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Denton: Lewis Preparing For Possible Position Change
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                 
                             By John Denton
September 30, 2010 
 ORLANDO – Over the past three seasons with Rashard  Lewis manning the power forward position, the Orlando Magic have  compiled a dazzling 170-76 regular-season record while capturing the  franchise’s first playoff series victory in 12 years (2008), reaching  the NBA Finals (2009) and getting back to the Eastern Conference Finals  (2010). 
  What is missing from that resume, of course, is the championship that  the Magic and Lewis covet so dearly. So even in the face of almost  unprecedented success for the franchise, the Magic are seriously  contemplating a position change for Lewis from power forward to small  forward. 
  Small forward is familiar territory for Lewis, who spent the first  nine years of his career in Seattle playing on the wing. But in Orlando,  head coach Stan Van Gundy to some degree revolutionized the ``stretch  four’’ position, using a front line player to predominantly shoot  3-pointers and leave the middle of the floor open for Dwight Howard. 
  But Van Gundy’s biggest regret following last spring’s defeat to  Boston was that the Magic hadn’t worked enough in practices and games on  switching Lewis to small forward in order to get more size on the  floor. Doing just that has become the top priority of this preseason to  better prepare Orlando for future playoff battles against the big  frontlines of the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs. 
  ``It depends on the matchup that night. If we’re playing a big team  it’s probably best for me to play (small forward) and against a small  team that runs up and down, I’ll probably move to (power forward),’’  Lewis said. ``If I had a choice, it’s about how we’ll win ballgames and  if that’s me playing (power forward) then I’ll play (power forward).  Individually, it would help me playing (small forward). But we have a  lot of talent on this team. Brandon (Bass) is a strong player and Ryan  (Anderson) has been working hard this summer. Being able to do both is  the key.’’ 
  Bass worked on film study and closely with assistant coach Patrick  Ewing to become a better defender at power forward, and Anderson  re-shaped his body in an attempt to be quicker and stronger. Either  could start at power forward and center Marcin Gortat could also see  time there because of his defensive and rebounding prowess. 
  But Van Gundy admitted on Thursday that he’s still somewhat leery  about changing a formula (i.e. Lewis at power forward) that’s brought so  much success to the Magic. The likelihood is that Lewis will start at  power forward with newcomer Quentin Richardson getting the nod at small  forward. While Van Gundy said he wants no part of a revolving starting  lineup, he does want to the flexibility to change styles during games  and against particular foes. 
  ``I’m not sure where we’ll play (Lewis) the most, but I want to be  ready to play him at either spot. I’m not, by any means, saying that  he’s moving to (small forward),’’ Van Gundy said. ``If I had to guess  right now I’d say he’s going to start at (power forward). But we want to  be prepared to play him in other spots and last year we weren’t  prepared to do that. I’m not going to make that mistake again.’’ 
  Lewis, who signed a six-year, $118 million free-agent contract with  the Magic in 2007, made the transition from small forward to power  forward look easily. He’s made 614 3-pointers the past three seasons –  easily the most in the NBA – burning teams that dared to leave him to  double-team Howard inside.  
  Defensively, is where the major adjustment came. He’s has the height  of a power forward (6-10), but hardly the bulk (230 pounds). He’s had to  bang inside against Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Zach  Randolph, and held his own defensively for the most part.   
  ``It was an adjustment being a skinny guy banging down low,’’ Lewis  said with a chuckle. ``Playing nine years at the three, I was  comfortable and great at it. But coming to Orlando, I thought I did a  good job adjusting to it. We had success, but three is my natural  position.’’ 
  Similarly, the switch back to the small forward will be a breeze on  the offensive end of the floor for Lewis, who worked this summer on  becoming more agile and a better ball-handler. It’s having to chase the  likes of LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and Danny Granger  around screens and over the countless number of pick-and-roll plays that  gives Lewis the greatest pause. 
  ``I don’t want to say I can do it,’’ Lewis said. ``It’s going to be a  work in progress. It’s going to take some time. Nothing happens  overnight. And that’s why it’s good to be in camp and try it during the  preseason and see how it works out.’’ 
  Added Van Gundy: ``The concern with him playing (small forward) is  never at the offensive end. But it’s whether he can guard the threes on  the move in this league. It’s a different set of expectations.’’ 
  Lewis and Van Gundy said the driving force behind the potential  position switch is the nagging feeling of what might have been last  spring against Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics used  Garnett, a defensive ace, to constantly smother Lewis and effectively  take him out of the series. What little success Lewis did have was when  he played small forward and he was able to score over Pierce in the  post. 
  Lewis said he can’t help but wonder what might have happened had he  played small forward full time in that series. And he’s willing to make  the switch now if it will put the Magic in position to win the  championship he so dearly wants. 
  ``We probably would have done better if I did play the three, but we  didn’t do it because coach didn’t want to experiment in the middle of  the playoffs,’’ Lewis said of the Celtics series. ``That’s why this year  we’re going to get experience with both. The key is being able to do  both.’’ 
  John Denton writes for OrlandoMagic.com. E-mail him at 
jd41898@aol.com.