In an in-depth look at the 2009 Orlando Magic by The Ringer, former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy says that Dwight Howard was a major reason for the team's success in 2009.
Orlando — while it might not earn credit for it — was one of the first teams to revolutionize the NBA into the modern day game we see, but with a slight twist: Having a dominant center without an outside shot in Howard.
Having a plethora of shooters like Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Courtney Lee, JJ Reddick and Michael Pietrus allowed for Howard to operate in the paint with the option to swing the ball to anyone on the outside.
“You either had to give Dwight room to operate in the paint, or we were going to have opportunities for open 3s,” Van Gundy said to The Ringer.
The 2008-2009 season was one of the best for Howard, who averaged 20.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks.
That season the Magic finished 59-23 in the regular season, and beat the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to an NBA Finals appearance against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Orlando's new style of play made them one of the toughest teams to play at the time.
“Dwight Howard was so good that there was a need to operate down low, so you can give him space, and if you hit the 3, they had to guard the shooters and Dwight couldn't be double-teamed,” former Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle told The Ringer.
Despite the lack of credit, the Magic are a contributor to a new era of professional basketball.
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