He can go make plays."
Asked if West made a huge leap this summer, Brown wasn't sure.
"He was probably already there, I just didn't give him the chance," Brown admits.
When asked about his team's offensive improvement, LeBron James was quick to mention West.
"The way that Delonte has gotten better over the summer," James said, "he's like the x-factor to our team."
• The Nets pulled out another miracle Wednesday night.
Last Friday, New Jersey won an instant classic in Toronto on a Vince Carter reverse dunk off an alley-oop inbounds pass from Bobby Simmons at the end of overtime, but the more amazing part of the game was the final minute of regulation, when the Nets came back from seven down with less than 30 seconds to play. Vince Carter hit a three to send it to overtime, but the Nets were helped along the way by a five-seconds inbounds violation by the Raptors and a missed free throw from Anthony Parker.
On Wednesday, the Nets found themselves in another hole, down six with 34 seconds to go in regulation in Sacramento. This time, the Kings aided them with a dead-ball foul and two missed free throws from John Salmons, and it was Devin Harris who hit the game-tying three.
Harris got the game-winner in overtime, an elbow jumper with 12 seconds to go, and the Nets got a much-needed win on their annual Thanksgiving trip out West.
• Cuttino Mobley is still waiting for clearance to play for the Knicks, but he had a great exchange with the New York media at his introductory press conference at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
A reporter asked Mobley and Tim Thomas about playing for a team that has its eyes more on the future than the present.
Mobley: "Tim and I aren't losers. Al [Harrington]'s not a loser. We work hard. We've been on really good teams. So, it's fun. We're in New York now. We're going to have some fun."
Second reporter: "You say you're not losers. What happened with the Clippers?"
Laughter all around.
Thomas: "That's a dead issue."
Mobley: "That's a dead issue. You've got a lot of different guys. It's a new team with 10 different guys and you're working through another system. But, way to follow me up on that one."
Thomas: "Welcome to New York, buddy."
More laughter.
Mobley: "That's a witty guy right there."
Thomas: "Yeah, there's a lot of them out there."
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