There's nothing like the sense of attachment you feel in being a devout sports fan of any team. While you don't have a real vested interest like the players and personnel on the team do, you still feel their joy and pain just as they may experience it.
As a fan, you ride the peaks and valleys with your team, and there are plenty of them. It's easy to forget the bad times when things are good, and the opposite is just as true. Despite the ups and downs, the everlasting loyalty you give to your team is always present.
Being a fan of each team is unique on its own, and any fan of the Magic last year had an experience that is rare and cherished in the sports world. Defying the odds as an underdog is one of the most gratifying experiences any fan can live through, and the Magic did just this in 2009.
Despite their injury issues, many still favored the Celtics to surpass the Magic in their series. Between the home court advantage, the veteran experience in Boston, and the inexperience in Orlando, the Magic were written off early in the series. Against Cleveland, no one gave the team a chance, despite the fact that the Magic had won the season series against the Cavs. Orlando quieted the doubters with a run to the NBA finals, their second since the mid 90s.
Aside from the momentum that any NBA finals run brings, Orlando has bolstered its roster tremendously during the off-season. Vince Carter is one of the top players in the league, and the threesome of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the NBA. Building around them, the team has made some nice moves, with the addition of Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass, all of whom are capable of building around these All-Stars and strengthening the team all around. Rashard Lewis will sit out the first three weeks of the season due to a substance abuse violation, but the team remains strong as ever nonetheless.
It will undoubtedly be predicted that without Lewis, Orlando is the third wheel in regards to the Big Three of the East. But for a Magic fan, there is no problem with other NBA fans and analysts predicting that. This is just another step in the road and from an Orlando perspective, a rather positive one.
The Magic will use Lewis's absence to experiment with its roster, seeing who fits where. With many potential pieces to the puzzle, players like Barnes, Pietrus, Anderson, Bass, Redick, and Gortat all have opportunities to establish their roles and familiarize themselves with the new Magic team. Ten games won't make or break a season, so the Magic will make the most of their time without Lewis.
The fact that the loss of the team's second most valuable player (and an All-Star) won't have much of a perceived impact on the team's performance says it all about the state of Orlando basketball. This should be another one of those up years for the team's fans.
As a fan, you ride the peaks and valleys with your team, and there are plenty of them. It's easy to forget the bad times when things are good, and the opposite is just as true. Despite the ups and downs, the everlasting loyalty you give to your team is always present.
Being a fan of each team is unique on its own, and any fan of the Magic last year had an experience that is rare and cherished in the sports world. Defying the odds as an underdog is one of the most gratifying experiences any fan can live through, and the Magic did just this in 2009.
Despite their injury issues, many still favored the Celtics to surpass the Magic in their series. Between the home court advantage, the veteran experience in Boston, and the inexperience in Orlando, the Magic were written off early in the series. Against Cleveland, no one gave the team a chance, despite the fact that the Magic had won the season series against the Cavs. Orlando quieted the doubters with a run to the NBA finals, their second since the mid 90s.
Aside from the momentum that any NBA finals run brings, Orlando has bolstered its roster tremendously during the off-season. Vince Carter is one of the top players in the league, and the threesome of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the NBA. Building around them, the team has made some nice moves, with the addition of Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass, all of whom are capable of building around these All-Stars and strengthening the team all around. Rashard Lewis will sit out the first three weeks of the season due to a substance abuse violation, but the team remains strong as ever nonetheless.
It will undoubtedly be predicted that without Lewis, Orlando is the third wheel in regards to the Big Three of the East. But for a Magic fan, there is no problem with other NBA fans and analysts predicting that. This is just another step in the road and from an Orlando perspective, a rather positive one.
The Magic will use Lewis's absence to experiment with its roster, seeing who fits where. With many potential pieces to the puzzle, players like Barnes, Pietrus, Anderson, Bass, Redick, and Gortat all have opportunities to establish their roles and familiarize themselves with the new Magic team. Ten games won't make or break a season, so the Magic will make the most of their time without Lewis.
The fact that the loss of the team's second most valuable player (and an All-Star) won't have much of a perceived impact on the team's performance says it all about the state of Orlando basketball. This should be another one of those up years for the team's fans.
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