Let's see, last year, the Magic beat the Celtics in 7. This year, they are being trounced. Looks to me right now that the Celtics are out-toughing the Magic. The Celtics are punching the Magic in the face and the Magic are just standing there taking it. As you see they have no respect for the Magic, look at Game 3 where Big Baby is dancing all over the court, celebrating after getting an and 1. The Magic have no fire, no passion, no toughness. Rafer Alston would have smacked Big Baby upside the head right then and there. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f3OuzKpQ3jM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f3OuzKpQ3jM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> One thing about Rafer, is that he brings it every game. Jameer is meek, Rafer would have given the Magic that edge coming into the series with Boston, that swagger, that leadership. Boston wants to bully the other team, but when you have someone like Rafer who will fight back, the Celtics get scared and this is why the Magic beat them a year ago. Thoughts?
Not to mention that Jameer is not a true PG. The Magic offense is stagnant right now and they are just relying on penetration. Rafer Alston IMO would have run the offense much better than Jameer is.
Answer: No A. This Celtics team is much better than the previous one. B. Hedo was huge for them last season. He was the PG, the guy running the offense. Alston was playing at the level of a backup but in the starting lineup. Like in Houston, he was primarily dribbling the ball up the court and handing it off to the guy who was actually doing everything for Orlando on the perimeter, Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo may have sucked this season but he was huge for Orlando in the 2009 playoffs. C. Generally speaking, Jason Williams gives you what Alston gives you and maybe more. Bascially, if you had Rafer replacing Nelson and he was playing alongside Carter, the Magic would still be down 0-3 and have gotten blown out last night. This is a much better Celtics team and the Magic don't have the 2009 Hedo. Even if they did, they would get blown out. The biggest factor is that the Celtics are much better.
Yeah, Hedo came up big whenever the Magic needed. Without Hedo creating mismatches and playmaking Rashard has fallen as well. Hedo would have never missed those free throws that VC missed. Last year he stepped up for the Magic. If they had him it would at least be 2-1 IMO.
I agree this is the main reason why the celtics are winning. If KG wasnt injured I think they would won last year. Now with a healthy KG, and an improved Rajon Rondo, they cant beat them.
The Magic are missing KG being injured. Edit: Well, somebody beats me to it. Great minds think alike.
The Magic had Matt Barnes this year. We all know the infamous fight between Alston and Barnes when Barnes was still in Phoenix
The Magic are stocked with way too many shooters and not (any) playmaker, because an offense with Dwight Howard as option 1 or 1A is a Kendrick Perkins away from a disaster.
I actually think Rafer Alston is a good PG. He went to the finals last year, and I still think we win the 2008 series vs. the Jazz with him healthy. Record with Alston playing the whole game: 2-1 Record without Alston playing the whole game: 0-4 I don't think that is just a coincidence.
Hedo was the different maker for Magic last year. Rafer? Not so much. But the disappearance of Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis doesn't help either.
It's not. Rafer played out of his mind that season and was a big part of that 22 game winning streak. He always came through in the 4th and I think he set the record for most three pointers made as a Rocket that season. He was shooing over 60% from the field and averaged over 20ppg against the Jazz. If he's healthy, Rockets win that series easily.
Jameer with the poor FG% he's shooting = Rafer without the ability to push the ball up the floor. In that respect, they are kinda missing Skip. Because if Jameer isn't scoring, he's actually worse. He plays worse defense, he's worse at running the PnR, on the same level as far as driving the lane (can't), worse vision. Jason Williams isn't as good either becaus his D is just absolutely horrid at this point (I mean, have you seen his terribe rotations this series? Jesus.). The situation is kinda like asking, "Who would you rather have, Shane Battier or Kevin martin?" Obvious Answer: Kevin! Then asking, "Now who would you want if I told you Martin is going to score the same PPG and shoot the same FG% as Shane?" Obvious Answer: Shane! Maybe you wouldn't be a whole lot better off with Battier, but at least in that situation he brings more to the table. That's where the Magic are with Jameer. Really, they shoulda just kept Hedo.
Gotta give the Celtics credit. Their defense is just phenomenal. I'm amazed they got healthy. I really am. However, this is the first time in years I so looked forward to the playoffs (even without Houston in it); I had seen just about every game. Really liked what Phoenix did to knock off SA, which dominated a stacked Dallas team. In the East, Orlando and Atlanta were exciting, quality teams. And what if Bogut were healthy? And then Cleveland was out-talenting everyone. And now the playoffs are ruined for me by process of it being another Lakers-Celtics Finals. My least favorite teams. ANY other teams but them. Yes, even Dallas or Utah. I didn't foresee Boston suddenly get healthy. I really thought it was Orlando's to lose. I thought the Lakers were too old. It's not a jealousy thing at all; I cannot stand the Lakers "fans." Same with Boston, who have enjoyed the '08 bandwagon. And their players? Great, talented, Hall of Famers. But classy they aren't Smug, arrogant pricks. (I'm looking at you Kobe and Kevin.) Help me Steve Nash; you're my only hope!
Nelson is the problem. He is good enough to where he needs to be a sizable part of the offensive attack, but also not good enough to do significant damage. To the point where he is a detriment to the overall offensive chemistry by not getting the ball in more capable players hands.
which is really sad since you rarely see any penetration, they pass the ball around the perimeter waiting for someone to penetrate then they take a desperation three with less than five seconds on the clock..
