Rafer Alston has only been a member of the Orlando Magic for a little more than a week. However, he is gelling with the team like he has been here for years now. In the six games he has been with the team, he has started five and is averaging 10 points, and six assists, in just less than 30 minutes per game. “Oh it’s great,” Alston said as he sat in a chair in front of his locker Friday night before the Detroit Pistons game. “It’s a great group of guys to be around, it’s a fun group. They really had great chemistry before I came here. I just, you know want to be a positive teammate as well and just add on to the great chemistry.”
It is obvious to see the difference in the team since he has arrived. After losing All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson to a torn labrum for the season, the team looked sluggish and out of sync with back up Anthony Johnson in the starting lineup. Once Alston arrived the ball has been moving quicker and much more efficient. On February 22 against the Heat, in just his 2nd game, and first start with the Magic, he had seven assists in the 1st quarter. “Oh on the court, I mean you can see by the record we’ve been good on the court, and me personally I’m just a guy that loves to play team ball so I fit right in from day one”.
Alston and Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy are no strangers. Alston played for the Heat, under Van Gundy back in the 2003-04 season. “I’m used to Stan, I understand what he wants everyday whether its practice or games,” Alston said of playing under Van Gundy again. “We had a great time there my one year there that I did play, it was a great year. It felt like the one year I was there it felt like I was there ten years, that’s how much fun we had.”
The Magic acquired Alston after they traded away Brian Cook, Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, and a future 1st round draft pick in a trade that also involved the Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets
Alston came to Orlando from Houston where he started 48 of 48 games, and averaged 12 points and five assists per game. Houston and Orlando have at least one thing in common. They both have All-Star centers. Yao Ming of the Rockets was the starting center for the Western All-Stars, and Dwight Howard of the Magic, was the starting center for the Eastern All-Stars and the leading vote getter in fan voting for the All-Star game. “Two great centers, Dwight’s more versatile a little more athletic, Yao possess the inside game and he can shoot the pick and roll jump shot. Two different styles of play but both effective,” said Alston.
With a 4-2 record since acquiring Alston, many around the league feel that the Magic are back to the being able to contend for a championship this year. Alston is one of those people. “The sky is the limit; I think its all on us. Everyday we got to come with the focus and the mentality that we have room for improvement and that we can improve and get better each practice and each game.”
It is obvious to see the difference in the team since he has arrived. After losing All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson to a torn labrum for the season, the team looked sluggish and out of sync with back up Anthony Johnson in the starting lineup. Once Alston arrived the ball has been moving quicker and much more efficient. On February 22 against the Heat, in just his 2nd game, and first start with the Magic, he had seven assists in the 1st quarter. “Oh on the court, I mean you can see by the record we’ve been good on the court, and me personally I’m just a guy that loves to play team ball so I fit right in from day one”.
Alston and Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy are no strangers. Alston played for the Heat, under Van Gundy back in the 2003-04 season. “I’m used to Stan, I understand what he wants everyday whether its practice or games,” Alston said of playing under Van Gundy again. “We had a great time there my one year there that I did play, it was a great year. It felt like the one year I was there it felt like I was there ten years, that’s how much fun we had.”
The Magic acquired Alston after they traded away Brian Cook, Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, and a future 1st round draft pick in a trade that also involved the Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets
Alston came to Orlando from Houston where he started 48 of 48 games, and averaged 12 points and five assists per game. Houston and Orlando have at least one thing in common. They both have All-Star centers. Yao Ming of the Rockets was the starting center for the Western All-Stars, and Dwight Howard of the Magic, was the starting center for the Eastern All-Stars and the leading vote getter in fan voting for the All-Star game. “Two great centers, Dwight’s more versatile a little more athletic, Yao possess the inside game and he can shoot the pick and roll jump shot. Two different styles of play but both effective,” said Alston.
With a 4-2 record since acquiring Alston, many around the league feel that the Magic are back to the being able to contend for a championship this year. Alston is one of those people. “The sky is the limit; I think its all on us. Everyday we got to come with the focus and the mentality that we have room for improvement and that we can improve and get better each practice and each game.”
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