Yardbarker: Rashard Lewis

NBA Power Rankings: #3 Orlando Magic

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:23:16 -0500

By: David Kay 2008-09 Season Summary: This past season was a magical one in Orlando, as the Magic emerged as one of the elite teams in the league, advancing to the NBA Finals for just the second time in the franchise’s brief history. Despite the fact that Orlando was defeated by the Lakers in five games, the team cannot be disappointed with their ‘08-’09 campaign. The success of the Magic directly correlates with Dwight Howard continuing to develop into one of the most domi...

Your Morning Dump... where the Celtics are unimpressed with themselves

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:03:41 -0500

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying a good morning dump.

“It’s bigger than what y’all see,” said Kevin Garnett late after Saturday’s win in New Jersey. “It’s bigger than the previous (game). We thought we should have beat Phoenix, but at the end of the day they made shots and we missed a ton of layups, blah, blah, blah.

“But every day we play we’re preparing to be better in the playoffs. We’re preparing to be a better team. We’re preparing for execution and things that we know that some day we’re going to cross a bridge and have to be able to put it all together. And that’s the goal. The goal is to try to get as perfect as possible. I know that’s probably a little farfetched, but that’s how we think.”

Herald - Celtics unimpressed by 7-1 start

You guys know the line: It ain't how you start, it's how you finish. We're so far away from the end of the season, you can take the dash out of our record and push the numbers together Price is Right style and maybe still not get our win total for the year.

Although... the Bobcats, Bulls and Philly games were impressive. Just goes to show how it can all look when things are clicking.

Lessons I think I've learned after 8 games:

Age will play a factor in those long stretches that include a lot of games. But since those don't exist in the playoffs, it doesn't matter.
The Celtics are their own worst enemy. If they are playing their best, it's going to be damn near impossible to beat them.

I think those are true... but it's still early. Remember: October-December really doesn't mean much. Once we start getting into 2010, then we're REALLY going to start figuring out what teams are really about.

After the jump, Page 2, where that's REALLY the scores of the OKC-Orlando game.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook added 17 points and 10 assists and the Oklahoma City Thunder ran away from the defending Eastern Conference champions in the second half Sunday night for a 102-74 victory.

"We're not a good basketball team right now. I've been saying that, but nobody's listening," Van Gundy said. "We're totally predicated on shooting. We do not have any kind of defensive mindset, we don't have much toughness and we're not very smart. So, right now we're not a very good team."

ESPN Game Recap

Orlando didn't have Vince Carter or Rashard Lewis. VC has a sprained ankle... which, of course, is keeping him out longer than expected. He's listed as day-to-day... but that usually means a week off for VC.

The rest of the links (all 3 of them):

Globe: Some deep thoughts on the 3 | WEEI: Celtics to play with the animals | Souza: Celtics have time to get acquainted

Magic Offer No Defense Against the Thunder

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:26:36 -0500

Defenseless. That’s the only way to describe the performance by the Orlando Magic against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Sure the Magic were without Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, and Rashard Lewis. Sure, Matt Barnes was sick with flu-like symptoms, but losing a game like this is inexcusable. Orlando was bad on both ends of the floor [...]

I’m paying attention to the games!!!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:51:15 -0500

Friday’s game against the Pistons was No. 6 of my 10 games out of action, so I’m so happy now that this thing is almost over now. I’m actually ready to get back on the road and get these next two games in, and then after the Cleveland game, then I’m just one game out.

Trust me, Nov. 16 against Charlotte is circled on my calendar. It’s obviously tough being out, but I am happy when the team wins. It was tougher on me in Detroit when we lost that game. That was one where I got down on myself a little bit, but the guys have been doing a good job for the most part.

Everybody keeps asking me about what I’m doing during games. Well, I know this might come as a surprise to some of you (kidding!!!) but I actually watch the games really closely.

During the game I get a few text messages from friends, but I don’t respond until after the game. When I’m sitting there, I pay attention to what’s going on in the game. I watch every little detail, watching the rotations and I’m watching Stan with the play calls. Even when I can’t hear him, I know what he’s mad about. I guess because I’m on this team I really know every little thing going on that other people wouldn’t know even though I’m not at the arena.

It does make it tough sometimes to watch the game because my little girl, Gianna, usually wants to play then. She’s just 2 so she doesn’t understand that daddy needs to watch the game. She’s jumping on top of me, wanting candy and telling me to play with her, but I tell her that I have to watch the game. I’m watching her, but I’m paying attention to the game at the same time.

When I’m there she wants me to hold her and when I go out of the room she’s right behind me. When I go into my movie room – that’s where I watch the games -- she’s right there with me. With little kids you have to watch every little movement because you don’t want her to put anything in her mouth or jump down off the couch and hurt herself. I’m watching her and watching the game too.

It has been kind of hard on me mentally lately because I’m working out really hard, but I’m not getting to play in the game. But I’ve made it that far and I can get through the rest of this.

