Wrong Uniforms?

Boston, Massachusetts

Sometimes trades happen and fans have a long period until they see their former player(s) arrive on their court…as the opposition.  This was not the case on 2/4 as the Orlando Magic traveled up the East Coast and faced the Celtics in "The Garden".  Just days before, a trade had taken place between the two teams.  The Magic had sent young shooting sensation Ricky Ledo and journeyman Al Harrington to the Celtics for Vasilije Micic and Kevin Garnett as rookies were able to be moved on 2/1.

Fast forward a few days and who would the Magic be playing?  None other than the Celtics and it was going to be a battle in Beantown.


KG would be shedding the Celtic jersey to suit up for the Magic

Kevin Garnett, the old man now on the Magic was asked to step into the starting lineup on this night at the Power Forward position.  KG had seen nothing but limited minutes for the Celtics and thus was a bit surprised when coach Scott Skiles asked the long time player to start.

Kevin Garnett wrote:Coach Skiles came to me and talked to me about what it meant to have me on this team.  He told me that he needed my veteran leadership to shine through with these young guys.  When I first found out about the trade, I was a little frustrated as I had not being playing much in Boston and I figured it would be the same here in Orlando.  Loo, I've been around a long time and I know how this works.  You get to a point and people look at my salary and it's just a cap filler.  When Coach Skiles told me that GM Cyrisnyte had wanted me, not just my expiring salary as part of a deal, it made me feel good.  Don't get me wrong, GM Dennis was always upfront with me and I have nothing but respect for him and how he has handled everything.  It just makes you feel good, getting out on the court.  Knowing I'll start tonight, especially against my old teammates, it's going to be different…that's for sure.

Double duty?  Yet another former Celtic (Micic) was starting as well.

As soon as Coach Skiles had finished his conversation with KG, he walked over and pulled aside Vasilije Micic.  He spoke with him about giving him the start at PG this night in his return to Boston.  Skiles, thoughts were to start the rookie Micic against Dennis Schroeder as who would know him better than the player who goes against him daily in practice.

So then game time came.  There was a mixture of cheers and boos as Kevin Garnett and Vasilije Micic were introduced as two of the starters.  Next was the starting lineup for the Celtics were Ricky Ledo was going to start at SG alongside Dennis Schroeder.

The game turned out to be no real contest as the Magic won by 35 points.  Ricky Ledo one the battle of recently traded players putting up 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting as well as added 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 block.  He did turn the ball over 4 times adding to a team total of 18 turnovers for the Celtics.

Kevin Garnett was on the floor for 21 minutes and put up 8 points on 4 of 5 shooting and added 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.  He also went 2 of 2 from the free throw line and had 0 turnovers.

Vasilije Micic played 23 minutes and had 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and did have 1 turnover.  His shooting was not great, only hitting 3 of 9 shots.  He did play well against Schroeder defensively though, causing the 2nd year player to go 2 of 11 from the field as well as forcing him into 4 turnovers.

It was the Wiggins show that secured the win, putting up 23 points in 26 minutes of action.  His partner in crime as usual was Giannis who had 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks.  The Magic went a perfect 11 of 11 from the free throw line.  

The difference in this game came down to shooting the ball and turnovers.  The Magic were 50 of 92 for a 54.3% from the floor while the Celtics struggled on 33 of 81 shooting for a 40.7% from the floor.  The Magic committed only 8 turnovers while the Celtics had 18 giveaways.

While it is only one game, it is good to see the production of the team click a little after the trade.  Not it's time to see if the Magic and do something magical the rest of the season.

Very nice addition to the team and great bridge between Noel and Giannis as his high IQ PAS DEF DRB are exactly what any team could use so definitely a good thing Boston wasn't playing the guy (though they were hyped to get him in that trade with the Spurs, enough so that they traded Amir Johnson for him ONLY to sit him on the bench) so his price tag was very cheap.

You got a steal getting Micic as well.

Karma of the legends, you don't do em that way, next up... someone get Tim Duncan outta San Antonio please...

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:Very nice addition to the team and great bridge between Noel and Giannis as his high IQ PAS DEF DRB are exactly what any team could use so definitely a good thing Boston wasn't playing the guy (though they were hyped to get him in that trade with the Spurs, enough so that they traded Amir Johnson for him ONLY to sit him on the bench) so his price tag was very cheap.

You got a steal getting Micic as well.

Karma of the legends, you don't do em that way, next up... someone get Tim Duncan outta San Antonio please...

High def? High drb? we are playing 10 zone, thats why he catched a solid amout of rebs. Cant see all that looking at Micic. His Defensive Rating isnt bad, but he's 6'4" and will never be a really good defender (size-stop Relation). On Top he isnt a ballhawk, his ballhandling isnt extraordinary, his FT sucks and he will never become able to Score.
Also he was playing for us? Averaging close to 30min per is playing for me not being benched.

Yeah, his IQ and Pass combination is great and he will become a legit threept gunner and I assume its what Jeff needs next to his Stars, but for us he wasnt good. Looking at scouting Reports etc I thought he will be better as he is. Picks are always some kind of shots in the dark. Would Ive known before how Micic looks Amir would still be a celtic. No doubt.

But back to the topic, i love the Addition of Micic for Orlando. He need scorer around him to feed and now he got them. Wiggins will get more shots now and with Noel at C its no Problem if vasilije cant stop all Drives because Nerlens is there to clean it up.

I'm referencing Kevin Garnett, not Micic.

You made an article talking about how a legend or something like that returns to Boston where he belongs and where he'll retire and he didn't get any PT.

That's what I was talking about with the "cheap pricetag" statement, great bridge between Noel and Giannis etc.

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:I'm referencing Kevin Garnett, not Micic.

Hahaha okay, Self owned

Was curious how you have seen all this in Micic, haha..

Edit: yeah added a career retrospective to my preview. But more because Garnett will retire this year.