SB Nation New York - Dwight Howard, Magic Dominate Nets, 94-78https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-12-30T09:06:18-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24323372011-12-30T09:06:18-05:002011-12-30T09:06:18-05:00Former Knick Patrick Ewing Advises Dwight Howard to Stay Away From New York
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<p>Former <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> star and one of the top 50 NBA players of all time, <span>Patrick Ewing</span>, <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/12/29/ewing-advises-dwight-howard-to-stay-away-from-new-york/">has publicly advised</a> <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Magic</a> star <span>Dwight Howard</span> to avoid bolting Orlando for a team in the New York area.</p>
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<p>"If it's up to me, he's going nowhere," Ewing said. "I told him playing up there is a lot different from playing here. It's the amount of media scrutiny that is a lot different, for example."</p>
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<p>Ewing is currently an assistant coach with Howard's team, the Orlando Magic. The reason for Ewing's advice, Dwight Howard has recently requested a trade, with one of the interested teams being the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Nets</a>. The centerpiece of any deal involving Howard to the Nets is center <span>Brook Lopez</span>. Currently Lopez is hurt, which has halted any momentum of a Howard trade to the Nets.</p>
<p>Former NBA All-Star <span>Tracy McGrady</span> has <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-nets/2011/12/29/2668656/dwight-howard-trade-rumors-tracy-mcgrady-new-jersey-nets-orlando-magic/in/2432337">also advised Dwight Howard to stay away from the Nets</a>.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-nets/2011/12/30/2670239/patrick-ewing-dwight-howard-nets-new-yorkJordan Sams2011-12-30T06:02:49-05:002011-12-30T06:02:49-05:00Magic 94, Nets 78: Offense Still M.I.A. For New Jersey
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<p><font size="2">Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 24 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 94-78 victory over the Nets.</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Ryan Anderson scored a game-high 22, while <span>Jason Richardson</span> chipped in 16 for the Orlando, which moved to 2-1. <span>Hedo Turkoglu</span> netted 11 points and dished out seven assists, and <span>J.J. Redick</span> added 15 points off the bench.</font></p>
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<p>"I thought through the first 19 minutes of the game, we played very well," Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said. "The last five minutes of the half, we didn't defend, but I thought we were very consistent in the second half."</p>
<p>MarShon Brooks led New Jersey with 17 points and <span>Deron Williams</span> scored 10 and had seven assists, but went just 2-of-12 from the field.</p>
<p>The Magic jumped out to a 28-16 lead after the first quarter after shooting 55 percent from the field over the first 12 minutes.</p>
<p>The Nets used a 15-5 run to pull within five to close the second half. The run was sparked by a DeShawn Stevenson three, his third in the game at that point, while Brooks scored eight points over the stretch.</p>
<p>New Jersey was able to get within three after <span>Mehmet Okur</span> knocked down a trey with a little over nine minutes remaining in the third, but that would be as close as the Nets would come as Orlando raced to a 75-62 lead at the end of the third stanza.</p>
<p>The fourth quarter followed the same theme as Orlando continued to pad its lead, outscoring the Nets 19-16 over the final frame. The quarter was highlighted by a ferocious putback slam from Howard off a Redick miss.</p>
<p>Magic point guard Jameer Nelson left in the third quarter with neck spasms and did not return. he finished the game with five assists but failed to score.</p>
<p><b>Game Notes</b></p>
<p>The Magic have taken 12 of the last 13 with New Jersey...The Nets are winless in their last seven trips to Orlando...New Jersey's Stevenson and <span>Kris Humphries</span> each scored nine, while Humphries had 10 rebounds.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.29.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> </span></td>
<td>16</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>16</td>
<td class="highlight">78</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> </span></td>
<td>28</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>19</td>
<td class="highlight">94</td>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-nets/2011/12/30/2670118/nets-magic-score-dwight-howard-deron-williams-ryan-andersonRyan Jones2011-12-29T18:09:29-05:002011-12-29T18:09:29-05:00New Jersey Nets Send Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro To The Bench
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> head coach Avery Johnson wasn't planning on making any lineup changes after just two games, but he changed his mind before Thursday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a>.</p>
<p><span>Deron Williams</span>, <span>Damion James</span> and <span>Kris Humphries</span> remain in the starting lineup, but they will have two new players lining up next to them. Backup point guard <span>Sundiata Gaines</span> will start at shooting guard next to Williams while recently acquired center <span>Mehmet Okur</span> takes the place of <span>Johan Petro</span>.</p>
<p>In both of the their two games this season, the Nets got off to awful starts and Johnson didn't want to give his original starting lineup a chance to make it three for three. Morrow has struggled more than any of the Nets starters, playing just 13 minutes against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> on Tuesday and shooting just 29 percent for the season, averaging 9.5 points per game.</p>
<p>Gaines, however, has been impressive during his time on the floor, shooting 46 percent from the floor and handing out eight assists to five turnovers. The Magic have already talked about doubling Williams, making it all that more important to have another ball handler in the back court.</p>
<p>Petro was pushed into the starting unit after <span>Brook Lopez</span> broke his foot in the final preseason game of the season. New Jersey traded for Okur to eventually slot into Lopez' spot, but the move was done quicker than expected after the ugly starts. Petro struggled against the Hawks, but had 11 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> in the season opening victory.</p>
