We would like to pause here, one day before the fully rebuilt Magic tip off the season, pause to reflect upon how quickly and with such little angst this came.

We would like to pause for just five minutes, just 600 words, but Darrell Armstrong is so fast. Armstrong, a prominent and improbable architect of this hype and happiness, has a box in one hand and a gym bag in the other, and he's still zipping along as if the exit is about to score an uncontested layup.

YoDarrelljustneedaminuteplease! Holdon!

He finally stops. Ask him to sit. If there's one thing we've learned from Coach Doc Rivers, it's that the only way to slow Armstrong is to ask him to sit a few minutes.

For the first time in his career, Armstrong will be the starting point guard on an NBA team with legitimate championship aspirations. The talk is that he won't mean as much now. Don't believe it. Armstrong has earned this.