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Mos Def - History

Nobody remembers who came in second place...so when you talk about the 2009 NBA Finals, the Orlando Magic have become can afterthought.

Definition

If the season ended today, many people would pencil in the Lakers and Cavaliers in a highly anticipated Kobe versus LeBron, Nike Most Valuable Puppets championship...however basketball like everything else in life has no guarantee.

The Magic with a pillar in Dwight Howard and floor general in Jameer Nelson have the components to make return trip to the promise land. Atlanta, Boston, and Cleveland are playing well, and because of that fact, the reining conference champions are left without their proper respect.

I asked a few of the Magic players what their thoughts were on the topic:

AXG: What's the state of this team?

Dwight Howard: It's a different team from last year for one...and now we're starting to gel together, so the biggest difference from last year's team is that last year we had all been together for a long time so we had great chemistry, and now we're just trying to learn to play with each other.

AXG: Where is the love and respect for this team?

Dwight Howard: We are still the only people who believe in us. There are still people that think we won't get as far as we did last year, but our main concern is finishing out the regular season strong without any injuries. I don't think they respect us...we still have to get that respect from people. We are the defending Eastern Conference champs and you let everybody else tell it...it's like we didn't even win it. We understand that, we are just going to continue to work on our game, and come playoff time we're going to be ready.

AXG: Jameer...you and Dwight sat and watched the Lakers celebrate the championship last year...can you speak on that?

Jameer Nelson: I did it with him...he wanted me to stay out there to soak it in...because you don't want anyone to celebrate on your home court, and we don't want that feeling anymore. What we did was try to soak it in, and use that as motivation.

AXG: How will that help your team as you make this run into the playoffs?

Jameer Nelson: Well we know the feeling...and we don't want that again, so like I told the guys earlier...each time we step on the court, it's a different experience and it prepares you for another game, and another situation similar to it.

AXG: Can you explain your last meeting against the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant specifically?

Matt Barnes: With great players like that you have to make them work. I think a lot of attention came to it because it was the Lakers and they [Magic] played each other in the Finals last year. I just thought it was a physical game...back and forth and the fact that it was Kobe and someone was standing up to him...everyone made a big deal about it, but you have to really make someone like him work. He's the greatest player in the world and you can't let him have the mental advantage over you as well. So I tried to stay in it and make him take as many shots as possible to get his points.

AXG: What do you bring to this team?

Matt Barnes: I'm trying to change the mentality around here. You know word on the street and around the league was that Orlando was soft, and it's nothing that one person is going to change, I think it's a team overhaul and mentality that you're not just going to come into our house and push us around. I think the team has taken to that and that's a good thing to roll with.

Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Imagaes