The Magic appear to have the deepest roster in the league. They have superstar center Dwight Howard. Yet recently they have been struggling. Why?

    Let’s look at the effectiveness of the lineups the Magic use most often. For example, lineup 2A plays .14 points worse (per 48 minutes)  than average and has been outscored by 18 points in 15o minutes. This is the current starting lineup and it has not done well. But look at lineup 6A. The only different between 2A and 6A is Williams replaces Nelson at the point. Yet 6a is more than 40 points better than 2A. If  the Magic want to start Barnes that is fine, but then Williams should start. Why not make the following sequence of good lineups be the primary lineups used?

I believe that with their great flexibility the Magic will by the end of the season have more good lineup combinations than any other team in the East, and will be tough to beat.

Carter Barnes Howard Williams Lewis (6A +45 rating)

Carter Howard Lewis Nelson Pietrus (3A +15 rating)

Andersen Pietrus Redick Williams Gortat (7A +21 rating)

Andersen Barnes Howard Nelson Redick  (4A +56 rating).

These 4 lineups utilize 9 players. Of course, foul trouble can render this strategy impossible in some games, but these lineups play great and deserve more time. At the least do not play 2A more than the other, better lineups!

     ORL       8.74 (   12.91    3.73   -9.18   28.49    1.47    7.52)  273.89 minutes   83 appearances     1 A      3.15       18 $
Carter        Howard        Lewis         Pietrus       Williams      29.88 years      10824_ORL_2010

ORL      -0.14 (   11.79    4.41   -7.39   21.53    1.20    8.12)  150.56 minutes   50 appearances     2 A     -5.74      -18 $
Barnes        Carter        Howard        Lewis         Nelson        29.02 years       1610_ORL_2010

ORL      15.31 (    3.61   -6.57  -10.18   11.99    0.48    7.61)   69.45 minutes   34 appearances     3 A     15.21       22 $
Carter        Howard        Lewis         Nelson        Pietrus       28.64 years       3656_ORL_2010

ORL      55.55 (   15.36    8.76   -6.60   40.45    1.86    5.54)   63.29 minutes   26 appearances     4 A     55.36       73 $
Anderson      Barnes        Howard        Nelson        Redick        25.79 years       5187_ORL_2010

ORL       5.19 (    4.18    1.50   -2.68   10.63    0.45    7.80)   60.70 minutes   25 appearances     5 A     -1.58       -2 $
Barnes        Howard        Lewis         Nelson        Redick        27.54 years       5698_ORL_2010

ORL      44.63 (   21.09   14.71   -6.38   38.03    2.18    7.54)   48.47 minutes   28 appearances     6 A     36.64       37 $
Barnes        Carter        Howard        Lewis         Williams      30.26 years       8778_ORL_2010

ORL      21.27 (   -1.84   -0.93    0.91  -11.48   -0.41    5.32)   46.55 minutes   27 appearances     7 A     27.84       27 $
Anderson      Gortat        Pietrus       Redick        Williams      27.01 years      14369_ORL_2010

ORL       8.09 (   16.48    8.09   -8.39   47.42    2.12    4.58)   44.83 minutes   29 appearances     8 A      6.42        6 $
Anderson      Howard        Pietrus       Redick        Williams      26.65 years      14401_ORL_2010

ORL     -15.49 (    4.41    3.08   -1.33   20.92    0.72    7.72)   42.97 minutes   16 appearances     9 A    -26.81      -24 $
Barnes        Bass          Howard        Nelson        Redick        26.39 years       5190_ORL_2010

ORL       4.56 (   24.66   19.07   -5.59   56.95    2.84    4.28)   40.11 minutes   27 appearances     1 B      9.57        8 $
Anderson      Barnes        Howard        Redick        Williams      27.03 years      12355_ORL_2010

ORL      -1.63 (    5.30    0.83   -4.47   17.59    0.72    7.23)   39.39 minutes   26 appearances     2 B     -3.66       -3 $
Howard        Lewis         Pietrus       Redick        Williams      28.40 years      14912_ORL_2010

ORL     -36.26 (   -1.29    2.96    4.25    6.04   -0.06    5.86)   33.78 minutes   16 appearances     3 B    -35.52      -25 $
Anderson      Barnes        Gortat        A. Johnson    Redick        27.62 years       4259_ORL_2010

ORL      -6.19 (  -12.79   -6.61    6.18  -31.02   -1.54    6.20)   32.27 minutes   17 appearances     4 B      1.49        1 $
Bass          Gortat        Pietrus       Redick        Williams      27.62 years      14372_ORL_2010

ORL      10.92 (   17.03   11.98   -5.05   64.94    2.48    5.09)   31.77 minutes   19 appearances     5 B     16.62       11 $
Anderson      Barnes        Howard        A. Johnson    Redick        27.26 years       4291_ORL_2010

ORL      22.23 (   13.46    7.62   -5.84   46.01    1.82    7.85)   28.99 minutes   21 appearances     6 B     18.21       11 $
Barnes        Carter        Howard        A. Johnson    Lewis         30.49 years        714_ORL_2010

ORL     -15.60 (   -4.61    4.37    8.98  -21.48   -0.83    7.73)   27.75 minutes   17 appearances     7 B     -1.73       -1 $
Barnes        Bass          Gortat        Redick        Williams      28.00 years      12326_ORL_2010

ORL       0.31 (   12.65    4.89   -7.77   39.81    1.70    7.55)   25.64 minutes   20 appearances     8 B     -5.62       -3 $
Carter        Howard        Lewis         Redick        Williams      29.41 years      12872_ORL_2010

ORL       9.51 (   13.73   10.65   -3.08   15.81    1.20    7.64)   25.55 minutes   17 appearances     9 B      5.64        3 $
Barnes        Howard        Lewis         Pietrus       Williams      29.26 years      10818_ORL_2010