I need ya’ll’s support when I get back. My timing might be a little rusty, but I think my shot is going to be tight and my legs will be fresh. I’m out now and I’ll holler at you guys again real soon.

SWEET LEW

Magic Ride 3-Point & Free Throw Shooting to Victory

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:23:51 -0500

The Orlando Magic were without three starters – Mickael Pietrus, Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. Pietrus was sent home with the flu, Carter couldn’t go due to the ankle he injured Friday night in New Jersey and Lewis was serving the 3rd game of his 10-game suspension, yet they were still able to defeat the [...]

Suspended Rashard Lewis Starts Magic Season at Home

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 -0500

by Tim PovtakFiled under: MagicORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic will raise their Eastern Conference title banner Wednesday night at Amway Arena, then begin the most anticipated season in franchise history. And Rashard Lewis will be at home watching on television, riding a stationary bicycle. Just the thought makes him cringe. "I knew this day was coming but I'm still upset every time I think about it,'' Lewis said Tuesday after a Magic practice. "I was part of winning that b...

Championship or Bust for Orlando?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:44 -0500

According to Rashard Lewis, a title is the Magic’s sole aim this season: “Rashard Lewis stood up and addressed his teammates the first day the Orlando Magic gathered this season, delivering a message that gave the happy-go-lucky session a more serious tone. ‘It’s championship or bust,’ he said. It was a fitting way to begin a pressure-packed season with such high expectations. After falling short in the NBA finals, Orlando is hoping a series of offseason moves — ...

Orlando Magic News & Notes: Magic Defeat the Bulls

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:10:18 -0500

Click here to see my game recap. The Magic are still trying to figure out what to do with their lineup and Brandon Bass will be an important part of that decision whether he is a starter or not. To prepare for forward Rashard Lewis’s 10-game suspension, the Magic sat Lewis the entire game. In his stead, [...]

Orlando Magic Media Day: Rashard Lewis Coverage

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:18:59 -0500

Rashard Lewis was surrounded by controversy this offseason after testing positive for a banned substance. The substance, DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), a substance that isn’t bad in every professional sport and can be found in many over the counter supplements. Rashard Lewis says that taking the substance was a mistake and I believe him. He cleared this [...]

Rashoid Lewis Upset With Pierce's Tweet

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0500

Back in June, when the Lakers were embarrassing the Orlando Magic, Paul Pierce sent out this tweet:

Lakers vs orlando. Looked like a german sherperd vs a poodle that's ok the rotwieler celtics will b back in 2o10

Not surprisingly, the subject was brought up at Orlando's Media day and dramatically over-hyped by Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel:

Magic forward Rashard Lewis, during the team's Media Day Monday, took umbrage with Pierce's Twitter remark and went after Pierce not like a poodle but like a pitbull.

When a reporter brought up the Orlando Poodles comment made by Pierce, Lewis emphasized the fact that Pierce made his remark on Twitter. And you know what that means?

It means, Lewis said, Pierce was "at home" tweeting while the Magic were playing for the NBA championship.

Excellent point.

Wow. Lewis said Pierce was "at home" while he was playing in the finals? Bold words. This is a classic example of a reporter/columnist trying to make something out of nothing.

Lewis probably wanted to fire back at Pierce, but thought better of it considering he's serving a 10-game suspension for taking a banned performance enhancing substance.

We Should Support Rashard Lewis

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:52:21 -0500

It looks like most of bloggers and writers around the sports world aren’t holding any grudges against Rashard Lewis. In fact, no one seems to be making a very big deal about the whole situation. And we shouldn’t be. DHEA is actually still legal in the MLB. Now, obviously we shouldn’t use the MLB as [...]

Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis Suspended For First 10 Games Of NBA Season

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:04:24 -0500

Just when fans thought that steroids were only used throughout Major League Baseball, breaking news had to report that Orlando Magic's star Rashard Lewis has just been suspended for the first 10 games of the season without pay for using a nutritional over-the-counter supplement. Now before NBA fans begin to point fingers, get too excited, and completely irrational over this iffy topic, let's just break this down really quick.Near the end of the '08-'09 NBA season, Lewis took a...

Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 Games After Testing Positive for PEDs

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:35:40 -0500

The Orlando Sentinel and several other outlets are reporting that Magic Forward Rashard Lewis has tested positive for a performance enhancing substance. According to league sources, Lewis was taking nutritional supplements at the end of last season that unknowing to him contained a substance commonly known as DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) — a chemical compound made naturally in [...]

Looking for 2 in a row...

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:03:48 -0500

I played my first NBA game on national TV on Monday and we came away with a win over the Bulls. My first national TV game and I had my first double-double of my NBA career. Tonight we are looking to win our second straight against the Magic. We actually beat them in Orlando last time but Rashard Lewis didn't play. Hopefully we can get this win to make it 2 in a row.