"Superman" Howard to Lead Magical Celebration of Team's First Score of Seasons

Shaq may have left the state of Florida twice, but now it appears that Orlando Magic has a re-adopted Superman in the fold with its All-Star big man, Dwight Howard. Having captured the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest title, becoming a breakout All-Star and having acquired the country's affection with Olympic gold, Howard is going to take the mantle of bringing a championship to the Magic and will be utilizing the bulk of the roster to do so.

Hidayet "Hedo" Turkoglu will be a wingman of Howard's (literally) on the perimeter and after coming into his own in the 2007-08 regular season and playoffs, the Turk will be a great asset as well. His shooting and ball-handling skills, not to mention his 6'10" height, gives him a unique versatility that practically mirrors his other wingman in Rashard Lewis. A fellow 6'10" sharpshooter himself, Lewis will act as a dual threat with Turkoglu as an opposite combo forward, able to play both forward positions with Hedo, as well as shooting guard.

While the point guard position has seen various criticisms, Jameer Nelson still has a significant hold on the position and is improving, while the veteran help of Anthony Johnson will drastically help the bench and secure control of the ball. Shooting guard had been an even more scrutinized position on the floor, but the 2008 summer offseason has reaped the fruit of several upgrades to the position in the form of young talent and skill. Formerly known as the French Air Jordan for his athleticism and fancy perimeter game, Mickael Pietrus will surely make an impact with his aggressive defense and dependable three-point shooting; Keith Bogans is also still on the roster and he too will provide defense and shooting; J.J. Redick may never truly get a real chance to play as a Magic due to the congestion of the backcourt, and it only gets more crowded with the import of rookie first-round pick Courtney Lee, a very talented combo guard from Western Kentucky, who will figure to see important minutes at some point in the season.

The team still does have a long way to go, but if Howard steps up his play around the basket, Lewis can present himself as more of a presence with Turkoglu, and if the new infusion of guards can lock down the perimeter and be a collective threat, the Magic may see the Finals a bit sooner than projected.