<p>Look for more changes to the starting lineup as the season goes along, especially if rookie MarShon Brooks continues to impress.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-nets/2011/12/29/2669139/orlando-magic-new-jersey-nets-starting-lineup-anthony-morrow-sundiata-gainesRyan Jones2011-12-29T15:26:48-05:002011-12-29T15:26:48-05:00Bitter Tracy McGrady Bashes Idea Of Dwight Howard To The Nets
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<p>All the talk around the NBA ever since "The Decision" has been about superstars joining forces to try and win a championship. After <span>LeBron James</span> and <span>Dwyane Wade</span> there was <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> and Amar'e Stoudemire and now there's talk about <span>Deron Williams</span> and <span>Dwight Howard</span>.</p>
<p>Long before it was hip to try and get to a title on the shoulders of two players, <span>Tracy McGrady</span> was a part of two past attempts. First with <span>Grant Hill</span> as a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> and then with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Yao Ming</a> in Houston with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a>. Unfortunately, much like his running mates, McGrady could never stay on the court and simply never proved to be a big enough star to carry a team by himself when he did manage to play.</p>
<p>Despite getting to the playoffs seven times, McGrady never got out of the first round.</p>
<p>Now that the former star has found a place in the NBA as a role player, he's waxing poetic about how to build a winner despite never being one himself.</p>
<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvyrRucXTOFHzynR2lcBdLA5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_tracy_mcgrady_dwight_howard_nba_122811">Speaking to Adrian Wojnarowsk</a>i after his <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> easily defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a>, McGrady said it wouldn't work with Williams and Howard in Brooklyn.</p>
<p>"If it's just Dwight and D-Will, he's better off just staying in Orlando," McGrady said. "You want to go to a team that's a championship caliber, and just him and D-Will won't get it done. There's got to be other pieces around to make it look sweet."</p>
<p>Since McGrady feels the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets wouldn't be allowed to sign or draft any players to build a winner around the two stars, he feels the two must join forces in Dallas with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> where they could create their own "Big Three".</p>
<p>"You've got <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> there. They're going to have [cap space] there. That looks sweet. Dirk. D-Will. And then you get Dwight Howard. That's it, right there."</p>
<p>Never one accused of being a future GM, McGrady is clearly unaware it would be nearly impossible for all three players to fit under the cap with the Mavs. As a guy that always wanted the last penny in each contract -- who can blame him? -- McGrady should know it would take both Williams and Howard leaving $30 million on the table to sign with Dallas instead of whichever team they are with at the end of this season.</p>
<p>More than anything, it seems like McGrady is still bitter about never having what it takes to win a playoff series in his 14 year NBA career. Maybe he looks back and wishes he had found a way to add a third star so he could have hidden from his inability to be a clutch player. Since it didn't work for him, it won't work for Williams and Howard.</p>
<p>As for those two players that won't be able to anchor a team by themselves? Williams has been to a Conference Finals and Howard an NBA Finals, which is a whole lot more than McGrady -- never a winner -- will ever be able to say.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-nets/2011/12/29/2668656/dwight-howard-trade-rumors-tracy-mcgrady-new-jersey-nets-orlando-magicRyan Jones2011-12-29T11:46:24-05:002011-12-29T11:46:24-05:00New Jersey Nets At Orlando Magic: Road Trip Opens Against Dwight Howard
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<p>The New Jersey Nets kick off a three-game road trip Thursday night when they take on the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. Just another trip to Florida for Deron Williams and the Nets... except they are going against Dwight Howard, the superstar center that has publicly asked to be traded to New Jersey.</p>
<p>Howard, for his part, wanted nothing to do with the controversy this week.</p>
<p>"We're not talking about the Nets right now," <a href="http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2011/12/dwight_howard_refuses_to_talk.html">the All-Star told reporters</a>. "We're talking about the Magic. That's the team I play for. There's no need to talk about any other team -- who's interested in them or not. I'm not going to get into a discussion about it."</p>
<p>As far as the Nets are concerned, they just want to find a way to start a game without digging themselves a huge hole. Opening night against the Washington Wizards, New Jersey fell behind by 21 points before storming back for the victory. They weren't so lucky Tuesday at the Prudential Center when they were steamrolled by the Atlanta Hawks.</p>
<p>There won't be any lineup changes for Avery Johnson's crew... yet. If the Nets continue to struggle out of the game, expect to see impressive rookie MarShon Brooks take the place of Anthony Morrow and Mehmet Okur slotting in place of Johan Petro at center.</p>
<p>Besides the expected awkwardness surrounding the Howard melodrama, Williams <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Ledger_Nets/status/152412918330306560">expects the Nets to get the same sort of treatment</a> from the road fans as their reality star teammate has received so far in his two games away from New Jersey.</p>
<p>"I have a feeling that Kris Humphries is not going to be the only one getting booed tonight."</p>
<p>Through two games, Williams is leading the Nets offense with 16.5 points and five assists, while Humphries has owned the glass with 11 rebounds per game.</p>
<p>The leading scorer for the Magic isn't Howard, but rather former Net forward Ryan Anderson and his 16.5 points per game. Orlando's center is right behind Anderson averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.</p>
<p>New Jersey has lost nine straight in Orlando and the last seven overall dating back to April of 2009.</p>
<p>Once they are done with Howard and the Magic, the Nets are right back at it Friday night with a rematch against the Hawks in Atlanta. </p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> <br><span>@ <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Thursday, Dec 29, 2011, 7:00 PM EST</span><br> Amway Center</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/12/29/2668216/new-jersey-nets-at-orlando-magic-road-trip-opens-against-dwight-howardRyan Jones