Are the Mavericks/ Magic for real?

[Stevan]

I think Doleac is in NYC now right

[Andrew]

The Mavericks just improved to 11-0, defeating the Lakers 98-72. Of course, the Lakers are without Shaq, but it's still an impressive start for the Mavs. This doesn't mean they'll be winning their first title this year - it's still too early to start thinking along those lines - the most important thing for them to do is to keep this pace up, and raise their game even higher as the stakes get higher. We've all seen teams have great regular seasons, only to buckle and be eliminated in the playoffs. Dallas can't get too cocky or rest on their laurels.

Shawn Kemp has been starting for the Magic, but his latest effort (vs Seattle) was a 19 minute, 0 point, 3 rebound performance. It's no secret that Kemp is just a role player now, so I don't think anyone's expecting him to put up All-Star numbers. But he is still capable of better performances. Based on what he has done in his career, I would say he's Orlando's best inside force. They need him to produce if they are to succeed - and if not Kemp, then one of their other big guys needs to come through for them.

[Clinton]

I agree. The Magic's big men need to do their part. They can't leave it all up to TMac and Hill. Kemp is not going to put up 15-20 points everynight but he is going to have strong performances where he might put up numbers like that. The most they can expect from him on a regular basis is 10 boards and 10 points. If he can fill the lane (very easily done), pull down lots of boards and give the Magic a scoring threat in the low post he would be doing more than what the expected of him.

[Andrew]

Kemp had a better outing against the Blazers (12 points, 7 rebounds in 32 minutes), but their other problem was a factor - Hill played 9 minutes before leaving due to soreness in his ankle. Obviously, if he can be a factor in at least 75 of the Magic's regular season games, they'll be better than the last two years.

Doc Rivers' idea to pull him from the game if he's feeling sore is fine for now, but that can't happen in the playoffs. Right now it's better to rest him and lose a couple, but come playoff time, Hill might just have to play through the soreness if possible. It seems that the pain flares up every now and then, often when the Magic play two nights in a row. If the Magic are caught in a dogfight in a playoff series that goes to a decisive game, then Hill's ankle will most likely suffer. If this problem is going to occur on a semi-regular basis, as seems the case, then once again health is going to determine how well the Magic fare this season - they're already 7-6, despite some good performances from Hill, and some excellent ones from T-Mac.

Against the Blazers, the Magic also lost on the boards 49-34 and were outscored in the paint 52-26. They really are missing the services of Horace Grant and Steven Hunter. If those two guys were healthy, Orlando's frontcourt would be in better shape - by no means the best in the league, but better than it is now. In the mean time, Kemp will just have to try to lift his game to at least 60-70% of what it used to be, and hold the fort until the rest of the Magic's big men step up.

[d3vilm4n]

do you see any white big men dominateing the game ??? the last good one center ive seen is Longley

What About Vlade, He's a World Champion

Dirk, Hes not a center but hes a big white man who dominates the game

[Andrew]

Notebook: Magic's Hill doing what he can to help McGrady
Kind of what we've been talking about, the effect of Hill's health on team performance etc.