What's great about being a fan of any sports team is basically sharing the experiences that the entire organization goes through season by season. Obviously you do not talk to the GM's, owners, or players on a regular basis or even discuss your opinions and thoughts with them at all.
But throughout the entire season and playoffs (if your team is fortunate enough to make it there) you get a feeling of attachment as if you were just another player on the roster, conversing your ideas with the team.
When things go well you shout stuff like, "That is why I love this team, there is no organization better than us."
And when things go wrong you scream and yell things like, "Wow, how can they be so stupid?...If I was the coach that would have never happened!"
But nevertheless, you support your team through thick and thin to the fullest.
Each and every team is surely different and unique in their own way, and for the Orlando Magic, if you had to summarize their story in one word, it would be "Underdogs."
Taking it back real quick to the beginning of last years playoffs and the Magic headed into the postseason with not many NBA analysts on their side.
After surpassing the Sixers, the Magic headed into Boston as the underdogs (even with an injured Kevin Garnett on the sidelines).
Once they miraculously succeeded past the Celtics in seven games, they were once again the underdogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers who not only had the full support from their fans (since they owned the best NBA season record) but literally each and every NBA analyst on ESPN. (Click here and go to the middle right if you do not believe me, 10 experts chose Cleveland to win).
Defying all odds, Orlando headed to the NBA Finals for the second time in their 20 years existence. They obviously had the patronage of their fans behind them, but once again, absolutely no love from the media.
After losing in five games, the Magic went into the offseason with their heads up and their confidence at an all time high.
With the obtaining of Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson, and the signing of Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes, Orlando certainly expanded their bench, emerging as the deepest roster in the league.
Now with Rashard Lewis suspended for the first 10 games of the season due to breaking the drug policy, the Magic have once again found themselves in an "underdog-type" situation.
It will undoubtedly be predicted that without Lewis, Orlando is the third wheel in regards to the Big Three of the East.
But for a Magic fan, there is no problem with other NBA fans and analysts predicting that.
This is just another step in the road and from an Orlando perspective, a rather positive one.
With Lewis sidelined for almost an eighth of the season, the Magic seize a perfect opportunity to mess around with their roster and see who fits in well and where.
It gives players like Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, and Marcin Gortat an outstanding chance to step up their game and not only help themselves in the long run, but the entire Magic team as well.
Taking the Lewis situation as if it were an injury and the Magic can already honestly say that they have enough productive role players on their bench to fill the shoes of their starting All-Star without running into much of a problem whatsoever.
Now how many other contending NBA teams can genuinely say that if they lost one of their starting All-Stars for 10 games, there team would not be heading for disaster?
None.
Being behind the curtains is where the Magic excel the most and entering the upcoming season "trailing" the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers is exactly where this Orlando team wants to be.
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